Nonprofit organizations are the lifeblood of vibrant communities.  They fill social needs, provide needed services, and make our neighborhoods better places to live.

In today's weak economy, however, nonprofits--including museums and historical societies--are needing to find ways to do more with fewer resources.

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving recognized that nonprofits in the Greater Hartford area were constantly seeking ways to deliver services effectively, recruit and retain qualified staff, secure and maintain an effective board, and to make the best use of technology.

In response, they began their Nonprofit Support Program (NSP) more than a decade ago to help area nonprofits build their capacity and increase their effectiveness.

The NSP offers an array of training programs, grants for technical assistance, assessments, loans, and networking opportunities for nonprofit leaders. The aim is to help nonprofits plan, improve their governance and management, and build a strong organization so that they can achieve their missions most effectively.

If you are in the Greater Hartford area, and are not aware of the services offered by the NSP, check out their Web site and see what programs and opportunites are available for your institution.

If you are outside of the 29-town region the Hartford Foundation serves--do not fear!  The NSP site has resources available for free that may help you as well.

Throughout the calendar year the NSP offers a series of Spring and Fall workshops.  While only nonprofits in the Greater Hartford area are able to attend these programs in person, anyone can access the presentation slides and handouts from these sessions online.

Materials are posted after each workshop session has occurred.  They remain up and accessible until the end of that season's workshop series.

As an example, if you check out the NSP workshop page today you'll find lots of information on Navigating the Revised 990 form and presentation slides on the session from Collaboration Strategies for a Changed Economy.