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<br />November is 2008 Nonprofit Awareness Month
<br />Fact Sheet
<br />What is our purpose? To educate the public about the contributions that nonprofits make every day in our communities
<br />and to help create a better understanding about the value and importance of the sector to our state. Our three specific
<br />objectives are to: (1) Mobilize charitable nonprofits across the state to raise public awareness; (2) Educate
<br />nonprofit stakeholders; and (3) Encourage North Carolinians to support nonprofits through volunteerism and
<br />philanthropy. Nonprofit Awareness Month is a statewide collaborative initiative in November 2008 that will celebrate the
<br />contributions made by nonprofits in all of North Carolina's 100 counties.
<br />How was it started? The idea of "Many Missions, One Voice" builds upon the work of the Nonprofit Congress, which was
<br />first held in Washington, D.C. in October 2006. More than 400 nonprofit leaders from across the country gathered to unite
<br />around common values, to develop a shared vision and priorities, and to exercise the sector's collective voice for a better
<br />future. Thirteen nonprofit professionals from North Carolina served as Congress delegates, the largest delegation from
<br />any state in the nation. Congress delegates voted and selected three top priorities for the nonprofit sector: (1) Advocacy
<br />and Grassroots Community Activities: To advocate for the sector at large and engage our constituents to solve
<br />problems at the grassroots level; (2) Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness: To ensure that the sector has the
<br />resources it needs to serve communities and is effectively and efficiently managed; and (3) Public Awareness and
<br />Support of the Sector: To increase public understanding and support so that nonprofits can continue to do their best
<br />work. North Carolina delegates decided to focus on this last priority.
<br />Who is participating? Nonprofits across North Carolina and their staff, board members, and volunteers.
<br />What does it offer? Opportunities to raise the public's awareness of the positive contributions of our state's nonprofits.
<br />Rather than prescribing specific activities and events, we're letting nonprofits themselves choose what best reflects and
<br />recognizes the diversity of their communities and regions across North Carolina. A toolkit was created at the statewide
<br />level to provide nonprofits with ideas of activities and events they might undertake. Partner Organizations are being
<br />recruited from statewide organizations and specific field networks to join this effort, as well as volunteers who will serve as
<br />leaders and coordinators for NAM activities in their communities.
<br />What was accomplished in 2007? Thirty-eight nonprofits or education programs around the state joined the NAM effort
<br />as Partner Organizations. Eleven local governments, including the cities of Asheville and Fayetteville and Buncombe,
<br />Cumberland, Guilford and Wake counties, issued proclamations declaring November as Nonprofit Awareness Month in
<br />their communities. Articles, opinion pieces, and letters to the editor appeared in a variety of media outlets around the
<br />state. Among them were the Asheville Citizen-Times, Durham Herald-Sun, Fayetteville Observer, WRAL-TV in Raleigh,
<br />The Cary News, and Philanthropy Journal's online biog. NAM billboards went up in 20 different locations, and Partner
<br />Organizations and volunteers distributed thousands of NAM postcards around the state. The National Council on
<br />Nonprofit Associations recognized North Carolina's efforts, and NAM organizers hosted a session discussing NAM at the
<br />2008 Nonprofit Congress. Seven states are now looking to replicate versions of Nonprofit Awareness Month.
<br />Who is leading the effort? The N.C. Center for Nonprofits is playing a leadership role in this initiative in collaboration
<br />with a statewide Task Force of nonprofit leaders who are volunteering their time and expertise. Our work is being
<br />implemented through Fundraising, Marketing, and Outreach Committees. Members of the Task Force include: Armeer
<br />Kenchen, Senior Vice President, Center for Community Self-Help; Tharesa Lee, Nonprofit Coordinator, Neuse River
<br />Community Development Corporation; Melissa Le Roy, Executive Director, Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE),
<br />Inc.; Trisha Lester, Vice President, N.C. Center for Nonprofits (NAM Liaison and Spokesperson); Howard Manning,
<br />Executive Director, Christian Community In Action; Sally Migliore, Senior Associate,. N.C. Center for Nonprofits (NAM
<br />Liaison); Jennifer Palestrant, President, Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce; David Snider, Associate Vice
<br />President of Grants & Services, Arts & Science Council; Sally Steele, Development Director, North Carolina Coastal
<br />Federation; and Connie Tillmann, Community Volunteer.
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