While conducting research for our 2015 National Conference, we came across these great resources to help you prepare for your participation at EPIP in NOLA. We hope you will take some time to dive as deeply as possible into some of these topics and issues in order to get the most out of your conference experience. See you all soon in New Orleans!

This post was authored by Kris Putnam-Walkerly and originally appeared on her blog, Philanthropy 411 Blog, on 2/11/15 at http://putnam-consulting.com/philanthropy-411-blog/8-resources-for-new-foundation-ceos/

My previous blog post shared 5 mistakes to avoid if you are a new foundation CEO and new to philanthropy.  One mistake is not being willing to learn about your new role and field. Below I share eight resources that can help you in your role. In addition, nothing beats getting advice from seasoned foundation leaders, or if needed retaining a coach or advisor to help you.

NTL Institute for Applied Behavioral Science: Coaching Initiative for Nonprofit Leaders of Color

This blog post was authored by Lelia Gowland, co-chair of the Emerging Philanthropists of New Orleans (EPNO). We invited Lelia to introduce EPIP members to EPNO after we learned about their work and discovered synergies among our respective missions and values. 

As a native New Orleanian, I’ve benefited from philanthropy and witnessed the way it transforms communities. Post-Katrina, my mother was fortunate to have a job and friend’s home to return to after our home was destroyed. 

During one trip to our flooded home shortly after the storm, my mother and I noticed a parked Red Cross van advertising free hot meals and pulled over to thank the volunteers for coming.  The warmth and generosity of spirit they demonstrated has me tearing up a decade later as I write this.

EPIP members receive a 15% discount off all grantmaking courses. Course prices vary. Contact [email protected] for more details.

Webinar Recap- Developing Your Career Narrative

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Sophia Guevara, one of EPIP's Social Media Fellows, shares these social media lessons learned in a Master's Showcase for Wayne State University.

The month of April is buzzing by, and EPIP is continuing to move through the year with great programming from our chapters, a new website design, and final preparations for our annual conference in NOLA. And with all this great planning, we are also moving right along with the search for our next Executive Director.

This post was authored by Elizabeth Ramirez, and first appeared on March 26, 2015 on NCRP's blog at: http://blog.ncrp.org/2015/03/choosing-leadership-development.html

Supporting nonprofit leadership development has clear benefits for the leaders themselves, their organizations and their movements. As detailed in NCRP’s new report, Cultivating Nonprofit Leadership:  A (Missed?) Philanthropic Opportunity, it disrupts usual ways of thinking, builds the networks needed to win, prevents burnout and supports organizational sustainability by “building the bench.”

At the 1969 UNESCO Conference on the Environment, a peace activist named John McConnell proposed the idea of an international Earth Day to foster appreciation of the earth and to remind people around the world of their common need to preserve its delicate ecosystems. Around that same time, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin announced the idea for a national environmental teach-in because he wanted to force environmental issues onto the national political agenda...