Followup on One Spark! Cultural Council Announces Spark Grants!

Following up on the One Spark momentum, the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville is looking to launch a new grant program. The new program is aptly named The Spark Grant Program. Spark Grant's are specifically for local artists and non-profits. The Cultural Council is offering up to 7 grants, and up to $60,000. The deadline for all applications is May 30th.

If you are looking to apply for this specialized opportunity in Downtown Jacksonville, we'd be happy to assist you through the grant application process. Contact us at 904-620-2476

Grant Writing Workshop May 10! Presented by the Small Business Development Center at UNF.

What today’s funding sources want to see from your organizations is a Value Proposition as part of a Comprehensive Business Plan. With literally thousands of not-for-profits competing for funds, what makes your organizations stand out? What is your Competitive Advantage?  The Value which you can present to funders is what will get funded. When responding to grant opportunities, you must show a comprehensive business plan, with reasonable projections and a solid Value Proposition that shows why your organization, apart from all others, should receive funding.  Competition is fierce, and only those organizations that demonstrate Value will succeed!

DateFriday, May 10, 2013 - 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Location Adam W. Herbert University Center (UNF) 12000 Alumni Dr. Jacksonville, FL 32224 Cost $40 per person Registration  Pre-registration is required.To register by phone, call (904) 620-2476

How Sticky is Your Nonprofit Organization? Top Notch Speaker Coming to UNF April 30th!

What do urban legends, conspiracy theories, public health scares and great advertising campaigns all have in common?  They stick!  Meaning they circulate effortlessly through our culture and become ideas and concepts that we remember.   Brothers, Chip and Dan Heath, wrote the book Made to Stick to try to help us understand that making a great idea into something worth remembering is possible and a good business decision.   

The Heaths analyzed extra-sticky ideas and stories to figure out why some ideas died while other ones thrived.  What they realized is that sticky ideas often share the following qualities:

Simple

Unexpected
Concrete Imagery
Credible
Emotion-Provoking
Stories

By using the SUCCESS approach, business owners can focus and target their communication to conquer the art of making ideas unforgettable. Consider making your business idea or message sticky. Make it understandable, memorable, and effective in changing thoughts or behaviors toward it and see what it does for your sales!

For more information on Made to Stick, check out this quick interview with the authors:

Dan Heath will be the keynote speaker at the 21^st Annual Small Business Week Celebration on April 30^th at the Herbert University Center in Jacksonville, FL.  His presentation, Being Decisive: How to lead an organization that makes smart choices, will be the highlight of the annual awards ceremony attended by North Florida’s business leaders, advocates and supporters.   For more information on tickets to this prestigious event go to www.sbdc.unf.edu/smallbusinessweek.

Public Relations for Your Nonprofit

Are you effectively conveying your company or non-profit organization in all media outlets to create and perfect your brand?  If not, you might want to think about how you can utilize this often forgotten marketing tool.  

The SBDC at UNF will present Effective Media Relations to help attendees learn how to better prepare an effective strategy, focus on accurately communicating their organization's mission and brand, learn good vs. bad public relations, marketing on a shoe-string budget,  and online relations via social media, and website brand and messaging. 

March 8 | 9am - 12pm 
Adam Herbert University center

Cost:  $40

Registration: 904.620.2476 or https://www.sbdc.unf.edu/register-workshop.php?workshops_id=221

Presented by: 

Maria Coppola is an accredited public relations counselor and consultant specializing in public and media relations, communications planning and crisis communications.  A former TV and radio journalist and native of Jacksonville, she owns a full public relations agency. She has more than 12 years of PR experience and 20 years in the media and communications industry.

Coppola Public Relations specializes in business communications including media relations, PR, internal and external written communications, CEO reputation management, corporate social responsibility, event planning and execution, crisis planning and product/service and company launches.

Interview With Kevin Monahan, CBA, UNF SBDC by Mind Body Bootcamp

Executive Director Nico Guzman with Mind Body Bootcamp featuring Kevin Monahan, Certified Business Analyst, Small Business Development Center at UNF
Produced by John Willman at Enterprise Videos, LLC

February 15th! FUNDamentals: Basics of Fundraising

 As our economy slid into recession, we began to see drastic changes in how, and why, donors were contributing to community organizations. What does your organization need to know, and need to do, to secure the funds you need to succeed in your mission? This workshop focuses on the fundamentals of the New Reality in fundraising.

February 15th, 1pm-4pm. $40.

Call 904-620-2476 to register or go here.

UNF Adam Herbert University Center 
Bldg. 43
12000 Alumni Dr.
Jacksonville, FL 32224

Nonprofit Startup 101 Workshop January 18th at UNF

The process of transforming your idea into an operating organization can be complicated. This workshop will provide the information you need to start a nonprofit organization in Northeast Florida ‐ begin with an understanding of why you may or may not want to start a nonprofit organization and what opportunities may be available to you. Learn how to apply for 501(c)3 status and move your mission forward!

Dates/Locations

• February 18th, 2011 - 11:30 am to 01:00 pm
  Class is held in the UNF SBDC Conference Room on the second floor. LIMITED SEATING. Feel free to bring a lunch if you wish, or cookies!

Cost $25.00

Registration:  904-620-2476 or HERE