Links to Other Web Sites

Links to relevant information and resources are listed below by topic. Topics are listed in alphabetical order. Each link is followed by a brief description and the source. Simply click on the link, and it will take you directly to the site. New topics and resources will be added on a monthly basis.

Also, check out the other relevant Web site links located in the Resource Room. Your user ID and password access that site as well.

Assessment

Adventures in Assessment: Learner-Centered Approaches to Assessment and Evaluation in Adult Literacy
You'll find articles about integrating student goal setting into classes, using data to improve programs, and using the Arlington Education & Employment Program (REEP) writing assessment to inform instruction. You'll also find two similar articles that explain basic elements of standardized testing in laypersons' language.
http://www.sabes.org/resources/adventures/vol16/vol16.htm

Arlington Education and Employment Program
Project learning is a collaborative approach to teaching and learning in which learners are placed in situations where they use authentic language to accomplish particular objectives. As part of the process, learners plan, work on complex tasks, and assess their performance and progress. A project is designed around issues, questions or needs identified by the learners.
http://www.cal.org/ncle/REEPproj.pdf

Boards

Board Cafe
Simple information for nonprofit board members.
http://www4.compasspoint.org/cpDir/files/documents/bc_2004_01.pdf

Capacity Building

Philanthropy News Digest: Organizational Effectiveness
PND has updated this special resource issue, which includes annotated links to Web-based resources and sites, examples of capacity-building grants, and a list of related readings: Board Resources, Communication Resources, Evaluation Resources, Funding Resources, General Resources, Management Resources, Technology Assistance, and Training Resources.
http://fdncenter.org/pnd/specialissues/item.jhtml?id=6900039#defs

Computer Software

Computer Checklist
A downloadable version of South Carolina Adult Education’s Computer Checklist may be accessed at this location. Click “Cancel” when prompted for a password.
http://www.scwrc.org/S%20C%20Computer%20assessment%209%2026%2002.doc

Using Technology: Evaluating Software Programs
From the National Center for ESL Literacy Education (NCLE), this seven-page guide is available free at the NCLE Web site. It was updated December 2003.
http://www.cal.org/ncle/softwareval.htm

Fund-raising

Jean Block Consulting, Inc.
Jean Block Consulting, Inc. can help maximize the success of a nonprofit agency or group. Jean is a national consultant, speaker, and trainer on nonprofit management, fund-raising, and board development.
http://www.jblockinc.com

GED

American Council on Education
Information on changes to the GED test.
http://www.acenet.edu/calec/ged/test2002-A.cfm

Boletín Informativo (Spanish edition 2004) GED Information Bulletin
This 16-page tabloid-style brochure provides general information about the GED testing program, the new 2002 Series GED Tests, sample questions, and the history of the program. This publication is designed for candidates and members of the community who may need more information about the GED Tests.
http://www.acenet.edu/bookstore/pubInfo.cfm?pubID=309

Grant Writing

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting posts an easy guide to the basics of grant writing. It’s organized into steps, with a list of tasks and examples for each step. http://www.cpb.org/grants/grantwriting.html

GrantHelp
GrantHelp offers tips, techniques, and books related to grant writing.
http://granthelp.clarityconnect.com

GrantProposal.com
Grantproposal.com provides free resources for both advanced grant-writing consultants and inexperienced nonprofit staff. This site is designed for nonprofit organizations.
http://www.grantproposal.com/

Grants

eGrants
The Corporation for National and Community Services online grant application and management system, eGrants, allows agencies to find grant opportunities, apply for grants, and manage their grant reporting over the Internet.
http://www.nationalservice.org/egrants/

Foundation Center
The Foundation Center collects and distributes information on grant makers, including statistics and trends.
http://www.fdncenter.org

Foundations.org
Foundations.org provides a directory and links to community foundations, corporate foundations, private foundations, and grant makers from around the world.
http://www.foundations.org

Grants.gov
Grants.gov allows organizations to electronically find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all federal grant-making agencies.
http://www.grants.gov/

University of Wisconsin-Madison
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Memorial Library has prepared and posted a collection of resources describing funding available for nonprofits.
http://grants.library.wisc.edu

Health Literacy

ETS
Literacy and Health in America. Policy Information Report written by Rima Rudd, Harvard School of Public Health, Irwin Kirsch and Kentaro Yamamoto, Educational Testing Service. This report seeks to further illuminate the relationship between literacy and health using data from large-scale surveys of adult literacy such as the National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS) and the International Adult Literacy Survey. The researchers were able to create a new Health Activities Literacy Scale (HALS) linked to the NALS database. Using the new HALS scale, the authors estimate the distribution of literacy on health-related tasks among U.S. adults, describe the health literacy skills of at-risk or vulnerable population groups, and demonstrate how health-related literacy is connected to health status, wealth, and civic engagement.
http://www.ets.org

Health Literacy Month
The Health Literacy Month Web site has eight Health Literacy Fact Sheets that were updated in 2003. Using everyday language, they give sound, basic information about health literacy and provide guidelines for preparing patient education materials.
http://www.healthliteracymonth.com/

National Institute for Literacy
The National Institute for Literacy Special Collection on Health Literacy has information for students/learners, teachers/tutors, health educators, and health care providers. The site includes useful links to organizations involved with health literacy as well as lesson plans and teaching activities.
http://www.worlded.org/us/health/lincs/

National Library of Medicine
Understanding Health Literacy and its Barriers: Current Bibliographies in Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Includes citations from January 1998 through November 2003.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/cbm/healthliteracybarriers.html

Miscellaneous

Consumer Acton Handbook
The 2004 Consumer Action Handbook can be an excellent tool for reviewing consumer and budgeting issues with a student. It has a buying guide and information on cars, employment, food, health, housing, etc. It even has a middle school lesson plan.
http://www.consumeraction.gov/

Nonprofit Legal Resources

America Reads
America Reads provides online information regarding volunteers and the law.
http://www.ed.gov/americareads/resourcekit/ManageVolunteers/

Power of Attorney
Power of Attorney has been leading a national effort to help make free legal services widely available to nonprofits. Currently there are organizations in more than 30 U.S. cities that match nonprofits with volunteer lawyers who have business law experience.
http://www.powerofattorney.org

Volunteer Legal Handbook
A legal handbook especially for volunteers.
http://www.iciclesoftware.com/vlh7/

Nonprofits

Form 990 Software
The Desktop990 is free downloadable software for completing the Form 990 for nonprofits.
http://www.independentsector.org/edin/tools_index.htm#desktop990

Hearts and Minds
This is a clearinghouse of information for volunteers and nonprofits. It offers inspirational articles, fund-raising ideas, and networking opportunities.
http://www.heartsandminds.com

Nonprofit Organizations and the Current Fiscal Crisis
Lester M. Salamon and Richard O’Sullivan, John Hopkins University/Center for Civil Society Studies, Institute for Policy Studies. According to this study, nonprofit organizations experienced significant financial stress over the past year but still managed to increase their services and boost revenue. Nearly 90 percent of the organizations surveyed by the center in 2003 reported some degree of fiscal stress over the previous 12 months, and more than half described that stress as "severe." Yet the vast majority of these agencies managed to boost their income, and nearly two-thirds reported increased activity in response to growing demand for their services. To achieve that, organizations employed multiple strategies, combining new initiatives with defensive belt-tightening measures.
http://www.jhu.edu/listeningpost/news/pdf/comm02.pdf

Office Furniture

Surplus Exchange
This is a clearinghouse for donated office furniture and equipment for nonprofits.
http://www.surplusexchange.org

Program Management/General

CampusCares
This site was created to identify, celebrate, and encourage individuals on America’s campuses - students, faculty, staff, and administration. This site could be helpful in preparing strategies for recruiting volunteers from local colleges.
http://www.campuscares.org

National Institute for Literacy 1993-2002
A report from the National Institute for Literacy summarizes accomplishments over a ten-year period and provides an overview of the Institute's legislative history, structure, and funding. It also offers background information on literacy and the adult literacy service system.
http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/publications/accomplish.pdf

The Nonprofit Good Practices Guide
The Nonprofit Good Practices Guide, a project of The Philanthropic and Nonprofit Management (PNKM), captures and organizes good practices to assist nonprofits with improving their efficiency and effectiveness. Topics include: fund-raising, governance, staff development, accountability and evaluation, volunteer management, communications and marketing, and leadership.
http://www.nonprofitbasics.org

Program Management/PR and Media

UNESCO/APC: Multimedia Training Kit (MMTK)
This kit provides trainers in the development sector with a structured set of materials to help them make that jump between new and traditional media or to train in a new skill area. The materials cover a range of multimedia areas including "Presenting on Radio" and "Writing for the Web" as well as topics such as "Cooperative Problem Solving."
http://www.apc.org

Program Management/Salaries

Guidestar Salary Search
What does the executive director of a $5 million nonprofit in Chicago make? How about the marketing manager of a human services organization in Los Angeles? GuideStar Salary Search offers wide-ranging, frequently updated data on employee compensation for more than 234,000 nonprofit organizations. This interactive, online nonprofit compensation research tool gives users greater flexibility in researching nonprofit compensation.
http://www.pnnonline.org/article.php?sid=4855

Research

Adolescent Literacy Resources: Linking Research and Practice
From the Education Alliance at Brown University and The Center for Resource Management, Inc., this resource defines the elements of a successful literacy initiative. Organizes the research, and links it to effective classroom practice to help educators focus on research-based literacy strategies. Includes an extensive bibliography, annotated research reviews, and examples of classroom practice.
http://www.alliance.brown.edu

Alliance For Excellent Education
How to Know a Good Adolescent Literacy Program When You See One: Quality Criteria to Consider
http://www.all4ed.org/adolescent_literacy/issue_briefs.html

Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action
The Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action is an international membership organization dedicated to fostering through research and understanding of the nonprofit sector, philanthropy, and volunteerism.
http://www.arnova.org

Current Issues in Correctional Education: A Compilation & Discussion
By Gail Spangenberg, Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy. Several broad questions are treated in this paper: 1) What are the critical public policy issues? 2) How have the level and kind of funding changed? 3) What is the relationship between Dept. of Ed. and Dept. of Corrections in your state? 4) What issues would you most like to see examined?
http://www.caalusa.org

Education Research: A primer
The Education Commission of the States and Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning have launched a new online tool to help policymakers, education leaders, reporters, and others better understand and evaluate education research. The primer helps answer three questions: (1) What does the research say? (2) Is the research trustworthy? (3) How can research be used to guide policy?
http://www.ecs.org/html/educationIssues/Research/primer/researchsays.asp

How Teachers Change: A Study of Professional Development in Adult Education
By Cristine Smith, Jody Hofer, Marilyn Gillespie, Marla Solomon and Karen Rowe, National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy. A NCSALL Research Report. This study investigated how adult education teachers changed after participating in one of three different models of professional development (multi-session workshop, mentor teacher group, or practitioner research group), all on the same topic of learner persistence. This study was conducted primarily to help professional development decision-makers plan and deliver effective professional development and to understand the factors that influence how teachers change as a result of professional development.
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/~ncsall/research/brief25.pdf (4 pages)
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/~ncsall/research/report25a.pdf (41 pages)
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/~ncsall/research/report25.pdf (191 pages)

Identifying and Implementing Educational Practices Supported by Rigorous Evidence: A User Friendly Guide
U.S. Department of Education. Institute of Education Sciences. National Center for Education Evaluation. The federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and many federal K-12 grant programs call on educational practitioners to use “scientifically-based research” to guide their decisions about which interventions to implement. This guide seeks to provide educational practitioners with user-friendly tools to distinguish practices supported by rigorous evidence from those that are not.
http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/rigorousevid/index.html

The Impact of Ignoring Dyslexia and Reading Disabilities in the Criminal Justice System: What We Know and Need to Know
By Dr. Tony Fabelo, Dr. James Austin, and Angela Gunter. This study is reported to be the first comprehensive examination of a link between learning and reading disabilities and the effects on Texas’s school and prison systems. The report confirms that reading disabilities are prevalent in criminal justice populations.
http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/statesman/metro/0528dyslexia_report.pdf

Issues in Improving Immigrant Workers' English Language Skills
By Miriam Burt, National Center for ESL Literacy Education. This brief identifies five issues to be addressed in improving the English language skills of immigrant workers and provides suggestions for addressing these issues through workplace instruction. The issues include, length of time it takes to learn English, language use in the workplace, language and identity, the relationship between training and worker performance, and measuring outcomes.
http://www.cal.org/ncle/digests/Workplaceissues.htm

Locating the Dropout Crisis. Which High Schools Produce the Nation’s Dropouts? Where Are They Located? Who Attends Them?
By Robert Balfanz and Nettie Legters, Johns Hopkins University. The study concludes that nearly half of the nation’s African American students, nearly 40% of Latino students, and only 11% of white students attend high schools in which graduation is not the norm. There are currently between 900 and 1,000 high schools in the country where graduating is at best a 50/50 proposition.
http://www.csos.jhu.edu/tdhs/rsch/Locating_Dropouts.pdf

Losing Our Future: How Minority Youth are Being Left Behind by the Graduation Rate Crisis
A Joint Release by The Civil Rights Project at Harvard University, The Urban Institute, Advocates for Children of New York and The Civil Society Institute. The nation's high school graduation rates are low for all students, but they are substantially lower for most minority groups and particularly for males. According to this report, in 2001, only 50% of all black students, 51% of Native American students, and 53% of all Hispanic students graduated from high school. Official “dropout” statistics neither accurately count nor report the vast numbers of students who do not graduate from high school. See this 98-page report.
http://www.resultsforamerica.org/calendar/files/1Losing%20Our%20Future%20-%20Main%20Report.pdf

Outcomes Employers Look for in Workplace ESL Programs
Miriam Burt, of the National Center for ESL Literacy Education, has written a brief that identifies five issues to be addressed in improving the English language skills of immigrant workers and provides suggestions for addressing these issues through workplace instruction. The brief is titled "Issues in Improving Immigrant Workers' English Language Skills."
http://www.cal.org/ncle/digests/Workplaceissues.htm

Research Methods for Studying ABE/ESOL Populations
By Eleanor Drago-Severson, National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy. How adults experience learning in their programs; how this learning transferred to their roles as parents, workers, or learners; how programs support and challenge their learning; and how this learning helped them change.
http://gseweb.harvard.edu/~ncsall/

Second Language Acquisition: The study of how people learn to communicate in a language other than their native language.
NCLE's new online resource collection Second Language Acquisition provides background information about SLA. The collection was compiled by NCLE research associate Donna Moss. Of particular interest is the annotated bibliography of SLA research on learner motivation, interaction, and vocabulary development.
http://www.cal.org/ncle/ResSLA.htm

Second Language Acquisition in Adults: From Research to Practice
By Donna Moss, National Center for ESL Literacy Education and Lauren Ross-Feldman, Georgetown University. The purpose of this Q&A is to show how SLA research can inform adult ESL instruction. Three research areas are discussed: 1) the effect of learner motivation, 2) the role of interaction, and 3) the role of vocabulary.
http://www.cal.org/ncle/digests/SLA.htm

Trends in Adult and Family Literacy
Keynote Address by David J. Rosen, Ed.D. at The 20th Annual Florida Literacy Conference, May 7, 2004.
http://floridaliteracy.org/2004/pdf-docs/keynote05-07-04.pdf

What Does It Take for Adults to Learn? Creating Learning Opportunities that Support Literacy Development and Second Language Acquisition
By Heide Spruck Wrigley and Jim Powrie. Lists basic principles of how adults develop language and literacy skills. If adults are to learn to communicate, solve problems, and write and read more widely, they must see the connection between skills to be acquired and the tasks they are trying to accomplish. This 16-page guide is available in the Resource Center and on the CLESE (Coalition of Limited English Speaking Elderly) Web site; click on Products.
http://www.clese.org

Working For America Institute
Getting to Work: A Report on How Workers with Limited English Skills Can Prepare for Good Jobs Profiles eight programs that combine language and occupational training to prepare LEP workers for better jobs. This report draws some important practice and policy conclusions that have implications for both workforce development practitioners and immigrant advocates.
http://www.workingforamerica.org

Technology

Literacy.org
Adult Literacy Practitioners’ Readiness to Use Technology in the Classroom: A Five State Survey in 2002-2004 by Lynda Ginsburg, National Center on Adult Literacy, University of Pennsylvania. Only half the adult educators who responded to the survey thought their programs had sufficiently good access to productivity tools, online resources, and other media-based instructional materials.
http://www.literacyonline.org/

Technology Grant News
Technology Grant News provides accurate, one-stop information on technology grants, free technology resources, technology partnerships, strategic alliances, and technology advancement for your organization.
http://www.technologygrantnews.com

Technology/Volunteer Management Software

Red Ridge
This site specializes in technology solutions for volunteer leaders; maker of VolunteerWorks.
http://www.redridge.com/

Samaritan Technologies
Samaritan Technologies specializes in highly customizable Web and PC-based volunteer management, tracking, and recruiting software for multi-site organizations.
http://www.smaritan.com/

Volunteer Recognition

Certificate Creator.com
Certificate Creator allows you to created certificates online. There are currently dozens of certificates to choose from and more are added regularly.
http://www.certificatecreator.com

eGreetings.com
A site that offers a selection of free e-cards.
http://www.egreetings.com

Gemini Expressions
Gemini Expressions, a division of Gemini Manufacturing, Inc., specializes in stock and custom jewelry and accessories for fund-raising, gifts, and event mementos and promotions.
http://www.geminiexpressions.com

Hallmark
Purchase volunteer appreciation cards from Hallmark by clicking the “Shop Business Greeting Cards” link and then clicking “Volunteer Appreciation.”
http://www.hallmarkbusiness.com

Magazine Price Search
A great site to pick up an inexpensive magazine subscription for a deserving volunteer.
http://www.magazinepricesearch.com

Points of Light Foundation
The Points of Light Foundation accepts nominations throughout the year and makes selections on a quarterly basis.
http://www.pointsoflight.org

The Thanks Company
The Thanks Company specializes in greeting cards, recognition gifts, and custom-engraved awards.
http://www.thankscompany.com

TrendyChocolate
Trendychocolate lets you print your own photo or messages on top of a decadent chocolate bar.
http://www.trendychocolate.com

Volunteer Recruitment

Reinventing Aging: Baby Boomers and Civic Engagement
A new report from the Harvard School of Public Health-MetLife Foundation Initiative on Retirement and Civic Engagement suggests that baby boomers have the potential to become a social resource of unprecedented proportions by actively participating in the life of their communities. Some key findings: Boomers say they will volunteer, but may need a push. Large-scale efforts may be needed to recruit boomers as volunteers. Contrary to conventional wisdom, more people volunteer in mid-life than in retirement. Current language related to aging is obsolete. Organizations may need retooling to attract and retain boomer volunteers.
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/chc/reinventingaging/Report.pdf

Volunteer Recruitment/Volunteer Opportunities

Charity America
CharityAmerica allows nonprofits to register for onine donations and post their volunteer opportunities.
http://charityamerica.com

Idealist.org
Idealist.org (Action Without Borders) allows organizations to post jobs, events, volunteer opportunities, and projects for consultants.
http://idealist.org

SERVEnet
Through SERVEnet, users can enter their zip code, city, state, skills, interests, and availability and be matched with volunteer opportunities.
http://www.servenet.org

VolunteerMatch
VolunteerMatch is the largest online database of volunteer opportunities, both on site and virtual. VolunteerMatch partners with other Web portals; therefore, registering with VolunteerMatch assures you are cross-posted on other sites.
http://www.volunteermatch.org

Volunteer Recruitment and Management

Ditto.com
Ditto.com is a search engine for images. To find graphics that depict volunteering, use “volunteer” as a search parameter.
http://www.ditto.com

A Friendly Atmosphere for your Volunteers
By Dr. Christopher Cihlar for the Points of Light Foundation. This paper provides a background on management techniques that promote volunteer friendliness. The most important determinants of volunteer satisfaction are the quality of job assignments volunteers receive and the way they are treated by organization staff. Organizations need to formulate specific strategies to enhance volunteer utilization and satisfaction. These efforts are likely to result in more volunteers who are harder working, motivated, and satisfied with their positions. In addition, volunteer friendly strategies result in more and larger financial contributions, stronger long-term commitment among program participants, and create loyalty among volunteers and financial contributors.
http://www.pointsoflight.org/downloads/pdf/resources/research/FriendlyAtmosphere.pdf

Simply The Best
This site offers thousands of fonts. Most are freeware or shareware, but some need to be registered.
http://www.simplythebest.net/fonts/

Survey Monkey
SurveyMonkey is an online survey provider that allows you to create professional online surveys quickly and easily. You can view the results as they’re collected in real time.
http://www.surveymonkey.com

TechSoup
TechSoup provides free information, resources, and support on technology-related issues.
http://www.techsoup.org

UPS Community
The UPS Foundation, Association for Volunteer Administration, and The Points of Light Foundation offer free volunteer management materials on their Web sites: A Guide to Investing in Volunteer Resources Management; Strategies for the Effective Engagement of Volunteers; Mapping New Routes to Volunteer Success; and Trainer's Guidelines: Preparing and Conducting Training Programs.
http://www.community.ups.com (Click on Volunteers.)

The Urban Institute
Volunteer Management Practices and Retention of Volunteers by Mark A. Hager and Jeffrey L. Brudney, The Urban Institute. From a sample of 3,000 charities, nine management practices were presented to survey respondents who reported they involve volunteers in their operations. The charities were asked if they have adopted each practice to a large degree, to some degree, or not at all. The most striking finding is that only one practice, regular supervision and communication with volunteers, has been adopted to a large degree by more than half of charities. Large degree adoption of training for either volunteers or for paid staff in working with volunteers is particularly rare; these practices are more likely to have been adopted only to some degree, if at all.
http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/411005_VolunteerManagement.pdf

Volunteer Recruitment and Management/Discussion Groups and Listservs

CyberVPM
CyberVPM is an active discussion group for volunteer coordinators and service leaders.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cybervpm

Nonprofit
Nonprofit discusses volunteer/service management issues, as well as other issues of interest to nonprofit professionals, volunteers, and supporters.
http://www.rain.org/mailman/listinfo/nonprofit

Volunteering/Statistics

Association of Fundraising Professionals
More Americans Volunteer Last Year (Jan. 6, 2004) - Four million more Americans volunteered from September 2002 to September 2003 than the previous year, increasing the volunteer rate in the United States from 27.4 percent to 28.8 percent, according to new government statistics.
http://www.afpnet.org/tier3_cd.cfm?folder_id=2345&content_item_id=14626

Independent Sector
The Independent Sector provides all kinds of statistics on the state of volunteering in America.
http://www.IndependentSector.org

U.S. Department of Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor provides information on volunteer statistics and demographics in the United States.
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/volun.nr0.htm

Web Site Development

General Usability Guidelines
Excerpted from an online article by Sarah Agarwal, “Usability, Ignore it at Your Peril"
http://www.freepint.com/issues/150704.htm#feature

These are some easily understandable guidelines, which are supported by research:

The National Cancer Institute has lists of design guidelines, where each one is accompanied by an indication of the supporting research.
http://www.usability.gov/guidelines/index.html

Stanford Web Credibility Research has produced ten guidelines to ensure that Web sites are seen as credible and trustworthy.
http://www.webcredibility.org/guidelines/

Sun Microsystems' Writing for the Web guidelines can be used to ensure that users can read content on a site with ease.
http://www.sun.com/980713/webwriting/

The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative's guidelines are frequently relevant to usability as well as accessibility.
http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10/full-checklist.html

World Education
World Education is a new book designed to provide adult literacy and ESOL staff developers and teachers with some simple, user-friendly tips on building Web sites as a classroom activity.
http://www.literacytech.org/webpub

Web Use

Tool Kit for the Expert Web Searcher
http://www.ala.org/ala/lita/litaresources/toolkitforexpert/toolkitexpert.htm#invisible

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