CIVIC ENGAGEMENT SKILLS & RESOURCES
The following resources provide background and practical information for engaging with
the community and fostering social change. Please contact Nate Jacobi (jacobi@stolaf.edu) if you have ideas of other useful resources that you would like to add to this site.
Nonprofit Organizations 101
What Exactly Is a Nonprofit? (Idealist.org)
Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence (Minnesota Council of Nonprofits)
The Nonprofit Sector in Brief (National Center for Charitable Statistics, 2008)
Action Planning
Action Planning: Developing a Plan (Bonner Civic Engagement Training Modules)
Planning a Service Project for Your Group (Center for Community Service, Marquette Univeristy)
Advocacy
Being an Effective Citizen Lobbyist (Wellstone Action)
Principles of Advocacy (Community Toolbox, University of Kansas)
How to Lobby a Member of Congress (Amnesty International)
Grant and Proposal Writing
Business 101: Writing a Business Grant Proposal (Online Business Degree)
Grant Writing Tools for Non-Profit Organizations (Seacoast Web Design)
Proposal Writing Short Course (Foundation Center)
Davis Project for Peace Student Proposals (examples of 100 successful proposals)
Grassroots Grant and Proposal Writing Workshop (CEL)
Tips on Funding Unpaid Experiential Learning Opportunities (CEL)
Community and Campus Organizing
Tools for Organizing (Citizen Works)
Community Organizing: People Power from the Grassroots (By Dave Beckwith, with Cristina Lopez, Center for Community Change)
Organizing Tools (Wellstone Organizing)
Developing Leadership for Social Change (Wellstone Action)
Planning Events and Activities (Amnesty International)
How to Run an Effective Meeting (aimed at professionals in the business world but applicable to all meetings)
General Resources
Bonner Civic Engagement Training Modules (over 50 skills and topics)
The Community Toolbox (University of Kansas)
Civic Engagement, Service and Service-learning Program Models (Campus Compact)
Marketing 101: Using Social Media / Web 2.0 to Highlight Your Program (Learn & Serve America)
Facilitating Reflection: A Manual for Leaders and Educators (written and compiled by Julie Reed & Christopher Koliba)
