2005 Report Index

	Cher Hersrud, Director The year 2005 was an important one for the Resource Center; it was a year of training and presentations. The Directors Network offered full day nonprofit management training in Richardton and Carrington. It was a great deal of information and participants evaluated the session very positively. One of the most significant aspects was the participation of 5 experienced nonprofit directors, who shared their experience. We will be offering the full day training in Jamestown and Minot in Spring, 2006.
	I presented at a record number of conferences, including a Hunger Conference and the state conference for CPA’s. Workshops offered by the Resource Center included several grant writing workshops and a new one, Basic Fundraising. There is an ongoing need for board development, and the Resource Center continues to provide training on “How to Be a Better Board.” This training is available in person and in print, and has been the most widely used service of the Resource Center.
	Dakota Medical Foundation awarded the Resource Center a grant to survey all 5,000 nonprofit corporations in North Dakota. One of the critical issues indicated by nonprofit organizations has been the need for affordable health insurance. The survey will provide us with the information necessary to determine if it is feasible to develop an insurance program for nonprofits. An additional component of the grant is research on what other states have developed to meet this need. The information will also provide us with a true indication of the scope of the nonprofit sector in North Dakota. To better meet the need for information and communication within the sector, the Resource Center is developing the Nonprofit Bulletin. This publication will not be a newsletter, but will be a technical assistance publication of useful information to organizations. It is my hope to make it a communication tool for best practices, opinions, and helpful information for all organizations.
	More wonderful discoveries were made in 2005; it never ceases to amaze me what is accomplished within this state. Volunteers make things happen, and their commitment is truly inspiring. As I move into the 8th year of Resource Center operation, I have to thank those who make it possible for me to do a job I truly love. The Otto Bremer Foundation has supported the Center since its inception; they see the need, the value of the work, and they provide critical support.
	Covering an entire state with one person is tough, but Kevin and Valerie at NDCF make it all easier. They listen, they support, and they encourage. This program has been effective, and it has made a difference. It would not have been possible without the support of NDCF.