AMCF Nonprofit Resource Center
Welcome to AMCF’s Nonprofit Resource Center! This is a place where we will share resources on nonprofit management and leadership. To start, here is a list of resources to explore. Stay tuned soon for monthly blog posts that will expand on these resources.
Disclaimer: The resources below do not constitute legal or accounting advice nor does AMCF endorse any particular nonprofit resource, paid or free. AMCF aims to provide these links as useful self-help resources for nonprofit organizations on various topics- including startup documents & policies, strategic planning, marketing, fundraising, consulting services and others. Please note that this list is continually changing as old links are removed and new links are added. If you notice a link that is no longer working or have a link you would like to see on the list, please contact us at nonprofitengage@amuslimcf.org. Please feel free to also reach out and let us know if there are areas you do not see on the list for which you would like resources provided.
General Nonprofit Support
- Stanford Law School- Mills Legal Clinic Nonprofit Documents
- The Nonprofit Center at La Salle University
- Georgetown University- Center for Public & Nonprofit Leadership
- National Council of Nonprofits
- Center on Muslim Philanthropy
- Wild Apricot (especially check out blog and resource library under “Resources” tab)
- Taproot Foundation- Nonprofit Resources
- Nonprofit Expert
- Innovation Network (nonprofit research)
- Nonprofit Quarterly (nonprofit news)
- Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy
- Muslim Philanthropy Initiative – Dr. Shariq Siddiqui
Starting Your Nonprofit
- WildApricot: “How to Start a Nonprofit in 12 Parts”
- DonorBox: “How to Start a Nonprofit Organization [10 Step Guide]”
- Foundation Group (services for nonprofit startup)
- IRS Form 1023, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
- IRS Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Form 1023-EZ, Streamlined Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
Bylaws: Samples, Guides and Templates
- Stanford Law School- Mills Legal Clinic ByLaws Template
- NOLO Nonprofit Bylaws Guide and Template
- NonprofitAlly: How to Write Your Nonprofit Bylaws (with links to templates)
- BoardEffect: Sample of Nonprofit Bylaws
- BoardSource: Bylaws Do’s + Don’ts
Articles of Incorporation: Samples, Guides and Templates
- Stanford Law School- Mills Legal Clinic Articles of Incorporation Template
- NonprofitAlly- Articles of Incorporation Guide (with links to templates)
- Minnesota Council of Nonprofits- Articles of Incorporation Template
- BoardSource- Must-Have Documents for Your Nonprofit
Legal Resources
Conflict of Interest Policy: Samples, Guides and Templates
- National Council of Nonprofits- Conflict of Interest Pointers
- National Center for Family Philanthropy- Conflict of Interest Policy Sample
- BoardSource- Sample Conflict-of-Interest Policies
- Betterteam- Conflict of Interest Policy Guide and Sample
Whistleblower Policy: Samples, Guides and Templates
- Stanford Law School- Mills Legal Clinic Whistleblower Policy Template
- National Council of Nonprofits: Sample Whistleblower Protection Policy
- Management: Sample Whistleblower Policy
- National Center for Family Philanthropy: Sample Whistleblower Policy
Retention Policy: Samples
- Donor’s Forum- Sample Record Retention and Destruction Policy
- Authenticity Consulting- Sample Document Retention/Destruction Policy
Nonprofit Leadership & Management: Tools, Podcasts, Articles & Other Resources
- BoardSource (board development, coaching, assessment & other governance resources)
- BoardEffect (board portal software & governance resources)
- MindTools- Leadership Development & Time Management Tools
- Nonprofit Law Blog
- Nonstop Nonprofit (podcast)
- Nonprofit Jenni Show (podcast)
- Nonprofit Lowdown (podcast)
- Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership (podcast)
- The Nonprofit Voice (live broadcast)
- Nonprofit AF (nonprofit blog- advice and humor)
- Google for Nonprofits
- The Urban Center: “Building Capacity in Nonprofit Organizations”
- Nonprofit HR (HR support for nonprofits)
- The Bridgespan Group: “The Nonprofit Leadership Development Deficit”
- DEI: “8 Ways People of Color are Tokenized in Nonprofits”
Strategic Planning: Samples, Guides & Other Resources
- Nonprofit Association of Washington (comprehensive guide for strategic planning with modules & templates)
- NOLO Nonprofit Strategic Plan Guide
- Bloomerang Strategic Planning: The Ultimate Guide + Examples
- Free Management Library: Developing Your Strategic Plan (module)
- BoardSource: Strategy and Planning
- enSYNC Corporation: The Comprehensive Guide to Strategic Planning for Nonprofits
- Sample- Taproot Foundation Strategic Plan
- Sample- Habitat for Humanity Strategic Plan
- Sample- Peace Community Center Strategic Plan
Marketing & Branding
- Stanford University “Overall Digital Marketing Strategy” Template
- The Storytelling Nonprofit
- Marketing for the Modern Nonprofit (marketing resources)
- Canva for Nonprofits (graphic design tool)
- VistaCreate (graphic design tool)
- Lumen5 (video making tool)
- Animaker (live and animation video making tool)
- Hootsuite (social media management tool)
- Moz (keyword targeting tool)
- Google Ad Grants (advertising resource)
Fundraising & Development
- National Council of Nonprofits Fundraising Guide
- Texas Commission on the Arts- Fundraising Templates and Guides
- Aly Sterling Philanthropy – Fundraising Plan Template
- Wild Apricot- How to Prepare a Nonprofit Fundraising Plan (with links to templates)
- Donorly: Step-by-Step Fundraising Plan Template for Nonprofits
- Association of Fundraising Professionals (join your local chapter)
- GrantWatch
- AMCF COVID Fundraising Tips
- Becoming a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)
- National Association of Charitable Gift Planners
- Kindsight (data analytics for donor stewardship)
- DonorSearch (wealth screening/donor identification & stewardship platform)
- WealthEngine (wealth screening/donor identification & stewardship platform)
Financial Management & Accounting
- Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income
- Patriot: “Nonprofit Accounting: Mastering the Fundamentals”
- Patriot: “Comparing Accrual vs. Cash-Basis Accounting”
- PAT Research: “Top 21 Funding Accounting Software”
- Propel Nonprofit: Finance Resources (cash flow template, budgeting checklist & other resources)
- National Council on Nonprofits: Nonprofit Audit Guide
- FASB: Accounting Standards Update
- GASB Summary of Statement No. 54: Fund Balance Reporting and Governmental Fund Type Definitions
Endowment & Investment Resources
- Starting an Endowment with AMCF
- Andalus Capital
- Amana Mutual Funds
- Azzad Asset Management
- Sharia Portfolio
- Wahed Invest
Nonprofit Consulting & Training
- Fundraising Academy (fundraising focused trainings & resources)
- Oaktree Institute (focused Muslim-centered leadership and organizational development)
- Dini Spheris (fundraising focused consulting)
- Stanford Alumni Nonprofit Consulting Team
- Bloomerang- Nonprofit Consultant Directory
- Gould Studio- Heart-Centered Design
- Talem Consulting
Fiscal Sponsorship
- Nonprofit Financial Commons (general guide on fiscal sponsorship)
- Social Good Fund
- Propel Nonprofits
- Tides