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AMCF Nonprofit Resource Center

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 provides these links as useful self-help resources for nonprofit organizations on various topics, including startup documents & policies, strategic planning, marketing, fundraising, consulting services, and more. Please note that this list is continually changing as we remove old links and add new ones. 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 also reach out if there are areas you don’t see on the list where you would like resources.

General Nonprofit Support

    1. Yaqeen Institute: Governance Policies and Resources for the Muslim Nonprofit Community
    2. Stanford Law School- Mills Legal Clinic Nonprofit Documents
    3. The Nonprofit Center at La Salle University
    4. Georgetown University- Center for Public & Nonprofit Leadership
    5. National Council of Nonprofits
    6. Wild Apricot (especially check out blog and resource library under “Resources” tab)
    7. Taproot Foundation- Nonprofit Resources
    8. Nonprofit Expert
    9. Innovation Network (nonprofit research)
    10. Nonprofit Quarterly (nonprofit news)
    11. Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy

 

Starting Your Nonprofit

  1. WildApricot: “How to Start a Nonprofit in 12 Parts”
  2. DonorBox: “How to Start a Nonprofit Organization [10 Step Guide]”
  3. Foundation Group (services for nonprofit startup)
  4. IRS Form 1023, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
  5. IRS Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  6. Form 1023-EZ, Streamlined Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code

Bylaws: Samples, Guides and Templates

  1. Stanford Law School- Mills Legal Clinic ByLaws Template
  2. NOLO Nonprofit Bylaws Guide and Template
  3. NonprofitAlly: How to Write Your Nonprofit Bylaws (with links to templates)
  4. BoardEffect: Sample of Nonprofit Bylaws
  5. BoardSource: Bylaws Do’s + Don’ts

Articles of Incorporation: Samples, Guides and Templates

  1. Stanford Law School- Mills Legal Clinic Articles of Incorporation Template
  2. NonprofitAlly- Articles of Incorporation Guide (with links to templates)
  3. Minnesota Council of Nonprofits- Articles of Incorporation Template
  4. BoardSource- Must-Have Documents for Your Nonprofit

Legal Resources

  1. The Muslim Legal Fund of America
  2. National Association of Muslim Lawyers (NAML)

Conflict of Interest Policy: Samples, Guides and Templates

  1. National Council of Nonprofits- Conflict of Interest Pointers
  2. National Center for Family Philanthropy- Conflict of Interest Policy Sample
  3. BoardSource- Sample Conflict-of-Interest Policies
  4. Betterteam- Conflict of Interest Policy Guide and Sample

Whistleblower Policy: Samples, Guides and Templates

  1. Stanford Law School- Mills Legal Clinic Whistleblower Policy Template
  2. National Council of Nonprofits: Sample Whistleblower Protection Policy
  3. Management: Sample Whistleblower Policy
  4. National Center for Family Philanthropy: Sample Whistleblower Policy

Retention Policy: Samples

  1. Donor’s Forum- Sample Record Retention and Destruction Policy
  2. Authenticity Consulting- Sample Document Retention/Destruction Policy

Nonprofit Leadership & Management: Tools, Podcasts, Articles & Other Resources

  1. BoardSource (board development, coaching, assessment & other governance resources)
  2. BoardEffect (board portal software & governance resources)
  3. MindTools- Leadership Development & Time Management Tools
  4. Nonprofit Law Blog
  5. Nonstop Nonprofit (podcast)
  6. Nonprofit Jenni Show (podcast)
  7. Nonprofit Lowdown (podcast)
  8. Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership (podcast)
  9. The Nonprofit Voice (live broadcast)
  10. Nonprofit AF (nonprofit blog- advice and humor)
  11. Google for Nonprofits
  12. The Urban Center: “Building Capacity in Nonprofit Organizations”
  13. Nonprofit HR (HR support for nonprofits)
  14. The Bridgespan Group: “The Nonprofit Leadership Development Deficit”
  15. DEI: “8 Ways People of Color are Tokenized in Nonprofits”

Strategic Planning: Samples, Guides & Other Resources   

  1. Nonprofit Association of Washington (comprehensive guide for strategic planning with modules & templates)
  2. NOLO Nonprofit Strategic Plan Guide
  3. Bloomerang Strategic Planning: The Ultimate Guide + Examples
  4. Free Management Library: Developing Your Strategic Plan (module)
  5. BoardSource: Strategy and Planning
  6. enSYNC Corporation: The Comprehensive Guide to Strategic Planning for Nonprofits
  7. Sample- Taproot Foundation Strategic Plan
  8. Sample- Habitat for Humanity Strategic Plan
  9. Sample-  Peace Community Center Strategic Plan

Marketing & Branding

  1. Stanford University “Overall Digital Marketing Strategy” Template
  2. The Storytelling Nonprofit
  3. Marketing for the Modern Nonprofit (marketing resources)
  4. Canva for Nonprofits (graphic design tool)
  5. VistaCreate (graphic design tool)
  6. Lumen5 (video making tool)
  7. Animaker (live and animation video making tool)
  8. Hootsuite (social media management tool)
  9. Moz (keyword targeting tool)
  10. Google Ad Grants (advertising resource)

Fundraising & Development

  1. National Council of Nonprofits Fundraising Guide
  2. Texas Commission on the Arts- Fundraising Templates and Guides
  3. Aly Sterling Philanthropy – Fundraising Plan Template
  4. Wild Apricot- How to Prepare a Nonprofit Fundraising Plan (with links to templates)
  5. Donorly: Step-by-Step Fundraising Plan Template for Nonprofits
  6. Association of Fundraising Professionals (join your local chapter)
  7. GrantWatch
  8. AMCF COVID Fundraising Tips
  9. Becoming a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)
  10. National Association of Charitable Gift Planners
  11. Kindsight (data analytics for donor stewardship)
  12. DonorSearch (wealth screening/donor identification & stewardship platform)
  13. WealthEngine (wealth screening/donor identification & stewardship platform)

Financial Management & Accounting

  1. Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income
  2. Patriot: “Nonprofit Accounting: Mastering the Fundamentals”
  3. Patriot: “Comparing Accrual vs. Cash-Basis Accounting” 
  4. PAT Research: “Top 21 Funding Accounting Software”
  5. Propel Nonprofit: Finance Resources (cash flow template, budgeting checklist & other resources)
  6. National Council on Nonprofits: Nonprofit Audit Guide
  7. FASB: Accounting Standards Update
  8. GASB Summary of Statement No. 54: Fund Balance Reporting and Governmental Fund Type Definitions

Funding Sources

  1. AMCF: Women’s Giving Circle
  2. WF Fund
  3. El-Hibri Foundation 
  4. Islamic Relief USA
  5. Salaam Foundation 
  6. General Listings: Instrumentl (platform that shares other grantmakers)
  7. General Listings: Candid’s Foundation Directory
  8. Legal: Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA)
  9. Education: A Continuous Charity (scholarships and interest-free loans)
  10. Education: 200 Muslim Women Who Care Scholarship
  11. Education: Islamic Scholarship Fund (policy, media, public interest law, film)

Endowment & Investment Resources

  1. Starting an Endowment with AMCF
  2. Andalus Capital
  3. Amana Mutual Funds
  4. Azzad Asset Management
  5. Sharia Portfolio
  6. Wahed Invest

Nonprofit Consulting & Training

  1. Fundraising Academy (fundraising focused trainings & resources)
  2. Oaktree Institute (focused Muslim-centered leadership and organizational development)
  3. Dini Spheris (fundraising-focused consulting)
  4. Stanford Alumni Nonprofit Consulting Team
  5. Bloomerang- Nonprofit Consultant Directory
  6. Gould Studio- Heart-Centered Design
  7. Talem Consulting
  8. Al Razaq Fundraising & Grant Writing by Alison Kysia
  9. Alpha Retirement Advisors (retirement plan guidance and compliance support for private companies and nonprofits)

Fiscal Sponsorship

  1. Nonprofit Financial Commons (general guide on fiscal sponsorship)
  2. Social Good Fund
  3. Propel Nonprofits
  4. Tides

“Those who spend their wealth in charity day and night, secretly and openly—their reward is with their Lord, and there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.”
– The Holy Quran 2:274