Tools
Vision, Values, and Voice: A Communications Toolkit
The Opportunity AgendaThis toolkit focuses on the broader goal of identifying universal themes and values that tie together a range of issues.
Rights for Renters Messaging
Public Will Initiative with ToposThis tool reiterates focusing on the positives instead of the negatives when it comes to messaging. Even though the series is called Rights for Renters, it isn’t actually limited to renter issue areas—such as the Critiquing Without Undermining Government brief.
A Progressive’s Style Guide
Hanna Thomas (SumOfUs.org); Anna Hirsch (ActivistEditor.com)A Progressive’s Style Guide is explicitly multi-voiced and is created with the following commitments. 1) We combat discriminatory language. 2) We seek advice or more information when we’re unsure. 3) When writing, speaking, or using images, we aim to use examples that reflect a broad range of identities and perspectives.
55 Competency-Based Ideas for Professional Development
The Bridgespan GroupThis extensive list of 55 practical on-the-job learning opportunities will help you build customized development plans for your direct reports.
Massachusetts Small Business Loan Data Project
Massachusetts Community & Banking Council (MCBC)The Massachusetts Community & Banking Council (the MCBC) has sponsored an annual report on small business lending trends in Massachusetts since 1998. In the Spring of 2019, MCBC launched a new online platform – the Massachusetts Small Business Loan Data Project – that serves as a companion to the most recent report, Small Business Lending in Massachusetts 2008-2017, authored by BankMaps. The Massachusetts Small Business Loan Data Project provides an online data service with interactive access to maps and charts from six (6) national databases related to the subject of small business lending in Massachusetts.
DataTown
Massachusetts Housing Partnership's Center for Housing DataThe site compiles community-level information from various data sources for all 351 Massachusetts cities and towns, and visualizes that data in graphics and charts so it's easy to understand, print out and bring to a community discussion.
The National Equity Research Database, Boston Edition
Brandeis Institute for Child, Youth and Family PolicyThis is a database of 286 socio-economic indicators on a wide range of subjects, including demography, education, employment, health, housing, earnings and ancestry covering the Boston metropolitan area.
Building Blocks: Connecting People, Places and Policies
Enterprise Community PartnersA podcast for thought-provoking conversations about the current issues, trends, ideas and big questions facing the affordable housing and community development field in the United States.
MASSCAP Trainings: Recorded Webinars
MASSCAPThis resource contains all the past recorded webinars from MASSCAP (Understanding Immigrant Rights, Community Action Impact, Succession Planning, and More!)
Access: A Community Development Podcast
Federal Reserve SystemAccess is a new podcast from the Community Development departments of the Federal Reserve System. Each episode highlights a successful model or program within the four focus areas of our work: people, place, policy and practice, and small business.
Budget Resources
Mass BudgetShortly after each major state budget release, MassBudget produce a written Budget Monitor that analyzes major proposals across a range of key areas (e.g. education, transportation, health care, revenue).
Inclusive, Local Sourcing: Purchasing for People and Place
Democracy CollaborativeThis toolkit provides hospital and health system leaders with the tools they need to harness their everyday business operations to improve community health through procurement and purchasing focused on locally-owned businesses.
Tools for Cultivating and Connecting Leaders
Living CitiesA well curated toolkit to support effective and adaptive leadership
Jargon Buster- Build Healthy Places Network
Build Healthy Places NetworkTool demystifies community development and public health jargon terms for those working with peers in other sectors
Pedestrian Infrastructure: Strategies for improving pedestrian safety through low-cost traffic calming
WalkBostonTool provides examples of low-cost measures to calm traffic and enhance safety on municipal streets and state roads
Shared Ownership Toolkit
Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE)Explore case studies, videos and resources on how to create a shared ownership business enterprise
Resources from the Massachusetts Community and Banking Council
Massachusetts Community and Banking CouncilExplore MCBC's compendium of resources on their new website intended for boosting the availability of credit and financial services in low-income communities
Sample CDC Policies and Procedures
Local Initiatives Support CorporationSample guide outlines Community Development Corporation organizational policies and procedures in line with requirements for federal funding
Pro Bono Analytics for Non-Profit Organizations
INFORMSLearn about the pro-bono analytics software that nonprofit organizations can use to analyze data
All in Cities Initiative
PolicyLinkToolkit includes policy ideas, data and assistance to advance racial economic inclusion and equitable growth
Community Resources for Boards
BoardSourceSet of guides on everything for nonprofit boards, from how to take minutes to financial and fundraising issues.
Free Management Library
Authencity ConsultingLibrary provides resources on management related topics including operations, fundraising, HR, communications etc.
Logic Model Workbook
Innovation NetworkStep-by-step guide explains how nonprofit organizations can develop a logic model for program evaluation
Assets & Opportunity Scorecard
Corporation for Enterprise DevelopmentCFED created an interactive state by state ranking of household financial security and policy solutions
The Poverty Primer
Tamarack- An Institute of Community EngagementThis booklet covers the essential elements of developing and sustaining a long-term, local effort to reduce poverty
NonprofitReady
Cornerstone OnDemand FoundationThis website offers web based courses and resources on all aspects of non-profit management including development, marketing, and operations
The Sustainable Community Indicator Catalog
Partnership for Sustainable CommunitiesOnline resource to help communities measure progress toward their sustainability goals
Ask Co-op Cathy
Cooperative Development InitiativeResource for answering any questions you may have on starting a co-op
Opportunity Index
Opportunity NationInteractive map of the United States showing how states and counties compare in terms of access to opportunity based on economic, education and community indicators
Developing Your Persuasive Message
M+R Strategic ServicesThis tool provides a framework to help you or your organization craft a persuasive message to generate appeal for your efforts
Social Impact Calculator
Low Income Investment FundThis tool helps organizations put a dollar value on their impact including affordable housing, education initiatives and other community development programming
MicroMentor
MicroMentor.orgMicroMentor connects entrepreneurs and mentors to build small businesses together.
Open Platform to Build Applications
The GuardianWhether you want to reach wider audiences, engage users more deeply or develop innovative advertising campaigns we have a range of services that can accelerate your digital ambitions.
Interactive Mapping Software
PolicyMapAccess the PolicyMap online mapping application from any Web browser on any OS and immediately begin creating and saving your own custom, interactive maps.
Small Business Guide
CitiThese guides contain a wealth of information on starting and running your business and also include activities, worksheets, self-assessments, glossaries, and valuable additional resources for you to consult along the way.
Best Practice Resources
Field at the Aspen InstituteTo help practitioners - and the microenterprise field - move toward long-term growth and stability, FIELD has engaged in extensive research and developed a variety of resources.
microTracker
Field at the Aspen InstitutemicroTracker helps microenterprise programs, donors, and investors track the performance and client outcomes of microenterprise organizations nationwide.
LISC Library
Local Initiatives Support CorporationWe produce Case Studies, Guidebooks, Topical Reports, Research and Conference Papers, and Trade Articles that provide practical ideas as well as celebrate the success of the field.
Valuing Our Nonprofit Workforce 2014
Third Sector New EnglandSalary and benefits information from a range of different types of nonprofits
Advocates’ Guide to Housing and Community Development Policy
National Low Income Housing CoalitionA compendium of all federal housing, community development, and related programs and issues with both current and historical information.