Releases

How much and what kind of lobbying is legal? The National Center for Nonprofit Boards' new booklet, Lobbying, Advocacy, and Nonprofit Boards, answers those questions. Written by the American Symphony Orchestra League Government Affairs Director John Sparks, the booklet outlines how to identify issues and prepare for an advocacy campaign, including how the Lobbying Reform Act of 1995 affects how nonprofits report lobbying activities. Also available from NCNB, The Legal Obligations of Nonprofit Boards: A Guidebook for Board Members answers frequently-asked questions about the legal obligations of nonprofit boards.

NCNB, Suite 510, 2000 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036-4907.
Call: 800/883-6262. Fax: 202/452-6299.

Cost, Lobbying: $12 for members, $16 for others, plus shipping and handling; Legal Obligations: $21 for members, $28 for others, plus shipping and handling.

Young scientists looking for information about research grants and advanced biological sciences training can look to a new Web site sponsored by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS). GrantsNet has an extensive database on fellowships, grants and other sources of support for budding scientists. It was funded through a three-year, $825,000 grant to AAAS from the Institute.

Who Gets Grants, a publication of the Foundation Center, illustrates where nonprofit organizations get their money so like-minded groups can find sources of funding. More than 65,000 grants awarded to more than 20,000 U.S. and international nonprofits are detailed; the resource book represents about 50 percent of all grants given in a single year.

Foundation Center, Dept. NW3, 79 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003-3076. Call: 800/424-9836.

Cost: $135 plus $4.50 shipping and handling for first copy and $2.50 for each additional copy.

Educational, religious, charitable, social welfare and membership organizations will all find legal advice in Bruce R. Hopkins' book, The Law of Tax-Exempt Organizations. Published as part of the Wiley Nonprofit Series, the guide explains the law with references to regulations, cases and tax literature. It also advises on attaining and keeping tax-exempt status.

John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Attn: K. Bruno, 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158-0012. Call: 800/225-5945.

Cost: $155, plus applicable sales tax and $2.50 for handling.

Funded by the Metropolitan Life Foundation, Getting Real & Getting Smart says that teachers should be involved in policymaking. Two factors are essential for the implementation of educational policy-vision and voice, says the report. Because teachers are left out of the vision-building process, often the legislation does not work. The booklet, written by teachers, shows ways for teachers to get involved. More information is available on their Web site, at http://www.teachnet.org.

IMPACT II-The Teachers Network, 285 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013. Call: 212/966-5582. E-mail: teachnet@teachnet.org. Cost: $3.50 for shipping and handling.

Ten years ago, nine Arizona arts organizations joined with National Arts Stabilization in a long-term effort to improve their capacity to thrive fiscally, administratively and artistically. The results of that collaboration include $9 million in increased endowment and a 74 percent increase in operating grants and gifts. Other results and lessons learned are reported in National Arts Stabilization in Arizona: A Report to the Community, of which a limited number are available.

Flinn Foundation, 3300 North Central Avenue, Suite 2300, Phoenix, AZ 85012-2513. Call: 602/274-9000.

Free.

The Best of the 'Net is a new monthly newsletter reviewing Web sites of interest to nonprofit organizations. Published by the company that produces Contributions, The Best of the 'Net visits and reports on Web sites that focus on issues like board development, nonprofit management and career advancement.

Best of the 'Net, P.O. Box 336, Medfield, MA 02052-0336. Call: 508/359-0019.

Cost: $99 yearly for charter subscription; $119 thereafter.

-Elizabeth Norell