IdeaEncore Network : Nonprofit Collaboration

IdeaEncore was referred to me by Gavin, who is a CTO/CIO of a “large private Foundation”. I would tell you which foundation he works for, but then I’d be violating a client privacy agreement which I signed while working for my last employer.  What intrigued me about IdeaEncore was it’s “Certified B Corporation” Status. As a Certified B Corporation, they were vetted through an extensive process to enter into a network of social benefit corporations which share resources and collaborate together to create a better world.

B Corporations are a new type of corporation which uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.  B Corporations are unlike traditional responsible businesses because they:

• Meet comprehensive and transparent social and environmental performance standards.
• Institutionalize stakeholder interests.
• Build collective voice through the power of a unifying brand.

IdeaEncore itself is an excellent resource for non profit documents. I have signed up for an account and although I don’t log on daily, I do get a digest in my email which shows me that new documents are added all the time. Here’s a sampling of the documents form the last email:

IdeaEncore Screenshot

Here are just a few examples of quality, nonprofit ready-to-use tools / templates / training content available on IdeaEncore Network.

What Makes an Effective Advocacy Organization?
Shared by TCC Group, Free

Preparing the Path to Leadership
Shared by EDA Consulting, LLC, $10

Your Board and Fundraising: An Introductory Class
Shared by Foundation Center, Free

Volunteer Handbook and Employee Handbook on Volunteer Engagement
Shared by Vantage Point, $25

Mission, Message, and Damage Control
Shared by The Nonprofit Quarterly, Free

As you notice, not all documents are free. The paid documents are uploaded by users like you and me so that means that there is an opportunity for you to create documents and generate revenue.  They have a revenue sharing model similar to iTunes. Essentially IdeaEncore is an excellent knowledge hub similar to DocStoc, SlideShare, or ScribD. If you are in the non profit or social benefit industry, you should consider creating a login, reading up, and possibly contributing your own white papers and documents to help out others.