Nonprofit Toolkit
Supporting Nonprofit Impact
Explore a wide range of resources designed to support and strengthen your nonprofit’s mission. From media guidelines and advocacy tools to fundraising strategies, we’ve got everything you need to succeed.
Local Resources for Nonprofits
Grant Resource Center
The Grant Resource Center at the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County offers free support such as help in finding grant opportunities, video tutorials and in-person learning sessions.
Raymond John Wean Foundation
Our partners at the Wean Foundation in Warren offer capacity-building info sessions and REI trainings throughout the year, as well as other events.
Valley Development Partners
Valley Development Partners has a library of resources including expense report templates, accounting and legal grants, and monthly lunch-and-learn sessions that can help small nonprofits learn the ropes of running and organization.
YSU PenguinPulse
The PenguinPulse platform at Youngstown State University lets nonprofit organizations share opportunities for students to volunteer and take part in service-learning opportunities. Through the Office of Community Engagement, nonprofits can also get involved in larger projects that support the community.
CFMV Resources
CFMV Grants and Our Review Process
If you're interested in learning about the Community Foundation's grant opportunities, updated funding priorities, our review process and what makes a strong application, check out the slides from our Grant Info Session, held in March 2026. View the slides HERE.
Budget Template
If your organization doesn't have its own financial documents, you can download THIS TEMPLATE and fill in your information.
CFMV Quick Guide to Financial Documents
This two-page document lays out the basics of what should be included in the financial documents most funders ask for in grant applications and explains what CFMV grant reviewers look for in financial documents.
Putting Your Best Financial Foot Forward webinar
This CFMV webinar from June 2025 dives into the details on the financial documents that go along with grant application and easy ways to keep a handle on your nonprofit's finances. Click the buttons below to watch the webinar or view the slides.
Writing Your First Grant presentation
If you're new to grant writing, this presentation by our Fund for Women & Girls is a great resource that covers how to build a narrative for your nonprofit, how to start putting together financial documents, and what funders look for when they review applications.
Storytelling & Messaging webinar presentation
Fundraising. Volunteers. Advocacy. Collaboration. All these and more are key parts of every nonprofits’ work — and rely on storytelling and messaging. This presentation from our Community Impact Team covers the basics of getting the word out about your organization’s work and impact, how to turn that into support, and how it can be used to advocate for clients and community change.
Media and Graphics Resources
Canva Pro for Nonprofits
Canva Pro for Nonprofits is a free resource for designing all kinds of graphics for your nonprofit. After completing a short application for approval, you will have access to all Canva Pro features to help you create social media graphics, presentations, webpages and more!
CFMV Publicity Guidelines
Review CFMV's publicity guidelines for publicizing a grant award your organization received from the Community Foundation or one of our affiliated foundations or funds.
All press releases and materials must be approved prior to distribution. For review, please coordinate with Rachael Chacon at RChacon@cfmv.org
Downloadable CFMV Logos
Download the Community Foundation's logo to use on media and communications where funders or partners are mentioned.
All press releases and materials must be approved prior to distribution. For review, please coordinate with Rachael Chacon at RChacon@cfmv.org
Board Resources
Good Governance Policies for Nonprofits
This page from the National Council of Nonprofits has information on basic governance practices, template policies, suggestions on how to practice governance and links to even more resources.
Principles for Good Governance
This guide from Independent Sector features 33 things that nonprofit boards should consider to make their organizations stronger and more accountable.
A New Framework for Governance Duties: Loving Accountability and Abundant Resourcing
This 2025 article from Nonprofit Quarterly explores what boards can do beyond the traditional duties of financial and operational oversight to help nonprofits create new systems that put people first.
Cultivating a Liberatory Board
This 2025 article from Nonprofit Quarterly dives into new board frameworks that can better align them with the organization's mission and put a nonprofit's approach to service work into practice itnernally.
Policy and Advocacy Resources
Bolder Advocacy: What Nonprofits Needs to Know About Lobbying in Ohio
This guide from Bolder Advocacy provides crucial information on the difference between advocacy and lobbying, a summary of reporting triggers and other helpful resources.
Bolder Advocacy Toolkit Hub
Bolder Advocacy's library of toolkits is a helpful place to start on nonprofit and advocacy projects. Issue areas and topics include establishing your nonprofit, environmental justice, building a coalition and voter engagement.
Council on Foundations: Basics of Engaging with Congress
The Council on Foundations' Toolkit features these resources on how nonprofits (not just foundations) can best engage with their Representatives, including an outline of staffer roles, a checklist for successful meetings and information on different kinds of outreach.
Greater Ohio Policy Center Legislation Tracker
The Greater Ohio Policy Center provides updates on state legislation it's keeping an eye on as it moves through the statehouse. Its primary focus areas are Budget & Taxation, Capital Investment, Housing, Transportation, and Brownfields.
Research & Data Resources
Research by Center for Community Solutions
This page hosts data and research compiled by the Center for Community Solutions in its focus areas, including surveys, narrative analysis, demographic research, community health needs reports.
Research by Policy Matters Ohio
With a focus on work that makes the state more vibrant, sustainable and equitable, Policy Matters Ohio's research includes factsheets, testimony, reports and data briefs.
Fundraising Resources
Engaging Your Community Beyond Giving Tuesday
Find out how you can continue connecting with and engaging your community of donors after this year’s Giving Tuesday campaign is finished. Webinar hosted by CFMV and presented by Giving Tuesday.
GivingPulse Field Guide
Check out this quarterly Field Guide from Giving Tuesday and RKD Group for actionable insights based on the data found in the GivingPulse report, from how people are engaging with their community to how they're giving money.
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Toolkit
Learn from the national Giving Tuesday organization about how you can activate your community to give through a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign.