Category Archives: Nonprofit Education & Policy

Tom Retiring From CivicLab

November 7, 2023

Dear Civic Comrades, Neighbors, Allies, and Supporters – After ten years of working on the CivicLab, I am stepping back from operations and much of the work of the CivicLab. I will stay involved with TIF training. Health issues have caused me to scale back my activities and I will not be updating this site. If you would like to stay connected and follow my new work, research, and writing (one book coming out in mid-2024 and another in the works), please subscribe to my Substack newsletter at http://tresser.substack.com. Thank you for all your support and interest over the years!

Tom explains TIFs and Illuminates the TIFs of Kane County and Aurora in his 225th public meeting since 2013. He was the guest of Aurora Alderman John Laesch and Working Families Auroura. They are working to stop the city of Auora from giving a billionaire casion operator $58 million in public TIF dollars! Sign the petition.

Purchase “Chicago Is Not Broke” via Issuu

You can now purchase and read “Chicago Is Not Broke” via Issuu for just $12!

“Civics 101” @ i c stars

I teach “Civics 101” for the awesome training and leadership development organization i c stars. The most current class, Cycle 47, sent me a wonderful set of images expressing how the class (four sessions) impacted them. I was deeply touched. Thank you. If you would like a civics workshop, please contact me at tom@civiclab.us. You can see the workshops I offer via the POWER Institute.

Why We Need A Robust “Public”!

The utter failure of the Trump Administration to deal with the global pandemic is a stark reminder of why we need a strong, competent, nimble, and service-oriented PUBLIC sector – ready to act powerfully for the public good. Take a look at Douglas Amy’s book “Government is Good – An Unapologetic Defense of a Vital Institution.” If you want a great response to these times, then check out the movement for a Green New Deal and help make it happen!

Book Time With Tom

Use Square Appointments to secure a block of time with Tom to talk strategy, TIFs, civic engagement, innovation and social change or other matters.

http://tinyurl.com/Book-Tom-Tresser

This Is Why Nonprofits Have Failed

The Chronicle of Philanthropy is THE publication of record for America’s nonprofit sector. Here is the list of interests they want you to choose from when you subscribe. What’s missing?

Hint: Advocacy. Public Policy. Power to Change.

Challenge To The Nonprofit Sector

I gave these remarks at the Chicago Philanthropy Club on February 7, 2017. What do you think? Too much? The video is 39 minutes. The event was recorded by John Sheehan of the Video Catalyst Project.

Tom Teaches Workshop On Nonprofit Basics

Is there a cause you feel passionate about? Is there an injustice that needs righting? Are you inspired to serve and innovate for the common good?

If so – then you may be thinking about starting a nonprofit organization to channel your efforts and deliver new solutions for your community.

This two hour workshop will walk you through the reasons to and NOT to start a nonprofit organization and what your first steps should be in you DO decide to start a new organization.

$15. Please register online via EventBrite = https://np101-11-6.eventbrite.com.

You will learn:

Basic distinctions of the nonprofit organization
Origins and place of nonprofits in American society
Size and scope of the nonprofit sector
Pathway to incorporate and get tax-exempt status

Tom Tresser is the instructor for this class. Tom is the co-founder of the CivicLab, which is the 13th nonprofit enterprise he has founded or led. He teaches nonprofit management for the Graduate School of Social Work at Loyola University and a number of classes on civic engagement, public policy and leadership for other local educational institutions.

Watch Feb 12 TIF Town Meeting

Thanks to the great folks at CAN-TV you can watch the February 12 TIF Town Meeting produced by The Tax Integrity and Fairness Alliance at the Chopin Theater (1 hour, 22 minutes). View the media coverage and my presentation materials on the impacts of the 12 TIFs inside the 27th Ward here.

Power For Social Change

I’m doing a webinar on December 13 for the Northeast chapters of the National Network of Statewide Afterschool Networks on power and social change. “Are nonprofit leaders, workers and constituents doing enough to advance the causes of social change, social justice and compassion in America? How is the nonprofit sector doing, as a whole? Are we strong, healthy, powerful, fighting and winning for the kids we care so much about? Who is winning politically and policy-wise in America and what can we learn from them? Is there some uncharted territory that may hold NEW solutions to old problems in this arena?’