How Will the New Tax Law Affect Your Nonprofit, Your Employees, and the People You Serve?

Yesterday Congress passed the $857 billion tax package negotiated by President Obama and congressional Republicans. President Obama is expected to sign the legislation today.

The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act (H.R. 4853) has numerous components of interest and concern to nonprofits – as employers and as mission-based organizations involved in local communities. This list presents portions of interest to most nonprofits, nonprofit employees, and the people they serve:

• Tax Rates Maintained: All of the individual tax rates put in effect in 2001 and 2003 are maintained through 2012, including those for upper-income tax brackets. Most immediately, this means that nonprofit and other employers will not have to adjust employee withholdings for income taxes.
• Individual Payroll Taxes Reduced: Employees receive a two percent reduction in the Social Security tax they pay. For 2011, nonprofit and other employers will need to reduce the individual's share of payroll withholding from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent. To illustrate what this change means, an individual earning $50,000 will see $1,000 in tax savings.
• Estate Tax: The bill restores and reduces the federal estate tax at a rate of 35 percent and increases the exemption level to $5 million, two changes that many fear will eliminate previous incentives for the wealthy to give.
• Charitable Giving Incentives: The IRA rollover and other expired charitable giving incentives (promoting donations of food, land, computers, and books) are restored for the remainder of 2010 and through the end of 2011, which should help promote giving.
• Unemployment Benefits: The legislation extends the enhanced program of 99-weeks of unemployment benefits through 2011. This allowance may prevent additional strain that would have hit many nonprofits that provide services to those with no income.
• Alternative Minimum Tax: Middle-income taxpayers will not be subject to the alternative minimum tax in 2010 and 2011 because the bill renews a "patch" that limits the application of the AMT to approximately four million upper-income individuals. Without this patch, many taxpayers would have seen an automatic increase in their tax rates.

The following link will take readers to a 12-page summary that provides greater detail about the bill, including provisions that might be of interest to particular nonprofits (e.g., those providing child care, adoption assistance, certain education): Summary of the Reid-McConnell Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010.

Also, the IRS just released instructions to help employers implement the 2011 cut in payroll taxes, along with new income-tax withholding tables that employers will use during 2011. See Notice 1036.

1101 Vermont Avenue NW | Suite 1002 | Washington DC 20005

SBA, Microsoft create technology guide, online course

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) today announced a new technology resource is available for small business owners.

The SBA and Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft Corp. have teamed up to create "Business Technology Simplified," a free guidebook that offers tips on how to use technology and innovation to make businesses work more efficiently, the SBA said in a news release.

The guidebook includes material on simplifying work tasks, do-it-yourself marketing, time management, and finding and cultivating customers.

"Business Technology Simplified" is available in a printed format at the SBA Syracuse district office. Computer users can also access the guidebook online at the Microsoft website.

It's also available as a free distance-learning course, according to the SBA.

The course is available at www.sba.gov/training.

Call for Participants: The Business of Art

The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes and Southern Tier Economic Growth have issued a Call for Participants for a series of art-related business workshops to be held in 2011. The Business of Art will train visual artists and fine craftspeople to think of themselves as businesspeople, and to learn and apply business-related skills to enhance their careers.

Funded in part by a grant from The Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, ten workshops will be held at Elmira-based arts and cultural venues between February and June 2011 and will culminate in an exhibition of participants' art and craft in the fall

The workshops will be facilitated by Elmira artist Allen C. (Denny) Smith, and will feature expert presenters on various art-specific small business topics, including: goal setting and documentation; portfolio basics and presentation packages; basic business plans and business resources; budgeting, financial management and taxes; legal and insurance issues; real estate and architectural considerations; human resources; business models; sales, marketing and new media; and community resources.

Program participants will be chosen through a jury process, conducted by The ARTS and Mr. Smith. There is no cost to submit an application. Applicants should submit the following to BusinessofArt@eARTS.org by January 3, 2011:

• Full contact information, including name, mailing address, email address, telephone and website URL, in the body of the email
• Two (2) digital images of current work (made within the past year), in JPEG format, resolved at 72 dpi and sized no larger than 600 x 800 pixels
• Current resume, including exhibition record, in PDF format
• Current artist statement, in PDF format
• Statement of intent for participating in the program (in the body of the email or in PDF format), answering the following questions:

1. Why do you want to participate in these workshops?
2. How do you think these workshops will assist you as a working artist/craftsperson?
3. Do you intend to participate in all ten (10) workshops? If not, which workshops do you wish to attend?

Applications will be reviewed during the week of January 3 and selected participants will be notified as quickly as possible.

Accepted participants who commit to attending all ten workshops will be asked to pay a nominal fee of $50.00 (fee will be waived in cases of economic hardship). Accepted participants who do not wish to attend all ten workshops will pay fees of $10.00 per workshop. All fees will be due in full before the workshop series begins.

Only those who complete the full workshop series will be eligible to show their work in the culminating exhibition.

Full program information is available for download from The ARTS' website or by emailing BusinessofArt@eARTS.org.

Questions about the program should be directed to Ginnie Lupi at The ARTS, at 607-962-5871 x225 or director@eARTS.org.

Broome County Arts Council's Cultural Fund gets $45K injection

The arts are food for the soul, yet it can be challenging to rally support during tough economic times.

That's the outlook of Judith Peckham, executive director of the Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation, Inc., who was an honored attendee Wednesday at the Broome County Arts Council's United Cultural Fund Campaign Kick-Off.

The foundation gave the Broome County Arts Council a $45,000 general operations grant. With those funds, the council will be able to continue its day-to-day operations, while raising money for the 2011 United Cultural Fund.

The council administers the United Cultural Fund, the only locally-funded combined campaign for the arts in the Southern Tier. It's one of only about 56 active campaigns of its kind in the country, and provides support and project grants to eligible artists and nonprofit organizations in Broome County, according to Sharon Ball, the council's executive director.

The Roberson Museum and Science Center, Endicott Performing Arts Center, Cider Mill Playhouse, Tri-Cites Opera, Binghamton Philharmonic, Art Mission & Theatre and the BC Arts council were the major recipients of United Cultural Fund grant money in 2010, with the remainder going to community projects and individual artists.

Money raised for the 2011 fund to date is $268,925. That's about 75 percent of the council's goal of $356,626, said Mike Neal, 2011 campaign chairman for the fund and district manager of Weis Markets.

Reed Smith, general director of the Tri-Cities Opera, said the $71,000 received last year from the United Cultural Fund was about 8 percent of the opera's budget.

"Without the funds we would either be out of business or would have to cut way back," he said. "Certainly, we wouldn't be viable."

A similar sentiment was shared by Stephen Wilson, executive director of the Binghamton Philharmonic, who said the fund is about 8 percent of his budget.

Ball and Broome County Arts Council Board Chairman Fred Xlander said they hope the fund would reach its goal by Feb. 1.

"With the economy the way it is, we didn't expect this level of commitment," Ball said.

"As a board, we are grateful to the individuals, businesses, foundations and the Broome County government for all of their support," Xlander added.

According to research done by the council, United Cultural Fund grant recipients return nearly $4 million to Broome County's economy every year.

Original article at pressconnects.com.

How to Donate like a Pro

In a Time of Tighter Budgets—For Benefactors and Charities Alike—It's More Important Than Ever to Make Your Gifts Count. Here's How

Investors demand a good return from their assets. Now donors are increasingly seeking the same for their charitable dollars.

Many philanthropists, large and small, are anxious about writing checks—and many endowments have yet to recover fully from the bruising they took during the financial crisis. Finding the worthiest, most-efficient organizations to maximize the impact of your donations couldn't be more pressing.

Yet identifying the best charity can be as difficult as picking a good money manager, with philanthropists left to navigate a world of tax forms, ratings systems and often misleading jargon. It's easy just to write a check and hope for the best—but you stand the risk of getting a poor return on your charitable investments.

Making matters more complicated: Many long-cherished tax breaks are coming under fire. Next year could bring the return of limits on itemized deductions, including those for donations, if Congress doesn't extend the Bush-era tax cuts for couples earning more than $250,000 ($200,000 for individuals). Even if Congress extends the cuts for all, the idea of cutting back charitable tax breaks is still in play: President Obama's deficit commission this week proposed limiting the deductions for large gifts to amounts above 2% of adjusted gross income.

All this is making donors rethink their giving strategies, says Patrick Rooney, executive director of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. "They want to make sure now more than ever that they're using their money wisely."

Overall giving is down sharply from its recent highs. Among high-net-worth households—who account for the bulk of individual charitable dollars—average giving dropped 34.9% to $54,016 in 2009, from $83,034 in 2007, according to a survey conducted by the center and sponsored by Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

The downward trend appears to be continuing. One in five people say they are giving to fewer organizations than in the past, according to a November poll from Harris Interactive. A third are giving in smaller amounts this year than last. And the percentage of people not giving at all has doubled to 12% in 2010 from last year.

There are a host of charity-rating agencies to consult, but to get a more-accurate picture, consider volunteering your time before giving money. Do your own research: Talk to beneficiaries, visit work sites and study a group's finances yourself to judge the effectiveness of its programs.

That's what Denise Winston did. The former business banker "always just wrote a check," she says. But after leaving her job and starting her own financial-education business in 2009, the Bakersfield, Calif., resident became more frustrated over how little of her donations were going to beneficiaries. She decided she would spend time volunteering with different organizations before giving, partly to get a better sense of her time and money's impact.

"I'm closer to the person receiving support," she says. "Anyone can write a check. But I like to give things you can't buy."

Here's how to navigate the system and make sure the dollars you donate are making the biggest impact possible.

Article continued at Wall Street Journal.com, includes ways of gauging donor's impact and red flags that donors should watch out for.

Roberson Museum and Science Center expanding its exhibits, attracting new visitors

The Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin featured a recent article on the Roberson Museum and recent efforts there:

The Roberson has an unrivaled collection, inspired exhibits and a long pedigree as a museum.

Still, Roberson Museum and Science Center leaders say all that means nothing without one crucial element: visitors.

"The greatest measure of success is through-the-door traffic," said Terry McDonald, Roberson's executive director. "It's a measure of whether we're doing what we need to do for the community."

The museum staff and its board must be doing something right. Countering years of stagnating attendance and decreased funding, museum attendance is up 23 percent from last year

This year, 6,069 patrons have visited the 30 Front St. landmark, compared to 4,919 last year, said Jason Fiume, the museum's marking manager.

The 2010 attendance number doesn't include the more than 4,000 people who came to the museum's newly resurrected two-day arts and crafts festival in September, Fiume said.

Nor does it include the number of students who pass through the museum on group visits. That number is also up, museum officials said. During the 2009-2010 school year, 7,753 students visited. The previous school year, 7,730 students came.
Numbers are also up for school outreach initiatives, from 9,775 in 2008-2009 to 12,450 in 2009-2010.

"This is a significant increase from the previous year," Fiume said.
But there's more work to be done.

Tradition, innovation
Museum leaders must essentially serve two masters: tradition and innovation.

Friday, the museum's venerable Home for the Holidays exhibit formally opens. As it has for decades, the exhibit features holiday trees decorated in the traditions of other countries, along with trees decorated by local nonprofits and other organizations.

The Roberson mansion part of the museum is lushly decorated for Christmas -- and visited every year through Jan. 2 -- in what has become a Binghamton tradition for local families. The museum's planetarium will offer its decades-old shows featuring the Christmas star on equipment dating from the 1960s.

Updating the planetarium is one of three initiatives planned for next year.
Read more here.

MHAST Holiday Open House

The Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier invites you to their

Holiday Open House
153 Court St. Binghamton, NY
Thursday, December 2, 2010
4pm to 6 pm

Refreshments, Wreath Raffle, Art Show, and Live music by Lily Drennon and Aaron Bennett


If you are unable to attend, please consider a contribution of a wreath to the MHAST. For more information about donating a wreath, you may call our agency at (607)771-8888. All proceeds from our wreath raffle and donations will benefit the programs and services of MHAST, and have a positive impact on the quality of lives in our community.

Doug's Fish Fry Fundraiser for ACCORD

When: Friday, December 3rd, 2010
Where: GHS Federal Credit Union
910 Upper Front Street
Binghamton, NY
Time: 11:00 am-5: 00pm
Fish and Seafood Sandwiches and Dinners!
Fresh Cut French Fries!
Come support ACCORD, A Center for Dispute Resolution

Nonprofits Have Big Role in State

As Governor-Elect Andrew Cuomo and legislators shape their plans for New York next year, they should pay close attention to the state's vibrant not-for-profit sector, as it is the standard-bearer for innovation and service to the state and its people. The 80,000 not-for-profit organizations in the state play crucial roles: leading efforts to prevent or cure disease, alleviate poverty, advance education, address environmental and social concerns, and ennoble through culture.

New York's robust charitable sector, including such powerhouses as Columbia University, Sloan-Kettering, the Red Cross, the Ford Foundation and Lincoln Center, as well as community-based organizations, such as local drug-prevention programs, small community theaters and religion-based charities, help fuel the state's economy, generating over $150 billion in revenue annually and employing hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. Second in size only to the government as an employer in the city, the nonprofit sector provides more jobs than the financial and insurance industries combined.

Working together, state government and nonprofits can help maintain our state's primacy as innovator, incubator and magnet for investment. Here's how.

* Adjust taxes to encourage more giving. For example, reward taxpayers for increases in year-over-year charitable giving and incentivize artists to donate their work to charity auctions in support of good causes.

* Promote regulatory, administrative and legislative reforms that make it easier to start and operate nonprofits, especially in high-tech, medical research and green industries.

* Encourage and facilitate partnering among nonprofits and between them and for-profit businesses. For instance, provide a clearinghouse so that environmental groups can pair up with green-tech businesses or so arts-in-education organizations can collaborate with founders of charter schools.

* Incentivize nonprofits to hire recent college graduates to fill needed roles while they learn important lessons about professional development and social responsibility.

* Rearrange state budgets with existing charitable resources in mind. For example, recalibrate school aid and Medicaid expenditures so that public spending on students, the elderly and the disabled complements and stimulates private nonprofit resources and support.

* Safeguard against encroachments on sales- or property-tax -exemptions, which would hurt already-stretched hospitals, elder-care facilities and YMCAs.

* Promote visibility for worthy nonprofits by providing voluntary check-offs on state tax forms.

* Include nonprofit destinations in the state's promotion of tourism and convention activity.

* Make nonprofits part of New York's federal lobbying strategy.

The public's trust in state government may be at a low ebb, but public support for nonprofits endures. By recommitting himself to the well-being of our valuable nonprofit institutions, Mr. Cuomo can take important steps toward reclaiming the state's role as a national beacon and perpetuate its highest ideals.

by Lesley Freidman Rosenthal, for original article click here.

Funding Available for Park and Trail Groups: Only One Week Left to Apply

Parks & Trails New York is offering a new round of Capacity Building Grants for park and trail groups in New York State. The grants, of up to $3,000, can be used to assist with activities associated with organizational start-up and development, training, communications, and volunteer recruitment and management. The deadline for submitting applications is November 22, 2010.

For more information email Parks & Trails New York or call 518-434-1583.

Paperwork problems jeopardize nonprofit status of several Broome organizations

Like hundreds of other area nonprofits, Union Volunteer Emergency Squad was in jeopardy of losing its nonprofit status.

The reason? Failing to file paperwork with the Internal Revenue Service.

"I honestly don't know why it wasn't sent in," said UVES Executive Director Matthew Fellows.

UVES is joined by hundreds of nonprofits in the Southern Tier who were flagged by the IRS as organizations that haven't filed their 990 forms -- paperwork required for nonprofits -- by an Oct. 15 deadline, meaning they could lose their nonprofit
status.

If that happens, the agencies could be required to pay taxes -- and perhaps more significantly, donors would find their generosity was no longer tax deductible.

The 990 forms verify to the IRS that the nonprofits are still in operation.

In 2008, the IRS established a new form -- the 990 -- to be filed annually by nonprofits. For those with an income of less than $25,000, the form was a 990N, said Kevin Stadelmaier, legal advisor for the New York Council of Nonprofits Inc.'s Buffalo office.

Over the decades, as groups were added to the IRS's nonprofit database, there was no mechanism to remove those that were no longer active. The 990N was established as a device to recognize which small nonprofits were still operating and which had
ceased to exist.

"The real reason why the law was enacted was to kind of cull out these nonprofits ... that were no longer conducting tax-exempt activities," Stadelmaier said.

For smaller organizations -- those with incomes of less than $25,000 -- filing with the IRS isn't a typical function, which is why they might have missed the new requirement, Stadelmaier said.

"They didn't realize they were required," he said. "They might have gone years and years without filing anything."

At UVES, the error was noticed recently, Fellows said. Actually, it was the IRS that noticed. Since then, the organization sent in its missing 990 forms.

"We had some internal issues that we self-reported," Fellows said. "Everything has already been sent in."


Each year, UVES has an independent audit performed by its accounting firm. The audits showed the bills were paid and the forms were filled out, but no red
flags went up about the missing 990s because UVES paid to have them completed and assumed they had been filed properly, said Fellows, who has been with UVES for the past year.

When contacted by the IRS, the first thought was the federal agency was at fault.

"We thought it was an error at first," Fellows said.

UVES is not alone. The Broome County Sheriffs Benevolent Association, Boys & Girls of Western Broome Foundation Inc., New York State Electric & Gas Foundation Inc., several American Legion posts from Bainbridge to Owego, various union branches and a host of other organizations and associations failed to file by the Oct. 15 deadline, according to the IRS.

Contacting nonprofits on the list was nearly impossible for this newspaper. Telephone calls were not returned, while others couldn't be contacted because they didn't have listed phone numbers and had only Post Office box addresses. Some of the
nonprofits on the IRS list include:
* Maine-Endwell Booster Club Inc.
* Endicott Rotary Foundation Inc.
* International Association of Fire Fighters in Johnson City
* Tioga County Industrial Development Corp.
* Vestal Lions Club
* Broome County Sheriff's Foundation
* Vestal Youth Football League Inc.
* Dress for Success - Binghamton
* City Rescue Mission Inc. in Binghamton

Also on the list is Binghamton Crime Stoppers, which is a participating member of Crime Stoppers International. The organization had invalid e-mail addresses on its web site regarding fundraising, publicity and general information. An e-mail and
telephone message sent to the website's administrator was not answered.

Crime Stoppers, which offers rewards to help solve area crimes and works alongside area police departments, failed to file with the IRS for the past three years, meaning the do-good organization might not be able to stay in operation as a nonprofit.

Not being able to contact nonprofits, some of which have addresses filed decades ago with the IRS, is another reason why some missed the deadline to file, said Kelly Mathews, chief operating officer and senior vice president of financial, accountability and compliant services with New York Council of
Nonprofits Inc.

"Getting the word out to a lot of those very small organizations -- it was probably difficult to find some of them," she said.

Though the IRS and groups like NYCON had extensive educational promotions regarding the new procedures, many smaller nonprofits, including those no longer in existence, weren't kept in the loop, Mathews said.

"I think a lot of organization, particularly the smaller guys, weren't aware of the filing requirements," she said. "Historically, there was nothing for those little
guys to report with." Read more here.

Nonprofit Knowledge Matters: Advocacy as a Core Capacity

When we think of "capacity building," we most often think of training staff and board members - perhaps to be more effective fundraisers or to leverage technology to improve program delivery.

How often do we think of advocacy as a core capacity?

A nonprofit needs a clear voice that rises above the din to be effective at accomplishing its mission. Nonprofits need the capacity to communicate:

• how their work results in positive change
• why donors should support them, and
• who is helped by their work.

Often, nonprofits also need to communicate what action they hope their stakeholders will take in support of the nonprofit’s mission. These are examples of how nonprofits engage in advocacy!

Advocacy requires communications capacity: Does the nonprofit have the right technology to update its website and effortlessly send out attractive email blasts? Can the nonprofit maintain and easily update a database so that its communications are reaching the right audiences? Does the nonprofit employ staff or engage volunteers who are trained in media relations so that when the local radio calls and asks for a comment on a breaking story the nonprofit is prepared?

Advocacy may also require courage. How so? There are still many who do not think that advocacy is an appropriate role for nonprofits. The National Council is working every day to change that perception, and thankfully, more and more nonprofits, as well as those that support them, are aware that advocacy is a core capacity for any nonprofit.

The Capacity Building Hub on the National Council's website features resources that address building capacity for advocacy, including links to reports illustrating why advocacy is one of the best investments that a foundation can make in a nonprofit.

Read a recent study by the National Committee for Responsible Philanthropy that found that of the 20 nonprofits studied, "These nonprofits leveraged foundation grants that generated a $150 return for every dollar invested in their policy engagement efforts."

Measuring the impact of advocacy activities can be difficult.

We like the approach taken by the Innovation Network in its Practical Guide to Advocacy Evaluation that urges nonprofits not to measure the hoped-for-end-result of an advocacy effort such as ending hunger in our state (that could take decades to attain) but rather to focus on the contribution the nonprofit is making to the goal.

Nonprofits that shine a light on those contributions, even incremental ones, such as bringing local nonprofits to the same table with government officials, will capitalize on the momentum they create, and provide their stakeholders with a concrete example of the positive effects of advocacy in a community.

Does someone you know still think that nonprofits can't be advocates? Or that nonprofits, "can't lobby?"

Help them understand why advocacy is legal, needed, and easy.

Visit our website for more capacity building tools including:

• Communications and marketing resources.
• Ideas on capacity building for planning.
• Tools for self-assessments, analyzing costs of programs, and guidance for building a nonprofit's board.

Keeping Your Board Engaged

From guidestar.com: As 2010 winds down, I wanted to answer a question that came up several times in response to my GuideStar Newsletter articles this year:

How do I keep my board engaged? Particularly if it's a statewide or national board?
This is a question I get all the time. Everyone wants their board to be engaged, but ...

What do you really mean when you say an "engaged board?" Do you want your board members to be just paying attention? Or do you want something more?

How's this for a definition: "Engagement is inspiring passion in someone so they will want to take action." (This definition of engagement comes directly from a terrific new book, The Dragonfly Effect, by Jennifer Aaker and Andy Smith, which I highly recommend.)

So let's reframe the question:

"How do I inspire passion in my board members—whether they are local or far flung—so they will want to take action?"

In order to do accomplish this larger goal, your board members need to know what your organization is trying to accomplish and what their role is to make it happen. This is a big shift for many boards. I find that organizations don't have a clear set of goals each year and don't know what they want their board members to do.

You need to be able to express your goals in terms of how many people you want to help, such as: "If we raise $250,000, we can help 1,400 families."

Instead, organizations often say, "We want to help as many people as possible." If your board members know exactly what your goals are for the year, then they can rally around them. Clear goals help define your organization's effort for the year. And clear goals give people something to strive for.

Here's a plan for you if you want to keep your board members fully engaged.

1.Be sure your board members know what you are aiming to accomplish this year.
Put it in real numbers. For example:
* How many kids will we send to camp?
* How many meals do we want to serve?
* How many scholarships will we award to bright young students?

2.Be sure they know what the impact will be if you can make your plan happen.
Put it in real-people terms and talk about the ultimate benefit. For example:
* We'll help kids who go to camp be healthier, have better self-esteem, and do better in school.
* We will help hungry people get nutritious meals right here in our community.
* We'll help our brightest minds so they can help solve tomorrow's problems.

3.Be sure every board member knows what his or her job is to make the plan happen.
If you want to keep them engaged, you've got to give them clear actions. Everybody gets to have a role in implementing your plan. For example:
* Some board members are in charge of phoning donors to say thank you.
* Others are seeking sponsors for your annual gala.
* Others are in charge of enlisting more volunteers.
* Others are serving on a task force to identify VIP prospective donors.
* Others may be serving on a governmental relations committee to strengthen your relationships with elected officials.

The deal is this: EVERYBODY on the board has a job and is in action for the cause.

4.Keep in close touch with your board members each week or month, letting them know of your successes.
* Success breeds success.
* Good news stimulates momentum and makes everybody happy.
* It encourages action.
* Peer pressure will also encourage everyone to step up and do their job, too.

Also ask for help frequently from board members if you need it. But ask for specific things.

Try these strategies, and see if your board doesn't get fired up!

Gail Perry, MBA, CFRE

Nonprofit Times TV

Nonprofit Times TV has a collection of webcasts and other videos directed specifically to nonprofits and their needs and interests. Videos cover not just current news, but issues such as fundraising, volunteer management, legal issues, and finance. Most videos are less than three minutes, giving necessary information without taking too much time. Users can also submit their own videos to share ideas with others in the sector.

Their current webcast discusses the loss of revenue of national nonprofit organizations and the Jerry Lewis telethon. Check out Nonprofit Times TV here.

Fred Pryor Training, Wednesday Novemeber 8th

Family Enrichment has scheduled another FRED PRYOR Training to be held Wednesday, December 8th. To be held at Family Enrichment Network, 24 Cherry Street, Johnson City.

Learn effective leadership skills to maximize employee performance.

This one-day seminar will give you the spark to ignite a positive, productive day ... every day.

You'll be able to:

• Slash employee turnover costs and prevent hassles by using the best hiring and interviewing techniques.
• Unify employees into a smooth-running, productive team, despite differences in personality, background, and age.
• Find the delicate balance necessary to effectively supervise friends and former peers.
• Establish supervisor-subordinate relationship boundaries that will be understood and respected.
• Identify difficult employees and handle them easily, appropriately, and swiftly.
• Give constructive criticism that won't be taken personally — by even the most sensitive employee.
• Originate project plans and set goals that your team will support.
• Control absenteeism and tardiness.
• Develop a keen sense of timing for taking corrective action or firing an employee — and know the legal implications of your decisions.
• Best of all, gain confidence and win the respect of your boss, peers, and team members!

Cost: $50/per person ($99 regular price)
Limited number of spaces available.

If you are interested in registering for this training, please contact Diane Kunzman at:
dkunzman@familyenrichment.cc or
(607) 723-8313 ext. 834.

"Nonprofit Spark": A Radio Talk Show for New and Emerging Nonprofits

"Nonprofit Spark" is weekly radio talk show through The Voice America hosted by Renee McGivern, a Minnesota-based nonprofit consultant. This show, launched in September, is focused on spurring dialogue on issues of emerging and new organizations. Check out her show live on Thursdays at 8am EST or catch up on past episodes on her show's webpage.

About the Host: Renee McGivern has 30 years of experience working in nonprofits and trade associations. She’s worn the hats of development, communications and executive director and also spent a great deal of her career designing training seminars for the newspaper industry. McGivern’s passion is to facilitate learning, communication and action so life works for people and organizations. “Nonprofit Spark is the first national radio show devoted to new and emerging nonprofits,” says McGivern. “It’s my dream job - to spark learning and action so leaders are effective at making a huge difference in the world.”

How Much Does Your Program Really Cost?

From the National Council of Nonprofits' Nonprofit Knowledge Matters October Newsletter:

Your Mission: What Does it Really Cost?
Too often the grant or contract a nonprofit receives to deliver a program or service, whether from a foundation or the government, simply does not cover the full cost of delivering that program or service. This problem is highlighted in the National Council's recent Special Report: Costs, Complexification, and Crisis: Government’s Human Services Contracting "System" Hurts Everyone. The report illustrates how government contracts that do not cover the full cost of services cut into the muscle of the nonprofit providing the services, and ultimately weaken our communities.

In fact, failure to cover the full cost of services and programs was the #1 problem uncovered by the first-ever national survey documenting the serious and widespread problems experienced by nonprofit human service providers under contract with local, state and federal governments. View the findings from the survey conducted by the Urban Insitute.

The "full cost recovery" problem is echoed by the experience of nonprofits receiving funding from private philanthropy. Foundation grants frequently fall short of covering the actual cost to the nonprofit of delivering programs and services covered by the grant. For instance, a survey by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) found that only 20 percent of foundations say that their grants "often or always" include the appropriate overhead to cover the amount of time grantees spend reporting on their grants. Read a national study by GEO.

In order for nonprofits to be sustainable this paradigm has to change.

Whether from the perspective of capacity builders, or nonprofits that are striving to build their own capacity, we should recognize that part of the problem – and a big step towards a solution – lies with nonprofits themselves. Here are three things you can do:

1. Know how to calculate the full cost of delivering programs and services – not the "budgeted" costs (often a euphemism for anticipated or projected costs) but the actual costs of service delivery.
2. Advocate for your organization by communicating the actual costs of program delivery to funding sources.
3. Communicate to funders that shortchanging nonprofits by not paying the full cost of service delivery is a barrier to the sustainability of individual nonprofits.

The bottom line is that without knowing how much to ask for, and without receiving full cost recovery, nonprofits will never be able to build their capacity or provide sustainable services to our communities.

Wondering where to start? The National Council's Capacity Building Hub shares resources to help nonprofits understand and calculate the full cost of delivering their mission, and to help grantmakers understand the importance of full cost recovery.

See What You Missed at the September 14th Program on Partnerships, Mergers and Acquisitions

If you missed the September 14th discussion, here is the presentation, offered by NYCON CEO Doug Sauer, for your information.

The information gives an overview of partnerships, mergers and acquisitions as solutions and ideas for nonprofits during these challenging times.

E-mail for the link to the presentation.

New Mapping Tool Fosters Strategic Grantmaking in Education

New York, NY — October 12, 2010. The Foundation Center has launched Philanthropy In/Sight®: Education, an innovative data visualization tool that helps grantmakers maximize their investments in education. The tool is available through the organization's Foundations for Education Excellence web portal, a knowledge hub for funders researching best practices and funding opportunities in the field. Through support from the C.S. Mott and JPMorgan Chase foundations, education funders can register to use the tool free of charge at the project web site.

"Foundations are driving fundamental change in our system of education," said Foundation Center president, Bradford Smith. "Now more than ever, they are looking to be more strategic and to increase the impact of their grantmaking. Philanthropy In/Sight: Education, gives them a virtual GPS for tracking the flow of education funds, whether it's across the country, around the world, or in their own backyards."

Philanthropy In/Sight: Education, a customized version of the Foundation Center's Philanthropy In/Sight® mapping tool, is the only resource of its kind to offer comprehensive data on who is giving and who is getting grants across all areas of education, from pre-K learning to preparation for college and career. More than 1,100 grant subject terms can be chosen to hone in on programmatic areas. In addition, a menu of geo-targeting tools allows grantmakers to map the locations of organizations and determine funding gaps in countries, states, cities, counties, metropolitan areas, and ZIP codes — as well as in school and congressional districts. By combining the Center's data with Google maps, grantmakers can quickly view information on funding relationships and giving trends in engaging visual formats.

According to product manager, Dave Clark, "Philanthropy In/Sight: Education is a powerful tool that can help grantmakers better target their programs. The ability to overlay dynamic grants information with a wide array of demographic, socio-economic, and other data will help shine a light on areas of greatest need." The data — including population, income, housing, and education-focused statistics — are drawn from authoritative sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Department of Education, and the American Human Development Index.

Videos guide funders through real-world scenarios that show how to use Philanthropy In/Sight: Education to best advantage, including how to identify potential funding partners and grantees. "A key benefit of the tool," said Clark, "is its ability to foster collaborations between individuals and like-minded organizations. It's an effective way to connect the dots for a more vivid picture of the funding landscape in education."

About the Foundation Center
Established in 1956 and today supported by close to 550 foundations, the Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. The Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grantmakers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance knowledge of philanthropy at every level. Thousands of people visit the Center's web site each day and are served in its five regional library/learning centers and its network of 450 funding information centers located in public libraries, community foundations, and educational institutions nationwide and beyond. For more information, please visit foundationcenter.org or call (212) 620-4230.

National Study Shows Government's Unfair Business Practices Hurt New York State Charities

Albany, N.Y. – October 6^th, 2010 – The Urban Institute will be releasing a ground breaking national study this morning regarding government contracting and payment practices with human service nonprofits. The report, Human Service Nonprofits and Government Collaboration: Findings from the 2010 National Survey of Nonprofit Government Contracts and Grants, provides essential national and New York State data on contracting practices.

The study is based on survey data for 2009. It ranks late government payments to nonprofits in New York State as being the 9^th worst in the country. Payments were commonly late 90 days or more despite the fact that New York is the only state in the country with a “Prompt Contracting” law designed to protect nonprofits from late contracts and payments. This finding reinforces data produced by the State Comptroller that shows that 90% of all state payments are late. The study also revealed that the processes of applying for and reporting on state contracts is seen as problematically complex and time consuming by over 70% of the nonprofits.

Other rankings specific to New York State include:

· Ranked 11^th in the list of worst offenders with respect to
mid-term changes to contracts.

· Ranked 20^th in having contracts that do not cover the full cost of the services being performed. Related findings include that 47% of the nonprofits report contracts requiring them to share the cost of full service and over 60% reporting limitations on reimbursement for administrative or overhead expenses incurred.

"Our state’s nonprofits have, historically, been resilient when it comes to putting mission and people first, often absorbing the financial loses and risks associated with doing business with government,” states Doug Sauer, Chief Executive Officer of the New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON). He further observes, “These are very difficult times for all. Community-based nonprofits are on the front lines of the crisis in human needs that people across the state are facing. Sadly, the inability of our government leaders to responsibly manage their budgets and be fair in their contractual commitments, are now pushing many charities to the financial breaking point. In essence, government appears to be expecting charitable donors, who are also taxpayers, to subsidize its cash flow. ”

The problem has worsened. A recent survey conducted by NYCON shows that the over 80% of nonprofits report that the contracting and payment problems with the State of New York have worsened in 2010 over 2009. To cope with the state´s business practices, over 60% of charities have reduced services or eliminated programs. Most have had to draw on their charitable reserves and/or borrow money.

To help strengthen the partnership between government and nonprofits NYCON, working closely with the Comptroller’s Office and other State agencies, launched an “Ombudsman Program” to help nonprofits navigate the New York State contracting and payments process as well as, over time, improve the efficiency and timeliness of the State’s processing of nonprofit business.

“Not-for-profits are struggling to provide crucial services to New York families,” said New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. "When state agencies fail to approve contracts and make payments on deadline, they make the problem worse. Many not-for-profits already face significant challenges, and when contracts are delayed and payments aren’t made, the situation gets even tougher."

" We need to fix this system,” stated Doug Sauer. “We call on all parties, including candidates for office, to commit to working together for responsible solutions.”

Complete study available now at www.nycon.org

Report on tax-exempt property in Binghamton clears up misconceptions

The Press & Sun-Bulletin discussed a report that examined the number of properties in Binghamton that are tax exempt. Although the headline may seem to imply some kind of a problem, the article is a fair and balanced perspective. As the article relates:

About a third of the assessed property value in the city is exempt from taxes.

That's according to a recent report compiled by the city's assessor, Scott Snyder.
Total exemptions in 2011 are valued at $625,642,280 or 33.8 percent of a total assessed value of about $1.8 billion in city property, Snyder said.

That leaves a total taxable property value in Binghamton of about $1.2 billion.
Exemptions include churches, hospitals, nonprofits, schools and government buildings. In addition, the city gives property tax breaks for veterans, the disabled and low-income elderly.

Take away the exemptions for veterans, the disabled and low-income seniors, the percentage of total property tax exemptions drops to about 29 percent, Snyder said.
None of that is unique to Binghamton or other upstate cities that serve as county seats.

"The numbers for the City of Binghamton are at or below the other levels I've seen," Snyder said.

Of about 3,600 total property tax exemptions granted, 900 are for low-income elderly and about 1,700 are for veterans.

The city's exemption report is the first of its kind in recent years, said Teri Rennia, a Democrat who has represented the city's 3rd District since January 2006.

What makes it useful is it spells out just how much property is exempt. Over the years, anecdotal accounts have put that amount as high as 50 percent.
Snyder's report dispels any potential exaggerations, Rennia said.

"We've been trying to tell people this information for years. (Property tax exemptions) are not the source of our problems," Rennia said. "I'm glad the numbers are there to back it up." Read more here.

Grants Available to strengthen park and trail groups

Parks & Trails New York is offering a new round of Capacity Building Grants for park and trail groups in New York State. The grants, of up to $3,000, will strengthen not-for-profit organizations that are working to build and protect parks and trails in communities across the state --- helping to not only provide places for close-to-home, healthy physical activity but also generate additional tourist dollars to strengthen local economies.

Parks & Trails New York's goal is to enable not-for-profits to better fulfill their missions; improve their reach, effectiveness, and impact; leverage more resources; and increase community support for and involvement in park and trail planning, development, and stewardship. Funds can be used to assist with activities associated with organizational start-up and development, training, communications, and volunteer recruitment and management. The deadline for submitting applications is November 22, 2010.

For more information email Parks & Trails New York or call 518-434-1583.

Community Service Fair for Nonprofits

The Broome Leadership Institute (BLI) Alumni Association, RSVP, Southern Tier Young Professionals, United Way of Broome County, and our newest partners – Binghamton University College of Community & Public Affairs and BU’s Department of Human Development – have joined forces to help our local non-profits connect with potential volunteers and board members in our community.

Local non-profit organizations are invited to participate in our 3rd Annual Community Service Fair on Thursday, November 4, 2010 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. (with set up around 3:00 p.m.) at the Binghamton University Downtown Center, 67 Washington Street, Binghamton. There is no cost to exhibit. Each non-profit will receive one table, two chairs and be listed in our on-site packet.

The Community Service Fair is designed to provide a ‘one stop shop’ where people in our community can be exposed to different non-profits in our area and find one or more volunteer opportunities that best fit their interests and their schedule.

NEW THIS YEAR: Binghamton University students in the MSW, MPA, MSA and HDEV programs are looking to connect with local non-profits as part of their degree programs – so this is a great opportunity for student involvement!

For more information or to sign up, contact Amy Shaw at (607) 772-8863 x 313 or ashaw@greaterbinghamtonchamber.com.

Nonprofit Resources Regarding the Oct. 15 Deadline

Time is running out for small nonprofits facing loss of tax-exempt status because they have not filed Form 990-N or Form 990-EZ for three consecutive years. The deadline for the IRS's one-time filing relief program is October 15, 2010. After that, nonprofits that are required to file a 990 and whose filings are at least three years in arrears will automatically lose their exemptions. To regain tax-exempt status, they will have to apply to the IRS all over again, a process that can take several months and requires payment of fees. To help you make sense of the rules and regulations surrounding this program, GuideStar is offering you a few resources:

• GuideStar Resource Center: includes articles and links to keep you updated in this ongoing process.
• IRS Communications Toolkit: includes facts outlining the situation, a list of organizations IRS records show are at risk, a YouTube video, and a widget for posting on Web sites.
• Guide Star Charity Check: includes information on exemption status of organizations and is updated as more information from the IRS becomes available.
  

"Tools and Resources for Assessing Social Impact" Debuts Today

The Foundation Center, the nation's leading authority on philanthropy, has launched an online database of proven approaches to measuring and analyzing the impact of social investments. As philanthropists and the nonprofit community shift towards more strategic approaches to get a "social return," evaluation activities must also operate at a higher level. TRASI ("Tools and Resources for Assessing Social Impact") addresses these growing needs by offering tools and methodologies that place a premium on evidence and metrics in tracking progress.

"Measuring the effectiveness of social programs has always been a challenge because it's not just about the numbers. TRASI helps organizations meet that challenge and go beyond simply determining whether projected outcomes were achieved," said Lawrence T. McGill, the Foundation Center's vice president for research. "The organizations that have generously shared their own strategic methods for measuring impact will greatly help others to find a solution that is a good fit for them."

Developed in partnership with McKinsey & Co., the assessment approaches in TRASI were authored by a range of organizations, including social investors, foundations, NGOs, and microfinance institutions. The Better Business Bureau, USAID, Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the Center for Effective Philanthropy are among them. The resources in the database range from off-the-shelf tools and concrete methodologies to generalized best practices and are complemented by multimedia features and social networking tools.

Each approach has been carefully indexed against a common set of key elements and presented in a way that makes it easy to compare their relative merits. The key elements include: who the approach applies to, what kind of organization or evaluation the approach is best suited for, and the costs and techniques involved in its implementation. Each approach was thoroughly reviewed by an Expert Review Panel convened by the New York University Stern School of Business.

Online Kick-off Event
The Center is hosting an online event to kick-off the TRASI launch. Beginning at 2:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, September 22, 2010, a live chat with some of the individuals from the Expert Review Panel will be held. Anyone interested in learning more about impact assessment and the TRASI platform is invited to attend by visiting http://trasicommunity.ning.com/.


About the Foundation Center
Established in 1956 and today supported by close to 550 foundations, the Foundation Center is the nation's leading authority on philanthropy, connecting nonprofits and the grantmakers supporting them to tools they can use and information they can trust. The Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grantmakers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance knowledge of philanthropy at every level. Thousands of people visit the Center's web site each day and are served in its five regional library/learning centers and its network of 450 funding information centers located in public libraries, community foundations, and educational institutions nationwide and beyond. For more information, please visit http://www.foundationcenter.org/ or call (212) 620-4230.

SCNY-ED Group Steering Committee Meeting Minutes

September 17, 2010, 8:30 am –At Accord Conf Room, State St., Binghamton
In Attendance: Richard Squire, Joseph Sellepack, Cynthia Gordineer, David Karre, Darrell Newvine, Deborah Fitzgerald.

Next meeting scheduled for Friday, November 5, 2010 @ 8:30 am
Location – Accord Conf Room. State St., Binghamton

MEMBERSHIP
We have recently added several new members to the organization and there continues to be new interest. Darrell Newvine will work on updating the Steering & Sub committee lists.

We continue to look for members who are interested in sitting on the Special Projects, Programs and Membership committee. Cynthia will reach out to individuals who have expressed interest in becoming more active.

The Steering committee is looking for 1 to 2 new members. (The Steering is comprised of the heads of each sub committee and officers).

To be eligible individuals must be actively participating in a sub-committee.

PROGRAMS
Next program to be held on December 1st @ 8:30 am. Darrell has offered to host at FEN and provide refreshments.

Program content will be focused on highlighting the significant accomplishments of the Special Projects committee.
- Breaking down the data collected to date
- What does the data tell us about our community?
- How do we use this information to benefit the Non-profits in our community?
- Does it make our case for the important impact we have?
- The committee’s suggestions & recommendations for building on this foundation.

Darrell will send a new survey to membership for input on future topic interest areas as we have addressed most topics previously indicated.
David & Cynthia will be scheduling a program committee meeting prior to the December 1st presentation.

SPECIAL PROJECTS
The committee will be ready with an overview/summary of the data collected by the Special Projects committee “Non-Profit Economic Impact Study” for the Dec 1st program.

After initial review of the raw data the committee has expressed their interest in extending this project to give the report additional balance. Several options are being explored for community partnerships to further the study and give our NP community more useful and tangible tools.

The special project committee will be scheduling a meeting in October.

NEW BUSINESS
Discussion of the future of the ED Group and potential affiliations
Considering full membership meeting in January to explore further.

October 5 at Roberson Museum: To Preserve and Protect: Security Solutions for New York’s Historical Records

To Preserve and Protect: Security Solutions for New York’s Historical
Records

Theft of historical documents plagues records repositories. With
careful planning, awareness of warning signs and proactive security
solutions, organizations can reduce the window of opportunity for
historical record theft. Archival security expert Mimi Bowling will
provide an interactive curriculum during this full-day workshop on
archival security, preparing participants to take immediate action to
strengthen their local security programs. Participants will receive a
certificate upon completion. There is no cost.

Topics include:

risk awareness
insider theft
facility design and security technology
security of information systems
working with vendors and contractors
research room management and design
developing institutional security policies
procedures and post-theft response
additional topics as requested by participants.
Workshop Schedule

Rochester Region

September 13, 2010 (Monday)
Ontario County Safety Training Center
Canandaigua, Ontario, NY
Western NY Region
September 14, 2010 (Tuesday)
Erie 1 BOCES
West Seneca, Erie, NY

Central NY Region

October 4, 2010 (Monday)
Utica Public Library
Utica, Oneida, NY

South Central NY Region

October 5, 2010 (Tuesday)
Roberson Museum and Science Center
Binghamton, Broome, NY

Hudson Valley Region

March 7, 2011 (Monday)
Historic Huguenot Street
New Paltz, Ulster, NY

Capital Region

April 11, 2011 (Monday)
Crandall Public Library
Glens Falls, Warren, NY

Northern NY Region

April 18, 2011 (Monday)
Town of Massena
Massena, St. Lawrence, NY

Metro NYC Region and Long Island Region

Spring 2011
TBA

To register, please email Bturner@mail.nysed.gov or call
518-473-0130. Early registration is encouraged and appreciated; only
25 seats available.

This program is sponsored by the New York State Historical Records
Advisory Board, the New York State Archives, and the National
Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Making Sense of Health Care Reform: What the new law means for you, your family and your agency

Presented by Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network
Tuesday, October 26th
8am - 4:30pm
Owego Treadway Inn
Owego

AGENDA
8am to 9am- Continental Breakfast and Registration
9am to 10:15am- What Healthcare Reform Means in NYS: NYS Department of Health
10:30am to 12pm- What Healthcare Reform Means for Women's Healthcare: Lois Uttley, MPP; Co-founder, Raising Women's Voices
12pm to 1pm- Lunch
1pm to 2pm- Strengthening of Public Programs: Kinda Serafi Esq., Director of Policy, Children's Defense Fund
2:15pm to 3:15pm- Healthcare Reform for Those with Private Insurance: Mark Scherzer, Law Offices of Mark Scherzer
3:15pm to 4:15pm- Building Insurance Exchangers- The Marketplace for Obtaining Coverage: Kinda Serafi Esq., Director of Policy, Children's Defense Fund
4:15pm to 4:30pm- Closing remarks and evaluations

Conference registration is $35.00
Call 800-231-0744 or e-mail ejones@mothersandbabies.org

Insights into Donor Motivation and Behavior for the 21st Century" Research Finds Surprising Answers to Those and Other Questions

Russ Reid "Heart of the Donor™: Insights into Donor Motivation and Behavior for the 21st Century" Research Finds Surprising Answers to Those and Other Questions

NEW YORK, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- A new research study was released Tuesday that may change the way many nonprofits approach their fundraising budgets. The report, Heart of the Donor, Insights into Donor Motivation and Behavior for the 21st Century, uncovers valuable insights on donor behavior and preferences as well as insight into age, demographic and other factors.

The report will be unveiled at the Direct Marketing Association Nonprofit Federation conference at the Sheraton New York City. The research was commissioned and created by Russ Reid and conducted by Grey Matter Research & Consulting. The survey took place in June of this year.

As many would expect, the study finds that today's most valuable donors – boomers and older donors – primarily give through the mail. But those in the 25-54 age range tended to give both online and through the mail. "One thing we find interesting is this nexus in the 25-54 year old group," said Lisa McIntyre, Russ Reid Senior Vice President, Strategy Development. "The donors who will be most important to us in the coming decade seem equally facile with both mail and online."

But according to the study, older donors are more generous.

"The point is this: if the goal of a nonprofit is to effectively target today's best donors, then they should focus significant and smart attention on the donors giving the most money – seniors and boomers," said McIntyre. "For example, the number of donors in the 18-24 group and 70-plus are comparable, but the 70-plus donor gives three times as much."

"Does that mean nonprofits should turn a blind eye to the younger segments?" McIntyre continued. "Of course not. Their value will likely increase as they age. But fundraising expenditures must be weighted according to a strategy that maximizes those who are giving now."

The report suggests that fundraisers should focus their money on the channels that perform the best. While social media is an exciting means of reaching the younger community, the report indicated those who are active there don't use it for donations.

Another striking result of the survey shows that people want to give to charities that spend money on good management. Given a choice, the respondents preferred organizations that hire top-quality managers, even with higher salaries, over hiring less experienced managers and spending fewer dollars on salaries. An even greater percentage would rather support an organization that spends more on fundraising and brings in more money to help the cause than would support an organization that spends little on fundraising but raises less money. "Only 28 percent would opt for efficiency over effectiveness," said McIntyre.

"Nonprofits are under relentless scrutiny for their fundraising costs," said McIntyre. "The questions on costs tell us that what donors want more than anything else is value for their money. Spending money on salaries is fine, as long as your leaders are effective. If you spend more on fundraising, it's fine as long as it effectively raises more money for the work."

The report also focused on the impact of the disaster in Haiti on nonprofit fundraising. 38 percent of Americans gave to help Haiti. 52 percent of active donors – those who regularly give to nonprofits – donated. Very surprisingly, nearly 30 percent of Haiti donors say they did not support any nonprofits in the last year, including 16 percent of fairly determined non donors. Most likely to give to Haiti were African Americans (51 percent), Latinos (53 percent), Asians (59 percent) as were people not born in the US (59 percent).

Four out of ten donors said that if they had not given to the Haiti disaster, the money would have gone elsewhere. Still, 58 percent of donors believe that what they gave to Haiti was unique – it was over and above what they normally give. Haiti was a first-time giving impetus for 3 percent of all Americans, 6.7 million people.

Haiti donations saw massive channel donation differences, with text-to-give having a big impact. While 32 percent of donors said they gave to nonprofits working in Haiti through places of worship, another 22 percent gave online, and 19 percent through texting. Questioned if the limits on text donations resulted in lower donations, 90 percent of text donors claim they would have donated through another channel had texting not been provided.

"The Haiti experience reminds us that emergency donors and everyday donors are different," said McIntyre. "And the best donors will give over and above what they normally do, not instead of what they typically give."

DMANF participants were able to review portions of the study at the conference, and more elements of the study will be released in the coming months.

More than two-thousand respondents participated in the study. It was conducted both by phone and through a pre-recruited online research panel. The study was also conducted in English and Spanish.

Russ Reid, founded in 1964, is part of Omnicom Group, Inc. (NYSE: OMC). Omnicom is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

Grey Matter Research is a market research firm specializing in serving non-profit organizations, offering sophisticated qualitative and quantitative techniques to uncover details that make a tangible difference for clients.

Interviews are available with McIntyre, Russ Reid President and CEO Tom Harrison, Executive Vice President Alan Hall, and Ron Sellers of Grey Matter. To schedule, contact Steve Ruppe or Alison Rienas at the numbers above. Go to http://www.heartofthedonor.com/, for additional information.

Resource Development Director, United Way of Broome County

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (include, but are not limited to):
85% Resource Development-

•Works with Campaign Chairperson and Executive Director to develop campaign plan and timetable employing a fund raising process that assesses potential, sets goals and identifies volunteer leadership for future years.
•Develop and implement strategies for year-round cultivation for existing, as well as, new accounts.
•Assist with recruitment of campaign volunteers.
•Review and recommend campaign structure changes as needed to respond to changes in the workplace in employment and campaign potential.
•Implement new fund raising techniques in response to a changing environment (i.e. differing employer needs, recognition).
•Recruit, train and manage Loaned Executive (LE) program.
•Work jointly with Communications Director in designing and implementing training programs for campaign volunteers and company campaign staff.
•Collaborate with Executive Director in strengthening leadership giving programs, including the expansion of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society.
•Collaborate with Executive Director and Communications Director in the development of annual campaign “theme" and campaign-related communication resources such as brochures, pledge forms, manuals and video.
•Work jointly with Communications Director in directing Community Campaign Kick-off and Report Meetings.
•Support company campaign coordinators and teams in planning and implementing successful workplace campaigns.
•Work jointly with Campaign team in the distribution of campaign materials.
•Ensure correspondence, research and reporting with United Way of America and New York State United Way.
•Work jointly with Communications Director to coordinate campaign awards and identification and delivery.
•Work jointly with Executive Director to identify, solicit, and manage public/private foundation, and state and federal grants.
•Explore and purse new avenues of revenue generation to accomplish the United Way of Broome County mission.
•Perform other reasonable related duties as assigned.

15% Management and Supervision –
· Direct supervision of the Resource Development Assistant including weekly one-on- one meetings to review work plans.
· Member of Senior Management Team.
· Respond to external and internal requests and inquiries in a timely and
professional manner.
· Nurture positive relations with our volunteers, our contributors, and our partner
agencies.
· Promote teamwork and an atmosphere of cooperation and support.

INTERACTION: (Internal and external)
· Establish and maintain relationships with staff, volunteers, contributors,
agencies and members of the UW Board of Directors to ensure internal and external
customer satisfaction.
· Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of all UW operations; represent the
UW at appropriate, select community and business events. Interact internally with all
levels of staff, externally with donors, staff members of profit and not-for-profit
businesses and government agencies, the general public, community leaders,
educators, elected officials and media representatives.

Job Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS: (Abilities/Skills: i.e. ability to empathize, initiative, self-confidence, customer focus, drive to achieve, teamwork, leadership, etc)

· BA degree in business, fundraising or related area; Masters preferred.
· Minimum of 3 years successful experience in United Way or similar field, with concentration on fundraising.
· Extensive knowledge of successful model of fund development plans and their
implementation.
· Understanding of the entire campaign process in addition to a broad knowledge of the
United Way organization as a whole.
· Experience with volunteer Board and committee structure and knowledge of how to use
them most effectively in fund development.
· Ability to work effectively with persons of every age, sex, racial, ethnic, religious, income
and geographic group, educational level and personality type.
· Strong mastery of time management and organization skills
· Interpersonal competence in working with and motivating volunteers and key
members of the community
· Public speaking expertise and the ability to train volunteers
· Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
· Proficient in business computer software and systems; including fundraising database
(ANDAR preferred

Contact InformationContact: Nicki French
Phone: (607)240-2008
JOB INFO TO APPLY

Free workshop on social media for nonprofit groups: Corrected Registration Info

A half-day workshop for nonprofit organizations will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Broome County Public Library.

Called “Cutting Edge Technologies to Grow Your Non-Profit Organization,” the workshop will look at social media and its ability to transform nonprofits. Other technologies to help recruit and retain volunteers will also be discussed.
The Broome Leadership Institute Alumni Association, RSVP, Southern Tier Young Professionals, United Way of Broome County, Binghamton University College of Community and Public Affairs and BU’s Department of Human Development have joined together to hold this free workshop.

For more information or to sign up, contact Amy Shaw at (607) 772-8863 ext. 313.

2nd Annual Half Day Workshop for Non-Profit Organizations
“Cutting Edge Technologies to Grow your Non-Profit Organization”
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 / 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Broome County Public Library (Decker Room), 185 Court Street, Binghamton

Tentative Agenda

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Registration, Networking, Continental Breakfast

9:30 – 9:35 a.m. Welcome

9:35 – 10:45 a.m. Social Media
Speakers: Bijoy Datta, Director of Client Relations, Vibrant Creative (formerly GrafiQa Creative Services) &
Laura Biasillo, Agricultural Economic Development Specialist Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County
Social media is beginning to transform non-profits both in the way they work as well as their relationship they have with their members and donors. In this session, we will examine:
- What social media is and how it is relevant to non-profits
- An overview of social media tools
- Do’s and Don’ts of social media
- Effectively using social media to cut marketing costs
- Telling the story of your mission in a relevant way for social media
- Learn how “cause marketing” with various social media can build donations, engage existing and gain new volunteers
- Effective local examples

** Please note, this session does not teach you HOW to use social media. We focus more on what’s out there and why it could be important to your organization.

10:45 – 11:00 a.m. Break

11:00 – 11:15 a.m. Effective Volunteer Management System
Speaker: Greg Jenkins, Encounter Program/Facilities Manager, Broome County Council of Churches
Find out how one local organization has implemented a state-of-the-art effective volunteer management system.

11:15 – 12:00 p.m. Ways to Engage Student Involvement in your Organization
Speakers: Dr. Allison F. Alden, Director, Center for Civic Engagement, Binghamton University &
Mary Beth Smith, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club of Binghamton
For more than 50 years, Binghamton University students have gained much by working as volunteers, interns, and employees in the local community. And the community has gained many dedicated, inquisitive and hardworking people, who have made significant contributions to local life. Find out how one local non-profit effectively engaged student involvement in their organization.

12:00 – 12:30 p.m. Closing Inspirational Keynote
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Joseph Sellepack, Executive Director, Broome County Council of Churches

Volunteer Training: Online Info

Here is a link for the registration info regarding:

The Volunteers Administrators of the Southern Tier (VAST)
Cordially invites you to attend

“Sustaining Your Resources in Tough Economic Times”

Volunteer Manager/Director One-Day Regional Training
Thursday, October 21, 2010
9:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Holiday Inn Arena
2-8 Hawley Street
Binghamton, NY

VAST Training - Optimum Use of Volunteers: October 21

The Volunteers Administrators of the Southern Tier (VAST)
Cordially invites you to attend

"Sustaining Your Resources in Tough Economic Times"

Volunteer Manager/Director
One-Day Regional Training

Thursday, October 21, 2010
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Holiday Inn Arena
2-8 Hawley Street
Binghamton, NY

Cost: $60.00 (lunch included)

Please indicate session preferences when you reply
Session 1
Evaluating How Your Organization Views and Uses Your Volunteers
An all day (morning and afternoon) session with guest presenter:

Harriet C. Edwards, Ed.D., Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, North Carolina State University and President A.L.!.V.E (Association Of Leaders In Volunteer Engagement)

Session 2
Morning : Overview of the AmeriCorps Program: How it Works, How to Apply
Presenter: John C. Salo, Executive Director of Rural Health Service

Afternoon: Connecting with your Local College Resources
Presenter: Allison Alden, Ed.D., Founding Director of the Center for Civic
Engagement at Binghamton University

Harriett C. Edwards, Ed.D., Assistant Professor
North Carolina State University Department of 4-H Youth Development and Family & Consumer Sciences

Registration and Session Preference

We regret that payment by credit card and PO's is not available.

Registration Deadline
October 5, 2010

MAIL TO: STAP
c/o Candace Phelan
122 Baldwin Street
Johnson City, NY 13790

cphelan@stapinc.org

October 21, 2010

Holiday Inn Arena
2-8 Hawley Street
Binghamton, NY 13901

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Registration 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Choose one @ $60.00

____ Session 1 w/ Harriet Edwards

____ Session 2: w/ John C. Salo and Allison Alden

Registration is not processed without payment unless special arrangements have been made.