Policy Poll: Government Contracting & Prompt Payment Practices

Take the "Government Contracting and Prompt Payment Poll": Help Enhance the Upcoming National Report with Real Stories from New York's Nonprofits!   Deadline: December 2nd As many of you are well aware, government contracting issues have an immense impact on the ability of nonprofits in New York State to carry out their mission.  Though we are the only state with a "Prompt Contracting" law designed to safeguard nonprofits through the contracting process, there are still many hurdles New York Nonprofits face when attempting to get timely, adequate payment for our services.  NYCON strives to be an active and committed partner both with our Members and representatives of  government on initiatives aimed at improving the state contracting process.   In order to do this, NYCON is now asking all nonprofits with government contracts to please take a few moments to complete this Pulse Poll: Contracts and Grants regarding your recent experiences. Results from this poll will be used to supplement and enhance the findings from the upcoming Urban Institute study. We would greatly appreciate any stories and specific examples you can provide on how your government contracts or grant experiences have affected your organization or those you serve.   All stories will be kept anonymous unless you have given your permission to use your experience as an example in any discussions or documents produced regarding these issues.   NYCON does expect media sources to be contacting our office after the study's release. We hope your answers can be a resource for us to draw upon to give a clear and realistic picture of how state contracting problems impact New York's nonprofits presently.      Click here to take the Pulse Poll: Contracts and Grants, or paste this link into your browser: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PulsePollContractsandGrants  Please complete your survey ASAP, but no later thanDecember 2, 2013. Also, please share this message broadlywith your colleague organizations that may have government contracts or grants.     If you have any questions, please call us at (518) 434-9194 ext 126or email avanderwarker@nycon.org. Sincerely,                  Doug Sauer, CEO New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. (NYCON) The Urban Institute, along with the National Council of Nonprofits, will be releasing a study on December 5th, 2013 on state contracting and payment practices.

CCPA SEMINAR: Helping Persons with Dementia

The College of Community & Public Affairs at Binghamton University

Fall Seminar Series

Enhancing Cognitive Stimulation in Persons with Dementia -- Paul Gould, PhD, LCSW

Friday, December 6, 2013 -- 9:00am – 12:00 pm at the University Downtown Center, 67 Washington Street, Binghamton             

Persons with dementia often experience increased incidence of depression and behavioral problems due to a lack of stimulation. This workshop will address the need for positive stimulation in persons living with dementia and identify a variety of activities that may be used to promote cognitive stimulation at varying levels of the disease. Several activities will be illustrated as part of the workshop. This workshop is appropriate for family members, caregivers, and professionals working with aging adults. 

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Each half-day workshop is $65/person and includes morning refreshments.

To register go to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CCPASeminarsF2013

Upcoming Events & Trainings

The Five "I's" of Fundraising [Lunch & Learn Webinar] November 14th, 2013 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Presented by Susan Weinrich, VP of Organizational Development & Capacity Building Services, NYCON Free for NYCON Members Only  Register Geared towards the Board members, participants will learn how fund development fits within their overall board responsibilities and how to organize themselves to help address this challenging area. This session covers a range of strategies for generating revenue with an emphasis on fundraising. Topics include: Creating a development plan Organizing a fund development committee Fundraising strategies for success Staff & board roles in fund development Most importantly, it will help Board Members overcome their fear of fundraising and recognize that their involvement is critical to the success and sustainability of the organization. NYS Grants Gateway Info Session: Best Practices for Nonprofit Governance & Policy Creation [Vestal]  Friday, November 15, 2013 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Presented by Michael West, Esq., Legal Advisor, NYCON  REGISTER  Are you in the process of becoming 'prequalified' with New York State in order to receive funding for a contract currently in place or for future funding for which you'd like to be considered?  Your prequalification status may be delayed for multiple reasons. If your application is being held (or if you haven't been able to complete it) due to questions about any of the following reasons this workshop will be a great resource for you. Operational documents (charitable determination letter from the IRS, audit, IRS Form 990, Organizational chart, etc.) Governance Policies & Practices (internal controls, separation of duties, nepotism and other clauses in your bylaws and personnel policies) Other Documents or Governance Policies that you don't have and aren't sure how to create. In this session we will be focusing on best practices for nonprofit governance and policy creation as they relate to the Grants Gateway portal, the prequalification questionnaire and the online Document Vault. We will also be discussing the options and process for NYCON assistance available to you as a member.    Striving for Self-Sufficiency: Earned Revenue & Entrepreneurial Strategies [Utica]  November 21, 2013 from 9:00AM - 11:30AM Presented by Doug Sauer, CEO, NYCON   Cost is $10 (At the Door)  A Program of the Mohawk Valley Nonprofit Leadership Group  Register  There was a time where the most stable and viable nonprofits were those that relied on the traditional business model of contributions and government grants. Dependency on the "market" forces of philanthropic and taxpayer support is increasingly being viewed a limitation regarding sustainability as often they are outside of the influence and control of the nonprofit. Achieving self-sufficiency involves a third leg to the revenue stool - earned revenue, where there is a direct exchange of a product, service or privilege for monetary value. Participants in this workshop will have an opportunity to discuss and learn about earned revenue and entrepreneurial strategies - the pros, cons, and preparation and cultural shifts necessary to proceed down the entrepreneurial path.   This presentation is being funded by the Cororate Partners of The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties.   We appreciate their support.Please visit their website for more information, www.foundationhoc.org    How Changes in New York's Unemployment Program Affect Your Nonprofit [Lunch & Learn Webinar]  November 22, 2013 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Presented by Cecilia Piazza, Director, Unemployment Program, First Nonprofit Companies  REGISTER  This webinar will discuss, in detail, the various unemployment insurance  coverage options currently available to nonprofit organizations, and specifically how unemployment compensation rates are assigned, the upcoming tax cost increases in New York State and various federal and state unemployment insurance benefit programs for claimants.  Did You Know? Nonprofits Have Options Nonprofits typically have fewer unemployment claims than the private sector; therefore, they often subsidize the state unemployment fund by paying more than necessary. Federal and state laws allow 501(c)(3) organizations to reimburse the state unemployment fund, rather than pay the UI tax in advance of having actual claims. FNC's unemployment programs may well reduce your unemployment costs if you currently participate in the state tax system, and can provide you with a safety net if you have already chosen the reimbursable option. Participation in FNC programs provides: Unemployment insurance savings of as much as 60% No pooling or shared risk Fixed annual cost Fully insured option to eliminate risk or Stop Loss Insurance with customized attachment points to minimize your exposure Professional representation in unemployment hearings and claim amount auditing included Access to training and services that can decrease the number of invalid claims If your nonprofit employs 10 or more people, this is an option worth learning about and exploring. FNC covers over 1,500 nonprofit employers across the country. They want to help even more organizations save money and avoid risk - starting right here in New York. Beyond Collaboration: Exploring & Navigating Corporate Affiliations [Hudson]  December 11, 2013 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM   A Workshop Provided by the New York Council of Nonprofits with Support from The Dyson Foundation Presented by Doug Sauer, CEO and Dave Watson, Senior VP of Legal Accountability and Compliance Services & General Counsel  Register Today      FREE Perhaps now more than ever, community-based nonprofits are seeking ways to do businessdifferently and are exploring whether affili  ation may be a path to sustainability and growth.  Join NYCON's highly experienced staff experts in learning about the various forms, processes, potential benefits and risks associated with corporate affiliations,including merger, acquisitions, subsidiary relationships and shared service arrangements. This initiative is available to help nonprofit organizations, libraries or units of government based in the Mid-Hudson Valley (Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, and Ulster counties) move from the exploring the feasibility of strategic restructuring, to planning the restructuring and implementing the plan, to enhancing the restructured entity. Funding is available for additional technical assistance, consulting, training or meeting facilitation and more. If, after this session, your organization is contemplating a serious merger or restructuring, then we encourage you to take advantage of this valuable resource through The Dyson Foundation. The "Beyond Collaboration" Workshops are provided as a part of The Dyson Foundation Nonprofit Strategic Restructuring Initiative. New Tools for Creating a Vibrant, Engaged and Energized Board in the 21st Century [Lunch & Learn Webinar] December 13, 2013 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM (EST) Presented by Andrew Marietta, Regional Manager, NYCON Central New York Office and Valerie Venezia, VP of Membership & Marketing Free for NYCON Members; $50 for Non-Members While we still have to recognize the traditional factors that motivate our Boards of Directors, we also need to acknowledge the fact that the most successful ways to connect with these individuals may have completely changed. Models of board meetings & board communication have not caught up with the current ways we engage in our "everyday" communication. This session will help identify motivating factors (both old & new), identify and discuss new ways of recruiting & engaging board members and how new online tools can help make the best use of everyone´s time and accomplish more with less. For those of you who attended this workshop at Camp Finance, on this webinar we will be able to spend more time on areas of concern like: managing & directing cultural change within your organization and additional specifics on tools you can use to make your (and your board members) life easier. Free for NYCON Members; $50 for Non-Members

New Report Addresses Opportunities for Funders That Collaborate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Cheryl Loe Communications Project Manager The Foundation Center (888) 356-0354 ext. 701 communications@ foundationcenter.org	Noah Rimland Flower Monitor Institute, a part of Deloitte Consulting LLP (415) 932-5345 nflower@deloitte.com
New Report Addresses Opportunities for Funders That Collaborate Companion "Interactive Tool Finder" Aids the Search for Technology Solutions New York, NY — November 7, 2013. A new report released today sheds light on how online tools are changing the way funders collaborate. Harnessing Collaborative Technologies: Helping Funders Work Together Better is the product of research conducted jointly by the Monitor Institute and the Foundation Center. This report helps funders learn about the different phases of collaboration and online tools that can help them advance all types of sharing, coordination, and cooperation. "Increasingly, foundations seek to leverage the impact of their giving by joining with others to address large, complex problems," said Katherine Fulton, president of the Monitor Institute, a part of Monitor Deloitte. "The logistical challenges they face in working together can be daunting, but new technologies can make collaborations easier by reducing inefficiencies and enabling new methods of working together that were difficult to imagine just a few years ago." The report aims to help funders get smarter about how emerging new technologies can help them work together more effectively and provides guidance on how to make thoughtful choices about investing in the development of new tools that facilitate collaborative work. An interactive tool finder developed by GrantCraft, a joint service of the Foundation Center and the European Foundation Centre, complements the report by presenting seven distinct collaborative needs (including finding partners, designing strategies, and assessing progress) and 17 types of tool functionalities (ranging from data gathering to project management) in an online matrix that facilitates intuitive exploration of available resources. This free resource helps users generate custom results that provide details on recommended solutions, including their cost; whether they are best for small-, medium-, or large-sized collaborations; how easy they are to use; and if there is a mobile-friendly version. "In a time when the challenges of repairing the world seem to know no bounds, working together as a global community of problem-solvers is more important than ever," said Lisa Philp, vice president for strategic philanthropy at the Foundation Center. "Technology is helping funders harness the power of collaboration, opening up new opportunities for strategic partnerships and making it easier to build effective relationships across organizations and geographies." The research on which the report is based included an extensive literature review on collaboration in philanthropy, detailed analyses of trends from a Foundation Center survey of the largest U.S. foundations, interviews with 37 leading philanthropy professionals and technology experts, and a review of more than 170 online tools. The content of the report is divided into three primary sections: an introduction to emerging technologies and the changing context for philanthropic collaboration; an overview of collaborative needs and tools; and recommendations for improving the collaborative technology landscape. Key Findings from Harnessing Collaborative Technologies outlines overarching themes from the report and serves as a companion piece to the full report. The Harnessing Collaborative Technologies: Helping Funders Work Together Better report and Key Findings executive summary can be downloaded for free in the Gain Knowledge area of the Foundation Center's web site and from the Monitor Institute's web site. Funding for the project was provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. About the Foundation Center Established in 1956, 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 more than 470 funding information centers located in public libraries, community foundations, and educational institutions nationwide and around the world. For more information, please visitfoundationcenter.org or call (212) 620-4230. About the Monitor Institute Monitor Institute is a social change consultancy that works with innovative leaders at nonprofits and foundations to advance social impact across a diverse range of issues. Monitor Institute strives to be a scout for social innovation, bringing new approaches to clients and contributing to the public debate on leading-edge topics such as impact investing, strategic philanthropy, and networked collaboration. As a for-profit/for-benefit hybrid, Monitor Institute pursues social impact while operating as a fully integrated unit of Deloitte Consulting LLP. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. For more information, please visit monitorinstitute.com or call (415) 932-5382.

Nonprofit wins suit against Vestal

Candlehouse gets just $4,700 in damages

Candlehouse Teen Challenge tried to open a rehabilitation facility in 2009 for women recovering from addiction and emotional disorders on Mirador Drive, a residential Vestal neighborhood. / File Photo

A jury sided with a religious group in a federal lawsuit that clears the path for opening a rehabilitation facility in a Town of Vestal neighborhood.

After a seven-day trial, the verdict reached Tuesday night agreed with Candlehouse Teen Challenge, a Christian nonprofit group contending town officials improperly denied its request to open the Mirador Drive facility for 12 women recovering from addiction and emotional disorders.

While Candlehouse had been seeking about $1 million from the town, the jury awarded just $4,700 in legal damages, court records show.

Addressing the verdict, Richard Mecklenborg, director of Candlehouse, said he plans to open the rehabilitation facility within a year. He would not discuss details about the women who would be living at the 400-401 Mirador Drive property, or the amount of legal damages.

“We are going to resume our Christian family activities for restoring women, which is our primary mission,” he said.

The U.S. District Court, Northern District, lawsuit was filed in January 2011, with Candlehouse contending Vestal violated federal anti-discrimination laws, including those protecting disabled people.

Vestal countered it denied the facility based on municipal zoning codes, which limit the number of non-family members living together in the Mirador Drive neighborhood to five.

Town Supervisor John Schaffer referred questions about the verdict to town attorney David Berger, who issued a written statement.

“The facts and evidence at issue were vigorously debated by both sides,” Berger stated. He did not respond to written questions about the amount of legal damages and whether the town plans to appeal the verdict.

Prior to the trial, the town spent nearly $143,000 on legal costs connected to the lawsuit, including attorney fees. Laura McKane, town comptroller, did not respond to written questions about the total legal costs following the trial.The jury — composed of seven women and one man — concluded Candlehouse sufficiently proved town officials discriminated against women with disabilities or handicaps, which referred to their addictions to drugs or alcohol under this lawsuit, court documents .   READ MORE HERE

Sustainability Workshop

The College of Community & Public Affairs at Binghamton University

Fall 2013 Seminar Series

Local Government Strategies for Economic and Environmental Sustainability – George Homsy, PhD

Friday, November 8, 2013 – 9:00am – 12:00pm         

                                                        

Sustainability is not just about environmental protection. Sustainable communities are also economically efficient; these places have lower costs of government operations, improved quality of life and lower energy costs for residents, and an enhanced reputation. The goal of this workshop is to help local leaders develop a sustainability agenda that fits their particular economic and environmental circumstances. To do this we will delve into sustainability strategies used by small- to medium-sized local governments in New York State and around the nation. We will structure discussions around the specific needs of the participants. We will work together to outline components of a sustainability plan that participants can take back to their communities for further refinement. Finally, we will discuss the politics of sustainability, communicating plan goals to others, and implementation.

Registration Deadline is Tuesday, November 5.

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Each half-day workshop is $65/person and includes morning refreshments.

To register go to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CCPASeminarsF2013

Joann Lindstrom, MPA

Director of Recruitment & Internship Placement

Department of Public Administration

Binghamton University

P.O. Box 6000

Binghamton, NY  13902

607-777-9178 phone

607-777-2414 fax

http://www2.binghamton.edu/ccpa/public-administration/