Uniform Grant Application Technical Assistance Workshop in Oneonta

Uniform Grant Application (UGA) Technical Assistance Workshop in Oneonta

The community Foundation for South Central New York will offer a free technical assistance workshop focused on how to successfully complete the Uniform Grant Application. The workshop is open to Broome, Tioga, Chenango, Delaware & Otsego County non-profit organizations and will be held on Thursday, June 20th 2013 from 1-3PM in the Craven Lounge of the Morris Conference Center on the SUNY Oneonta campus: 1 Ravine Parkway, Oneonta, NY 13820. Participants will learn about the Foundation and receive an in depth tutorial on the UGA which will include tips and strategies on conducting need assessment and developing/measuring goals and objectives. The UGA can be found on our website: www.donorswhocare.org. Please bring a copy to the workshop for your reference. Pre-registration is required for the workshop. To register, please call Tina Barber; Program Officer at (607) 772- 6773 or send an e-mail to tmbarber@stny.rr.com no later than 4:00 PM on Thursday, June 13th.

The Community Foundation for South Central New York 520 Columbia Drive- Suite 100, Johnson City, NY 13790- www.donorswhocare.org

Community Foundation for South Central New York Awards Nearly $100k in Grants

By Eric Malanoski 
From the CNY News

Eleven nonprofit organizations in the region, including two in Otsego County, received grants totaling $99,648 from the Community Foundation for South Central New York in the Foundation’s highly competitive Spring 2013 Community Fund grant cycle.

Forty-three organizations submitted proposals for over $465,837 in funding requests. The successful grants, which were awarded through a volunteer panel and board review process, will be used for a variety of capital projects, operations and programs at the organizations in Otsego County

Bugbee Children’s Center at SUCO in Oneonta was handed $15,000 for an outdoor learning and play space, while Morris Central Schools in Morris received $12,211 for a summer enrichment program for district students.

The Community Foundation for South Central New York, a nonprofit organization founded in 1997 and headquartered in Johnson City, encourages and facilitates personal and institutional philanthropy throughout the region by managing funds within the foundation’s endowment that are established by donors to achieve specific charitable goals.

To see the article online click here.

RECAP Infusing Mission Value into Your Board Structure and Resources Now Available

Program RECAP Infusing Mission Value into Your Board Structure Thank You for Attending  Offered as a part of the Southern Tier Capacity Building Program Sponsored by United Way of Broome County, The Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, The Community Foundation for South Central New York, and Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation      As a recap from the recent Infusing Mission Value into Your Board Structure training, please find the presentation and support materials below.  Also, any qualifying organization (must have had a board member in attendance) can now apply for the follow up resources, which include the Southern Tier Capacity Building Mini-Grant Program and Assessment Program.  Please review the Mini-Grant Criteria below before applying.  New this year, immediate assistance is available through a new resource, which includes up to 4 hours of free technical assistance from NYCON staff.  For more information, contactamarietta@nycon.org.    Infusing Mission Value into Your Board Structure presentation Legal Responsibilities Sample Board Leadership Bylaws Sample Board Officers Job Descriptions Sample Bylaw Provision for ED Southern Tier Capacity Building Mini-Grant and Assessment Programs: Nonprofits who have a Board Member attend will qualify to apply for the 2013 Southern Tier Capacity Building Mini-Grant Program, as well as special assessment support offered directly by the New York Council of Nonprofits. The  Mini-Grant Program and special assessment assistance are supported by United Way of Broome County, The Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, The Community Foundation for South Central New York, Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation, George A. and Margaret Mee Charitable Foundation, and United Way of Delaware and Otsego Counties, Inc.   Apply Here: Southern Tier Capacity Building Criteria Southern Tier Capacity Building Mini-Grant   Southern Tier Capacity Building Assessment

FREE Training Offered June 19th: Building a Dynamic Leadership Team: Leveraging Your Management and Governance Assets Presented by Doug Sauer, CEO, New York Council of Nonprofits Offered as a part of the Southern Tier Capacity Building Program Sponsored by United Way of Broome County, The Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, The Community Foundation for South Central New York, and Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation      No matter what the mission, size or life cycle of a nonprofit is, there always is and always will be a dynamic tension between the roles and responsibilities of governance and management.  There are basic principles and parameters to guide the boundaries, but as organizational circumstances change, including  board members, officers and executives, so does the relationship(s).  The management-governance effort has a fluidity that needs to be carefully cultivated, monitored, and managed so that the leaders on both sides of the equation form and maintain an effective and successful partnership.  This session will explore, through presentation and group discussion of case scenario's, the fundamental guiding principles involved, how to prevent unnecessary issues from arising, and knowing when and how to engage or directly intervene when matters go off course.    REGISTER HERE      Date: Wednesday, June 19th, 2013 Time: 9:30am to 12:30pm Cost: Free to nonprofit directors, board and staff (Board Member must register and attend in order to qualify for Capacity Building Mini-Grant and Assessment Programs) Location: Broome County Public Library                Decker Room                185 Court Street                Binghamton, NY 13901 This workshop is supported by United Way of Broome County, The Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, The Community Foundation for South Central New York, and Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation.   Southern Tier Capacity Building Mini-Grant and Assessment Programs: Nonprofits who have a Board Member attend will qualify to apply for the 2013 Southern Tier Capacity Building Mini-Grant Program, as well as special assessment support offered directly by the New York Council of Nonprofits. The  Mini-Grant Program and special assessment assistance are supported by United Way of Broome County, The Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, The Community Foundation for South Central New York, Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation, George A. and Margaret Mee Charitable Foundation, and United Way of Delaware and Otsego Counties, Inc.

About the Southern Tier Capacity Building  Program Partners:  New York Council of Nonprofits is the premier governance, management, and support services organization serving charities in the state. NYCON has a membership of 3,200 charities of all types and has offices in Albany, New York City, Rochester, Poughkeepsie, and Oneonta.  For more Information visit www.nycon.org or contact Andrew Marietta at 607-436-3124, or at amarietta@nycon.org. United Way of Broome County works to improve people's lives in our community by focusing on the building blocks for a good life: education, income and health. As the largest non-government funder of human services in Broome County, United Way assesses the overall needs of the community and mobilizes resources to efficiently address them. This is accomplished through the direct management of several critical services, including the Susquehanna River Region 2-1-1 Call Center, and the financial support of more than 50 local health and human service programs. More information about United Way of Broome County is available at www.uwbroome.org. The Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, Inc. was created to perpetuate the Hoyts' charitable interest and to use its resources to enhance the quality of life of the people of Broome County, primarily through judicious grantmaking. Stewart and Willma Hoyt's vision and funding, coupled with the prudent management afforded by a dedicated Board, has created a strong mechanism to seek solutions to critical issues facing our community. More information about the Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation is available at www.hoytfoundation.org.  The Community Foundation for South Central New York is now in its 16th year of encouraging and facilitating philanthropy in the region, and serves five counties including Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego and Tioga. Dedicated to being a flexible endowment fund for its communities, it receives both large and small contributions from donors (including individuals, businesses and other foundations) to form the endowment from which grants are made. Since its inception in 1997 the Community Foundation has awarded more than $7.2 million in grants to not-for-profit organizations in the fields of health, human services, education, arts and humanities and has received over $17 million in contributions. More information about the Community Foundation may be found on its website at www.cfscny.org. The Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation is a private charitable foundation created in 1957 by Conrad Klee and his wife. Since that time it has made charitable grants to various qualified nonprofit organizations, primarily in Broome County, NY. The Klee Foundation is committed to promoting, nurturing and educating a healthy community.  Accordingly, particular focus is placed upon grant proposals seeking funding to support sustainable programs that can demonstrate how they can help to achieve that goal. More information about the Klee Foundation may be found on its website at http://kleefoundation.org.   George A. and Margaret Mee Charitable Foundation invests in projects and programs of qualified nonprofit organizations that support the communities of Delaware County, New York, Cameron County, Pennsylvania and Broome County, New York and occasionally the surrounding areas. The general categories of funding are Education, Community and Recreation, Health and Human Services and Arts and Culture. It is the Foundation's intent through such investments to assist and support the nonprofit organizations in addressing the current issues and challenges within these communities, thereby working towards positive change and impact in the lives of those they serve.  More information about the Mee Foundation may be found at http://www.meefoundation.org. United Way of Delaware and Otsego Counties, Inc. covers two large, rural Counties and assumes a pro-active role in working collaboratively with organizations to maximize the effects of limited resources in meeting Health and Human Service needs. The United Way seeks to be the leader in improving the quality of life in Delaware and Otsego Counties, particularly in terms of addressing the health and human service needs of people. Priority areas are a Community-wide needs assessment, the advocacy of issues, support for the needed programs that serve the poor and working poor, and the on-going evaluation of United Way funded programs and services. More information about the United Way may be found athttp://www.unitedwaydo.org/

Uniform Grant Application (UGA) Technical Assistance Workshop in Binghamton January 17th

The Community Foundation for South Central New York will offer a free technical assistance workshop focused on how to successfully complete the Uniform Grant Application. The workshop is open to Broome, Tioga, Chenango, Delaware & Otsego County non-profit organizations and will be held on Thursday, January 17 , 2013 from 9:30AM to noon in the Decker Community Room of the Broome County Public Library located at 185 Court St., Binghamton, NY.   Check-in begins at 9:00 AM.

Participants will learn about the Foundation and receive an in-depth tutorial on the Uniform Grant Application which will include tips and strategies on conducting needs assessment and developing/measuring goals and objectives.  Pre-registration is required for the workshop and there is a maximum of two participants per agency.     Space is limited.

To register, please call the Foundation at (607) 772- 6773 or send an e-mail to cfscny@stny.rr.com no later than 4:00 PM on Thursday, January 10th.

 

The Community Foundation for South Central New York

520 Columbia Drive – Suite 100, Johnson City, NY 13790 - www.donorswhocare.org

Binghamton University’s Philanthropy Incubator Announces $10,000 Available

Binghamton University’s Philanthropy Incubator students are pleased to announce that they will distribute $10,000 to local nonprofit organizations later this spring to Broome and Tioga organizations. The Learning by Giving Foundation has provided the funding to the students, who will make grant decisions as part of course work in the class Philanthropy and Civil Society. The purpose of this announcement is to invite eligible organizations to indicate their interest in support from this program.

To be eligible for funding, individual organizations must complete the short letter of interest available at this link. You can also access the link here. The letter asks several very short questions about your organization. The deadline for submitting your letter of interest is next Friday, March 23rd.

The students are using the letters of interest to identify the universe of organizations available to fund. Students will review the organizations that express interest in funding and follow up directly with those organizations that most align with their funding interests. They will use those follow up conversations to discuss with potential grantees the specific ways in which they would use grant funds. The students have identified the following issue areas as important to them: education and youth development, housing and homelessness; family services and poverty.

Of course, it is important to remember that the amount of funding available, $10,000, is limited and I suspect the students will fund no more than four organizations (and they could choose to fund only one). Please do not submit any additional information other than what they have requested on the letter of interest.

If you have other questions, please contact David Campbell, the course instructor, at dcamp@binghamton.edu.

Broome Area Foundations Announce Grant Application Workshop and New Uniform Grant Application

The Community Foundation for South Central New York, The Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, The Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation, The Roger Kresge Foundation, and the Dr. G. Clifford and Florence B. Decker Foundation are now accepting grant proposals for 2012 on a Uniform Grant Application (UGA) form.

The Uniform Grant Application was created to simplify the process of requesting and making grants. The format eliminates redundancy and will assist grant-seekers in organizing and writing their proposals. The UGA was developed in an effort to streamline the application process and in response to the request of numerous non-profit organizations in Broome. The new application will be available on the foundations’ various websites after a workshop to introduce the format and train grant-seekers in its use, on Tuesday January 24th at 1:30 pm in the Decker Room of the Binghamton Public Library, 185 Court Street.

Media are invited to speak to Foundation Executive Directors at 1pm on that date immediately before the workshop.

The Community Foundation for South Central New York, a nonprofit organization founded in 1997 and headquartered in Johnson City, encourages and facilitates personal and institutional philanthropy throughout the region by managing funds within the Foundation’s endowment that are established by donors to achieve specific charitable goals. From these funds, the Foundation has awarded over $5.9 million in grants to the area’s nonprofits to help address community concerns and improve the quality of life in the region. The Community Foundation serves donors and nonprofits in five New York counties: Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego and Tioga. More information about the Foundation can be found on its website www.donorswhocare.org.

July 29th Feelin’ the Love: The Care and Feeding of Funders

It’s The Little Things. Let’s face it. If it weren’t for our funders, many of us would shutter our doors. Most of us know — as we should know — the exact percentage of contributed income required to balance our operating and program budgets. Our funders give so much, and (mostly) ask for so little in return. But how often do we really think about things from their perspective? For the most part — it is the little things that matter. Unfortunately, and often to our organizational peril, it is the little things that become so easy to overlook.

AUDIENCE: Board Chairs, Executive Directors/CEOs, Development Officers.

LEVEL: Intermediate through advanced.

DESCRIPTION: This half-day workshop will focus on the “give and take” of fundraising — from the funder’s point of view. The first segment will cover the tips, tricks, tactics, and talent that will help you attract funders, and keep them coming back for more (of you!). The second segment will be a panel discussion of esteemed funders in our region, representing every sector of the world of funding.

WORKSHOP PANEL MEMBERS:
Corporate Funding – Howell M. Palmer, CFO Security Mutual Life Insurance Company (SMLNY), and member of the SMLNY corporate contributions committee

Private Foundation Funding – Judith C. Peckham, Executive Director of the Klee Foundation
Community Foundation Funding – Diane L. Brown, Executive Director of the Community Foundation for South Central New York

Government and Agency Funding – Doug Sauer, CEO of NYCON, Inc, and Treasurer and Past
President of the Board of Directors of the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN)

Individual Philanthropy – Robert H. Linn, Retired

Office Managing Partner, Ernst & Young – Syracuse and community volunteer

REGISTRATION:
(Limited to two people per organization)
To register for this free program, please provide the following information by Friday, July 22. For your convenience, you can register by filling out and mailing the form below, give us a call, or send us a fax or E-mail to: The Community Foundation for South Central New York, 520 Columbia Drive, Suite 100, Johnson City, NY 13790, Phone (607) 772-6773, Fax (607) 722-6752 or E-mail to: cfscny@stny.rr.com

DATE Friday, July 29, 2011
TIME 8:00AM–12:00PM
LOCATION WSKG Studios
601 Gates Road, Vestal, NY 13850
COST Free
PRESENTER: Susan J. Palmer, Founder and President of The Palmer Westport Group
SPONSORS: The Community Foundation for South Central New York and WSKG Public Broadcasting

AGENDA:
8:00AM Coffee, juice, muffins
8:30AM Welcome, thank you and introductions
Brian Sickora, President and CEO, WSKG
Diane L. Brown, Executive Director,
Community Foundation
8:40AM Content overview and agenda review
Susan Palmer
8:50AM The Lay of the Land: Giving trends today
Susan Palmer
9:05AM You WANT the Gift
Susan Palmer
The Dating Game
Love and Marriage
9:30AM You’ve GOT the Gift
Susan Palmer
“I am SO BUSY!”
Breaking up is (NOT) hard to do
10:00AM Winning back the “Ex”
Susan Palmer
10:30AM Break
10:45AM Panel: Self-introductions
11:00AM Panel Discussion
What makes me (or my organization) tick?
How to win me, how to lose me.
Q&A with workshop attendees
11:45AM Closing remarks
Diane L. Brown, Brian Sikora

Cub Care Children’s Center receives grant

The Cub Care Children’s Center will be presented with a $9,277 grant by the Community Foundation for South Central New York at 2:30 p.m. Friday.

The grant will make it possible for the center to purchase a SNUG PLAY system, the first of its kind in New York State.

The Cub Care Children’s Center is located at 201 Main St. in Vestal. For more information, contact Deborah Fitzgerald, executive director, at (607) 786-9006.

Community Foundation Awards $100k to Region’s Nonprofits

Twelve nonprofit organizations in the region, including nine in Broome, Chenango and Tioga counties, received grants totaling $99,977 from the Community Foundation for South Central New York.

The money will be used to fund a variety of capital projects, operations and programs.

•ACCORD – A Center for Dispute Resolution, Inc. ($5,750) to train and certify volunteer mediators. (Broome)
•Apalachin Library Association ($11,850) to replace the roof on the main library building. (Tioga)
•Berkshire Free Library ($1,500) toward roof replacement.(Tioga)
•Boys and Girls Club of Western Broome ($15,000) to replace bleachers in the gymnasium. (Broome)
•Chenango County Child Care Coordinating Council ($15,000) to support staffing needed to meet accreditation requirements. (Chenango)
•Delaware County Historical Association ($7,500) for operating support. (Delaware)
•Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier ($3,500) to train staff in Mental Health First Aid. (Broome)
•Otsego 2000 ($8,600) toward staffing of the Cooperstown Farmer’s Market and agriculture programs. (Otsego)
•Recess Resources ($9,277) for purchase of a learn and play system for children. (Broome)
•Southern Tier Senior Net ($5,000) toward purchase of updated computers and software designed to train seniors on new computer technology. (Broome)
•The Deposit Foundation and Rural Housing Services ($2,000) for operating support. (Broome/Delaware)
•Tioga County Open Door Mission ($15,000) for purchase of a mini-bus. (Tioga)

The foundation received 23 proposals with funding requests totaling more over $272,000.

The Community Foundation for South Central New York has awarded over $5.7 million in grants since it was founded in 1997. The foundation serves donors and nonprofits in Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego and Tioga counties. More information can be found on its Web site.

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.

$250,000 Available for Nonprofits

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTH CENTRAL NEW YORK
Announces $250,000 AVAILABLE FOR PROJECTS CONTRIBUTING TO QUALITY OF LIFE IN BROOME COUNTY

The Community Foundation for South Central New York announced today that it has made available, through a competitive request-for-proposal process, up to $250,000 to be awarded from the Harriet Ford Dickinson Fund during 2010, for qualified nonprofits in Broome County who wish to increase their effectiveness in addressing critical issues that impact the quality of life for individuals, groups or the Broome County community in general.

In issuing this Request for Proposals, the Foundation’s intent is to allow organizations to identify critical issues impacting quality of life, rather than the Foundation; provide agencies the opportunity to build appropriate collaborative relationships; provide a larger sum of money than it can through its regular discretionary grants; and encourage programs and projects that are creative, collaborative and innovative in regards to quality of life concerns facing the Broome County community.

These funds (up to $75,000 per organization) will be made available through a three step process; concept papers are due June 11, 2010, selected agencies will be requested to present to the awards committee in July and August and finalists will be asked to submit full proposals by September 15, 2010.

The Harriet Ford Dickenson Foundation established the Harriet Ford Dickenson Fund at the Community Foundation with a $4,000,000 grant in 2000 with the expectation that the fund would support nonprofits in Broome County in perpetuity, and has awarded over $1,015,762 since its inclusion in the Community Foundation endowment.

Interested organizations should contact Robert Jensen, Program Officer or Diane Brown, Executive Director at 772-6773 for further information and to determine if they are eligible.

Reluctant to Ready: A 7-Step Plan to Transform Your Board into Fantastic Fundraisers

DATE Thursday, June 24, 2010
TIME 8:00AM–12:00PM
LOCATION WSKG Studios
601 Gates Road, Vestal, NY 13850
COST Free

IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM.
Board members are often reluctant to accept their responsibility to financially support and solicit donations for the nonprofits they serve. Working toward a solution is an “inside out” approach, and regardless of the issues, there are effective steps you can take to transform a board whose members evade, resist, or just don’t follow through, into one that’s fully engaged in fundraising.

AUDIENCE: Board Chair, Executive Directors/CEOs, Development Officers. We encourage teams of two or more key volunteers/board and staff to attend this workshop together.

LEVEL: Intermediate through advanced.

DESCRIPTION: This half-day workshop will provide a step-by-step plan to optimize board responsiveness, effectiveness, and productivity in fundraising.

WORKSHOP TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:
• Reviewing the fundamentals
• Evaluating your board
• The necessary resources
• Securing commitment
• Establishing accountability
• A look inside at leadership

PRESENTED BY: Susan J. Palmer, Founder and President of The Palmer Westport Group
SPONSORS: The Community Foundation for South Central New York and WSKG Public
Broadcasting

AGENDA:
8:00AM Coffee, juice, muffins
8:30AM Welcome, thank you and introductions
Diane Brown, Executive Director, Community Foundation
Brian Sickora, President and CEO, WSKG

8:40AM Content overview and agenda review
Susan Palmer
• Reviewing the fundamentals
• Evaluating your board
• The necessary resources
• Securing commitment
• Establishing accountability
• A look inside at leadership

8:50AM What are the fundamentals?
Susan Palmer
• Board vs. Management
• The elephant in the room
• It’s a matter of confidence

9:10AM The 7 step plan
Susan Palmer
(We will take a break
midway through the Plan)
1. Have a Plan
2. Get an advocate
3. Board assessment
4. Retreat!!
5. The necessary resources
6. Securing commitment
7. Finding your power

11:30AM Questions, comments, observations
All participants

11:55AM Closing remarks and thank you!
Diane Brown

REGISTRATION:
To register for this program, click here or for info and questions, call or E-mail The Community Foundation for South Central New York at (607) 772-6773 or cfscny@stny.rr.com

Regional Community Foundations Offer Perspectives: Video Interview

Colgate University offered the following funders' conversation:

Dunn says that Central New York has a modest foundation community, with only $400 million in assets and $20 million in annual grants. With those funds, how can we have the most impact. He has seen many encouraging conversations about sustainability in not for profit organizations in the community, and discussions about merging, sharing objectives, and regionalization. OShea says that, as the largest funder in their area, several smaller foundations have come under their umbrella as donor advised or designated funds. This enables them to have a conversation about their interests and the impact of their charitable dollars. She also stresses the importance of the indicator study as a way to articulate the needs of the community to themselves and the community. Brown does the same thing by relying on other agencies to give them this information. They are concerned with the power differential and remind themselves to remain sensitive about this. She shares an example of a cultural organization that has systemic issues. They also discuss the definition of philanthropy and the creation of the Center for Philanthropy by the Central New York Community Foundation.

Grants available for women’s projects

The Press and Sun-Bulletin reported that The Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation for South Central New York is accepting grant applications from 501(c)(3) nonprofit agencies for projects assisting women and girls in Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego and/or Tioga counties.

Applications must be filed at the Community Foundation, 70 Front St., Binghamton, by 5 p.m. Sept. 14.

For information, go online to “Forms and Guidelines” at www.cfscny.org and download the “2009 Women’s Fund Grant Guidelines.”

The fund will award a total of $7,000 in 2009 to applicants who make a compelling case for projects or programs with the potential to improve the well-being of women and/or girls in the region.

SAVE THE DATE Building A Better Ask: Planning and Implementing a Successful Annual Appeal

Sponsored by the Community Foundation for South Central New York and WSKG
It’s more than raising money. A successful approach to “making the call” will 1) energize
those involved—board, staff, volunteers, and donors, 2) give confidence and experience to new generations of leaders, and 3) elevate a community’s sense of what it is capable of
accomplishing.

AUDIENCE: Board Members, Executive Directors /CEOs, Development Officers. We encourage teams of two key volunteers/board and staff to attend this workshop together.
LEVEL: Intermediate through advanced.
DESCRIPTION: This half-day seminar will focus on the skills and activities needed to plan and implement an annual campaign successfully. The presenter will focus on practical and helpful information based on real life fundraising challenges and success stories. Better Asks = Better Outcomes

WORKSHOP TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:

• The five tenets of successful fundraising
• Creating a compelling case for giving—packaging the dream so others can buy into it!
• Identifying, recruiting, and motivating board and annual campaign leaders
• Proper fundraising sequence—everybody in the pool, but who’s first?
• Making the “right ask”
• Building a constituency—relational fundraising
• Overcoming call reluctance and making effective calls face-to-face

PRESENTED BY: Susan J. Palmer Building a Better Ask: Planning and Implementing a Successful Annual Appeal

DATE Thursday, August 20, 2009
TIME 8:00AM–12:00PM
LOCATION WSKG Studios
601 Gates Road, Vestal, NY 13850
COST Free

AGENDA:
8:00AM Coffee, juice, muffins
8:30AM Welcome and Thank You
Diane Brown, Executive Director, Community Foundation
Brian Sickora, President and CEO, WSKG
8:40AM Introductions
9:00AM Review of Agenda and Overview
Susan Palmer
• Case
• Donor confidence
• Constituency of donors
• Leadership
• Organizational capacity
9:15AM Are You Campaign Ready?
Susan Palmer
• Making your case
• Building your board
• Building your team
9:45AM Annual Appeal Fundraising Sequence
Susan Palmer
• Board Solicitation
• Campaign Team Solicitation
• Prospect Research
• Cultivation
• Solicitor Training
• Gracious, one-on-one fundraising
11:30AM Comments, Questions, and Answers
All participants
12:00PM Thank You and Adjourn
Diane Brown

REGISTRATION:
To register for this program, please provide the following information by Thursday, August 13. For your convenience, you can register by filling out and mailing the form below, give us a call, or send us a fax or E-mail to: The Community Foundation for South Central New York, 70 Front Street, Binghamton, NY 13905, Phone: (607) 772-6773,
Fax: (607) 722-6752 or E-mail to: cfscny@stny.rr.com

JCC receives grant for daycare

The Press & Sun-Bulletin reported that the Binghamton Jewish Community Center’s Early Childhood Center was awarded a $12,000 grant from the Community Foundation for South Central New York. The money will go towards the $115,000 in daycare subsidies the center provides to needy families. Read the announcement here.

How to Give Like the Rich

The Wall Street Journal featured an article that you don't have to be a Rockefeller to give like one. Even philanthropists of relatively modest means can direct their giving for years after they pass away through "donor advised funds" -- charitable-giving accounts set up with community foundations or some investment firms.

With as little as, say, $5,000, you can set up a fund to help needy children or other causes you select. You get an immediate tax break and, because you're donating through an existing entity, your money won't get eaten up by administrative costs (though you will pay a small annual administrative fee).

"It really kind of multiplies the effect of the charitable dollar," because investment gains can accumulate before the money is distributed, says Ani Hurwitz of the New York Community Trust, a foundation in New York.

The mechanics are fairly easy: You donate to a local community foundation or a charitable fund set up by an investment firm such as Fidelity Investments, Vanguard Group or Charles Schwab.

They will invest the money and make grants supporting the causes of your choice. You make recommendations on how the money should be donated, but they make the final decision.