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Showing posts with label Media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Media. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
This Morning, NYCON CEO Doug Sauer Testifies in Front of Senate Committee
Improve Your Nonprofit's Website This Summer
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Thursday, February 14, 2013
Ideal Ware:Best February 2013
Best of the Web: February 2013
The Idealware “Best of the Web” is a monthly roundup of the top nonprofit resources from the Idealware blog, our Facebook page, and our Twitter feed to help you make the right technology decisions.
A look at how social media has affected online giving.
How do you get the most bang for your buck when investing in the mobile web?
All your tactical technology planning needs in one on-demand package to solve your organization's current problems and avoid future issues.
When you start by asking the right questions, your organization will be in the best place to plan for the future.
Could you use more help thinking through how to use data to help your organization make decisions? This workbook Idealware prepared for NTEN is the perfect place to start.
Tips on how to recruit, retain, and upgrade monthly donors.
Use these apps to keep up with the rapid growth of mobile.
The 325 email marketing terms everyone needs to know.
Save time and increase your organization's productivity by becoming a Google Calendar whiz.
A Guide to Synagogue Management: Research and Recommendations (Idealware)
We looked at a variety of donor and constituent management systems to create an overview for a complex and niche market
We looked at a variety of donor and constituent management systems to create an overview for a complex and niche market
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Pew Report: How internet and social media have transformed the arts
How internet and social media have transformed the arts
By: Peggy McGlone/The Star-Ledger
Social media has become a new way for arts organizations to promote their work, attract new audiences, as well as advertise themselves. Audiences have become more diverse, attracting younger people to the organizations.
For the full story click here
By: Peggy McGlone/The Star-Ledger
Social media has become a new way for arts organizations to promote their work, attract new audiences, as well as advertise themselves. Audiences have become more diverse, attracting younger people to the organizations.
For the full story click here
Sunday, November 14, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
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.
Their current webcast discusses the loss of revenue of national nonprofit organizations and the Jerry Lewis telethon. Check out Nonprofit Times TV here.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
"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.”
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.”
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
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.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
A Time to Give: Nonprofits Share Needs
The Press & Sun-Bulletin offered a partial listing of nonprofits who have needs, and how people can help. Click here for the list.
United Way of Broome County
Mission: To improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities.
Address: 101 S. Jensen Road, Vestal, N.Y. 13850
Contact: Alan Hertel, Executive Director
Related
Keep in mind how blessed we are during the holiday season
Phone: 729-2592
Web: www.unitedwaybroome.org
Three needs:
* The number of families in our community relying on the services provided by our partner agencies to cope with their daily living has increased dramatically. Please help them by donating whatever you can afford to maintain these much-needed services.
* Holiday gifts for teenagers to be distributed to this often-forgotten age group.
* Kid-friendly food, such as microwaveable macaroni and cheese, to distribute to children for weekends and holidays when they cannot take advantage of school lunch programs.
Tioga United Way, Inc.
Mission: Provide hope and opportunity for our community
Address: 24 State Route 96, Owego, N.Y. 13827
Contact: Fred Trzcinski, Executive Director
Telephone: 687-4028
Web: www.tiogaunitedway.com
Three needs:
* Monetary donations to help reach our 2010 campaign goal of $365,000.00, which will be distributed among our 33 member agencies providing human services to Tioga County residents
* Food items to be distributed to member agencies with food distribution activities in Tioga County
* New toys and books to be distributed to member agencies, who will distribute toys and books to needy children in Tioga County.
Catholic Charities of Broome County
Mission: To serve the poor and disadvantaged of our community through service, advocacy, empowerment, and convening.
Address: 232 Main St., Binghamton, N.Y.
Contact: Kathy Pfaffenbach,
Email: kpfaffenbach@ccbc.net
Web: www.catholiccharitiesbc.org
See the list here.
United Way of Broome County
Mission: To improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities.
Address: 101 S. Jensen Road, Vestal, N.Y. 13850
Contact: Alan Hertel, Executive Director
Related
Keep in mind how blessed we are during the holiday season
Phone: 729-2592
Web: www.unitedwaybroome.org
Three needs:
* The number of families in our community relying on the services provided by our partner agencies to cope with their daily living has increased dramatically. Please help them by donating whatever you can afford to maintain these much-needed services.
* Holiday gifts for teenagers to be distributed to this often-forgotten age group.
* Kid-friendly food, such as microwaveable macaroni and cheese, to distribute to children for weekends and holidays when they cannot take advantage of school lunch programs.
Tioga United Way, Inc.
Mission: Provide hope and opportunity for our community
Address: 24 State Route 96, Owego, N.Y. 13827
Contact: Fred Trzcinski, Executive Director
Telephone: 687-4028
Web: www.tiogaunitedway.com
Three needs:
* Monetary donations to help reach our 2010 campaign goal of $365,000.00, which will be distributed among our 33 member agencies providing human services to Tioga County residents
* Food items to be distributed to member agencies with food distribution activities in Tioga County
* New toys and books to be distributed to member agencies, who will distribute toys and books to needy children in Tioga County.
Catholic Charities of Broome County
Mission: To serve the poor and disadvantaged of our community through service, advocacy, empowerment, and convening.
Address: 232 Main St., Binghamton, N.Y.
Contact: Kathy Pfaffenbach,
Email: kpfaffenbach@ccbc.net
Web: www.catholiccharitiesbc.org
See the list here.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Southern Tier residents helping out even in tough times
The Press and Sun-Bulletin reported on nonprofits using the newspaper and website to help get the word out about the needs they are trying to address. As the article relates:
Nancy Brady shared the good news in an e-mail to dozens of area residents who have answered the call to help others during the holidays.
"Thank you so much for adopting a family this year!" said Brady, who coordinates the Family Enrichment Network's annual program to help children in less fortunate families during the holidays. "Because of your generosity, over 120 families will now have a brighter holiday this year and we have been able to add even more families to be adopted that were placed on a waiting list."
While Brady's non-profit agency in Johnson City has surpassed its goal of finding donors to help children in 120 families, there are still dozens of organizations that are seeking donations to help those hit hard by these tough economic times.
More than two dozen non-profit agencies have taken advantage of the Press & Sun-Bulletin's offer for them to use the newspaper and www.pressconnects.com to tell everyone about the needs non-profits are trying to fill and the donations the community can make to help them help others.
Nancy Brady shared the good news in an e-mail to dozens of area residents who have answered the call to help others during the holidays.
"Thank you so much for adopting a family this year!" said Brady, who coordinates the Family Enrichment Network's annual program to help children in less fortunate families during the holidays. "Because of your generosity, over 120 families will now have a brighter holiday this year and we have been able to add even more families to be adopted that were placed on a waiting list."
While Brady's non-profit agency in Johnson City has surpassed its goal of finding donors to help children in 120 families, there are still dozens of organizations that are seeking donations to help those hit hard by these tough economic times.
More than two dozen non-profit agencies have taken advantage of the Press & Sun-Bulletin's offer for them to use the newspaper and www.pressconnects.com to tell everyone about the needs non-profits are trying to fill and the donations the community can make to help them help others.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Press and Sun-Bulletin Offers Lend-A-Hand Program and Invites Support
Press and Sun-Bulletin offered an editorial about the growing need in the Southern Tier.
A few weeks ago, I skipped the candy and nuts in the fundraising catalog for Bainbridge High School and instead signed up to buy a leather wallet.
I planned to count on Santa for a new one, but the weighty message of a quotation embossed on the back of the wallet compelled me to order it myself as a reminder of our difficult economic times:
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little."
The words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, our president during the Great Depression, ring true today as Southern Tier residents and others nationwide suffer through this recession.
Everyone is aware of today's challenges that are highlighted by double-digit unemployment in some areas, fears of more layoffs and furloughs, new faces at food pantries, bankruptcies, and service organizations struggling to help the continually growing number of needy.
"We're in the middle of our Thanksgiving efforts now and we're seeing a 10 percent increase over last year, and that's people we've never seen before," said Joe Slavik, executive director, Catholic Charities of Broome County.
Alan Hertel, executive director of the United Way of Broome County, said his agency saw a 15 percent increase in calls to First Call for Help from 2007 to 2008, more than half of those for such basic needs as food, clothing and shelter.
"The 2009 numbers look like they will exceed 2008," Hertel said. "In the first six months we already received 17,000 calls, again mainly for basic needs. It's going to be a challenge to meet our goal of $3,850,000, which is what we got last year."
Hertel noted that layoffs of more than 2,000 workers at such major companies as Lockheed-Martin, BAE Systems, Endicott Interconnect, IBM and Vail-Ballou have a double impact on his agency and others. The agencies can't count on the donations 2they've received in previous years from those now among the unemployed, but they can expect to serve them, too.
Hertel and Slavik's testimonial about the plight of area residents is evidence that this is a time for all of us to give help for the holidays.
The Press & Sun-Bulletin plans to expand its efforts beyond its annual Lend-A-Program, which accepts monetary donations from individuals, families, organizations and businesses in our community and distributes these to agencies that work with those who have fallen on hard times.
We will kick off Lend-A-Hand again on Thanksgiving Day, but we hope to use the reach of our newspaper and pressconnects.com in the community to tell everyone about the needs of nonprofits that are helping others.
We are asking every nonprofit charity in our area to share its top three needs so we can let people know how they can help the agencies help others. We will publish the lists and other contact information in the newspaper and on pressconnects.com to alert people to the ways they can help by donating money, food, clothes, furniture and by adopting families and even serving as volunteers at non-profits where staffs have dwindled because of the economy.
To get your agency involved, send an e-mail to newsroom@pressconnects.com. Put "A Time to Give" in the subject line and provide this information:
Agency name.
Mission of agency.
Agency mailing address and physical address (if different).
Three agency/client needs.
We look forward to receiving and sharing the non-profits' list so we can show that our generous community passes FDR's test.
A few weeks ago, I skipped the candy and nuts in the fundraising catalog for Bainbridge High School and instead signed up to buy a leather wallet.
I planned to count on Santa for a new one, but the weighty message of a quotation embossed on the back of the wallet compelled me to order it myself as a reminder of our difficult economic times:
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little."
The words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, our president during the Great Depression, ring true today as Southern Tier residents and others nationwide suffer through this recession.
Everyone is aware of today's challenges that are highlighted by double-digit unemployment in some areas, fears of more layoffs and furloughs, new faces at food pantries, bankruptcies, and service organizations struggling to help the continually growing number of needy.
"We're in the middle of our Thanksgiving efforts now and we're seeing a 10 percent increase over last year, and that's people we've never seen before," said Joe Slavik, executive director, Catholic Charities of Broome County.
Alan Hertel, executive director of the United Way of Broome County, said his agency saw a 15 percent increase in calls to First Call for Help from 2007 to 2008, more than half of those for such basic needs as food, clothing and shelter.
"The 2009 numbers look like they will exceed 2008," Hertel said. "In the first six months we already received 17,000 calls, again mainly for basic needs. It's going to be a challenge to meet our goal of $3,850,000, which is what we got last year."
Hertel noted that layoffs of more than 2,000 workers at such major companies as Lockheed-Martin, BAE Systems, Endicott Interconnect, IBM and Vail-Ballou have a double impact on his agency and others. The agencies can't count on the donations 2they've received in previous years from those now among the unemployed, but they can expect to serve them, too.
Hertel and Slavik's testimonial about the plight of area residents is evidence that this is a time for all of us to give help for the holidays.
The Press & Sun-Bulletin plans to expand its efforts beyond its annual Lend-A-Program, which accepts monetary donations from individuals, families, organizations and businesses in our community and distributes these to agencies that work with those who have fallen on hard times.
We will kick off Lend-A-Hand again on Thanksgiving Day, but we hope to use the reach of our newspaper and pressconnects.com in the community to tell everyone about the needs of nonprofits that are helping others.
We are asking every nonprofit charity in our area to share its top three needs so we can let people know how they can help the agencies help others. We will publish the lists and other contact information in the newspaper and on pressconnects.com to alert people to the ways they can help by donating money, food, clothes, furniture and by adopting families and even serving as volunteers at non-profits where staffs have dwindled because of the economy.
To get your agency involved, send an e-mail to newsroom@pressconnects.com. Put "A Time to Give" in the subject line and provide this information:
Agency name.
Mission of agency.
Agency mailing address and physical address (if different).
Three agency/client needs.
We look forward to receiving and sharing the non-profits' list so we can show that our generous community passes FDR's test.
Monday, October 5, 2009
New Poverty Data
The following editorial from YWCA Executive Director Carole Coppens appeared in The Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin:
As an Executive Director at a nonprofit organization in the Broome County community I am saddened by the new Census Bureau data which paints a deeply disturbing picture of growing poverty in this country and in our state. Nationally, the number of people living in poverty grew by 2.6 million in 2008 to 13.2 percent. The State of New York continues to suffer from a poverty rate of 10.3%. Unfortunately, Broome County is keeping up with that pace at a 10.4% poverty rate.
As troubling as the 2008 data is, the reality today is almost certainly worse. The recession started last year, but its impact has been far greater in 2009. The YWCA Binghamton/Broome County has seen the impact of the recession with a growing number of homeless women and children on the waiting list for our Emergency Shelter. This could be a result of unemployment averaging 5.8 percent last year compared with an average so far this year of just fewer than 9 percent, and climbing. Our county economy mirrors the national trend unemployment is up from 7.1% percent in December 2008 to 8.3 percent in July 2009. Past trends show that when unemployment rises, poverty also goes up.
The Economic Policy Institute estimates that assuming an average unemployment rate of 9.3 percent for 2009, poverty would increase this year to 14.7 percent. Higher unemployment will hit children disproportionately hard. Their poverty is expected to rise from 19 percent in 2008 to 25 percent this year, which translates into one in four children living in poverty. Here in Broome County, it will mean that families on the edge will need assistance to ensure they do not fall further into the downward spiral of poverty. Evidence has shown that in hard economic times all types of families struggle. Domestic violence increases, depression takes over and alcohol abuse increases. In turn, placing demands on communities' service providers often financially strapped themselves.
We must not allow poverty to deepen unchecked. On a daily basis the YWCA sees the impact of poverty on families. For children, the consequences of poverty can be long-lasting, leading to poor nutrition, poor health and poor prospects for success in school. Read more here.
As an Executive Director at a nonprofit organization in the Broome County community I am saddened by the new Census Bureau data which paints a deeply disturbing picture of growing poverty in this country and in our state. Nationally, the number of people living in poverty grew by 2.6 million in 2008 to 13.2 percent. The State of New York continues to suffer from a poverty rate of 10.3%. Unfortunately, Broome County is keeping up with that pace at a 10.4% poverty rate.
As troubling as the 2008 data is, the reality today is almost certainly worse. The recession started last year, but its impact has been far greater in 2009. The YWCA Binghamton/Broome County has seen the impact of the recession with a growing number of homeless women and children on the waiting list for our Emergency Shelter. This could be a result of unemployment averaging 5.8 percent last year compared with an average so far this year of just fewer than 9 percent, and climbing. Our county economy mirrors the national trend unemployment is up from 7.1% percent in December 2008 to 8.3 percent in July 2009. Past trends show that when unemployment rises, poverty also goes up.
The Economic Policy Institute estimates that assuming an average unemployment rate of 9.3 percent for 2009, poverty would increase this year to 14.7 percent. Higher unemployment will hit children disproportionately hard. Their poverty is expected to rise from 19 percent in 2008 to 25 percent this year, which translates into one in four children living in poverty. Here in Broome County, it will mean that families on the edge will need assistance to ensure they do not fall further into the downward spiral of poverty. Evidence has shown that in hard economic times all types of families struggle. Domestic violence increases, depression takes over and alcohol abuse increases. In turn, placing demands on communities' service providers often financially strapped themselves.
We must not allow poverty to deepen unchecked. On a daily basis the YWCA sees the impact of poverty on families. For children, the consequences of poverty can be long-lasting, leading to poor nutrition, poor health and poor prospects for success in school. Read more here.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Donation dollars down
News 10 Now featured a story on donations and their decline and feedback from local nonprofit directors. Interviews included: Boys and Girls Club Director Mary Beth Smith, American Red Cross Director Cindy Gordineer, and The Community Foundation for South Central New York Director Diane Brown.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Editorialists give some insights about their regions - and hopes for new senator
Soon, Hillary Rodham Clinton will vacate her Senate position to become U.S. Secretary of State in the Obama administration. Gov. David Paterson will then appoint a Senate replacement. Upstate communities are rightly adamant the new senator pay attention to their concerns, which often are overshadowed by the political power of New York City and other downstate regions.
The Poughkeepsie Journal editorial board reached out to editorialists across upstate, as well as to Journal readers and online posters, to get their thoughts on these issues - and to find out what the new senator needs to know about upstate. Read the full editorials here, which also feature an editorial from the Press & Sun-Bulletin.
The Poughkeepsie Journal editorial board reached out to editorialists across upstate, as well as to Journal readers and online posters, to get their thoughts on these issues - and to find out what the new senator needs to know about upstate. Read the full editorials here, which also feature an editorial from the Press & Sun-Bulletin.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Steering Committee Update
The SCNY Steering Committee had a meeting on December 16th, which was hosted at ACCORD. The Committee discussed the December 9th program meeting and the follow up concerning the Press & Sun-Bulletin's Calvin Stovall. The Committee is following up with Calvin about press contacts for the paper, as well as arranging a meeting in late January or early February for any interested directors to meet the newspaper's editors. The Committee also wants to encourage nonprofits to pursue the paper's Angels Among Us opportunity Calvin highlighted.
In regards to 2009, the March 10th program has been confirmed for the Jewish Community Center, and the program will focus on how to better work with your board of directors. More information will be announced shortly.
REGISTER HERE
In regards to 2009, the March 10th program has been confirmed for the Jewish Community Center, and the program will focus on how to better work with your board of directors. More information will be announced shortly.
REGISTER HERE
Thursday, December 11, 2008
ED Meeting Program Summary
The South Central NY ED Group meeting was hosted at the Broome County Council of Churches and attended by 20 participants. The program speaker was Calvin Stovall, Executive Editor of the Press & Sun-Bulletin. He gave an overview of how nonprofit directors can better work with the newspaper and gave suggestions for attracting better media attention. For example, a group of nonprofits may have a better opportunity of getting press coverage than an individual organization. Calvin mentioned that stories relevant to the newspaper's target female market may be more appealing. He also mentioned that a relationship with the media helps with coverage.
The program discussion also focused on the economy and impact on local organizations, including the Press & Sun-Bulletin. This was especially true with the recent layoff of the paper’s features editor. Sharon Ball from the Broome County Arts Council asked about this issue and how nonprofits can help the newspaper address this resource gap. Calvin discussed setting up a meeting to discuss this offer and tapping the arts sector to provide more input. He also discussed how the newspaper is adapting and doing more with less. Technology, such as the newspaper’s website, has been a recent focus area. Overall, the economy may worsen, but the media is essential in the role that they play, and Calvin is optimistic that the Press & Sun-Bulletin will adapt and persevere.
Calvin discussed a number of ideas for the Group to follow up on, including:
The program discussion also focused on the economy and impact on local organizations, including the Press & Sun-Bulletin. This was especially true with the recent layoff of the paper’s features editor. Sharon Ball from the Broome County Arts Council asked about this issue and how nonprofits can help the newspaper address this resource gap. Calvin discussed setting up a meeting to discuss this offer and tapping the arts sector to provide more input. He also discussed how the newspaper is adapting and doing more with less. Technology, such as the newspaper’s website, has been a recent focus area. Overall, the economy may worsen, but the media is essential in the role that they play, and Calvin is optimistic that the Press & Sun-Bulletin will adapt and persevere.
Calvin discussed a number of ideas for the Group to follow up on, including:
- Set up meeting with section editors/managers for nonprofit directors
- Share nonprofit executive directors list with newspaper reporters and editors
- Offer reporters the opportunity to send queries and info requests to the Group
- Group could have info hosted on Press & Sun-Bulletin website
- Publicize the Group and raise awareness among other EDs, community leaders, political leaders, etc. with an article in the viewpoint section of paper
- Develop Doers profile, but instead feature nonprofits
The Program meeting included an opportunity for the host nonprofit to present about their programs and services. The featured speaker was Joe Sellepack from Broome County Council of Churches. He outlined his nonprofit’s programs. His organization is the 4th largest church council in the US, and delivers over 3 million pounds of food every year to the local region.
The meeting ended with Committee updates:
Programming Committee- 2009 program ideas include:
- 990 revision
- Work with board of directors
- Funding panel
- Personnel issues/human resources
- Going green/energy savings
Next meeting to be confirmed
Special Projects Committee- discussed culture and social impact study that would answer questions like:
How do nonprofits make community better?
How much money do nonprofits contribute?
Next meeting is January 9th
Membership Committee- Still setting up a meeting for 2009
Family Enrichment Network staff will keep membership database updated
The Executive Committee will meet on December 16th. The next overall Group meeting will March 10th hosted by the Jewish Community Center in Binghamton.
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