A new blueprint for Binghamton

By Matt Porter

Binghamton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) A $500,000 federal grant is awarded to Binghamton to encourage community involvement as the city creates a new comprehensive plan for the next decade.

Binghamton was just one of 27 cities in the country to receive the grant, and the only city in New York

Tarik Abdelazim, Director of Planning for Binghamton's Department of Housing and Community Development, said the plan will become the baseline for new growth and development.

"A project that when it's finished represents all that we want Binghamton to be in 10 to 20 years, that's what this is about," Abdelazim said. "It's about us opening the doors, and going out to the neighbors, and finding out exactly what residents want to see for their children and their grandchildren down the road."

The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The HUD program will fund an 18-month campaign to get the community involved in creating the next comprehensive plan.

It will include multiple public campaigns to get residents involved from all parts of the city. They will launch their website this weekend, but their Facebook Page is already active.

The first chance residents will have to give their input will be Friday during the First Friday Art Walk.

City officials will staff their design studio on Main Street in the old First National Bank building from three to nine in the evening this Friday.

The center will also be open Saturday during the St. Patrick's Day parade.

To read the article online and watch the video click here

Ch-Ch-Changes: Nonprofit Sector Predictions for 2013

WRITTEN BY RICK COHEN

Predictions about the non-profit sector have been made for 2013. While some predictions look promising, non-profits hope that others are mistaken.

For the full story click here.

Data Are Transforming Philanthropy and the Social Economy

Data Are Transforming Philanthropy and the Social Economy

Lucy Bernholz Joins Forces With GrantCraft, Predicts Big Shifts in 2013

New York, NY — January 7, 2013. A GrantCraft publication released today,Philanthropy and the Social Economy: Blueprint 2013, written by leading philanthropy scholar Lucy Bernholz, captures the changing landscape of what it means to use private resources for the public good. No longer the purview of foundations and nonprofits alone, philanthropy is now defined by an array of increasingly diverse activities, such as impact investing, social businesses, peer networks, and crowdfunding. The Blueprint outlines how these and other innovations are transforming the "social economy."

The fourth edition of the Blueprint has joined the suite of materials in GrantCraft — a joint project of the New York-based Foundation Center and Brussels-based European Foundation Centre — which taps the collective knowledge of funders to share insights to help them hone their craft. The analysis and forecasting showcased in the Blueprint provides the GrantCraft community with keen observations about the current landscape, emerging trends, and important breakthroughs likely in the year ahead.

Bernholz notes that the big shifts that matter for donors and "doers" are data-related, and she provides more than a dozen examples of foundations embracing data. Looking into the future, she sees data as transformative for philanthropy, in terms of both practice and policy. Indeed, Bernholz asserts that the use, ownership, and access rules of data will be as definitional for the social economy in the 21st century as the charitable tax deduction was for nonprofits in the 20th century.

"I’m hopeful the Blueprint can contribute to a global discussion about philanthropy, nonprofits, and how we use our private resources for public benefit," said Lucy Bernholz, visiting scholar at Stanford University’s Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society and author of Blueprint 2013. "There are big changes ahead, and theBlueprint gives readers a heads-up on the most meaningful trends."

In this year’s report, Bernholz includes a scorecard for the previous year’s predictions and a list of 2013 forecasts covering crowdfunding, social impact bonds, and political advocacy. She also points out the catchiest philanthropy-related buzzwords of the year and lists possible "wildcard" world events — legislation, scandals, or disasters — that have the potential to mitigate or accelerate the timing of big shifts in the social economy.

"The Blueprint serves as a finger on the pulse of the social economy," said Lisa Philp, vice president for strategic philanthropy at the Foundation Center. "Lucy’s insights about the changing nature of philanthropy have become required reading for funders and anyone concerned with aligning resources toward the greater good."

Throughout 2013, Bernholz will explore the ideas in the Blueprint, as well as trends in Europe and other regions of the world, in an ongoing conversation atField Notes, the GrantCraft blog, as well as on her own blog, Philanthropy2173.

Philanthropy and the Social Economy: Blueprint 2013 can be downloaded for free at www.grantcraft.org.

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 visit foundationcenter.org or call  (212) 620-4230.

About the European Foundation Centre
The European Foundation Centre, founded in 1989, is an international membership association representing public-benefit foundations and corporate funders active in philanthropy in Europe, and beyond. The Centre develops and pursues activities in line with its four key objectives: creating an enabling legal and fiscal environment; documenting the foundation landscape; building the capacity of foundation professionals; and promoting collaboration, both among foundations and between foundations and other actors. Emphasising transparency and best practice, all members sign up to and uphold the European Foundation Centre Principles of Good Practice. For more information, please visit www.efc.be.

View Press Releases

We respect your right to e-mail privacy. If you are not interested in receiving periodic messages about Foundation Center events, or have other comments or suggestions, please send e-mail to communications@foundationcenter.org.

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For the Full Online Article Click Here

New Ideas for Board Recruitment: Consider Youth

As more of our organizations face recruitment and engagement issues with our Boards of Directors, it is time to think outside of the box and take new approaches. One such idea is to consider youth serving on our Boards. Below is a great overview and info from the National Council of Nonprofits, the umbrella organization for the NYCON, for your consideration.

You’re only as old as you feel

By Jennifer Chandler

When a question landed in my inbox last week about youth serving on nonprofit boards, my thoughts turned to our society’s attitudes towards age and the role that charitable nonprofits can play in bridging the “generation gap.” The question in my inbox was: “Are there any programs that prepare youth to serve on nonprofit boards?” The question prompted me to think about the distance between young and old, and how nonprofits bridge what I think of as a“perspectives gap.”

But first, let’s clarify a threshold issue relating to the question posed. While seven states (Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Utah) prevent anyone under the “majority age” (usually 18) from serving as a board member of a nonprofit corporation, most states are silent about the age of board members. This leaves the decision about what age is appropriate for board members up to the individual nonprofits. (To our knowledge there are no state laws that restrict older individuals from serving on boards.) If you are curious what your state law says about the age of board members, you can research the statutes that govern nonprofit corporations in your state at LawForChange.org.

The post "Youth Board Members: Can minors serve on nonprofit boards?" by Emily Chan, co-author of the Nonprofit Law Blog, gives an excellent overview of the legal issues raised when young people serve on boards. Chan raises many important questions nonprofits should tackle before inviting youth to take on decision-making roles, and she offers several alternatives to board service. Chan’s post is very comprehensive (and we always appreciate Nonprofit Law Blog’s carefully researched resources). My own view is that whether someone under 18 should serve on a nonprofit board should not turn on whether the“youth board member will feel isolated” or “what skills or training the youth board member needs that the organization currently does not provide?”Isolation, preparation for taking on the fiduciary duties that board service requires, and other issues are equally relevant across the age spectrum. What we are really exploring when we ask the age question is whether this particular individual has skills and experiences that will add value to the board’s work and/or whether placing that person on a governing board is necessary to fulfill other goals, such as growing the bench of leadership for the organization, or creating ambassadors to segments of stakeholders that are important for the nonprofit’s work.

Conscious of the need for continuity of leadership, many nonprofits cultivate talent, whether young or old, to make sure that multiple perspectives are represented on their board and that when one generation steps aside, another is ready to take its place. “It’s something the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits advocates, as we want to see nonprofits grow their leadership and ensure that other generations are ready to serve,” explains Trisha Lester, Vice President of the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits.“Authentically engaging young people as partners and decision-makers is a crucial and challenging topic for youth-serving nonprofits (and other groups). Service on governance boards can be a powerful way to do this, but there are other ways to accomplish the goal of giving this particular constituency voice,” says Molly O’Connell, Resources and Advocacy Coordinator at the Maine Association of Nonprofits. Looked at another way, we all need mentors, and when seasoned seniors can pass their wisdom and insights on to younger generations – whether defined as under 18 or under 30 – everybody wins over time. (If you think that working with board members is a little like herding cats, this 60 Minutes story about the importance of role models for elephants may suggest a different analogy!)

Moreover, a board that boasts a diversity of perspectives is simply better-poised for scenario planning. Different life experiences not only help board members see around the organization’s corners, but also help the organization see challenges in the community more clearly. Such added perspective can lead to more effective problem-solving and greater impact. When the work of charitable nonprofits reflects diverse perspectives, this is a perfect example of a“triple bottom line” ROI because it benefits the nonprofit, volunteers, and the community.

At the National Council of Nonprofits we are strong believers in the value of proactively preparing leadersand diversifying governing boards (and staff) of nonprofits. We also believe in the important role that charitable nonprofits play as places where people in communities, young and old, of all shapes, sizes, and colors, come together to learn from each other and collaboratively solve problems.

So what does age have to do with it? Age, like any other characteristic, adds meaningful texture to our own perspectives. And the perspectives of charitable nonprofits are really all about the perspectives of individuals in communities, coming together through nonprofits, to affect change and improve their worlds.

Resources about diversity on boards (National Council of Nonprofits)

Resources on board development (National Council of Nonprofits)

Resources about cultural competency (Bridgestar and BoardSource)

Resources

Boards and governance issues (National Council of Nonprofits)

Next Generation and Governance(BoardSource)

Plan A – How Successful Nonprofits Develop Their Future Leaders (Bridgestar)

Youth Advisory Committees (Michigan Community Foundation Youth Project)

Creating a Teen Board/Ambassador Program (United Way of Central New Mexico)

Case study on board diversity (Maine Association of Nonprofits)

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

Baruch College Publishes New Case Studies On Nonprofit Advocacy

The Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management of Baruch College’s School of Public Affairs has published three multi-media case studies funded by the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation under its "Improving the Performance of Public Institutions" program. The case studies document landmark attempts by nonprofit organizations to drive policy changes on key issues in New York City including solid waste management and environmental justice, child welfare and foster care and equitable funding of New York City schools. For free copies of the case study materials and more information about the project, visit the project website at:

“the primary aim of the case studies is to help those interested in the work of nonprofits to understand how these organizations can become more effective advocates.”
http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/spa/researchcenters/nonprofitstrategy/CaseStudies.php

“We have published these cases as part of our commitment to documenting the key role that nonprofits play in the civic life of this city and to providing education materials that can be used to train the next generations of nonprofit leaders,” says Jack Krauskopf, Director of the Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management.

The case studies are unique and provide background of the advocacy campaigns, identify the outcomes and impacts, analyze the role of the advocacy organizations and coalitions, and determine the key factors in the success or failure of the different elements of the campaigns.

Each written case narrative has an accompanying video of interviews with the advocates highlighted in the case, and an appendix with links to supplementary online documentation and examples of print and visual media coverage of the issues. An additional background paper, Understanding Nonprofit Advocacy, explores definitions of advocacy and the challenges in evaluating the outcomes of advocacy campaigns. In addition, Teaching Notes provide instructors with additional information on how to use the cases.

Professor John Casey, the project coordinator, notes that “the primary aim of the case studies is to help those interested in the work of nonprofits to understand how these organizations can become more effective advocates.”

Margaret C. Ayers, the President of the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, comments that “our focus on advocacy reflects our desire to maximize the impact of our limited philanthropic dollars. By influencing government policies and programs, our grantees affect the expenditure of millions of dollars in public funds--an impact many times the size of our grants budget. Policy change rarely happens quickly or easily. To mount these kinds of long-term campaigns, advocates need long-term funding and the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation is committed to supporting them.”

For more about Baruch College’s School of Public Affairs, go to http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/spa/home.php.

New Initiative Aims to Help Nonprofits Show Economic Impact

Nonprofit Quarterly reported on a recent Hartford Business Journal story:
The Hartford Business Journal reports that the Connecticut Health and Education Facilities Authority has selected the University of Connecticut’s Nonprofit Leadership Program to develop and oversee the “Connecticut Data Collaborative,” to be an online resource for nonprofit staff, state policy-makers and the general public to document nonprofit economic impact. According to David Garvey, executive director of the UConn program, the target date for completion is 2013 and the estimated annual maintenance cost for the new online platform is 5,000.

In its final form, the site will be a searchable resource that runs off mapping technology and will enable researchers to not only identify the nonprofits that are working in specific communities but also to evaluate their impact and performance based on information provided in 990s. Responding to his sense of whether nonprofits would be hesitant to share this kind of financial information in the new tool, Garvey said, “The way we look at this is it is public information, and we have to look at the harsh realities of Connecticut. The 990 is one number taken at a point in time; it’s not the complete story of a nonprofit. It’s low hanging fruit, so let’s get that out there.” Still, he added, “Do we want to add more data? More quantitative data? Yes.”

Ron Cretaro, executive director of the Connecticut Association of Nonprofits, noted that particularly for small nonprofit organizations “that are narrowly focused and tend to fly under the radar,” of donors and policy makers, the new system will be a tremendous asset. “We’ll be able to demonstrate the economic impact of nonprofits,” he said. “We’ve been hungry for this kind of information to all be pulled together. It’s an achievement of collaboration.”

Similarly, Carol Walter, executive director of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, told the Business Journal that the new resource sounded “promising.” She added, “It’s not for not wanting to, but a lot of nonprofits are busy putting out fires and keeping our heads above water. A platform like this could be really beneficial because you’re able to go to one place.” Visit here for more info.

Fueling Good Program Offers Chance to Win Free Gas

IT’S YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND THEN SOME.
For the 2011 Fueling Good Program, we’re focusing our support on four charitable categories: Education and Social Investment, Energy Assistance and Conservation, Environmental Protection and Restoration, and Health and Well-Being. Your organization must serve one of these interests and have 501(c)3 status to be eligible to participate. Please choose a category during registration. Thank you, and best of luck!

Get an overview of Fueling Good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvZDcdn9q5U

How it works:
· Starting June 1, nonprofits will be able to register at http://www.fuelinggood.com/ to participate in the summer program. From July 14 – August 11, local communities will begin voting at that site for charities of their choice. (The full rules/details will also be available on the site starting June 1).

· CITGO will be awarding gas to 12 nonprofits at the end of August, with more to follow in the fall.

Who is eligible?
· 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations in the 27 states where CITGO operates.

MAKING LIMITED DOLLARS MAKE $EN$E: May 24th

A workshop for Center Directors, Finance Managers and Board Members

Tuesday May 24 , 2011
9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Child Development Council
609 West Clinton Street, Ithaca NY

8:30 Registration – Light Refreshments
9:00 Welcome and Introductions – George Ferrari, Community Foundation of Tompkins County
9:15 Keeping your Eye on the Bottom Line – Sherri Koski
Child care center directors face one of the toughest jobs of managing a business in the human service field. We will review budget processes including determining the actual cost of care and setting fees with cost in mind. We will also discuss policies and the protection they offer. This session will encourage participation and sharing of what your practices are and how they work for you.

Sherri Koski is the Executive Director, Ithaca Community Childcare Center. She’s been the director for 5 years and held the position of Enrollment & Marketing Manager for the previous 7 years. Sherri worked at Wegmans managing various departments for 7 years. All of these roles have provided the challenge of keeping an eye on the bottom line while maintaining relationships with the customer.

10:45 Break

11:00 Shared Services Alliances 101 – Carla Hibbard
A Shared Services Alliance is a community-based partnership comprised of small businesses (whether nonprofit or for-profit) within an industry or sector working together to share costs and deliver services in a more streamlined and efficient way. By participating in an Alliance, small businesses become stronger, more accountable, more financially sound and efficient, and better equipped to offer affordable, high-quality services. This overview will present some of the critical steps in beginning an Alliance, from needs assessment through development of a business plan.

Carla Hibbard brings more than 25 years’ experience in education and training leadership to her role as Director of Steuben Child Care Project. In this position, Ms. Hibbard manages four state and county contracts, a $1.3 million budget, and a staff of twenty that delivers services aimed at improving the quality, availability, affordability, and accessibility of child care in Steuben County, New York. Ms. Hibbard serves on several boards and committees and is currently a member of the National Shared Services Alliance Steering Committee.
Registration: $40 by May 18, 2011
For more information: www.childdevelopmentcouncil.org or by calling (607 273-0259)

To Enroll in Training, each individual must complete this form fully and carefully.
The following information is required in order to be enrolled in training.

First Name: _____________________________Last Name:___________________________________

Home (Local if student) Address:____________________________________________________________________
Street City State Zip
Name of Program/Provider__________________________ Type of Care______________ Lic/Reg #______________
(FDC, GFDC, NS, SACC, Center, Legally Exempt, Other)
Home(Cell)Phone:__________________ *Birth Date:_______________ *Last 5 digits of SS# :___ ___ ___ ___ ___
MM/DD/YYYY
Email Address (recommended but not required) : ________________________________________

*Your birth date and the last five digits of your social security number will be used to generate a random personal identification number for you in our training database. This information will be kept confidential. You cannot be enrolled in training without being registered and creating a personal ID number. This personal ID number can be used to allow CCR&R staff to access your training records and provide you with a training history/transcript that you can use to document training you have taken to meet OCFS requirements. In the future, you may also be able to access this information and enroll in training directly online.
Please send completed form and payment to: Child Development Council, 609 W. Clinton St., Ithaca, NY 14850

For credit card payments please call: (607) 273-0259

Family Enrichment Network Offers "How to Deliver Exceptional Customer Service" Training on June 1st

Fred Pryor Training "How to Deliver Exceptional Customer Service" 6/1/11

Good Morning,
We will be offering another training on Wednesday, June 1st, from 8am - 3pm.
If you are interested, please let me know and I will reserve a place for you.
The cost for this training will be $50/pp, please make payments payable to:
Family Enrichment Network
in memo section please write -Trainings


Any questions, please contact me.
Thank you,
Diane

--
Diane Kunzman
Administrative Assistant
723-8313 ext 834
dkunzman@familyenrichment.cc

Foundations Band Together To Promote Capacity Growth

WBNG reported that the New York Council of Nonprofits, The Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, The Community Foundation for South Central New York, Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation, and George A. and Margaret Mee Charitable Foundation Announce 2011 Capacity Building Program for Broome, Chenango, Delaware and Tioga Nonprofits. The Southern Tier Capacity Building Program will offer a free nonprofit training on June 9th and capacity building resources.

The free training, Balancing Good Management and Governance for Your Nonprofit, will be offered on June 9th, and be presented by NYCON CEO Doug Sauer.

The program, to be held at the Broome County Public Library, 185 Court Street, will be offered from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Nonprofit executive directors and board members from Broome, Chenango, Delaware and Tioga Counties are invited to register and attend for free.
Two per organization can register.

Participants at these trainings will qualify to apply for capacity building services, which include mini-grants and organizational assessments.

This session will help board members and staff understand and better balance their governance and management roles, as well as how to develop an effective and successful partnership.

Registration is available here: http://binghamtonjune9th.eventbrite.com/

As a follow up to either workshop, participants can apply to receive capacity building services provided through a Mini-Grant Program and an Assessment Program.

Training participants will be eligible to submit applications to either program after attending a workshop.

The 2011 Southern Tier Capacity Building Mini-Grant Program is intended to measurably improve the governance and management operations of qualifying 501(c)3 nonprofits that are located or provide a substantial amount of services in Broome, Chenango, Delaware and/or Tioga Counties.

The program is sponsored by NYCON, The Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, The Community Foundation for South Central New York, Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation, and George A. and Margaret Mee Charitable Foundation.

The individual grant award limits are as follows:
• Up to $1,000 for general governance and management assistance
• Up to $1,000 for merger, consolidation or subsidiary development and for crisis management intervention services
• Up to $500 in scholarships for participation at qualified capacity building conferences, as submitted for approval.

The 2011 Southern Tier Capacity Building Assessment Program is intended to provide direct assistance to nonprofits in specific operations areas such as board governance, program, financial, planning, among others.

This assessment will help improve the organizational performance and well-being of your nonprofit.

In order to qualify, applicants must attend one of two free trainings offered on April 7th or June 9th.

The organization applying must be a qualified 501(c)3 organization located in or provide substantial service to residents and visitors of Broome, Chenango, Delaware or Tioga Counties.

Projects must improve the governance, management and program service capacity of the nonprofit, and any proposed project consultant must be qualified and available at a reasonable cost.

Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and grants will be awarded to qualifying nonprofits with approved project activities.

The grant criteria and application will be available online and in hard copy as of April 7th.

New York Council of Nonprofits is the premier governance, management, and support services organization serving charities in the state. NYCON has a membership of 3,000 charities of all types and has offices in Albany, New York City, Buffalo, Poughkeepsie, and Oneonta. For more Information visit www.nycon.org or contact Andrew Marietta at 607-436-3124, or at amarietta@nycon.org.

The mission of the Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, Inc., created to perpetuate the Hoyts' charitable interest, is 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 Hoyt Foundation can be found at www.hoytfoundation.org.

The Community Foundation for South Central New York is now in its 14th 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 $5.75 million in grants to not-for-profit organizations in the fields of health, human services, education, arts and humanities and has received over $16 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.

Economy forcing changes at Sheltered Workshop in Binghamton

The Press & Sun-Bulletin reported that the agency exploring partnerships with other local organizations.

Times are tough, and the Sheltered Workshop for the Disabled Inc. in Binghamton, a nonprofit that has offered services and employment to those with special needs since 1942, has been walloped by financial challenges, too.

It appears big changes are in the works.

For much of its history, the two large buildings and another, much smaller one flanking Court Street in Binghamton have been bustling with supervised workers fulfilling job contracts that constituted a major revenue stream.

More than three-quarters of the 131 people who work at SWS are "consumers" with developmental and/or physical disabilities, said Human Resources Director Tammy Worden. SWS also held contracts with the state of New York to supply services to those consumers to the tune of about $1.3 million annually in recent years.

Eighty-five special-needs individuals are in directly supervised SWS programs, with about 100 more in supported employment in the community. About 30 or 35 other employees are involved in administration or support positions, said Lou Harasymczuk, chief financial officer and general manager.

The SWS contract-manufacturing business buoyed the overhead of the operation. Utility costs for its 250,000 combined square feet of space averaged $200,000 annually, he said

Early last year, a longstanding SWS contract with Alstom Transportation in Hornell -- representing $6 million of a $10.2 million revenue stream in 2009 -- ended, with no replacement in sight.

Contracts with the state reliably added over $1 million to the SWS budget of $13 million to $14 million, Harasymczuk said. But since 2008, those amounts have been under constant threat and have been reduced, with the possibility of more belt-tightening coming from Albany.

And with a $6 million drop in outside contract-manufacturing revenue in 2010, SWS found itself in trouble.

The board of directors scrutinized every angle of the operation. Getting more contracts was the impossible dream, so they looked to provide more services.

"We realized the only way to grow would be to go after a population that's already being taken care of by other agencies," Lake said.

That would mean trying to lure consumers away from Achieve, Catholic Charities, Community Options or the Southern Tier Independence Center, for example, but SWS determined that such wrestling within the agencies could only harm the community as a whole.

In January, SWS sold off its contract-manufacturing business, which has historically included medical, transportation and military clients, to VMR Electronics in Binghamton for an undisclosed amount.

Twenty-eight workers made that initial transition, said Mark Kelly, who owns VMR with his wife, Vanessa, and 25 are still employed there.

"We're set up to handle disabilities, but we're not a disabled business like SWS was," he said. "Our focus is really hiring people with the experience to do the job, and if they can do the job and happen to have disabilities, great."

Fifty workers -- not all with disabilities -- were affected by that sale, said Worden, and some ended up unemployed.

Even that financial transaction didn't change the essential, painful equation for SWS: It was no longer sustainable, as it had been for decades.

Read more here.

Speaker to discuss starting a nonprofit

The Communications Association of the Southern Tier will host The Magic Paintbrush Project's executive director, Jennifer O'Brien, at noon March 15 at The Relief Pitcher, 197 Conklin Ave., Binghamton.

O'Brien will describe the challenges of getting a nonprofit organization off the ground while promoting it to the community. The Magic Paintbrush Project provides creative workshops and activities for those with special needs.

Cost is $12 for CAST members and $15 for non-members, payable at the door. Reservations are required by Friday. To reserve a seat, call Karen Frobel at rsvp@castmembers.org or at 723-7441, ext. 306.

SCNY ED Group Membership Meeting Minutes

Minutes of Full Membership Meeting on February 9, 2010
Beginning at 8:30 am and ending at 10:30am
The meeting was located at the Red Cross Offices, Endicott, NY


STEPPING INTO THE FUTURE – A TIME FOR ACTION

• First on the Agenda was a brief overview of the information presented in December by the Special Projects Committee outlining the information collected to date through the Non-Profit Economic Impact Study for Broome County. A Summary of the full report is available on the groups information site – Hosted by NYCON.
• We also distributed to all members present an appeal letter titled
  NON-PROFITS – A POWERFUL MODEL OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY! (SEE BELOW)
  This letter details our need for additional funding for production of the final Executive Summary and presentation piece that will tell the compelling story of the important role non-profits play in our community. SEE BELOW FOR THE LETTER- Please take time to read and consider this fantastic opportunity for even the smallest of us to take part in making our message heard.
• Discussion centered on the importance of a professional impact piece that will meet the needs of multiple types of Non-Profits and how information can be broken out to demonstrate the variety of services. Also mentioned was the need to ensure the statement is made that these numbers represent only small percentage of the non-profits operating in Broome County. The Steering Committee will have primary responsibility for the production stages and will bring drafts back to the membership as the project proceeds.

Second we looked at the results of the survey that was sent to our membership in order to help give us a direction for the future. (Attachment #2 SEE BELOW)

• From the information gathered it appeared that our members feel they are receiving benefit from membership and that there is a future role for the group. There was also general support for moving forward with the proposed plan to take the initial steps toward formalizing and implementing a dues structure.
• Third a conversation on the topics was facilitated by the Steering Committee Chair -
  Discussed were the benefits of taking the next step to formalization and engaging a fiscal sponsor for the organization that would manage any monies collected so that none of the member agencies would have the responsibility of holding funds on behalf of the group. This protects both our membership and the organization. A vote was called for by the Steering Committee Chair, Deborah Fitzgerald, of the members present and by a majority vote it was decided that we would proceed with engaging Innovative Charitable Initiatives Inc. (ICI) which is an organizational component of NYCON. This entity has been set up specifically to assist organizations like ours to operate independently without the need to form its own 501(c)3. It allows us to write independent grants for future projects without jeopardizing any other organizations ability to apply for their own benefit.
• The Steering Committee will be in charge of submitting our application for services to ICI and will inform the membership of acceptance of the application.
  

We reviewed the current organizational document (Attachment #3 SEE BELOW)

• Discussed was the option to establish membership dues. These dues would be used to help fund future programs and focus projects selected by the membership. Concerns were raised that we might lose some of our 70 members if a dues structure was put in place. The point was also raised that many of the member organizations are not currently actively participating in organizational activities. It is the intent that this change will allow us to grow a more active and engaged membership and increase our ability to be a more effective group for all members.
• Establishing a dues structure requires a change in the current organizational document. Flat rate dues and tiered dues structures were proposed. Votes were called by the Steering Committee Chair on each option. It was decided by a majority vote to establish a flat rate dues structure for the 1st year in the amount of $35.00. It was proposed that we review this structure next year. A date for the implementation of the dues structure will be determined by the Steering committee and the membership will receive advance notification. The Steering Committee will be responsible for making the necessary modifications to the organizational documents prior to presenting them to ICI with our application form.

For your calendar please note future 2011 full membership meetings are scheduled for May 11th , Sept 14th and Dec 7th . At this point the time is still set for 8:30 am. Watch for more information on Topics and locations. Respectfully submitted by Deb Fitzgerald, Steering Committee Chair.

ATTACHMENT #1 LETTER: NON-PROFITS – A POWERFUL MODEL OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY!
Dear Member,
The SCNY-ED Group Special Projects Committee has been working for over two years on the collection and evaluation of financial impact and human services, quality of life data from our local non-profit community and constructing a powerful picture of the amazing value that each of us in our diversity bring to the people who live and work in our area.
We have a powerful message to share with public policy makers, business leaders, funders and the community at large. We can now demonstrate quantitatively that non-profits are an integral component in providing the highest quality services in a cost effective manner.
Yes, this is something those of us in the field already know but now more than ever we need to highlight and celebrate what we accomplish even in the most difficult of times. Those times when our services are need most. We need to act and the time is now while the information gathered is still relevant enough to influence the decisions of policy makers at both the state and federal level.
How do you become a part? We need you to make a contribution to completing the final presentation piece of this project. The estimated cost is $4500.00 to prepare and print materials that will then be available to make our case in a concrete, fact based format that cannot be easily dismissed.
This is a fantastic opportunity for even the smallest of our local organizations to make a huge impact with a contribution toward the completion of the last phase of this important project. No contribution is too small, be it $25.00 or $1000.00 it all comes together to advance the message that Non-Profits are critical to the fabric of every community. We are an important service business model.
Please reply to Joe Sellepack Special Projects Chair at jsellepack@broomecouncil.net .
Remember to indicate your contribution pledge and your contact information. We will follow up with you. Thank You for being involved.
Sincerely,
Deb Fitzgerald, Steering Committee Chair

ATTACHEMENT #2
On-line survey conducted 1/24/11 – 2/4/11 to assess level of interest in the development of a more formalized structure for the South Central New York Executive Directors Association
Responses in bold. Total # of respondents = 19
1. What features of the current SCNYEDA organization have you found useful? (check all that apply)
Networking=18
Professional development for executive directors=10
Opportunities available through NYCONN=10
Organizational development=9
Information about funding opportunities=5
Participation in special projects=5
Media & community relations=4
Information received on special projects=1

2. What additional benefits would be useful for your organization? (check all that apply)
3. Operational collaboration & shared services=12
More positive promotion/representation of NFPs in media=11
Collaborative funding for broader community issues=11
Web-based informational clearinghouse=9
Cooperative purchasing=8
Joint comprehensive advocacy=7
Policy & legislative investigation/action=6
Generation of reports for your use=4
Facilitation of process to develop collaborations through mission-matching=4

4. What maximum annual association fee would you be willing to pay to have these additional services and features available?
$0= 2
$50-100=9
$150-$250=3
$300-$500=2
$1,000=1
“already pay fee to NYCON”=2

5. Do you support the development of a more formalized structure for the NFP executive director group? Yes=8 No=2 Not sure=8 please note there was an error in the presentation slide on Feb 9th where it stated that there were 8 No’s. Making it appear all levels were equal.
If not, please explain why:
• “My interest is in a simple format for Executives to share and learn from each other.”
• “A more formal structure will not change our outcomes.”
• “Need more input as to what ‘more formalized structure’ means.”

6. Do you believe the officers of a more formalized association should be elected by its members?
Yes=14 No=0 Maybe=4 NA=1

7. What questions would you like answered?

• “As an individual membership 501(c)(6) organization, our needs are different from many nonprofits. We are interested in cost-sharing/expense reducing opportunities.”
• “I would find it helpful if the group had opportunities for board presidents and officers to take part in some of the workshops and presentations, not only for educational purposes, but to do some outreach and networking.”
• “What are the professional development opps that have been offered in the Binghamton area? If any of the NYCON HR and/or Financial seminars could be held closer than Buffalo, Albany, or NYC, it would be good. Maybe I just have not seen them.”
• “Would group consider meeting late in AM? I commute from Oneonta. I am active in NYCON regional group for Delaware, Otsego, & Chenango and would be interested in participating in your group if later start time.”
• “What is meant by ‘more formalized structure?’”
• “Why not reach out more to Tioga County (i.e., in the nonprofit survey)?”

ATTACHMENT #3
South Central New York Nonprofit
Executive Directors Group
May 2008

• Mission: The mission of the South Central NY Nonprofit Executive Directors Group is to individually and collectively strengthen and empower nonprofit organizations; and to foster a highly valued recognition of the economic and social benefits of the nonprofit sector.
• Vision:- The vision of the Group South Central NY Nonprofit Executive Directors Group is that there will be a place where nonprofit directors look for professional support and will be the place where the community goes to seek answers to questions about the impact of or the impact on nonprofits
• Membership: Group membership will consist of 501(C)3 and organizations with similar missions and philosophies. ◦Other types of nonprofits can attend meetings. Membership is limited to Executive Directors.
• Disclaimer: Group membership does not mean endorsement of a specific position of other members
• Structure: The South Central NY Nonprofit Executive Directors Group will be guided by a steering committee that will be made up of no more than 8 members selected by the entire group. The steering committee will select a Chair and a Vice Chair from the steering committee group.
• Terms: Steering Committee members will serve a 2 year term. The group will have governing principles that will guide the steering committee, membership, and meetings
• Dues: There will be no membership dues but may charge program fees to cover expenses
• Steering Committee Meetings: The steering committee will meet bi-monthly.
• Group Membership Meetings: The group will meet as needed and be invited to all program meetings.
• Group Committees: Standing and ad-hoc committees will be established as determined by the steering committee.
• Meetings Location: The meetings will rotate among member facilities (including other counties) with opportunity for the host organization to spend 5 minutes learning about that organization
• Minutes: Minutes will be taken at every meeting and distributed to the group membership.
• Governing Guidelines: The South Central NY Nonprofit Executive Directors Group will provide an opportunity for networking, sharing, learning, resource development, educational opportunities, community visibility, outreach to elected officials and teamwork.

Steering Committee Membership:
• Annette J. Schweiger, Tioga County Council on the Arts
• Darrell R. Newvine, Family Enrichment Network
• Deborah Fitzgerald, Recess Resources, Inc.
• Dick Squire, ACCORD, A Center for Dispute Resolution, Inc.
• Jennifer Lesko, Broome County Urban League
• Joseph Sellepack, Broome County Council of Churches
• Keith W. Leahey, MSW, Mental Health Association
• Martha C. Brennan, REAP
• Ralph E. Hall, KNOW Theatre
• Robert K. Hanye, A.V.R.E.

SCNYED Group Important Full Membership Meeting February 9th

STEPPING INTO THE FUTURE – A TIME FOR ACTION

Wednesday Feb 9th 8:30
Red Cross, Endicott, NY

This meeting is in response to the discussions at the December 2010 membership meeting regarding the future role of the SCNYED Group and the renewed interest in the group becoming a more active voice/resource for our local Non-Profit community.

The special projects committee was charged with investigating organizational models and options for becoming a more formalized Association. They also prepared a short survey which you were asked to complete this week. Their reports on both the options and the survey results will be presented and the membership will be asked to vote on their preference for future structure of the SCNYED Group.

Together we have already accomplished a significant study that demonstrates the amazing impact that Non-Profits have in our community. It’s time to put that powerful message to work for us. We need to move to the final presentation phase of the study while the data is still relevant. You and your organization can be a part of making it happen. More information on how to be involved will be presented at the meeting.

We WILL be moving forward based on the decision made at this pivotal meeting so be sure that your opinion is heard. Complete the survey and attend the meeting. If you cannot attend the meeting and you have a strong feeling about our future and our structure send an e-mail to Deb Fitzgerald at cubcareus@yahoo.com.

We are only as strong as the commitment of our members and our goal is to represent the interests of those members.

REGISTER HERE

Girls Take Charge conference advocates skill building for success

The Press & Sun-Bulletin related:

When Beth Mooney presented the inaugural Girls Take Charge leadership conference at Binghamton University in 2006, her message was simple and clear.

More than four years and 3,000 participants later, the touring event has maintained the same founding principles: encouraging middle and high school girls to be individuals while pursuing their dreams and goals.

On Saturday, Girls Take Charge returned to BU for the fourth straight year, with 75 girls participating in team-building exercises and hearing advice from successful local women at the University Downtown Center.

"We want girls to make sure they feel that they have all of the tools and the skill sets to pursue whatever goals and desires they have," said Mooney, who lives in Philadelphia. "We're trying to instill these skills -- like self-awareness and how to communicate effectively -- at an early age so they feel more confident as they pursue their dreams."

The conference is a part of Learning to Lead, a nonprofit group started by Mooney's family, which is from the Binghamton area.

Summary of December 2010 Meeting Presentation

After the completion of the first stages of the economic impact study we are left with
some important questions to consider

• What do these projects say about the economic value of nonprofits in the Broome County area?
• How should the information be used to benefit SCNYED members?
• In what format(s) should these studies be presented and to whom?
• Who will take responsibility for creating the reports and public products needed to distribute these important findings?

Brief History of the Special Projects Committee
Two years ago, in reaction to the proposed Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program that was being recommended by two mayoral candidates, the Special Projects Committee was given the task of gathering information on the economic impact of non-profits on the South Central New York area. Because of the diverse area that we serve and the amount of available information, we decided to focus on Broome County and expand into other counties in future years.

Additionally we decided that it was not enough to simply study the budgetary strength of non-profits. In many ways we could see that if we were to focus just on the economic impact side of the equation that we would be merely making the argument for PILOT to be imposed on non-profits. Instead we decided to focus on the economic impact, the way that non-profits provide mandated services that local municipalities would have to provide at additional expense to the taxpayer, and how non-profits help elevate the quality of life in our area and raise revenue for the areas they serve.

In 2008 we entered in an agreement with Binghamton University School of Public Administration and sponsored three different capstone projects. These students would supply the majority of the labor to complete the study. They were placed in four different placement sites and required us to raise $3,000 to pay the stipend of the student for a total of $12,000. We raised $11,000 of this through the generous contributions of the members of the South Central New York Executive Director’s Group. We also received a capacity building grant from NYCON for $1,000. We also applied for two additional grants that were not awarded.

Brief Summary of the Economic Data Collected from NFPs in 2010
Even with a small sample of non-profits organizations participating, it is apparent that the financial impact to the local community is significant. The data from 31 local organizations reveals that local non-profits generated over $80 million in revenue of which over half were funds imported into the local economy from sources outside Broome County. These 31 organizations reinvested nearly $65 million of that Revenue back into the local economy including $47 million in salaries. It is clear to see that in addition to the critical services our local non-profits provide to support the education, health, and improve the quality of life of our communities, they also have a positive financial impact as well.

Please join us in telling our story and consider adding your organizations financial information to this very important financial analysis. Without you information, it's not a complete story.

Summary of MPA Capstone Projects 2009-10
Two capstones, which conducted empirical research and analysis, studied the economic value and positive impact of nonprofits on the community. The first focused on “Volunteer Resources, Gaps and Recruitment”. Volunteers serve as a vital economic resource within our community, which saves public monies. Many nonprofit organizations depend on volunteers to accomplish their missions as efficiently and cost effectively as possible.

While the study examined the current practices within BC Council of Churches, the recommendations on how to effectively attract and enlist volunteers can be applied within many other organizational settings. Organization must first know the specific tasks to be accomplished by volunteers and the types of skills and interests needed. The recruitment appeals should be targeted, specific, and personal. Volunteer databases need to be kept up to date and include volunteer skill sets so that they can be matched with organizational needs (especially as needs change). Current volunteers can be retained and used more effectively if they are provided with development and training opportunities. To effectively target potential volunteers and provide clear expectations, volunteer position descriptions must be updated often and outline specific skills and aptitudes needed to complete tasks. Lastly, volunteers are more likely to be attracted to, satisfied with, and retained if they feel respected, can experience pride about their work, and understand how their contributions support the organizational mission.


The second capstone project examined “Nonprofit Collaboration and Contracting in Broome County” and contained two different foci. The first studied the views on collaboration held by nonprofit leaders in Broome County. The students found that attitudes about collaboration were similar across nonprofit organizations in the Broome County area, regardless of other factors. However, there were important differences in perceived benefits and disadvantages between collaborators and non-collaborators. A majority of nonprofit leaders felt that having another organization’s perspective in working through problems is a benefit of collaboration and improves the problem solving process. Recommendations from the study include: 1) conducting an additional investigation to discover why non-collaborators have negative perceptions of collaboration, 2) developing a best practices factsheet or collaboration model, and 3) forming a collaboration working group to discuss current issues and challenges encountered and serve as a vehicle to develop collaborative solutions.

The second focus of this capstone was on cost variation of social services delivered by government, as compared to those delivered by nonprofits through Broome County contracts. Their most significant finding was that from 2003-2008, contracted NFP agencies have provided roughly 85% of all county mental health and substance abuse services at a considerably lower cost per client rate, therefore helping to use tax dollars more efficiently. Recommendations include: 1) communicating cost analysis findings to community leaders, local government representatives, and general public to help disprove the myth that nonprofit organizations use tax dollars inefficiently; and 2) developing an ongoing relationship with the Binghamton University Public Administration Program, which will ultimately help tell the story of nonprofits in the region and improve ways that nonprofits relate to the community.

Two Opportunities for Assistance from Binghamton University

Opportunity #1
Cindy Blackman, an instructor in the Fine Arts Dept., is interested in giving her students opportunities to apply what they are learning in real-world settings. She teaches a class in graphic arts, among others. Her students may be available to help develop logos, work on providing extra enhancements to web pages, tshirt design development, marketing, posters, and other related types of projects. If interested, please contact Cindy at: blackman@binghamton.edu


Opportunity #2
Dear friend,

I am contacting you to alert you to a unique opportunity that is available to your organization. It is possible for you to obtain, without charge, about 320-350 hrs. of work related to the use of Information Technology (IT) within your organization (e.g., IT planning, development, implementation, and evaluation). Specifically, I direct a course titled “Information Systems Project” to undergraduate and graduate MIS students. The course is applied in nature in that teams of students (about 3 students per team) work throughout the course on a project that a sponsoring organization assigns to them. Both the students and the sponsoring organizations gain a lot from the work that students do in this course.

I would like to offer your organization the chance to participate in our program. What I am looking from you (or another senior manager in your organization) is a project that begins during the last week of January 2011 and requires about 12 weeks (about 3 months) to complete. The project should have a clear sponsor who is willing to devote time to this project.

To help me plan my course, I would like the project sponsor to first send me an email ASAP saying that s/he would be submitting a proposal. Then by Wed, January 19th, 2011, the sponsor should send me a brief (15 - 20 lines) statement that contains the following about the project:

1. What is the problem that you are facing?
2. What solution are you expecting? (e.g., a web-based database application) What should this solution do for you?
3. What work do you want the student team to accomplish for you? Do you expect them to work on-site or off-site?
4. Within how much time do you expect the students to accomplish their work?
5. What qualities would you like to see in the students who are assigned to your project?
6. What resources (amount of time per week, funds, etc.) can you expect to allocate to support the work done by the student team?
7. Who will be the primary contact for the student team? Please give the phone number, e-mail, and address of the primary contact person.

You should feel free to contact me at kahai@binghamton.edu if you have any questions. If your proposal is selected, anticipate a first meeting with the students during the last week of Jan 2011.

I would appreciate if you could distribute this letter to others who might be interested in receiving IT help from my students. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Surinder Kahai
Kahai@binghamton.edu

7 for '11: Seven Predictions for 2011 from Binghamton University Faculty

Newswise offers the following predictions from Binghamton University faculty for 2011:

Predictions, prognostications or peaks into the future. Whatever they’re called, we all want to know what’s ahead for the new year.

Seven faculty members at Binghamton University identify seven different issues, trends or events we’re likely to hear more about in 2011. \

1: Changing the way we give
From David Campbell, assistant professor of public administration

“I predict that there will be new attention to philanthropy and technology in 2011. In 2010, giving by texting was all the rage. Entrepreneurial nonprofit leaders continue to look for ways to identify and connect with new donors. Mobile applications and the proliferation of marketing information gathered online will contribute to increased microtargeting of potential donors. Look for more partnerships between nonprofits and sites like Groupon and LivingSocial, which provide bargain shopping opportunities in cities around the United States and Canada. This development will reignite debates about whether such partnerships compromise nonprofit independence and core nonprofit values.”

2. Entrepreneurship is essential
From Eugene Krentsel, assistant vice president, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Partnerships

“In 2011, Republicans and Democrats will agree that the road to economic recovery in the United States begins with a return to the basic principle of promoting and incentivizing entrepreneurialism. That concept has been, remains now and will remain the brilliance of the American dream. Innovation and entrepreneurship have always flourished during economic crises: Many companies with what are today household names were born at those times, and in turn, they have ultimately contributed to tremendous job creation. Both sides of the political aisle will, in 2011, take steps to promote easier access to capital and entrepreneurship-friendly tax and intellectual property regulations. The entrepreneurial mindset will once again be at the forefront of American life. It will no longer be optional; it will be essential.”

3. Workers rights will weaken
From David Cingranelli, professor of political science

“In the next few years, expect to see continued decline in government protection of the rights of workers around the world, including freedom to collectively bargain, strike, and join unions. Respect for these rights declined worldwide between 2008 and 2009, especially in Africa and Oceania. By summer 2011, staff and students of the Cingranelli and Richards (CIRI) Human Rights Data Project (www.humanrightsdata.org) will have gathered and quantified raw data from 2010, but I expect this downward trend in government respect for worker rights to continue for the next several years. The downward pressure on governments to weaken labor protection laws and/or enforcement is due to the increased global competition for foreign investment and the desire by most, if not all, governments to produce goods for export at the lowest possible cost. Even in rich democracies like the United States, worker rights are eroding as factory jobs are moved to countries with lower labor costs.”

4. New accounting rules: ours or theirs?
From Sara Reiter, professor of accounting

Read More Here.