New York Nonprofits is the monthly newsletter of the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York, Inc. Select articles are available only to NPCC members (using their assigned password). To receive a print edition of New York Nonprofits and to view select articles, you must be a member of NPCC. To join NPCC, visit www.npccny.org/howto.htm for membership information.
February 2010, Volume 27, No. 2
NPCC Annual Meeting
TransitChek: Discounts on Fees and Savings for Employees
NPCC Staff Changes
Nonprofits, Elections, and the Supreme Court’s Recent Decision
Negotiating with Vendors
NYC Health Insurance Links
NFP Advisory Committee
Managing in Hard Times: Furloughs & Salary Reductions
Returnable Grant Fund
New NPCC Members
Space Ads
Workshop CalendarJanuary 2010, Volume 27, No. 1
NPCC Annual Meeting
The 2010 New York Times Company Nonprofit Excellence Awards
NPCC’s Government Grants Service
COBRA Extension
Retired CPAs on Boards
Pay Rate Notification
NYS Sales Tax
IRS Check Sheet
IRS on Mileage
IRS Compliance Guide
NYS OHS Survey
Is It Public Money?
OMB FedSpend
Employment Law
Temporarily vs. Permanently Restricted: Financial Statement Presentations
Fundraising Course
Fiscal Management Survey
Board Chairs & EDs
Chronicle of Philanthropy Subscription Discount
Greening
Windows 7
Wireless Innovation Project
Charity Effectiveness Symposium
Blogging 101 Seminar
NYSSCPA Conference
BoardServeNYC
Gardner Award
Rapoport Foundation
2010 Purpose Prize
Cultural Data Project & Arts Groups
NPCC Annual Meeting
Join us for the NPCC Annual Meeting, our biggest event of the year, on Tuesday, February 23 at 4pm. Karen Davis, President of The Commonwealth Fund, will be the keynote speaker on “Healthcare Reform and New York Nonprofits.” You will have a chance to catch up on NPCC’s activities during the past year, elect our board of directors for the coming year, and find out what’s happening in the nonprofit world. Then join us for refreshments and a chance to schmooze with fellow NPCC members.
The meeting will begin at 4pm; the reception will follow. The event will be held at McGraw-Hill Conference Center, 1221 Sixth Avenue (at 48th Street). Reservations are required; go to www.npccny.org/workshop.htm or to www.nycharities.org/event/event.asp?CE_ID=4394 to secure your place.
TransitChek: Discounts on Fees and Savings for Employees
NPCC’s TransitChek Commuter Benefit Program can save both your organization and your employees money.
The IRS allows commuters to use up to $230 of their monthly pre-tax salary for commuting costs. By allowing employees to set aside a portion of their pre-tax salary to pay for commuting costs, your organization can save money by reducing the overall payroll taxes it owes.
Plus, NPCC has a special arrangement with TransitCenter whereby members can save 15% on the TransitChek processing fee. If you’re already using TransitCheks but not receiving the NPCC discount, just start using the forms on our site to save 15 percent.
To read more and sign up, go to www.npccny.org/info/transitchek.htm. Or call Larisa Lazaro at TransitCenter at 212-329-2017 or Marcia Brown at NPCC at 212-502-4191, extension 27.
NPCC Staff Changes
After eight years with NPCC as director of membership and outreach, Craig Weinrich has left to tackle new endeavors in the Washington, DC area.
Katie Martin has joined our team and is replacing Craig. We wish Craig all the best, and welcome Katie who comes to us from the New York Philanthropic Advisory Service.
Nonprofits, Elections, and the Supreme Court’s Recent Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court’s January 21, 2010 decision in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission (the case dealing with campaign finance laws and electioneering communications, see www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-205.pdf), has confused some who are not familiar with the legal distinctions between the different types of nonprofits or with the differences between federal election laws that the Court changed and tax laws that the Court did not change.
The decision does not affect the tax laws that still prevent 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits from engaging in political campaigns for or against individual candidates. To make sure nonprofits are aware of their rights and limits when participating in elections, the National Council of Nonprofits has prepared an analysis to help 501(c)(3) nonprofits avoid taking actions that could jeopardize their tax-exempt status.
The brief analysis answers these questions: How does the recent Supreme Court case impact nonprofits? What can 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits do in connection with political campaigns? What else can nonprofits do? The analysis is at www.councilofnonprofits.org/citizens-united-decision.
For those who want to know even more about the effect of the Court’s decision on 501(c)(3) nonprofits, the Alliance for Justice has published an overview at www.afj.org/assets/resources/citizens_united_fact_sheet.pdf and OMB Watch has one at www.ombwatch.org/node/10722.
Negotiating with Vendors
Lawyers Alliance for New York, in concert with NPCC, has released a new memo, Renegotiating Vendor Agreements, that discusses the steps to take to review vendor agreements to determine whether the organization’s expenses can be reduced. It’s at www.lawyersalliance.org/news_legal_alerts.php under “Program Preservation Initiative” or at http://tiny.cc/2qTDc.
NYC Health Insurance Links
NYC Health Insurance Link, an initiative of the Office of Citywide Health Insurance Access Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services, was created to help residents and small business owners find health insurance. The site allows you to compare the costs and benefits of selected health plans and explore strategies to make coverage more affordable. It also contains information about health insurance basics, such as tips on how to choose a health insurance plan and facts about consumer protections, and how to access free or low-cost health care.
For more information, go to https://a069-webapps7.nyc.gov/healthinslink/home.aspx.
NFP Advisory Committee
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has created a Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee to serve as a standing resource for the FASB to get input from the nonprofit sector on existing guidance, current and proposed technical agenda projects, and longer-term issues affecting nonprofits.
The committee will provide a discussion forum on critical issues and a vehicle for hearing perspectives from the nonprofit sector and for communicating to the sector.
The nomination deadline is Friday, February 26. For more information, go to www.fasb.org/jsp/FASB/Page/SectionPage&cid=1176156543050.
Managing in Hard Times: Furloughs & Salary Reductions
Personnel costs — salaries, benefits, etc. — are often the biggest piece of the expense side of the financial equation for many nonprofits. While many organizations have always been creative in finding ways to cut personnel costs, today’s economic reality is stressing many groups to the extreme and managers need to be careful not to run afoul of the law and keep employee morale from crashing.
Short of laying off employees, nonprofit executives have a couple of options available including reassignment, salary reductions, furloughs, and New York’s Shared Work Program.
A salary reduction needs careful consideration. For example, an across-the-board wage cut could seriously impact low-paid workers, and you need to be sure that it doesn’t cause an employee to fall below New York State’s minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Other consequences to be mindful of include that a salary reduction to an exempt employee could trigger a change in his exempt status to non-exempt should his salary fall below New York State’s threshold of $543.75 per week, thereby requiring the employee to be reclassified and to be eligible for overtime.
A furlough is an unpaid leave of absence, either voluntary or mandatory. For non-exempt employees a furlough allows for a great deal of flexibility in that it can be for whatever length you decide, i.e., one full week, two days every other week, one day per month, etc. While there are virtually no laws directly regulating furloughs, there are legal ramifications to consider. For example, if a furlough is not across-the-board, you need to be make sure there is a sound business reason for choosing to furlough only some employees; if a furlough is voluntary, be careful that a manager doesn’t pressure employees into participating, thus possibly opening up the organization to a discrimination claim.
For exempt employees, furloughs are a more complicated situation because under FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act), an exempt, salaried employee must receive the same amount of compensation regardless of the number of hours worked during the workweek. However, the U.S. Department of Labor has informally indicated that an exempt employee may be furloughed for part of a week, and his or her salary reduced proportionately, as long as the furlough is scheduled in advance and is a temporary response to economic conditions. Exempt employees can be furloughed in a full-week increment, provided that no work is done by the employee during that week. Remember that both exempt and non-exempt employees who do any work during the furlough, including checking email or returning phone calls, must be paid. Policies and procedures must be put into place outlining what can and cannot be done by the furloughed employees.
Finally, you need to consider the effects that any salary reduction, whether it is a pay cut or a furlough, will have on employee morale, especially if employees are asked to do the same amount of work for less pay and/or in fewer hours. Employers should check with counsel before implementing any changes.
As a benefit to employees affected by furloughs or partial layoffs, employers should investigate the Shared Work program offered by the New York State Department of Labor. The Shared Work program offers partial unemployment insurance payments to supplement a reduction in wages for full-time employees whose hours have been reduced. More information is at www.npccny.org/info/ pmei31.htm and www.labor.state.ny.us/ui/dande/sharedwork1.shtm.
Judith Moldover is Senior Staff Attorney with Lawyers Alliance. She can be reached at 212-219-1800, extension 250. Lawyers Alliance for New York’s Program Preservation Initiative offers guidance on legal issues, including furloughs, reduction in workforce, mergers, bankruptcy options, and more at www.lawyersalliance.org/news_legal_alerts.php.
Returnable Grant Fund
New York City’s Returnable Grant Fund was created in 1992 to help nonprofit organizations pay for expenses incurred while a City contract was awaiting registration. The Fund is administered by the Fund for the City of New York in conjunction with the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services. To be eligible, an applicant must either currently hold a contract or other funding agreement entitling it to receive funding from the City’s expense budget (not capital funding) or must have such a contract or funding agreement pending. In addition, the applicant must demonstrate that it is experiencing significant difficulty in meeting its operating expenses.
For more information, go to www.nyc.gov/html/nonprofit/downloads/pdf/ergf_loan_application.pdf. An FAQ is at www.nyc.gov/html/nonprofit/downloads/pdf/Returnable%20_Grant_Fund_FAQ.pdf.
- - - January 2010, Volume 27, No. 1 - - -
NPCC Annual Meeting
Join us for our biggest event of the year. Karen Davis, President of The Commonwealth Fund, will be the keynote speaker on “Healthcare Reform and New York Nonprofits.” You will have a chance to catch up on NPCC’s activities during the past year and find out what’s happening in the nonprofit world.
Then join us for refreshments and a chance to schmooze with fellow NPCC members. The meeting will start at 4pm; the reception will follow. The event will be held at McGraw-Hill Conference Center, 1221 Sixth Avenue (at 48th Street). Registration is limited to two individuals per member organization.
The meeting will be Tuesday, February 23 from 4-6pm. Reservations are required at www.nycharities.org/event/event.asp?CE_ID=4394.
The 2010 New York Times Company Nonprofit Excellence Awards
The 2010 New York Times Nonprofit Excellence Awards, whose deadline was November 20, has garnered 89 qualified applications. We are happy to report that all sub-sectors are well represented in this year’s round of applicants. We anticipate that the Selection Committee will announce the 10 semi-finalists in mid-February. The Best Practices Workshop and Awards Ceremony will be June 23 from 2-5:30pm at The New York Times.
We are also delighted to announce that Google Inc. has joined those supporting the Awards and will also be providing technical assistance to the three winners. This year, in addition to NPCC, The New York Times Community Affairs Department, and Philanthropy New York, support and funding is provided by Social Enterprise Programs in Executive Education at Columbia Business School, the Surdna Foundation, McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, the Fund for the City of New York, The New York Community Trust, the Altman Foundation, The Clark Foundation, The Venable Foundation, Brooklyn Community Foundation, Wachovia Bank and the Hagedorn Foundation.
We’d like to thank the nonprofits that submitted applications for this year’s round. We recognize that it’s a difficult application, but hope that the results that come out of the process will help strengthen and improve all of the applicant organizations. Ann Cory with NYCares, 2009’s Overall Excellence winner, notes, “The process is strenuous, but well worth it. It’s like exercise — hard but beneficial.”
To read more about the Awards, including the Selection Committee members and Seven Areas of Nonprofit Excellence, the guiding document to the program, go to www.npccny.org/info/awards.htm. If you have questions about the program, contact Aditi Davray at NPCC at 212-502-4191, extension 25 or adavray@npccny.org.
NPCC’s Government Grants Service
As over 850 NPCC members are aware, our Government Grants Information Service (GGIS) allows individuals to receive summary notices about grants and contracts available from federal, state and city agencies. Members can choose from over 60 different topic areas they are interested in — from AIDS to culture, environment to housing, preservation to youth development. Within several days of an announcement’s publication, we send you a summary that includes a direct link to the RFP or other appropriate site with more information about the grant.
According to our recent survey, 63.6 percent of subscribers rated GGIS “very good” or “excellent” and 28.4 percent rated it “good.”
Forty-three subscribers reported that they had been awarded a government grant that they heard about through GGIS. Of those 43, 36 subscribers reported raising over $14.2 million in grants directly attributed to their receiving grant or contract notices via GGIS.
Subscribers note that the service saves time, contributes to their research, increases awareness of funding possibilities and streamlines the prospecting process.
Staff, board, and even consultants with NPCC 501(c)(3) members are eligible to subscribe. To read more and to subscribe, go to www.npccny.org/grants.htm.
COBRA Extension
New legislation has extended the federal COBRA premium subsidy program, which pays 65 percent of the COBRA health insurance premiums for laid-off workers. The benefit had been scheduled to lapse on December 31, 2009. The extension provides relief in three ways:
1) The original nine-month subsidy period in the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (for laid-off workers who maintain employer-sponsored coverage under federal COBRA and state continuation laws) has been extended to 15 months. This means that workers who enrolled in the program when it began in March 2009—and all subsequent enrollees—are now entitled to 15 months of premium subsidies, instead of nine months.
2) Special transition rules grant new rights for two categories of employees who were caught up in the expiration. First, those employees who allowed their COBRA coverage to lapse because they lost subsidies as of November 30, 2009, will have a new right to reenroll in COBRA and take advantage of the ongoing premium subsidy by making retroactive payments towards the premium owed, based on their former 35 percent payment. Second, employees who paid the full premium for COBRA coverage after their subsidy lapsed will be entitled to a refund or credit that reflects the subsidy. Affected workers are entitled to notice of these new rights and have until February 19, 2010, or 30 days after they receive the notice—whichever is later—to exercise their rights to extend the subsidy period or re-enroll in COBRA.
3) Congress also approved a two-month extension of the eligibility period for program participation, which previously applied only to those who enrolled in COBRA prior to January 1, 2010, as a result of job loss. Now, anyone who becomes COBRA-eligible as a result of job loss prior to February 28, 2010, may obtain the subsidy, even if their COBRA enrollment occurs after that date. Since COBRA enrollment often lags behind job loss, this extension also provides subsidy eligibility to those who lost their jobs in November or December, but were not yet enrolled in COBRA by January 2010.
For more information, go to www.dol.gov/ebsa/newsroom/2009/ebsa122109.html, www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html, www.dol.gov/ebsa/newsroom/fscobrapremiumreduction.html or www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html.
New York State’s COBRA law has recently been amended to provide up to 36 months of continuation coverage under a group health plan for covered employees and their dependents who have been involuntarily terminated as well as extending benefits to dependents up to age 29. Read more at www.npccny.org/info/hdi15.htm.
Retired CPAs on Boards
The New York State Board of Regents had been considering a rule which, among other things, would have required retired CPAs serving on finance-related committees of nonprofit boards, such as audit and finance committees, to take continuing education courses and maintain registration as CPAs.
Jon Small and NPCC’s Government Relations Committee weighed in on the issue, urging the Regents not to implement such requirements, noting that it might deter retired CPAs from board service. The Committee noted that board member service on finance-related committees is an oversight role and that a retired CPA is not functioning in an auditor’s role.
We are delighted to report that an interpretation of the statute governing accountants was recently made by the Board of Regents stating that a retired CPA serving on a nonprofit board does not have to maintain his CPA registration or take continuing education. Inactive CPAs must disclose to the board, and to any third parties with whom they communicate on behalf of the board, that they are not actively registered as CPAs or required to take continuing education courses.
The interpretation can be found at www.op.nysed.gov/prof/cpa/cpa-retired.htm.
Pay Rate Notification
The NYS Department of Labor has now reversed its position that employers must use the form the Department created to comply with the changes to the law regarding new hires. The Department now takes the position that employers are free to use their own forms.
Starting on October 26, 2009, employers must give newly-hired workers written notice of the rate at which they will be paid and their regular payday. The written notice must also include the employee’s overtime rate of pay, if they qualify for overtime.
No particular form is required; employers may create their own forms or adapt, or use as is, the sample form available at www.labor.state.ny.us/workerprotection/laborstandards/workprot/lshmpg.shtm. Go to the item titled, “New Labor Law,” and click on “Notice and Acknowledgement” form.
NYS Sales Tax
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has published A Guide to Sales Tax in New York State for Exempt Organizations offering information for organizations that are exempt from New York State and local sales tax. It describes the organizations whose sales of items may be exempt from sales tax and explains the procedures that prospective exempt organizations must follow in order to request sales tax exempt status.
While many sales made by exempt organizations are exempt from sales tax, certain sales made by these organizations are subject to tax. The rules that govern taxable sales vary depending on the type of organization making the sales. The publication explains the selling rules for most types of exempt organizations.
The guide is at www.tax.state.ny.us/pdf/publications/sales/pub843.pdf.
IRS Check Sheet
The IRS has released a check sheet that will be used by its examination agents to gather data about governance practices and the related internal controls of organizations being examined. According to the IRS, the data will be included in a long-term study to “gain a better understanding of the intersection between governance practices and tax compliance.” The check sheet reports on organizations’ governance structure including bylaw provisions, board meetings, and relationships between directors; board practices for compensation decisions; adoption of written conflict of interest and document retention policies; and financial oversight practices.
It can be found at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/governance_check_sheet.pdf or at www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=216068,00.html.
IRS on Mileage
The IRS has released rates for calculating deductible costs for vehicle use in 2010. The new standard mileage rates are: 50 cents per mile for business purposes; 16.5 cents per mile for medical or moving purposes; and 14 cents per mile for charitable purposes. Revenue Procedure 2009-54 has details on the mileage rates at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-09-54.pdf.
IRS Compliance Guide
The IRS has released an updated edition of Publication 4221-PC, Compliance Guide for 501(c)(3) Public Charities, to incorporate changes in the compliance requirements that apply to public charities. It also includes information about the redesigned Form 990, the “e-Postcard,” and information about classification as a public charity after the elimination of the advance ruling process.
It’s available at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4221pc.pdf.
NYS OHS Survey
The New York State Office of Homeland Security (OHS) is conducting a study on the security needs of nonprofit institutions that are at an increased risk of terrorist attack. The study is being conducted pursuant to New York State law (chapter 294 of the laws of 2009) which requires OHS to secure public comment, study, evaluate and make recommendations in writing to the Governor and other legislative heads on the resources available to assist nonprofit institutions in protecting their facilities.
OHS has developed a survey that will be used to evaluate the risk of nonprofits to terrorist attack and to assess their security needs. To complete the survey, go to www.security.state.ny.us. The deadline is January 15.
Is It Public Money?
Philanthropy Roundtable recently published How Public Is Private Philanthropy? Separating Reality from Myth, a monograph in which the authors examine the presumption that philanthropic assets are “public money” and the prevailing assumptions, including that they therefore are subject to constitutional constraints or accountable to the public in the same way as is government.
It can be downloaded for free at www.philanthropyroundtable.org (click on “guidebooks”) or at www.philanthropyroundtable.org/store_product.asp?prodid=220.
OMB FedSpend
OMB Watch has released a beta version of a new database on FedSpending.org that gives improved access to and searchability of Recovery Act recipient report data. Users can search, either individually or in aggregate, for prime recipients, sub-recipients, ZIP codes, congressional districts, federal awarding agencies, award amounts, and much more through a variety of means, including an advanced search function. Additionally, any search results can be downloaded from the site.
The database is at www.fedspending.org/rcv.
Employment Law
The U.S. Department of Labor has an updated version of its Employment Law Guide, an online publication that describes the major employment laws administered by the department. The Guide helps workers and employers understand the laws affecting the workplace; helps businesses develop wage, benefit, safety and health, and nondiscrimination policies; and benefits employees who need information about worker rights and responsibilities under federal employment laws.
It is a companion to the department’s FirstStep overview advisor that allows employers to quickly and easily determine which federal employment laws apply to them. Both are available at www.dol.gov/elaws or www.dol.gov/compliance.
Temporarily Restricted vs. Permanently Restricted: Financial Statement Presentations
At a recent workshop given by CPA Karen Kowgios for executive directors and board members, confusion arose as to the difference between unrestricted, temporarily restricted, and permanently restricted assets and how they appear on an organization’s financial statements.
What nonprofits have to remember is that if a donor gives funds with a stipulation on purpose or time frame — whether or not there is an actual gift instrument (i.e., a written document), oral contracts will probably count as much as a written grant letter — those funds should be segregated in the organization’s books, and you are not supposed to use those funds for another purpose (e.g., meeting payroll). Kowgios notes that funds don’t have to be physically segregated in a separate bank account, they just have to be segregated in the organization’s general ledger.
There are three classifications of assets for financial reporting purposes:
Unrestricted are those items that have no donor-imposed restrictions.
Temporarily Restricted are those items that were received with a donor-imposed restriction that will be satisfied in the future (generally within one year). The donor’s restriction may be for a particular purpose or program or for use in a specified time period.
Permanently Restricted items are those received with a donor-imposed restriction that states that the donation must be maintained permanently, but may permit the organization to use up or expend part or all of the income derived from the asset.
Kowgios strongly recommends that organizations that have restricted funds produce their financial reports in columnar format showing the three asset categories. While you are not required to have a columnar report, a one-column statement with all asset classifications combined (unrestricted, temporarily restricted and permanently restricted) will not give a true picture of the organization’s finances, and details, either negative or positive, will be buried.
A board restricted fund is not the same as an endowment fund, although many groups mistakenly call it such. Technically, a board designated fund will appear on the financial statement as “unrestricted” because the limitation was imposed by the board of directors rather than the donor.
Endowment funds as well as other charitable gifts are overseen by the NYS Attorney General’s Office. Generally, an organization is allowed only to use the interest generated by the funds and it may not spend the principal.
To read more about endowment funds, go to www.CharitiesNYS.com/pdfs/Endowment%20Guide.pdf.
Karen Kowgios is a partner with FK Partners LLP and can be reached at 212-490-2200 or kkowgios@fkpartnersllp.com.
Fundraising Course
Help in Hard Times: Raising Funds from Corporations and Foundations, a 12-session, non-credit course on foundation and corporate grantsmanship, is being offered from mid-February to mid-May by the CUNY School of Professional Studies and Community Resource Exchange. The course will help students develop the techniques and skills involved in working with their organization’s board and staff to plan, develop, and write successful grant proposals, as well as build successful corporate and foundation relations. The cost is $450. Scholarships are available for eligible students. For more information, go to http://sps.cuny.edu/programs/fundraising.html.
Fiscal Management Survey
Fiscal Management Associates and ERE LLP have released Maximizing Nonprofit Resources in a Challenging Economy, an analysis of survey responses from nonprofit organizations on fiscal management questions. The survey covered a range of fiscal management areas and digs deeper into how financial information is generated and communicated within organizations, with questions about staffing patterns, day-to-day accounting and fiscal management, budgeting and reporting, accounting software systems, communications with the external auditor, and communications with the board of directors. The survey responses are organized by budget size, and focus on the perspectives of efficiency, reliability, and decision making. It’s available at www.fmaonline.net/custom/survey.html.
Board Chairs & EDs
The Long Island Center for Nonprofit Leadership will present “It’s All About The Relationship: The Nonprofit Board Chair and Executive: Building a Productive Partnership” on Thursday, February 25, from 9:30am to 4pm at the Adelphi University Alumni House, Garden City, New York.
The workshop will provide the foundation for taking your board chair and CEO/ED relationship to the next level. Through leading and learning together, you will learn how this relationship is critical to your organization’s success; identify characteristics and practices of exceptional partnerships; explore potential stumbling blocks to success; consider non-traditional options for the board; engage in candid dialogue with peers; and work one-on-one to define your organization’s key issues and specific needs.
The registration fee of $249 covers an organization’s board chair and executive director. For more information or to register, go to www.adelphi.edu/linonprofit/boardchairexec.php.
Chronicle of Philanthropy Subscription Discount
NPCC members can order a subscription to The Chronicle of Philanthropy for the reduced subscription price of $49.75 per year (18 issues). Or, members can subscribe for $36 for a web-only subscription to The Chronicle.
The offer applies to renewals as well as new subscriptions and represents a savings of nearly 30% over the standard price. To take advantage of this offer email subscriptions@philanthropy.com. This offer allows you to register for The Chronicle’s online services at no extra cost and get immediate access to its subscribers’ website. You can also call 800-728-2819 and ask for the special NPCC member price.
Greening
Nonprofit Guide To Going Green offers practical advice on how all nonprofits can green their own organization, even on a limited budget. Advice is offered on topics ranging from fundraising events and materials to physical buildings, products to transportation, technology to energy. The 400-plus page book offers instructions, guides and tip sheets. It costs $29 and is available from Amazon and other online booksellers. Free email subscriptions to GreenNonprofits Global News are available by sending an email to subscribe@greennonprofits.imakenews.net.
Windows 7
TechSoup offers nonprofits a one-stop resource for technology needs by providing free information, resource articles and blogs. In addition to information, they offer TechSoup Stock where nonprofits can purchase discounted technology products provided by corporate and nonprofit technology partners.
TechSoup recently published a two-part guide on the questions you should ask before upgrading and steps to acquiring and upgrading to Windows 7 (also available for purchase at TechSoup for a discounted fee) at www.techsoup.org/learningcenter.
Wireless Innovation Project
The second annual Vodafone Wireless Innovation Project will recognize promising advances in wireless related technologies that can be used to solve critical problems around the globe. Proposals will be accepted through February 1 with the final winners announced on April 19 at the Global Philanthropy Forum in Redwood City, CA.
Learn more and apply at www.project.vodafone-us.com.
Charity Effectiveness Symposium
The Education and Research Foundation of The Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan New York will host its Charity Effectiveness Symposium IV, “Transforming Ourselves: Building Effective Leaders, Organizations, and Communities” on Monday, February 23 from 8am to 12pm.
A keynote address, panels and workshops will address how nonprofit leaders can make an even greater impact, and include “Leading the Transformation Process,” “Developing Ourselves as Leaders for Tough Times,” “Leading the Arts Organization,” ”Evaluation Milestones,” and, “Protecting Your Nonprofit’s Money in the Post-Madoff Era.”
The symposium will be held at Baruch College School of Public Affairs, Newman Vertical Campus Conference Center, 55 Lexington Avenue at 24th Street, 14th Floor. The cost is $25 per person. For more information and to register, go to www.nycharities.org/events/EventLevels.aspx?ETID=856.
Blogging 101 Seminar
The Ad Council (producer of PSAs such as Smokey Bear, McGruff the Crime Dog and Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk) invites NPCC members to join their upcoming Blogging 101 briefing. This free briefing is part of the Ad Council’s Seminar Series, which are quarterly briefings for the nonprofit and government communities on various topics related to public service communications. The briefing will provide an overview of the basics for creating, maintaining and improving your blog and how to integrate your blog with other social media tools. It will be held on Tuesday, January 26 from 9-11am at the Ad Council’s NYC office at 815 2nd Avenue. For more information and to RSVP, contact Danna Kulzer at dkulzer@adcouncil.org.
NYSSCPA Conference
The Foundation for Accounting Education of the New York State Society of CPAs will hold its 32nd Annual Nonprofit Conference on Thursday, January 14 at the New York Marriot Marquis Hotel.
The full day conference is for CPAs, staff accountants, nonprofit executives, board members, and financial employees. It will offer updates in areas of interest to the nonprofit sector and the essentials to those less familiar with the accounting and reporting requirements. Sessions include legal, auditing and accounting updates; Form 990; governance issues, and much more.
By special arrangement with the NYSSCPA, NPCC members can attend for the discounted registration fee of $375 (the nonmember fee is $475).
To register, visit www.nysscpa.org/FAEOnline/course.cfm?ccid=25550011 or call 800-537-3635 and indicate that you are an NPCC member eligible for the discount rate.
BoardServeNYC
United Way of New York City has launched a new initiative to help find and train new board members for local nonprofit organizations. BoardServeNYC will train volunteers in nonprofit governance each year and then connect those volunteers with nonprofits seeking new directors.
The service is free to participating nonprofits. Board candidates are pre-screened and have received relevant training. Live recruitment events provide an opportunity for face-to-face interviews with multiple candidates, as well as networking opportunities with other nonprofits.
Any registered 501(c)(3) organization located in the five boroughs of New York City is welcome to participate, if they have the capacity to make board service rewarding, the commitment of the executive director or board chair to participate in the orientation, and the ability to actively engage in, and follow through with, the matching process.
For more information and to complete an application, go to www.unitedwaynyc.org/?id=36.
Gardner Award
The John W. Gardner Leadership Award recognizes a living American whose leadership in the nonprofit community has been transformative and who has mobilized and unified people, institutions, or causes that improve lives. Independent Sector established the award to honor outstanding Americans who exemplify the leadership and ideals of Gardner, founding chair of Independent Sector and a distinguished participant in the country’s educational, philanthropic, and political life. Nominations are due January 29. Go to www.independentsector.org/about/gardneraward.htm.
Rapoport Foundation
Earlier this year the Paul Rapoport Foundation decided to bring its grantmaking operations to a close as of June 30, 2014 and cease operations by June 30, 2015. The foundation has issued its funding guidelines for this final funding period.
While continuing to be guided by the over-arching principles of racial and economic equity within the LGTB community, the Foundation will now focus on three population groups of low- or no-income deemed to be among the most underserved of all LGTB communities: transgender people of color; lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual youth of color, ages 24 and under; and LGTB seniors of color ages 60 and over. Funding is restricted to New York City, Westchester and Long Island.
Guidelines and application procedures are at www.paulrapoportfoundation.org.
2010 Purpose Prize
Do you know someone tapping his or her experience to improve the lives of others? Nominate them for the 2010 Purpose Prize.
The Purpose Prize awards between $50,000 and $100,000 to social innovators over age 60 who are solving tough problems — from education and job training to global warming and hunger — people who are putting their experience to work in encore careers that help solve social issues.
Nominations are due March 5. Go to www.encore.org/prize.
Cultural Data Project & Arts Groups
The New York State Cultural Data Project (CDP) is an online management tool designed to strengthen arts and cultural organizations. Users can track financial and programmatic performance and benchmark themselves against comparable organizations in specific disciplines, geographic regions and budget sizes. Information is at www.nysculturaldata.org/home.aspx.
Department of Cultural Affairs: The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs will require organizations to submit CDP data profiles for the FY 2011 grant application process. More information is at www.nyc.gov/html/dcla/html/home/home.shtml.
New York State Council on the Arts: NYSCA is encouraging groups statewide to use CDP data for their grant applications submitted before the February 17 deadline. The data profiles will be required in 2011. For more information go to www.nysca.org/public/CDP/index.htm.
Welcome New NPCC Members
new 501(c)(3) members joined between October 16 and December 16, 2009
A Better Jamaica, Inc. • Bilingual Education for Central America (BECA) • Brooklyn Italians Youth Soccer Club • Care Cards, Inc. • Chashama, Inc. • Citizens Against Recidivism, Inc. • Columbia University Fundraising Management Program • EHN Foundation • Farmingville Residents Association, Inc. • Holocaust Museum and Study Center • Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA) • Manhattan Graphics Center • Metropolitan New York Chapter of the US National Committee for UNIFEM • New York City Gay Basketball League • Repair the World • Residency Unlimited • Spirited Action Release and Kindness (SPARK) • Sutton Area Community, Inc. (SAC) • The Lester Fund • The Point Community Development Corporation • Transport Group Theatre Company • Valor House, Inc.
New York Nonprofits
Copyright © 2010
Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York, Inc.
1350 Broadway, #1801, New York, NY 10018
Daniel J. Myers, writer & editor & website
212/502-4191, extension 21
dmyers @ npccny.org
fax 212/502-4189
www.npccny.orgSelect articles may be reprinted in print form only (they may not be reprinted in any medium other than print) with the express permission of the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York, Inc.
New York Nonprofits is a monthly publication of the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York, Inc. (NPCC). NPCC was established in 1984 to help nonprofits meet common challenges and problems, to serve as a meeting ground, and to strengthen the nonprofit sector as a whole. NPCC has over 1,700 members in the New York metropolitan area, ranging from all volunteer groups to major institutions.
Membership in NPCC provides a place where your voice is heard and adds to the collective voice of the nonprofit community.
Dues for 501(c)(3) nonprofits (that are not grantmakers) are based upon the organization's annual operating budget, and are as follows:
Operating Budget . . . . . . . . .Dues
$0 - $124,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 35
$125,000 - $249,999 . . . . . . . . . $ 100
$250,000 - $499,999 . . . . . . . . . $ 250
$500,000 - $749,999 . . . . . . . . . $ 350
$750,000 - $999,999 . . . . . . . . . $ 475
$1,000,000 - $4,999,999 . . . . . . .$ 675
$5,000,000 - $9,999,999 . . . . . .$1,200
$10,000,000 + . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,500Grantmaking Member . . . . .$3,000 (requested)
. . . $1,500 (minimum)The following memberships are for those who are not affiliated with a 501(c)(3) organization:
Corporate Member . . . . .$3,000 (requested)
. . . . $1,500 (minimum)
Individual Member . . . . . . . . .$ 100
Student Member . . . . . . . . . .$ 15 (with valid, current ID)Please visit www.npccny.org/howto.htm for more information on NPCC membership.
Board Officers: John Craig, Chair; Michael Clark, President; Vice Chairs: Natalie Abatemarco, Ian J. Benjamin, Gregory Cohen, Carol Kurzig, Sandra Lamb, Merble Reagon, Robert J. Vanni; Carla Hunter, Treasurer; Shin Richard Miyoshi, Secretary; John Temple Swing, Founding Chair.
Board Members: Fran Barrett, Richard Burns, Miriam Buhl, Sean Delany, Gregory King, Jessica Lee, Rhonda A. Lewis, Ilene Mack, Carolyn McLaughlin, Cao K. O, Caroline Kim Oh, Stephanie Palmer, Isaiah Sheffer, Michele Smalley, Emily Smith, Walter Sweet, Peter Wilderotter.
Staff: Michael Clark, President
Peter Swords, President Emeritus
Marcia Brown, Director of Programs
Katie Martin, Membership & Outreach Director:
Aditi Davray, Associate Director, Special Projects
Alison Kincaid, Program Associate
Molly Knol, Executive Assistant
Jon Small, Senior Consultant, Government RelationsCopyright © 2010 Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York, Inc. New York Nonprofits is published twelve times a year. Select articles may be reprinted in print form (they may not be printed in any medium other than print form) with the express permission of the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York, Inc.
Daniel Myers, editor, writer, & design, New York NonprofitsNonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York, Inc.
1350 Broadway, Suite 1801
New York, New York 10018
phone: 212-502-4191
fax: 212-502-4776
www.npccny.org
