Wednesday, January 30, 2013

NTEN:Change on Nonprofit Collaboration


Happy 2013 from NTEN:Change!

With all the end-of-year campaigns and, for many of us, time off, chances are you haven't been able to read the latest issue of NTEN:Change yet. We certainly understand the time crunch around this time.
We thought you might be interested in these articles in particular from our December Issue on Nonprofit Collaboration, however, so we hope you'll take a look when you have a few minutes:

Leadership Cheat Sheet: Is Your Organization Ready to Collaborate? Five Questions for Board and Staff, from La Piana's Heather Gowdy and Bob Harrington. Read the article.

Advocacy: Sharing A Cause (and Data) Across Multiple Orgs. Developing a High Touch, Human Platform for Collaboration, from Upwell's Rachel Weidinger. Read this article.

DIY: 5 Tips for Working More Effectively With Consultants , by Dennis Deery. Read the article.
Of course, there are also case studies, how-tos, nonprofit leadership profiles, a podcast, and much more in the current issue: click here to open in the e-reader.

If you'd like to downoad the PDF version of the issue, click here to start the download . You can also access a text-only version of the articles (for translation or accessibility needs).

To read the latest issue click here.

The Empire State Development E-Newsletter


The Empire State Development E-Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1     January 2013

A Letter from President & CEO Kenneth Adams
What to expect from Empire State Development this year

Spotlight on Success
GlobalFoundries:  Fastest growing semiconductor company in 2012

Regional Outlook
Governor Cuomo announces $738 million in economic development funding through the second round of  Regional Council awards


2012-2013 Winter Tourism Campaign 

I  NEW YORK's winter campaign is underway

What New York State Can Do for You
New York State Contract System: Doing business with Minority & Women Business Enterprises just got easier

New York's State of the State
Economic Development



Events
What ESD is doing around New York State

For the full online E-Newsletter Click Here

NPQ's annual survey


NPQ's annual survey

Please tell NPQ what to do!
If you fill it out:
 
  1. You will know that you have had an impact on NPQ’s editorial agenda for 2013. We choose topics to follow guided by the answers we get from you;
  2. You may be invited to join NPQ’s Editorial Advisory Board and attend our annual reader advisory committee meeting, an always-fascinating two-day event on the East Coast. The more complete your answers are the more likely it is that you will be selected (if you cannot pay your way, we will, and your name will appear on our masthead as an advisor);
  3. You may receive a free subscription to our print journal (every twentieth respondent completing a survey will receive one);
  4. You will receive a summary of our findings from the survey.
 
Most important, you will know that you have helped direct NPQ—an important information source for civil society—just by showing up (taking the survey) and having informed opinions!

Here's the online article and survey link

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

The Inexpensive Solution to Volunteer Protection

The Inexpensive Solution to Volunteer Protection

Sometimes, volunteers have accidents - injure someone, get hurt themselves, or have an auto accident. Usually, their own insurance is not enough to take care of the damage. And the nonprofit organization's insurance does not protect the volunteer in some critical areas of risk.

Your nonprofit organization has the option of adding volunteers as additional insureds on the commercial general liability (CGL) policy. However, such an endorsement usually excludes volunteers' travel between home and the place of volunteer duty. Also, a CGL endorsement excludes coverage for claims made by one volunteer against another. Finally, the organization risks sharing its own limits of insurance - under the CGL policy - with the volunteer.

Covering volunteers under workers' compensation usually is not the wisest approach. First, a volunteer's injury would affect the claims experience of the nonprofit, which could increase workers' compensation insurance costs. Second, workers' compensation does not protect the volunteer during travel to and from their volunteer duty. 

However, there is an inexpensive solution to the problem...

VIS  

To protect volunteers, the Volunteers Insurance Service (VIS®) program offers the following three coverages separately or combined:
  • Up to $50,000 in accident medical reimbursement as a result of covered accident - at a cost of $3.94 per volunteer per year;
  • Up to $1,000,000 in personal liability insurance - $1.72 per volunteer per year with a minimum premium of $100;
  • For those volunteers who drive, up to $500,000 in excess automobile liability insurance above the volunteer's own insurance -$6.34 per volunteer per year with a minimum premium of $100.  
Total cost per volunteer, if all coverages are selected: $12.00 per year. The organization simply insures the greatest number of volunteers it expects to have at any given time.

VIS® Membership is required in order to sign up for any of the above programs; which an annual membership fee of $135 (July-June fiscal year).

For More Info Click Here

Future of theater focus of meeting



Future of theater focus of meeting


By Denise RichardsonThe Daily Star

The curtain rose Sunday on efforts to save the Oneonta Theatre.
About 45 supporters stepped onto the stage of the historic venue at 47 Chestnut St. to share ideas about the future of the theater. Dressed in winter jackets, they mingled in pairs or clusters, or sat at one of nine tables, and addressed topics ranging from dance, music and youth programming to finances, fundraising and hospitality.
“Getting us back here to talk with tables according to subject was brilliant,’’ Joe Fincano of Oneonta said. Fincano said he would like the theater to continue as a showcase for music, particularly for local and regional groups.
The two-hour meeting at the theater was called by Tom Cormier, theater and building owner, and the Friends of the Oneonta Theatre, a nonprofit organization. After Cormier announced in December that he would close the theater Jan. 1, he and FOTOT members met and began on the road to find long-term viability for the venue.
On Sunday afternoon, two local women were checking into volunteer options.
“We don’t want to see the theater close,’’ Amanda Mason of Oneonta said.
“Exactly,’’ said Angela Bouchard of Oneonta.
John Gill of Maryland said he could draw on past experience in public relations to help FOTOT. Gill, a drummer and teacher, said he has performed on the Oneonta Theatre stage.
“It’s important to the community and people in the arts to have this theater as a venue,’’ Gill said.
Cormier bought the 115-year-old theater for $225,000 in June 2009. Initially, he worked with FOTOT to upgrade the building. However, Cormier, a businessman, said after he realized how long it would take the group to renovate the theater, he stepped in to make improvements and expedited the theater’s return to operations by mid-2010.
In the 675-seat theater Sunday, Macaluso reviewed the theater’s recent history using slides projected on the giant movie screen. She invited listeners to join her on stage as the screen rose, in the meanwhile explaining a project estimated at $15,000 could provide the required spray-on insulation needed back stage to prevent drafts settling into the audience area.
Macaluso praised Cormier’s rescue of the building from water damages, including mildew, and work to restore and improve the building. FOTOT members were disappointed when Cormier took over restoration efforts, she said, but is eager at this juncture to do the research and continue networking to create a not-for-profit organization that can operate the theater.
The development requires consideration of programming, hospitality, cleaning, fund-raising and other categories of operations and management, according to a organizational diagram she presented.
“At this point, we want the community to engage,’’ Patrice Macaluso, president of the Friends of the Oneonta Theatre board, told listeners seated in the theater during introductory remarks.
FOTOT and the Oneonta Theatre remain separate organizations, Macaluso said. Another key step is a study to help transform the vision into reality and gain a better sense by fall of how to use the theater.
Cormier and Macaluso, interviewed separately, described the evolving collaboration as a “win/win’’ opportunity.
Events are planned for the theater in February and March, Cormier said. In five years, he would like to see FOTOT as a solid organization that operates the theater with fine-tuning under way to make improvements, he said.
Oneonta has held its own during the recession, Cormier said, and Oneonta’s location, its college communities and development on Southside are factors supporting its economic transition and potential for growth.

For the online article click here.

Upcoming Webinars & Exclusive NTEN Membership Offer

Upcoming Webinars from the New York Council of Non-Profits


Pros and Cons of  Restructuring a Nonprofit: What it Means for your Staff and Board
A Webinar Presented by Doug Sauer CEO of NYCON

February 13th, 2013   10:00am to 12:00pm


Dollars through the Door: Who Does What in Nonprofit Fundraising & Revenue Generation
A Webinar Presented by NYCON
March 13th, 2013     10:00am to 12:00pm


As well as a [NEW]  NYCON Membership Benefit: 
Free Membership to the Nonprofit Technology Network Offered to 100 Lucky NYCON Members!

To register for these webinars or to take advantage of the NYCON membership benefit click here! 





Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's Weekly News

News From State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli

DiNapoli: Municipalities Should Ensure Background Checks For Youth Program Workers

Local governments could do more to conduct background checks on individuals working in municipal youth program services, according to an audit released Friday by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

DiNapoli Approves Terms of $3.14 Billion Tappan Zee Bridge Contract

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli last Friday announced he has approved a $3.14 billion contract between the state Thruway Authority and Tappan Zee Constructors to design and build the new Tappan Zee bridge.

Officers of Albany Nanotech Complex Safeguarding Public Funds

Fuller Road Management Corp., the not for profit corporation that runs the State University at Albany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, is fulfilling its duties to support and provide appropriate internal controls over operations and activities, and promoted an ethical business climate at the multi–billion dollar facility, according to a report released Friday by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

DiNapoli: State Tax Revenues Up, But Still Lag Projections

Tax collections through December totaling $46.4 billion were $48.3 million below the state’s latest estimates and $685.3 million below initial estimates in April. Higher than anticipated personal income tax collections in December likely reflect income paid before federal tax increases take effect in 2013 for high income taxpayers, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said last week in releasing the December cash report.

Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Municipal Audits

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli Thursday announced his office completed audits of:
the City of Beacon; the Midway Fire District; the Niagara Falls Housing Authority; the Orleans County; the Town of Otto; and, the Village of Spring Valley.

Also in the news this week

Comptroller urges town of Manlius to conduct background checks on youth program workers

New York pays a record $520 million in overtime, as 5 highest earners each rake in an extra $100K

Bedford Hills prison nurse state's top overtime earner: $150k

Click Here for more of DiNapoli's online news articles.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Otsego County Mini-Grant Program 2013 Announced

 Otsego County Mini-Grant Program 2013 Announced


Oneonta, NY - December 20, 2012 - NYCON is pleased to announce that grant applications for the Otsego County Mini-Grant Program will be accepted beginning immediately through March 1st, 2013. This program is intended to measurably improve the governance and management operations of qualifying 501(c)3 charitable nonprofits located in or providing a majority of services to Otsego County. Launched in 2004, this program has been made possible with support from The Scriven Foundation.
There is a total of $40,000 of grant funds available with individual grant award limits as follows:
  • Up to $1,000 for general governance & management assistance (a Camp Finance scholarship can also be requested in addition to the $1,000 maximum)
  • Up to $1,500 for general governance & management assistance with NYCON
  • Up to $2,000 for merger, consolidation or subsidiary development and for crisis management intervention services
  • Up to $500 in scholarships for participation at a capacity building conferences sponsored by NYCON.
Grants will be awarded competitively to qualifying nonprofits with approved project activities. Grant criteria are available at http://tinyurl.com/OtsegoMiniGrantApp2013. It is recommended that any applicant review the 2013 criteria before applying. To fill out a grant application, go to http://tinyurl.com/OtsegoMiniGrantApp2013. Grant award announcements will be made by March 31st, 2013.

Updated Economic Impact Brochure now available

Updated Economic Impact Brochure now available

I am pleased to provide our members with the completed Non-Profit Economic Impact Brochure that was created by Riger Advertising.

A special Thank You to those organizations who helped to fund this final stage of a multi-year project.

The pdf file attached is a printable version of the document for your use.  If you are unable to make colored copies and need
to have some made you can contact Deborah Fitzgerald for assistance.

With this portion of the project finally completed, we need to look toward what we would like to accomplish in 2013. This last year we were not able to meet as often as we have in the past. The steering committee focused on getting the brochure completed.


To move forward we will need some new volunteers who are willing to step up and join the steering committee. The current steering committee most of whom have been in place since the group started needs to begin rotate off so that the group can be representative of our whole community of Non-profits. If having an opportunity to meet with, share with and learn from other community ED's has been important to you please consider adding just one more thing to your already very busy life and help keep the Non-profit sector of our community connected.

NY Gov. Cuomo Submits Budget With $1.3 Billion Deficit

NY Gov. Cuomo Submits Budget With $1.3 Billion Deficit
By Kristen Meriwether

NEW YORK—During his third budget address as governor of New York state, Andrew Cuomo, showed just how important a decimal place is. The first slide in his presentation popped up showing a $13 billion budget deficit.
“I just wanted to make sure you guys were paying attention,” Cuomo quipped, to laughter from the crowd gathered at Hart Theatre, Center for the Performing Arts, Albany.
It made the $1.3 billion deficit seem not so bad.
After successfully passing two on-time and balanced budgets during his first two terms in office, Gov. Cuomo, submitted this year’s budget with promises for a historic third year in a row, something not done since 1977 in New York state.
“I wouldn’t say it is a Swiss watch, but it is working better than ever before,” Cuomo said.
Following his passionate State of the State speech two weeks ago, Cuomo aimed to answer the question on everyone’s mind when he rattled off new initiatives and ideas—how are we going to pay for that? While the governor showcased new spending, and cuts, all the while not raising taxes, he let municipalities know the days of reaching for a handout in Albany are over.
“There is no piggy bank in Albany anymore,” Cuomo said.
To alleviate the stress from struggling municipalities, Cuomo proposed a financial task force that would—much like a private company going through bankruptcy—restructure debt and fix the problem.
Much like the federal government, New York State is hoping to kick-start the shaky economy with economic development. Without a surplus of money, the state will have to be smart in how it does it.
“The state is no longer in a position to do this on its own so he is talking about a lot of partnerships,” said Bruce Berg, professor of political science at Fordham University. “The state will be the catalyst, the engine, but it will be the private sector that does much of the growth.”
Unlike in years past where large ambitious programs were announced, the allocations were modest, with things like grants, pilot programs, and tax credits.
To drive tech education, a growing sector in New York state, the governor put up $50 million in a venture capital fund in hopes of bringing tech leaders to partner up to fill vacant high-tech jobs. Money was allocated for partnerships with SUNY and CUNY to update higher education as well. Tax credits for the film industry were extended another five years.

Minimum Wage

Just like in his State of the State address, the governor mentioned raising the minimum wage by $1.50, saying it would increase total wages by an estimated $1.01 billion per year.
The measure drew cheers from the crowd, however, its placement in the budget address drew questions from the Citizen’s Budget Commission. “It is not a budget item. It does not have any effect on the state budget,” Carol Kellermann, president of Citizens Budget Commission. “It is a requirement for private sector employers.”
Kellermann was unsure where the $1.01 billion figure came from and did not believe the figure had any sort of budget impact, such as added revenue figured into the budget, especially since no measure had passed.

Sandy

The governor acknowledged the daunting task of recovering from Hurricane Sandy, one of the worst natural disasters the state has seen. A total of $21 billion in recovery, rebuilding, and mitigation was put in the budget. Cuomo expects $30 billion from the Hurricane Sandy Tax Relief Act, which has passed the United States House of Representative but not the United States Senate.
Cuomo said when the bill is passed he wants to give communities the opportunity to have input as to how that money is spent. “We can’t sit here in Albany and tell the Rockaways exactly what they need to do,” he said.
Ron Deutsch, executive director of New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness applauded the measure, but felt the governor could take it a step further.
“We want them to not only have a say in the rebuilding process, but we should also make sure the people in those communities get first shot at those jobs as well,” Deutsch said.

New Normal

For a state not known for passing on-time and balanced budgets, if the state Legislature can do it for a third straight year, the positive message it will send, will reach well beyond the New York state borders.

“It has a psychological value. It tells the credit markets this is not a short term blip in the way New York State does its budgeting. It shows this is really going to be the new normal,” Kellermann said. “I think it sends a good message to the investor community and I think it sends a good message to tax payers that their elected officials are trying to make sure their money is spent effectively and in a responsible way.”

For the online article click here.

PIANY legislative/regulatory update

PIANY legislative/regulatory update—Jan. 25, 2013

PIANY legislative/regulatory update
Wage Theft Prevention Act employee notices must be distributed by Feb. 1, 2013
Employers who have employees in New York are required to issue annual notices under the Wage Theft Prevention Act to all New York employees between Jan. 1-Feb. 1, 2013.

The New York State Department of Labor released sample notification templates and related information which will assist New York employers in complying with the act.
The department issued notification templates for the following groups of employees:
hourly rate employees;
multiple hourly rate employees;
employees paid a weekly rate or a salary for a fixed number of hours (40 or fewer in a week);
employees paid a salary for varying hours, day rate, piece rate, flat rate or other nonhourly basis;
prevailing rate and other jobs; and
exempt employees.
The dual-language templates are available here.
The department also issued Guidelines for written notice of rates of pay and regular payday, as well as instructions related to the templates.
Finally, the department also issued a document titled, “Frequently Asked Questions About the Wage Theft Prevention Act,” which provides answers to many of the most common questions employers have about the act, along with a fact sheet.

The Wage Theft Prevention Act
The Wage Theft Prevention Act, which was originally signed into law in December 2010, increases penalties for the failure of employers to pay statutorily mandated minimum wage and overtime; requires annual notifications of wages and expands notifications; increases penalties for wage law violations; and strengthens whistleblower protections. The legislation enacts a wide-ranging series of measures to provide information to workers on the wages they are owed, and to increase the sanctions for those who fail to comply with wage and hour laws.

The law:
enacts more stringent and transparent record-keeping and employee notification requirements;
increases the amount of wages that can be recovered as damages in a suit for nonpayment over and above the lost wages themselves from 25 percent to 100 percent, the amount allowable under federal law;
creates stronger collection tools;
raises criminal penalties for failure to pay minimum wage to up to a year in prison and a $5,000 fine; and
strengthens protections for whistleblowers in cases involving wage violations.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Grants for Museum Advancement

Grants for Museum Advancement
Sponsored by the New York State Council on the Arts,
administered by Museumwise: The Museum Association of New York 


The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) has provided $78,605 for the FY 2013 Grants for Museum Advancement program. These funds will be portioned between January and June and July and December in accordance with previous year's application percentages. We anticipate awarding approximately 8 Get Ready; 14 Get Set; and 40 Go! grants in 2013. 

For more Info. Click Here

Pew Report: How internet and social media have transformed the arts

How internet and social media have transformed the arts
By: Peggy McGlone/The Star-Ledger

Social media has become a new way for arts organizations to promote their work, attract new audiences, as well as advertise themselves. Audiences have become more diverse, attracting younger people to the organizations.

For the full story click here

New Webinars, New Benefits for our Members


Tomorrow! [Corporate Member Spotlight]  
Learn More about RER Energy & How Your Nonprofit Can Save Money on Energy Cost
A Webinar Presented by Christopher Flynn of RER Energy Group   January 24th, 2012 10:00am to 10:30am 



RER Energy Group, a new NYCON Corporate Member, is pleased to offer this introducttion to their services and solar photovoltaic energy (PV) for NYCON's members. Legislation enacted in New York State is providing funding through NYSERDA to help the state reach a goal of doubling renewable energy generation by 2015.
Who Should Attend: This workshop will benefit executive directors, finance and accounting staff and anyone responsible for managing electrical energy costs and systems. Members of RER's Staff can work with you to answer questions about solar photovoltaic technology, other renewable energy and currently available incentives.  

Pros and Cons of  Restructuring a Nonprofit:
What it Means for your Staff and Board
 
A Webinar Presented by Doug Sauer CEO of NYCON
February 13th, 2013             
10:00am to 12:00pm

Register
This thought provoking, insightful event will provide you with knowledge gleaned from decades of Doug's work with hundreds of nonprofits in various stages of formal restructuring, shared service models and, certainly, merger. Doug, perhaps more than anyone on the national nonprofit "scene," knows first-hand that merger (or any type of structural "re-engineering" of your organization) is a serious solution to the very complex issues facing today's nonprofits. 


Dollars through the Door: Who Does What in Nonprofit Fundraising & Revenue Generation 
A Webinar Presented by NYCON
March 13th, 2013     10:00am to 12:00pm


This session provides an introduction to the diverse strategies nonprofits can use to generate revenue for their organizations with an emphasis on planning, sustainability and the role of Executive Staff and Board Members in fundraising efforts. We will be covering four key topics that typically arise when discussions of "fundraising" occur.

For the Full Page Click Here

SUNY Oneonta Summer Opportunities Internship Fair: Register Today!


SUNY Oneonta Summer Opportunities Internship Fair

The Career Development Center at SUNY College at Oneonta would like to cordially invite you to attend our Summer Opportunities Internship Fair on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Hunt College Union Ballroom.  Registration will begin at 12:00pm.  Organizations will find this event a good opportunity to identify candidates for internships and other summer positions.

Beginning November 1, the fee to attend is $50.00 for the first recruiter and $20.00 for any additional recruiters.  The initial recruiter fee of $50.00 for the nonprofit and government organizations is waived; however a fee of $20.00 applies for any additional recruiters. 

To register, please complete the registration and fee forms attached.  The registration deadline is Friday, January 25, 2013.    Payment must be received prior to the event. There will be no registration fee refunds after this registration deadline.  When completing the attached registration form, please be sure the information is legible and includes all requested information. Wireless internet access available and registration fees include a 6 foot table, water, and a Starbucks voucher for a tall beverage and pastry.

If you would like a registration form, please contact the SUNY Oneonta Career and Development Center
via phone:(607) 436-2534 or Megan Ackley via email: Megan.Ackley@oneonta.edu

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Ch-Ch-Changes: Nonprofit Sector Predictions for 2013


Ch-Ch-Changes: Nonprofit Sector Predictions for 2013



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.

Governing Data: See New State Population Estimates, Where Your Residents Are Moving

New 2012 State Population Estimates Released

The Census Bureau released new estimates today for each state, indicating the U.S. population grew about 0.8 percent between July 2011 and July 2012. 

North Dakota, fueled by an oil boom creating thousands of jobs, is the nation's fasting growing state. Other states experiencing the largest percentage increases were predominantly in the South and western U.S. They include Texas (1.7 percent), Wyoming (1.6 percent), Utah (1.5 percent) and Nevada (1.4 percent).

We've compiled totals for each state along with a series of maps illustrating drivers of the population changes, including birth rates, death rates and net migration.
Read full story and view data for each state

See Where Residents in Your State Are Moving To, From
Relatively few Americans moved this year, and those who did find new homes didn’t travel far. Estimates compiled in the most recent 2011 American Community Survey provide a glimpse of where Americans are on the move. View our interactive map for detailed migration trends for each state.

Of those moving between across state borders, Texas (109,887), Florida (61,395), Colorado (41,501) and North Carolina (40,144) gained the most residents. New York (95,591), California (93,915) and New Jersey (76,175) saw the most residents move away, according to the Census Bureau.
Read more and see how your state measures up



Learn how embracing workforce mobility can benefit an organization with improved productivity, reduced costs, better service, and improved employee satisfaction and retention. Read this case study to learn more.


N.Y. Nonprofits Can Now E-File


N.Y. Nonprofits Can Now E-File
Charities registered with the New York State Attorney General’s Charities Bureau (AGCB) may now file their reports online. New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the move will allow release of key information to the public more quickly.
Organizations based in New York are required by law to register and file annual reports with the AGCB including, but not limited to, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 990. Charities will now be able to file both federal and state forms on Form990.org, a website powered by the Urban Institute’s National Center for Charitable Statistics.
“E-Filing marks another step towards reducing burdens on charities and promoting transparency,” Schneiderman said via a prepared statement. “Now the public and funders will have immediate access to information about charities they seek to support and reporting procedures for charities are simplified.”
This is the first recommendation that has been implemented by the Leadership Committee for Nonprofit Revitalization in April 2011. The committee, made up of 32 nonprofit leaders from across New York, was put together by Schneiderman and it issued its findings earlier this year. The guidelines were designed to put less of a burden on nonprofits and improve transparency. Some of its other recommendations included streamlining the process to approve the formation of new nonprofits, increasing board responsibilities to oversee financial audits, and requiring organizations to adopt conflict-of-interest and whistleblower policies.
Michael Clark, president of the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York and a member of the Leadership Committee, approved of the move to allow e-filing, saying via a statement, “We applaud the Charities Bureau’s adoption of electronic filing. … Our members’ annual reporting will now be simpler because they can submit both New York’s form CHAR500 and IRS Form 990 with a click of a mouse.”
New York nonprofits interested in learning more about the e-filing process canhttp://www.charitiesnys.com

Nonprofit to operate Oneonta Theatre

Nonprofit to operate Oneonta Theatre
By Richard Whitby
The Daily Star

The Oneonta theatre will be taken over and used as a performing arts center. The theater will run on a non for profit status.

For the full story click here.

Regional Economic Development Council Awards

Regional Economic Development Council Awards

A list with descriptions of 2012's council awards.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

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.
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