ACTION ALERT on Charitable Tax Extenders

Urge Congress to Permanently Extend Key Charitable Giving Incentives Congress needs to hear from you today! Leaders in the House and Senate are now considering passing a separate bill to make the charitable provisions permanent. But they need to hear from you today to understand that passing permanent extensions of these tax incentives is very important to nonprofits and the people you serve. Congress shouldn't quit for the year before getting this done.    TAKE ACTION Time is truly of the essence, so contact your Representative and Senators today by phone, email, or social media. By Phone: Call the Capitol switchboard (202-224-3121), ask to be connected to your Senators' and Representative's offices.   By Email: Find your Senators' email addresses and your Representatives email address and send them this message, along with any other information about how the expired giving incentives have helped your nonprofit perform work in their communities: Tell your representatives to:   "Make the three charitable tax incentives (extenders) permanent before adjourning; our communities rely on work funded by these incentives and we are counting on your help. Congress needs to make permanent the three charitable tax incentives - the IRA Rollover, the enhanced deduction for donations of food inventories and donations of conservation easements - so that all nonprofits can plan for the future and secure support for their work. Read more here about why we need these incentives for giving extended.     Tweet to your Representatives Today! Find your Senators and Representatives Twitter handles and tweet one of the following @ them: @_____ Our communities deserve better than a 3-week tax extension; make charitable giving incentives permanent #protectgiving @_____ 3-week tax extension doesn't help the communities #nonprofits serve; make charitable giving incentives permanent #protectgiving @_____ HR5771 = a 3-week extension; communities served by #nonprofits deserve better. Make charitable giving incentives permanent

NYSACRA Action Alert

NYSACRA Action Alert

PLEASE consider reaching out to your assemblyman and senator to express your concern over the cuts proposed below. Springbrook provides invaluable support to people with developmental disabilities. The proposed 6% cut equates to $1.2 million for this organization.The proposed 6% cut equates to $1.2 million for this organization. The phone calls take less than a minute each. PLEASE PLEASE call.

As you are well aware, the proposed 2013-14 Executive Budget proposes a 6% across the board cut to all voluntary not-for-profit providers throughout the State of New York, effective April 1, 2013.  If this cut is enacted, the developmental disabilities system of supports and services will be negatively impacted, dramatically.  NYSACRA has received information from members as to how the reductions will be absorbed if a restoration is not successful.  Agencies will be forced to: reduce services and supports, eliminate entire programs, layoff all levels of staff including direct support professionals.  We all know how this will translate if the cuts are to be taken: the great strides we've made as a sector will quickly erode and the quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) will be negatively impacted.

Both houses of the State Legislature are in the process of negotiating and getting ready to release the respective one-house budget measures.  While we understand the 6% across the board cut to the not-for-profit developmental disabilities sector is gaining great attention in the State Legislature, we need to continue advocacy efforts and therefore we are asking agencies, parents and family members, agency staff and direct support professionals, self advocates to make two telephone calls this week.

WHO TO CALL:

Please make two telephone calls, one to your State Assemblymember and the other to your State Senator in their Albany Offices

WHEN:

This week (the week of March 4^th)

WHAT'S MY MESSAGE:

"I'm a constituent and I am concerned the proposed 6% across the board cut to the not-for-profit developmental disabilities providers will negatively impact supports, services and programs.  I wish to thank my Assemblymember/Senator for his/her support of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and ask him/her to support restoration of the 6% proposed cut in the one-house budget bill."

HOW:

Contact the Assembly Operator at 518-455-4100 and ask to be transferred to your Assemblymember's Office. (if you do not know who your Member of the Assembly is, go towww.assembly.state.ny.us to identify your Member.  You may also obtain his/her direct Albany Office telephone number, rather than going through the Assembly Operator).

Contact the Senate Operator at 518-455-2800 and ask to be transferred to your Senator's Office (if you do not know who your Member of the Senate is, go to www.nysenate.gov to identify your Senator. You may also obtain his/her Albany Office telephone number on the website, rather than going through the Senate Operator).

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING ADVOCACY AND EFFORTS!

LOOK FOR MORE NYSACRA ACTION ALERTS

THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK

NPQ's annual survey

NPQ's annual survey

Please tell NPQ what to do!

We are pleased to send you NPQ’s annual survey.

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

Statement on Fiscal Cliff Deal

NYCON's Statement on the "Fiscal Cliff" Deal and Implications for New York State's Nonprofits  

The New York Council of Nonprofits, along with colleagues nationwide, expresses mixed views about the passage of the "American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012" (H.R.8, as amended).

NYCON applauds Congress for the strong bipartisan vote in passing a compromise bill to avert certain immediate threats posed by the fiscal cliff. We thank those elected officials and staff members on Capitol Hill and at the White House who worked around the clock to make this compromise possible and for maintaining incentives for charitable giving for most Americans. As negotiations continue on the now-postponed sequestration cuts and on the debt ceiling, we encourage Congress and the President to recognize how essential these incentives are for the work charitable nonprofits perform in every community throughout the country.

However, the New York Council of Nonprofits also would like to express deep concern that Congress and the President have failed to resolve the pending across-the-board cuts of $54.6 billion from domestic spending programs that will touch virtually every person and every community in America.  

Federal policymakers have failed to recognize that the arbitrary sequestration cuts to domestic programs will reduce funding without reducing the underlying human needs, thereby increasing demands on states, local governments, and nonprofits in local communities while also decreasing resources to provide needed services. Too many policymakers apparently are unaware that federal funding actually flows to the states and localities to deliver basic human services. Often these services are delivered through contracts with nonprofits because governments have found charitable nonprofits to be more efficient and effective, in part because they are mission-driven rather than profit-driven. After five years of serving so many more for so much longer with so much less, America's charitable nonprofits are past the breaking point. 

 

Kicking the can down the road means kicking those who are already down and struggling to get back up. We must keep up the pressure on Congress and the President to stop the punitive and arbitrary cuts and get to work on continuing our economic recovery.

To learn and do more, NYCON encourages our members to visit the National Council of Nonprofits website at www.councilofnonprofits.org.

For the full article click here.

Nonprofits and the ‘Fiscal Cliff’: What Lies Ahead?

A Chronicle Live Discussion

Nonprofits are scrambling to persuade Congress to avoid making spending cuts and tax changes that would hurt donors and the people charities serve.

But how can your organization make its voice heard during the debate surrounding the fiscal cliff? 

View this live discussion that explains what might happen over the next few weeks and months and show you step by step how to influence budget debates on Capitol Hill and in state capitols across the country.

Click Here for the Discussion

The Guests:

Tim Delaney, is chief executive of the National Council of Nonprofits.

Patrick Lester is director of federal fiscal policy for OMB Watch. Read Mr. Lester's analysis,Mitigating the Impact of a Temporary Sequester.

Tell Governor Cuomo About Your Nonprofit!

Let's Tell Them About The Good Work Of Nonprofits
Submit Your Testimonial to NYCON & the Governor Today!

On August 3rd the Governor announced the formation of a task force charged with investigating executive compensation at nonprofit agencies (full announcement from Gov. Cuomo below).

NYCON is in agreement with the Governor that activities like those recently exposed in the NY Times that were the impetus to the formation of this task force, can have significant detrimental effects on the relationship between nonprofits and the public.

However, we also know that these types of activities are not solely a "nonprofit issue" and, furthermore, that there are many more positive stories than negative ones occurring in nonprofits.

We want to make sure the Governor realizes this too.

We are asking you to help us remind Governor Cuomo that nonprofits employ hard-working New Yorkers who provide much needed services in communities across our state.

Please send us your stories, comments and reactions to the Governor's announcement!

Let the administration know the services you provide are essential and are delivered in an ethical, honest and efficient manner that rivals any successful for-profit company. Let's remind them, and all taxpayers, that we're delivering services at costs far below our private sector counterparts, and take on contractual obligations from the State that they would never agree to, often times to our own detriment - because we exist for our mission, not profit.

Please submit your stories here.

NYCON is creating a web page dedicated to publishing your testimonials, and we encourage you to submit your stories which will be shared online and with the Governor's press office. You can also submit your comments directly to the press office at: press.office@exec.ny.gov.

Please feel free to contact our membership office if you have any questions or comments.

Thank you again for all you do and for your continued dedication to the nonprofit sector and your community.

Doug Sauer

CEO, New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc.

Volunteer Question: What Questions Can You Ask Them?

Here is a recent question related to volunteers and screening that was made to NYCON's legal staff:

Do you know if when screening volunteers or having them complete an application, is it legal or appropriate to discuss things like marital status, health, etc. that cannot be asked when screening employees?

NYCON's legal staff feedback: Staff should not ask questions of volunteers that they do not ask of other staff. For a variety of reasons, most of which revolve around the notion that anyone can sue for anything. Opening that Pandora's Box should be avoided. Any info obtained really can't help the volunteer opportunity or the agency, so please consider volunteers to be employees for all cases of liability from this to sexual harassment, etc

Your Input Needed! Survey for Fall Forum

During these challenging times, your nonprofit's management and governance are critical to the success and sustainability of your organization. With this in mind, NYCON would like to help identify your greatest challenges. Please complete this survey and share your candid feedback. Your input will be used to plan and implement a simple fall nonprofit forum. Feel free to share this survey with your colleagues or boards of directors.
SURVEY (click here)

NYS Attorney General's Workshop on Fundraising Requirements RECAP
Dennis C. McCabe, Assistant Attorney General in Charge from the Binghamton Regional Office presented on:
· Legal Requirements
· Selecting a Fundraiser
· Negotiating a Contract
· Monitoring a Campaign
· BBB Charity Standards

Main highlights include:

• In order to fundraise, charities must be registered with the NYS Charities Bureau. To search if your nonprofit is registered, visit: www.charitiesnys.com
• If you are not, you can find the form to register on the website
• Professional fundraiser must be registered too. Contact the Charities Bureau to see if the professional is: fundraising@ag.ny.gov or 518-486-9797
• Charity must have a contract with the fundraiser and file it with the Charities Bureau
• Financial reports are made to the Charities Bureau too
• Do your homework and protect your investment, as well as those you (or on your behalf) will solicit
• Visit www.charitiesnys.com for more info, online seminars, other resources, and Frequently Asked Questions

Who Takes Minutes for the Board and Executive Committee Meetings?

Hello Friends!

If you have a minute I could use your advice. Most of you either participate on a volunteer board or lead a volunteer board. Who takes minutes for you at Board and Executive Committee meetings? Does a staff person take them? Do you have a volunteer Secretary position as an officer role of your board? Do any of you have a person named as a recorder that is not part of the board?

We are looking to for someone to record minutes for the Board and Executive Committee and are seeking the best way to do this. If you have a job description that you are willing to share I would appreciate it.

Thanks for your good advice and input.

Terry

Theresa Capuano
Executive Director
United Way of Delaware/Otsego Counties
UwayTF@stny.rr.com
31 Maple St.
Oneonta, NY 13820
607-432-8006

Comptroller Questions, Nonprofits Respond

Last week NYCON was asked to provide feedback to the Comptroller's Office on how late New York State contracts and payments were affecting real nonprofits in the community. NYCON has already collected almost 250 responses - and more nonprofits are responding every day.
• 66% of nonprofits responding said they currently have a line of credit
• 66% of nonprofits responding said that they had borrowed money because of delayed government contracts and/or payments in the last two years.

Well over 100 comments were also submitted to the Comptroller´s Office. Click here for a sampling of these comments (a full list will be posted soon on the NYCON website.) Still want to add your feedback? Click here for the survey.

Want to know what else you can do? The Comptroller's Office will be holding nonprofit forums around New York State soon. NYCON will inform our members when those forums are scheduled.

Membership Benefits Corner: Special Package Offers on Bylaws, Personnel Policy Reviews and more...
Bylaw & Personnel Policy Reviews
Whether you are a newly created organization or a long standing one, risk management is the keystone for good governance of your organization. Two important tools for protection of your organization from mission killing liability and litigation is the creation and annual review of corporate bylaws and personnel policies. Our attorneys and legal staff will dissect your corporate documents and review same for legal pitfalls, returning same to you with revision comments and "best practice" advice within 30 days.
A Bylaw Review is $500.
A Personnel Policy Review is $700.
A Package price for both is only $1,000.
Interested? Click here and let us know and we´ll have one of our legal staff get back to you to start the process!

Corporate Document Review
Another important element of risk management is the maintenance of the proper form of corporate existence. Our attorneys and legal staff will analyze your Certificate of Incorporation, and any Amendments for consistency between them and your internal corporate documents and Bylaws, returning the same to you with revision comments and "best practice" advice within 15 days.
A Corporate Document Review is $300.00.
Interested? Click here and let us know and we´ll have one of our legal staff get back to you to start the process!

Nonprofit Offers Info on Health Care Reform

LEAF ED Julie Dostal passed on this info from National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) regarding nonprofits and health care reform:

Nonprofits and Health Care Reform
Over the past several months, we have been in consistent communication with you regarding the health care reforms developments and how they impact the treatment of alcoholism and addiction. The following e-mail is an update regarding how health care reform may impact your NCADD Affiliate, as a non-profit organization.

As we're sure you're well aware, the debate to reform the nation's health care system is in full swing. NCADD is working with a variety of human service organizations to monitor and influence the impact of the reforms on the nonprofit sector. Currently, there is a proposal in the House that does not offer nonprofits the same availability to program subsidies that would be offered to for-profit employers to help provide health coverage to their workers. We strongly encourage you to contact your representatives this week regarding this issue and are providing a draft letter (below) from the Independent Sector for you to use….

LETTER
Dear Representative/ Senator:
On behalf of [organization], I am writing to urge you to ensure that health care legislation includes subsidies to help nonprofit employers provide health coverage to their workers.

Nonprofit organizations employ over 14 million people in the United States -- almost 10 percent of the U.S. workforce -- who are integral to the vital services these organizations provide to communities across the nation. The vast majority of nonprofits are small businesses, employing 50 or fewer workers, and like our for-profit counterparts, we generally lack access to the range of health insurance choices available to larger businesses. During these difficult economic times, we are facing rising demands for our services with fewer private contributions and government resources to help meet that demand. Without assistance, most small nonprofits will be forced to cut staff, cut benefits, and cut programs. [Consider sharing specifics about the number of people your organization employs, the types of services you provide, and the importance of health care reform to your organization.]

We urge you to support the inclusion of some form of financial assistance, like the one offered in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee approved bill, to both nonprofit and for-profit employers to help pay the cost of health insurance premiums. The tax credit included in the bill adopted by the House Ways and Means Committee would generally not apply to tax-exempt nonprofits and so some other form of assistance is needed to provide them with assistance comparable to that being provided to small, taxable businesses.

Again, we feel it is imperative that Congress ensure that any health care reform measures provide direct incentives to nonprofit employers so that they may have affordable access to health insurance options for their employees.

Sincerely,
[Executive Director Organization]

September 30th Employer Resources Program Announced!

Many local nonprofits are in the process of downsizing and re-organizing their staff, and are looking for ideas on how to do this appropriately and effectively. In response to these challenges, the Leatherstocking AEA has planned a panel discussion on human resources and employee issues (such as regulations, benefits, and employer resources). This panel discussion will offer you information on local resources, including sources for possible interns and training programs.

New Panel Addition!
The panel will feature presenters Alan Sessions, Business Services Rep. for the Dept. of Labor & CDO Workforce; Tammy Neumann, VP Human Resources and Development at Wilber National Bank; and Melissa Marietta, Internship Coordinator at Hartwick College.
A new addition is Kelly McGraw, Director of Human Resources for Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care.

Here's a peak at some of the material to be covered by the panel:
Wondering how to recruit and utilize interns? Join us to learn about what do students get from internships and why are college campuses promoting them so much. Hear what employers gain from hosting interns and how hiring interns can help your nonprofit. You will even learn about how to get your internship program started, and the legal considerations you need to be aware of and address.

WE NEED YOUR INPUT: Questions for our Panel
In preparation for this Program, please share questions you are hoping will be answered by the panel (click here).

The Program will be hosted by the Foothills Performing Arts Center. Attend the Program and learn about this impressive facility and its growing programming.
Date: September 30th, 9:30 am to 11:00 amLocation: Foothills Performing Arts Center
24 Market Street
Oneonta, NY 13820

REGISTER HERE

Focus Groups Announced: Arts Council Needs Your Input

Greetings from UCCCA:

As you are aware, UCCCA is moving forward shortly to conduct a search for a new Executive Director and determine the future direction of the organization. With the current economy, our organization needs to set priorities for the best use of its resources. In order for the Board to be well informed we need input and thoughts from our various constituencies. To that end, Justine Woolner-Wise and I will be conducting focus groups in October. Each will aimed at a particular group of constituents, but feel free to attend any one of the three that is convenient for you. The groups will be held at the Wilber Mansion beginning at 5:30 p.m. and ending no later than 7:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be available and we are requesting that you RSVP so adequate planning can take place. Also, please feel free to invite others to attend if they are interested and were not contacted directly by us. Let us know if you and others are coming.

October 1, 2009
5:30-7:00 p.m.
Artists, Galley Owners, Teachers

October 8, 2009
5:30-7:00 p.m.
Art Organizations, Local Business & Government

October 15, 2009
5:30-7:00 p.m.
Community at Large and UCCCA Members

I hope you will mark these dates on your calendar and plan to attend. Again, please RSVP by calling 607-432-2070 or emailing calbrecht@uccca.com so we can be fully prepared for the meeting.

If you are unable to attend any of the meetings, but want a chance to participate, you may take a survey UCCCA has made available on Survey Monkey. Copy and paste the survey link into your internet browser: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspxsm=NXTHOBJrPcas5_2fn9_2fSl1Dg_3d_3d


Cheri Albrecht,MPA
Interim Executive Director
UCCCA
607-432-2070

Nonprofit Director Request: Part-Time Employee Hours

This recent request for advice came in from a nonprofit director. I am listing a couple answers below, and feel free to add your own feedback.

Question:
Hi Andrew
I am hoping you can help me, I have a question about our part time employees. Is there a limit to the number of hours a part time employee can work in a week?

Our youth coordinator can work 15-20 hours per week as needed. Occasionally when we have special activities like this weekend with the Relay For Life walk he possibly could work more than that. Or do you have a connection at the department of labor that I could contact?

Thank you very much.


Answers:

1) Andy to my knowledge, there is no limit to how many hours a part time employee can work, unless of course they are considered a child/minor (17 or under). Part time is often used to save on benefit costs, either by prorating benefits offered or by not offering them at all. This is defined by the employer in the hire letter and should be in personnel handbook. Hours worked in excess on a regular basis may trigger additional benefits etc. but again it can be deemed that benefits are by averages of hours worked.

As an additional note: NYS Unemployment defines full time as 4 days; anything below this is part time. If a part time employee working 50% time were to drop to 25% time they may be eligible for unemployment benefits, even if a part time “pattern” can be proven. In this case it would be good to talk to the employer carrier if self-insured or NYS Insurance Fund. The director may also want to consult with an attorney.

2) If this situation is occasional there shouldn’t be a problem. The status of the employee would still be considered part-time.

They should refer to their employee handbook (also).

Just another mention, AFLAC benefits (some) are only eligible when the employee works at least 30 hours per week to be eligible, such as disability.

Hope it helps.

More companies using furloughs

MSNBC's Your Career section featured an article by Eve Tahmincioglu discussing how many companies, universities and governments across the country are forcing their workers to take unpaid time off. This was a topic amongst the Leatherstocking AEA group recently. The article also relates the wage and hour laws that complicate the issue. Any suggestions or additional information on this topic would be greatly appreciated. Post it here or send us an e-mail.

Nonprofit Requests Teambuilding Advice

Our agency, Catholic Charities of Delaware & Otsego Counties, is looking into holding a team-building retreat for all staff. I am wondering if anyone knows of a good location, as close to Oneonta as possible, for such an activity and also if anyone knows of any presenters/trainers who work with groups on team-building activities. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Lynn Glueckert
Deputy Director
Catholic Charities of Delaware & Otsego Counties
Contact info: 607-432-0061 or e-mail