New Mapping Tool Fosters Strategic Grantmaking in Education

New York, NY — October 12, 2010. The Foundation Center has launched Philanthropy In/Sight®: Education, an innovative data visualization tool that helps grantmakers maximize their investments in education. The tool is available through the organization's Foundations for Education Excellence web portal, a knowledge hub for funders researching best practices and funding opportunities in the field. Through support from the C.S. Mott and JPMorgan Chase foundations, education funders can register to use the tool free of charge at the project web site.

"Foundations are driving fundamental change in our system of education," said Foundation Center president, Bradford Smith. "Now more than ever, they are looking to be more strategic and to increase the impact of their grantmaking. Philanthropy In/Sight: Education, gives them a virtual GPS for tracking the flow of education funds, whether it's across the country, around the world, or in their own backyards."

Philanthropy In/Sight: Education, a customized version of the Foundation Center's Philanthropy In/Sight® mapping tool, is the only resource of its kind to offer comprehensive data on who is giving and who is getting grants across all areas of education, from pre-K learning to preparation for college and career. More than 1,100 grant subject terms can be chosen to hone in on programmatic areas. In addition, a menu of geo-targeting tools allows grantmakers to map the locations of organizations and determine funding gaps in countries, states, cities, counties, metropolitan areas, and ZIP codes — as well as in school and congressional districts. By combining the Center's data with Google maps, grantmakers can quickly view information on funding relationships and giving trends in engaging visual formats.

According to product manager, Dave Clark, "Philanthropy In/Sight: Education is a powerful tool that can help grantmakers better target their programs. The ability to overlay dynamic grants information with a wide array of demographic, socio-economic, and other data will help shine a light on areas of greatest need." The data — including population, income, housing, and education-focused statistics — are drawn from authoritative sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Department of Education, and the American Human Development Index.

Videos guide funders through real-world scenarios that show how to use Philanthropy In/Sight: Education to best advantage, including how to identify potential funding partners and grantees. "A key benefit of the tool," said Clark, "is its ability to foster collaborations between individuals and like-minded organizations. It's an effective way to connect the dots for a more vivid picture of the funding landscape in education."

About the Foundation Center
Established in 1956 and today supported by close to 550 foundations, the Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. The Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grantmakers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance knowledge of philanthropy at every level. Thousands of people visit the Center's web site each day and are served in its five regional library/learning centers and its network of 450 funding information centers located in public libraries, community foundations, and educational institutions nationwide and beyond. For more information, please visit foundationcenter.org or call (212) 620-4230.

Mayor: City should avoid PILOT deals

The Daily Star reported that Mayor Dick Miller is not recommending PILOT agreements with the city's large nonprofit entities.

Slightly more than half of the real property value in the city is owned by property tax exempt nonprofits, particularly Hartwick College, the State University College at Oneonta and A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital.

Earlier this year, Miller said Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreements could be one way to help alleviate projected budget deficits.

But in a recent memo to aldermen, Miller said nonprofit organizations are as strapped for cash as the city and the city should look at other arrangements with the institutions.

"Clearly, the city benefits from the presence of many not-for-profits, ranging from two large colleges, one public and one private, the Fox Hospital, the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club, Opportunities for Otsego and a wide range of other service-providing organizations and churches," Miller said.

But he said the city bears most of the burden for providing services for the institutions.

"It doesn't even out in the sense that the employees of the hospital and the colleges do not all live in the city," Miller said. "The costs of having these institutions here are born by the city almost exclusively, and the economic benefit is a regional one."

Not-for-profit institutions own 51 percent of the real property value in the city.

Read more here.

National Study Shows Government's Unfair Business Practices Hurt New York State Charities

Albany, N.Y. – October 6^th, 2010 – The Urban Institute will be releasing a ground breaking national study this morning regarding government contracting and payment practices with human service nonprofits. The report, Human Service Nonprofits and Government Collaboration: Findings from the 2010 National Survey of Nonprofit Government Contracts and Grants, provides essential national and New York State data on contracting practices.

The study is based on survey data for 2009. It ranks late government payments to nonprofits in New York State as being the 9^th worst in the country. Payments were commonly late 90 days or more despite the fact that New York is the only state in the country with a “Prompt Contracting” law designed to protect nonprofits from late contracts and payments. This finding reinforces data produced by the State Comptroller that shows that 90% of all state payments are late. The study also revealed that the processes of applying for and reporting on state contracts is seen as problematically complex and time consuming by over 70% of the nonprofits.

Other rankings specific to New York State include:

· Ranked 11^th in the list of worst offenders with respect to
mid-term changes to contracts.

· Ranked 20^th in having contracts that do not cover the full cost of the services being performed. Related findings include that 47% of the nonprofits report contracts requiring them to share the cost of full service and over 60% reporting limitations on reimbursement for administrative or overhead expenses incurred.

"Our state’s nonprofits have, historically, been resilient when it comes to putting mission and people first, often absorbing the financial loses and risks associated with doing business with government,” states Doug Sauer, Chief Executive Officer of the New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON). He further observes, “These are very difficult times for all. Community-based nonprofits are on the front lines of the crisis in human needs that people across the state are facing. Sadly, the inability of our government leaders to responsibly manage their budgets and be fair in their contractual commitments, are now pushing many charities to the financial breaking point. In essence, government appears to be expecting charitable donors, who are also taxpayers, to subsidize its cash flow. ”

The problem has worsened. A recent survey conducted by NYCON shows that the over 80% of nonprofits report that the contracting and payment problems with the State of New York have worsened in 2010 over 2009. To cope with the state´s business practices, over 60% of charities have reduced services or eliminated programs. Most have had to draw on their charitable reserves and/or borrow money.

To help strengthen the partnership between government and nonprofits NYCON, working closely with the Comptroller’s Office and other State agencies, launched an “Ombudsman Program” to help nonprofits navigate the New York State contracting and payments process as well as, over time, improve the efficiency and timeliness of the State’s processing of nonprofit business.

“Not-for-profits are struggling to provide crucial services to New York families,” said New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. "When state agencies fail to approve contracts and make payments on deadline, they make the problem worse. Many not-for-profits already face significant challenges, and when contracts are delayed and payments aren’t made, the situation gets even tougher."

"We need to fix this system,” stated Doug Sauer. “We call on all parties, including candidates for office, to commit to working together for responsible solutions.”

Complete study available now at www.nycon.org.

Mayor: Donors needed to save Foothills

The Daily Star reported that Mayor Dick Miller asked contributors Wednesday to step forward within 10 days to raise $1.25 million needed to finish the theater of the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center.

Meanwhile, a $500,000 grant payment due Foothills is being withheld by the state Dormitory Authority, which is auditing the center's finances, officials said.

The future of Foothills was the focus of a special meeting called by Miller. About 50 politicians, civic leaders and business owners attended the meeting in the atrium and theater of the Market Street complex.

Miller told the group that the fiscal problems faced by Foothills jeopardize not only the center's future but also the reputation of the community.

Oneonta has benefited from more than $20 million in state and federal funding awarded to support three major projects _ Foothills, the on-going redevelopment of the former Bresee's building and the National Soccer Hall of Fame, which has closed.

"Our credibility as a community is at stake," Miller said. "We have to make Foothills self-sufficient."

Read more here.

Family Thanks Pathfinder Village for care with $1M donation

The Daily Star reported that a family pleased with care provided at Pathfinder Village in Edmeston is saying ``thank you’’ with $1 million to further care and programs.

Pathfinder Village, a residential and program facility for people with Down syndrome, will expand elder-care services, thanks to a gift from Jane Davey Hamilton Warriner of Philadelphia.

Warriner and Edward Klees, also of Philadelphia — whose brother, Peter Hamilton, had lived at Pathfinder Village from 1998 to 2005 — announced the gift at Pathfinder’s 30th anniversary dinner Friday night at the Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown.

“We are very honored to be giving this gift to Pathfinder,’’ Warriner said in a prepared statement. ``Thank you very much for the love, care and support you gave Peter, and your friendship throughout the years. Pathfinder is a wonderful place that transforms lives.’’

Read more here.

Otsego-Delaware JSEC Meeting-- Thursday, October 7, 2010

September Meeting Minutes

Treasurer's Information

Old Business

Leadership Training Discussion (Joint Chenango-Otsego-Delaware JSEC & CDO Workforce Project)
1. Management skills development program modeled on leadership programs
a. Reports back to Committee: Michelle Miler (Executive Service Corps), John Rafter (SUNY Delhi), & Sara Boulanger (USC The Business College)

Alliance for Manufacturing and Technology (AM&T) Training -
1. AM&T is offering an 8-hour "train and do" workshop to introduce the basics of Project Management & 1/2-day Supervisory Training Workshop. - Alan Sessions
2. Discussion about JSEC Scholarships

Starting a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Study Group
1. Study group for local HR professionals who would like to become certified
2. Coordinating with SHRM chapters for establishing a Study Group in CDO area - Alan Sessions

New Business

Teachable Fit - A framework to predict success in closing employee skill gaps

Other Discussion

HUMAN RESOURCES RELATED PROGRAMS

1. HIRE (Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment) Act: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=220745,00.html
Available through the end of 2010

2. NYS On-the-Job Training Grant: http://www.labor.ny.gov/workforcenypartners/PDFs/StateOJT.pdf
Available through November 1 (federal program expected in October)

Next meeting date: Thursday 4, 8:30 a.m. at CDO Workforce in Oneonta

Nonprofit Resources Regarding the Oct. 15 Deadline

Time is running out for small nonprofits facing loss of tax-exempt status because they have not filed Form 990-N or Form 990-EZ for three consecutive years. The deadline for the IRS's one-time filing relief program is October 15, 2010. After that, nonprofits that are required to file a 990 and whose filings are at least three years in arrears will automatically lose their exemptions. To regain tax-exempt status, they will have to apply to the IRS all over again, a process that can take several months and requires payment of fees. To help you make sense of the rules and regulations surrounding this program, GuideStar is offering you a few resources:

• GuideStar Resource Center: includes articles and links to keep you updated in this ongoing process.
• IRS Communications Toolkit: includes facts outlining the situation, a list of organizations IRS records show are at risk, a YouTube video, and a widget for posting on Web sites.
• Guide Star Charity Check: includes information on exemption status of organizations and is updated as more information from the IRS becomes available.