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

Continue reading more.

Spotlight on Success

GlobalFoundries:  Fastest growing semiconductor company in 2012

For the full story click here

Regional Outlook

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

For the full story click here.

2012-2013 Winter Tourism Campaign 

I ❤ NEW YORK's winter campaign is underway

For the full story click here.

What New York State Can Do for You

New York State Contract System: Doing business with Minority & Women Business Enterprises just got easier

For the full story click here.

New York's State of the State

Economic Development

View the full list of proposals here.

Events

What ESD is doing around New York State

View the full schedule here.

For the full online E-Newsletter Click Here

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

Everson Museum launches campaign to raise money via phone texts

By Melinda Johnson

Everson Museum of Art is tapping into the potential of technology to help raise money and to send news on its programs and events — all through mobile phone text messages. 
It is the first arts organization in Syracuse to begin a text campaign, said Sarah Massett the museum’s assistant director. 
At least two Central New York nonprofits, Say Yes to Education and the United Way, have used text messages to raise funds in the last year. This strategy has been used nationally by the Red Cross and other nonprofits for major disasters, such as the earthquakes in Japan and Haiti and Hurricane Sandy. 
Everson launches its campaign today and invites supporters to make donations using their cell phones to text the word “Art” to 277-22. Each text will make a $10 donation to the museum for general operation and special exhibitions, Massett said. 
A text with the word “Everson” sent to 277-22 will sign up a user to receive museum text messages via mobile phone about its activities and reminders about class registrations and events. 
Massett said the museum hopes to extend its reach to a broad spectrum of followers as well as a specific group. 
“We are particularly looking to reach our tech-savvy audience and better connect with our under 40 crowd,” she said. “We know that mobile is one of the fastest growing technologies and that most people have their cell phones within arm’s reach 90 percent of the time. So we know this is a good way to connect with people.” 
Everson’s idea originated with Samara Hannah, director of development. Massett said she researched the text-to-donate strategy, looked at the successes of other organizations and developed the local campaign. 
The museum has an “aggressive financial goal,” said Massett who did not want to be more specific with a dollar amount. 
With each $10 donation, the cell provider takes 70 cents as a processing charge, she said. Everson receives $9.30 from the text donation. 
Text-fundraising campaigns are in their infancy, said Kelly Gaggin, director of marketing and communications at United Way of Central New York. “It’s buzzy” right now, she said of its new popularity. 
The local United Way initiated a text-fundraising campaign during the Syracuse University and University of Connecticut football game at the Carrier Dome in October. Gaggin didn’t want to reveal the tally for donations received. 
She said reaching supporters and donors through text messages follow the path of email campaigns, which took some time to catch on. It still comes down to cultivating relationships with donors, she said. 
Gaggin believes text donations are most successful on a national level when it’s a disaster — such as the Haiti earthquake in 2010 or Hurricane Sandy last year— and people are suffering and a celebrity is making a plea for donations. 
“It’s about that immediate ... that sense of urgency,” she said. 
The Red Cross raised nearly $33 million in text donations for the Haiti earthquake. The relief agency said it set the record for the largest amount ever raised in a text donation program. In 2008, the Red Cross used this strategy after hurricane disasters in the United States. 
Say Yes to Education Syracuse also used texting for donations during a basketball game in the Dome in 2011 and raised $5,000. 
Besides the debut of its texting campaign, Everson also connects with supporters through its website, everson.org, Facebook, facebook.com/EversonMuseumOfArt and Twitter, twitter.com/EversonMuseum.

For the full online article click here

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...

  

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

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.

Updated Economic Impact Brochure now available

Updated Economic Impact Brochure now available

Click here for the final Socieconomic Impact of Non-profit Organizations brochure  

 Previous Announcement:

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.

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  Register Now  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.   Register Now

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 RegisterThis 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.   Register

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 Register  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.  Register For the Full Page Click Here

New York Attorney General: Telemarketers keeping most of charitable donations 

By Teri Weaver, The Post-Standard 

The Attorney General warns that donors should be careful of trying to raise money over the phone. They lose a lot of the donated money to the fundraisers rather than to the charity itself. Eric Schneiderman offers tips for donors to advise them on how to be more careful.

For the Complete Online Article Click Here

Ch-Ch-Changes: Nonprofit Sector Predictions for 2013

WRITTEN BY RICK COHEN

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

For the full story click here.

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

The “On-the-Go” Government

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

New YWCA Executive Director Announcement

The YWCA Syracuse and Onondaga County Board of Directors' are pleased to announce Fanny Villarreal as the new Executive Director of the YWCA.

Fanny joins the YWCA with impressive leadership qualities. Over the last 19 years Fanny has served the Central New York community in various Not for Profit roles, including Family and Community Development Director at P.E.A.C.E Inc. and Executive Director at Spanish Action League.  She also is the founder of Nosotros Radio Inc., “Your Latino Voice,” and Co-founder of Latino Networking Professionals.

Fanny is a trained facilitator of Community Wide Dialogue to End Racism, and has received many local community service awards. Fanny has received the distinguished “40 under 40” Award, Latina Leadership Award from the National Foundation of Women Legislators, Washington DC, and is an honorary member of Syracuse University National Golden Key Society. She is a graduate of Leadership of Greater Syracuse and currently serves on several local boards including Elmcrest Children’s Services, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Fair Housing Council of Central New York.

Fanny’s background and commitment to the Central New York community embodies the mission of the YWCA. With Fanny’s leadership we look forward to a future of success.