Upcoming Events & Training

From Audit to Redesign: The Complete Nonprofit Website Toolkit   Five, Live, 90-Minute Sessions. June 4th - July 2nd, 2013  NYCON Members: $140; Non-Members: $200 Members can use code "NYCON2013" to get the discount. Membership will be verified. Non-members will be charged $200 for this webinar series.]  Register Now    Can you remember when your organization's website was designed? Can  your supporters and constituents navigate and find the information they need? Can your staff members easily create or update content on your website? If you answered no to any of those questions, it might be time to bring that website into the 21st Century.  Over five Tuesdays in June and July, join Idealware as they walk you through Website 101, review best practices for accessibility, mobile-optimized sites, and reinforcing your organization's online brand. They'll also take a look at the content management systems (CMS) that can give even your least tech-savvy staff members the tools to update website content themselves. Finally, they'll talk about how your website content works alongside your email, direct mail, and social media efforts to create your organization's communications mix. Takeaways from the course: Define goals for how your website will serve your audience Learn best practices for designing an accessible, usable, and polished website Compare your content management system (CMS) options How to make sure your website shows up well on search engines  Create your organization's website action plan with next steps and action items for an improvement process Brought to you through a partnership between the New York Council of Nonprofits and Idealware. Five, Live, 90-Minute Sessions. June 4th - July 2nd, 2013  NYCON Members: $140; Non-Members: $200 Members can use code "NYCON2013" to get the discount. Membership will be verified. Non-members will be charged $200 for this webinar series.] Register Now Social Media Myth Busting: If You Build It,  Will They Come?  [Lunch & Learn Webinar] June 14th, 2013 11:00am to 12:30pm Presented by Andrew Marietta, Regional Manager, Central NY Office, NYCON and Valerie Venezia, Vice President, Membership & Marketing, NYCON Free for NYCON Members Only Register Sometimes it seems like there's a new hot social media tool launched every day of the week. Figuring out what these tools do, how our nonprofit should use them, and frankly, if you need to use these tools can boggle anyone's mind. As busy nonprofit staff and board members we need to know what specific tool do we use for our specific goals? How do we measure success? This webinar will help cut through the clutter of social media mayhem and help you simplify, refocus, and target social media tools based on organizational needs and a focused message (and maybe even some actual metrics!)  Register  Workers Comp Issues for Nonprofit Arts Organizations [Webinar for NYSCA Grantees]  Friday, June 21, 2013 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (EDT) Presented by Frederic J. Buse, Managing Director, Schwartz Heslin Group, Former Director of Unemployment Insurance, NYS; Department of Labor and Michael West, Esq. Legal Advisor, New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. Register Now Virtually all employers in New York State - including nonprofit employers - must provide workers' compensation coverage for their employees. For many nonprofit arts organizations specifically the world of workers comp gets, well, more complicated. Many organizations have seasonal, time delimited or specialized artistic talent working on projects, shows, performances or exhibits. Determining who should and shouldn't be covered is a priority for arts organizations and can save time, money and legal wrangling down the line. This webinar will cover the details of workers comp as it applies to the special needs of nonprofit arts groups, how to determine "employee" status and risks of not properly defining employment status. We will also be discussing recent trends in New York State in regard to workers comp. Register Now  Camp Finance 2013: Rethink, Retool & Reboot! Preparing for Better Days Ahead October 10th & 11th, 2013    New Paltz, NY Register Now with Memorial Day Discount Codes We're kicking off the summer with savings! From now until May 31st take $40 off your CAMP FINANCE single occupancy registration with codeMEMDAY1. Or take $20  off your double occupancy registration with code MEMDAY2. Click here for more information on what CAMP FINANCE will be offering this year, including details on our newly announced Keynote Speaker Dan Pollatta, author of   Dan Pallotta, Author,  Camp Finance Keynote Speaker "Uncharitable" and "Charity Case. "Dan's Keynote, titled after his first book "Uncharitable," challenges the way we've always been taught to think about charity and change. If we changed the way we think about charity, Dan argues, charity could change the world. This is a keynote you do not want to miss.  Take advantage of the savings now. And remember you can use the code for each staff or board member you register. If you do, you'll be celebrating again when October rolls around and you're packing your bags to join us at CAMP FINANCE. To take advantage of this offer please CLICK HERE and enter code MEMDAY1 (for a single occupancy registration) or MEMDAY2 (for a double occupancy registration) before 5pm on Friday, May 31st. Other Upcoming Trainings of Interest to NYCON Members Webinars from IDEALWARE NYCON Members Receive 20% off with code NYCON2013When Registering. Membership will be verified and non-members will be charged $40. Measuring Your Mission: Using Data to Track Organizational Health and Success May 30, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Eastern. $40.00 Getting Started with Online Conferencing and Seminar Tools  June 6, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Eastern. $40.00 Thursday, June 6th, 1:00 - 2:30 EST Getting Started with Social Media Fundraising June 27, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Eastern. $40.00 Free Fundraising, Marketing & Social Media Webinars from NETWORK FOR GOOD June 4 1 p.m. EST           Nonprofit 911:   Free Marketing Resources for Your Nonprofit REGISTER   MIss a Recent Webinar? Check Out Some of Our Recordings Free Educational & Member Benefits Spotlights For All Members of NYCON: NYCON Membership Benefits - Overview  [Benefits Spotlight] Budget & Cash Flow Tool Kits Webinar  [Benefits Spotlight] Employee Benefits Packages - Overview  [Lunch & Learn] The Art & Science of Board Decision Making: Document!  Free Educational Webinars Designed for Members Funded by NYSCA:  How to be a Fiscally Compliant Arts Organization  Governance Vs. Management: A Webinar for Nonprofit Arts Organizations  Managing Cash Flow for Arts Organizations  Strategic Planning for Arts Organizations  Employees vs. Independent Contractors: Roles, Rules & Risks

Improve Your Nonprofit's Website this Summer

From Audit to Redesign: The Complete Nonprofit Website Toolkit! Brought to you through our partnership with Idealware, this webinar series takes place each Tuesday from June 4 through July 2 and are held from 1:00pm  - 2:30pm (EST). Pricing for Five 90-minute sessions: Only $140 for the entire series for NYCON Members with code NYCON2013;  $200 for Non-Members [Membership will be verified] Find Out More & Register Online Can you remember when your organization's website was designed? Can your supporters and constituents navigate and find the information they need? Can your staff members easily create or update content on your website? If you answered "no" to any of those questions, it might be time to bring that website into the 21st Century. Join Idealware for From Audit to Redesign: The Complete Nonprofit Website Toolkit, an amazing five-session webinar series presented in partnership with Idealware, and they'll walk you through Website 101, review best practices for accessibility, mobile-optimized sites, and reinforcing your organization's online brand, and review content management systems. From Audit to Redesign: The Complete Nonprofit WebsiteToolkit will look at all aspects of your website, including:   ·         Defining goals for how your website will serve your audience.    ·         Learning best practices for designing an accessible, usable, and polished website.    ·         Comparing your content management system (CMS) options.    ·         How to make sure your website shows up well on search engines ·         Creating your organization's website action plan with next steps and action items for an improvement process.    In addition to the five webinars, participants in the Toolkit will have access to Office Hours. These are one hour time blocks during which you have access to an Idealware expert one-on-one.    Webinars take place each Tuesday fromJune 4 through July 2 and are held from1:00pm  - 2:30pm (EST).   Pricing for Five 90-minute sessions: Only $140 for the entire series for NYCON Members with code NYCON2013;  $200 for Non-Members [Membership will be verified] Find Out More & Register Online What Nonprofits are Saying About Idealware Webinars "This entire seminar was just fantastic. I learned so much. I especially liked all the practical applications and examples given. I will definitely recommend this course to other people. Great job!!" "Really liked the format-especially having the slides in advance. Allowed me to listen more and parallel process the information that applied to my organization." "Excellent seminar. Very informative. Great examples to illustrate points. Friendly, personable presenters." "We loved the seminar and found it very useful for our nonprofit organization. The ability to ask questions during the presentation, and the work book, are very valuable tools."

Camp Finance to Welcome Dan Pallotta, October 10

Camp Finance to Welcome Dan Pallotta Keynote Address - October 10th "Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential" NYCON is pleased to welcome Dan Pallotta as this year's Camp Finance Keynote Speaker. Camp Finance will be held at the Mohonk Mountain House on October 10th & 11th. You may know of Dan Pallotta as the TED Talk Phenomenon (over 1.6 million views to date) or as the author of Uncharitable and Charity Case or as the inventor the multi-day charitable event industry with the AIDS Rides and Breast Cancer 3-Days, or as a regular blogger for theHarvard Business Review or maybe as the founder and President of the Charity Defense Council, a new national leadership movement dedicated to transforming the way the donating public thinks about charity and change... But no matter how you heard of Dan, we're sure you are going to want to be there to hear what he has to say at this year's CAMP FINANCE Conference. Register Today   Keynote Address: Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential The way we've been taught to think about charity and change is upside down. If we changed the way we think about charity, charity could change the world. Our Camp Finance Keynote, based on Dan's book, Uncharitable, the best selling title in the history of Tufts University Press, will challenge you to change the way you think about charity.  The Stanford Social Innovation Review has said Uncharitable "deserves to become the nonprofit sector's new manifesto."  Find out for yourself! About Camp Finance 2013 Given the financial challenges of the past few years, your participation at CAMP FINANCE 2013 offers a welcome opportunity for New York's nonprofits to convene, access experts and connect with peers as we look to the future. Celebrating our 12th year, Camp Finance provides the very best in knowledge, skill and strategy sessions for your staff and volunteer leaders. This year´s workshops are responsive to your professional development and organizational needs with the latest information and tools to empower you to continue to build an effective, compliant, vibrant and sustainable nonprofit organization. From basic concepts to best practices, CAMP FINANCE 2013 has something for everyone. Workshop Tracks Include: Basic Nonprofit Accounting        Accountability and Compliance Issues     Marketing, Fundraising and Communications      Nonprofit Governance Camp Finance Sponsors & Exhibitors Thank you to this year's event sponsors and exhibitors (as of May 14th, 2013)   Sponsors:    Exhibitors: JMT Consulting, Central Business Solutions, The Network Place, Inc.  Camp Finance Pricing  Information Member Full Conference Pricing(Including all meals, activities & classes on 10/10 and 10/11) is $469 per person for a double room and $569 for a single room. Non-member Full Conference Pricing is $669 per person for a double room and $769 for a single room. Day Rates are Available: Members $210 Non-Members $310 REGISTER TODAY Testimonials & Reviews for Dan Pallotta "...we've received high marks for your keynote speech along with comments such as: 'Dan Pallotta was AMAZING - I wish everyone who works for a non-profit could see him speak!!', 'Dan Pallotta was the best keynote speaker since I have been attending ACM Interactivity.'" -Janet Rice Elman, Executive Director, Association of Children's Museums  "The nonprofit world needs innovation, and Dan Pallotta is helping us see how new ideas can help make our world more successful. In these tough times, we need his out-of-the-box ideas!"  -Bobby Shriver, cofounder, Product (RED) More Testimonials for Dan Pallotta

The Greatest Risk of All from the Non-Profit Risk Management Center

Got Risk Insight? Submit a Session Proposal Today

If you’ve figured out how to identify risks, teach safety and risk management to the board, or engage staff members in risk management initiatives… we want you on the faculty of the 2013 Risk SUMMIT. Visit the conference webpage and complete the workshop proposal form before the May 1 deadline.

The Greatest Risk of All

By Melanie Lockwood Herman

“I’m only human
Of flesh and blood I’m made
Human
Born to make mistakes”

– Human, The Human League, © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., EMI Music Publishing.

Many leaders of leading nonprofits worry excessively about external threats: competing organizations, fickle institutional funders, increased government regulations, the unpredictable global economy, radical political changes, and the like. Yet the most serious threats to a nonprofit mission arise from the humanity of our workforce. After all, we’re only human. Avoiding conflict, burying mistakes and feeling apprehensive about risk-taking are familiar components of human DNA.

What’s the Risk of Being Human?

·         Conflict: When we ignore conflicting opinions or work styles at the board table or in the staff work room, we may rob our nonprofits of the contributions of creative leaders.

·         Mistakes: When we severely punish employees for their errors, we may inadvertently cause staff to bury their mistakes.

·         Risk Aversion: When we allow fear to extinguish proposed action that is risky, but potentially mission-advancing, we fail to leverage our reputation and assets.

Don’t Eliminate the Greatest Risk

If the greatest risk facing your nonprofit is its human DNA, how can you manage human nature? Here are a few strategies to consider:

·         Embrace Conflict: Identify examples of unresolved conflict in your nonprofit and reflect on the consequences. What toll has conflict avoidance taken on your mission? Have high-performing staff or volunteer leaders walked away in frustration? Acknowledge that conflict is normal. Instead of pretending that everyone agrees, dig deep to find the wisdom in disagreement. Applaud the team member who has the courage to say “I disagree, and here’s why,” when everyone else has voted “yes.”

·         Bring Mistakes to the Surface: Unearth mistakes and face them head on. Provide a comfortable space in which to step up and fess up to a mistake. Is that comfortable space consistent in the divisions, departments or functions of your nonprofit? How might you reward staff who bring errors, oversights or even wrongful assumptions to light?

·         Resolve to Take More Risk: How often is a creative idea dismissed as “too risky?” Instead of allowing gut reactions or protests from your risk manager to stifle creative ideas, reflect on ways to encourage and inspire risk-taking.

The Center offers numerous resources on the topic of human-inspired risk, including the upcoming webinar on HR Risk: Take the High Road without Getting Lost. Join me live on May 1st at 2 pm Eastern, or register to watch the recording at your convenience. You can also check out some of our articles exploring HR risk and reward:

·         Creating an Effective Employee Handbook for Your Nonprofit

·         Five Things That Should Never Appear in an Employee Handbook

·         Grievance Procedures and Internal Dispute Resolution

·         Happy Endings

·         Human Resource Risks and the Forest of Fog

Melanie Lockwood Herman is Executive Director of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. She welcomes your comments about people and risk or your questions about the Center’s services at Melanie@nonprofitrisk.orgor (202) 785-3891. The Center provides risk management Cloud tools and resources at www.nonprofitrisk.org and offers custom consulting assistance to organizations unwilling to leave their missions to chance.

Your March Madness Camp Finance Discount Offer

Camp Finance "March Madness" is a Slam Dunk if you plan on attending this year.

Are you feeling the March Madness? The Camp Finance Team at NYCON sure is!   The games are finally underway...and you've probably spent some serious time putting together your picks, butwhile you were brushing up on your bracketology, we were busy putting together our 2nd Annual "March Madness Camp Finance Discount Offer!" We had a great response to this offer last year and while we are finalizing workshops and speakers for 2013 we wanted to let you register early...at adiscount! We want to make sure the people who are "mad" about Camp Finance can save on their registration. From now through the "Final Four" (April 7th, 2013) you can get a $50 discount on paid Full Conference registration for Camp Finance. Just click here and enter discount code "MarchMadness" This all inclusive rate covers the workshops, meals and your overnight stay at the lovely Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY on October 10th. Just a little Thank You to all of you who are as fond of Camp Finance as we are.  We love seeing you on the mountain and are looking forward to a great conference again this year! Sincerely, Kelly, Doug, Valerie & Amber and the Entire Staff and Board of NYCON Please note: This discount offer applies to Credit Card Online or Pay By Phone Orders Only.For payment or registration questions please email Amber Vanderwarker, Membership & Marketing Associate at avanderwarker@nycon.org.    Is your company interested in Sponsoring or Exhibiting at Camp Finance? Click Here or Contact Us Today.

Twelfth Annual       October 10th & 11th, 2013 Rethink, Retool & Reboot! Preparing for Better Days Ahead  Presented by the New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON)  A two-day retreat for Executive Directors, Financial Staff, Board Members, Practitioners, Fundraisers, Marketing & Communications Staff, Development Staff & More