Best of the Web : May 2014

	Best of the Web: May 2014 The Idealware “Best of the Web” is a monthly roundup of the top nonprofit resources from the Idealware blog, our Facebook page, and our Twitter feed to help you make the right technology decisions. Please forward it along to anyone you think might benefit from it.  Nonprofit Technology Staffing and Investments survey (NTEN)We know technology means something to your organization--our friends at NTEN and The NonProfit Times want to know what. This annual survey is a way to gather data from which the entire nonprofit community can learn. Not only will you greatly help your peers by taking this 15-minute survey, but you will be entered to win a $500 Amazon gift card. How's that for a win-win? Top Five Instagram Best Practices for Nonprofits (Nonprofit Tech for Good)Instagram is one of the hottest social media tools, so it makes sense that nonprofits looking to reach a younger audience or who strive to be on the cutting edge of technology want to dive in. Before you send out your first #nofilter, it's best to take a look at some of these tips specificlly intended for organizations dipping their toe in the Instagram pool. The Complete Nonprofit's Guide to Heartbleed (Idealware)If one news story has dominated the tech section headlines this spring, it's the Heartbleed bug discovery. Many sites were affected. Kyle Andrei breaks down what you need to know about it (and what you need to do right now) to keep yourself and your data protected. Coming Soon: A Whole New You in Your Twitter Profile (Twitter)There's an uproar each time Facebook changes its layout, but Twitter has remained largely recognizable since its launch in 2006. That could change as the social media tool experiments with a new look for the profile of select users with a greater emphasis on multimedia. Why We’re Removing Comments on Copyblogger (Copyblogger)For many blogs, the comment section can provide a unique avenue for creating a community around your website. For others--such as content marketing blog Copyblogger--it can be a dangerous environment requiring moderation so severe, it's better to start from scratch. Find out why in this intriguing post. How to Make Google Drive Work Like a Desktop Suite (LifeHacker)Nonprofits, with limited budgets and technology staff, are often looking for inexpensive and easy-to-use alternatives to complex software packages. For many, Google Drive provides the necessary basic office software functionality without costing a dime. But just because you have more sophisticated needs doesn't mean you have a bigger budget. These tips and tricks can help you get a bit more functionality out of Google Drive. The Nine Steps of Planning a Successful Technology Project (TechSoup)In this blog post for TechSoup, our own Research Analyist Kyle Andrei breaks down nine essential steps for making your technology project a success. Whether you're implementing a new database or defining goals for your email service, planning is an important element of getting where you need to be--both on time and under budget. How To Create Eye-Catching Graphics For Your Nonprofit (Without Using Photoshop!) (J Campbell Social Marketing)Surely by now you've seen nonprofits succeed in extending their reach with viral images, but did you know that you don't need expensive software to do it? This slideshow from Julia Campbell goes over the best practices for creating future viral images with tools that won't break the bank. Wearable Technology Can Change Relationships With Donors & Clients (The NonProfit Times) Google Glass may still seem like a tool out of science fiction, but many are already considering how wearable technology can be used as a aide to nonprofits and fundraisers. You might not be collecting data from your glasses at your next donor meeting, but the possibility is not as far away as you might think. Would you like to suggest a link for Best of the Web? Email it toinfo@idealware.org. ____________ You received this email because you signed up for Idealware updates. If you are no longer interested in hearing from us, click here to unsubscribe. Idealware | 1 Pleasant St., Suite 4E | Portland ME | 04101

Keep Going, Your Hard Work is Paying Off!

Good News to Report, Thanks to You   You Made the Difference!  Last Tuesday, NYCON met with the offices of Assemblymember James Brennan and Senator Michael Ranzenhofer , bill sponsors for the Nonprofit Revitalization Act, to further discuss the need to delay the effective date of the Act. We're pleased to inform members that both Brennan and Ranzenhofer's offices understand our perspective and are now working with NYCON and our members to delay the Nonprofit Revitalization Act's effective date. This is great news- but we still have work to do! NYCON is working with both offices in drafting a bill to amend the Act to ensure that nonprofits in New York State have the appropriate amount of time needed to comply. After the bill is placed into session,  we will be asking members to send letters and contact legislators to support the bill, we hope to have your support in the coming weeks!    NYCON wouldn't have been able to take this step without the tremendous assistance from our members communicating to their offices and own local elected officials, signing our petition, and providing us their testimonies - so this first (huge) step is thanks to you. You can still help now - and it's easy. If you haven't already please sign this petition and consider forwarding it to your nonprofit colleagues via email and your social media network. We need more nonprofit voices at the table. Thank you for your continued support! If you have any questions about this or any other public policy issue, please feel free to our  Program and Policy Associate, Amber Vanderwarker.

57 Days Left Until the Effective Date! Sign Our Petition  We're now at 150 signatures on our petition!  We know there are still many more out there who have not yet, so please join our efforts by signing our petition. Please Sign Our Petition!

REDC to Host Regional Workshops on Application & Funding Opportunities

New York State Council on the Arts 300 Park Avenue South, 10th Floor New York, NY 10010 www.arts.ny.gov  The Regional Economic Development Council is hosting a series of regional workshops statewide to provide an overview of the $750 million available in economic development funding and the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process. Additionally, there will be informational breakout sessions on specific areas of funding available. NYSCA’s grant opportunities will be highlighted at each workshop. The training workshops are open to local economic development officials, municipalities, non-profits, businesses and members of the public. We invite you to attend a workshop in your area to learn more about the REDC, NYSCA’s grant opportunities and the application process. Click here for the workshop schedule. Please click the links below for further information REDC Website | CFA Resource Guide | Consolidated Funding Application| FAQ

This e-mail was sent from an unmonitored mailbox. Please do not reply to this e-mail. Submit all questions through the NYSCA Helpdesk. Copyright © 2014 New York State Council on the Arts, All rights reserved.

Upcoming Events & Webinars

Online Fundraising 101: Building Relationships & Moving People to Act! [Lunch & Learn Webinar] Presented by Valerie Venezia, VP of Membership & Marketing and  Audrey Grifel, Capacity Building Advisor, NYCON May 9th, 2014   11:00am to 12:30pm   REGISTER  Getting our message straight, connecting it to the right people and getting them to act on our nonprofit's behalf (give money, time, attend a function, etc.) has becoming increasingly more difficult - yet more important than ever. In order for the "new donor" to start giving it's not enough for them to know you "do good work." They have to feel like they know your organization's "personality," and that they have a real relationship with you. Relationships like this can take a lot of time and attention to build and maintain - even online -- and once in a while they require some non-traditional communication methods (and messages.) In this webinar our staff will give you an overview of what every nonprofit can do to define an impactful message, connect it to the right folks and begin to build an active relationship that benefits both parties. Some tips and tools will be shared on ways nonprofits can cultivate relationships online (including what websites & tools might be best to use) that turn into dollars in the real world. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Medicaid Compliance...(But Were Afraid to Ask)  A special four-part NYCON "Lunch & Learn" Webinar Series brought to you by the Experts; FREE for NYCON Members. Non-Member Nonprofits are $75 per session or $275 for series.  If you would like to attend all four,please choose "Series" Ticket type.You will be automatically registered for each session through June. All webinars are from 11am to 12:30pm. Register Medicaid Compliance... Medicaid Compliance Plans ... Medicaid Self Auditing...Medicaid Self-Disclosures... Medicaid Audits ... Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse...Office of the Medicaid Inspector General ... OMIG...If these words and phrases are part of a typical day at your nonprofit, we have designed the perfect series of webinars for you. Participants will hear directly from experts in the field (including David Ross, former Acting Medicaid Inspector General for the State of New York, and David Rottkamp, CPA and leader of Grassi & Co.'s not-for-profit practice area) and get the practical information they need to provide appropriate oversight and management of Medicaid-funded programs, understand the role of the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, and much more. Next Webinar: Know Thy Compliant Self: How to Conduct a Medicaid Self Audit May 15th, 2014   11:00am to 12:30PM Presented by David R. Ross, Esq, and David M. Rottkamp, CPA  Register Part of any provider's compliance program is their compliance plan, and the key part of any compliance plan is the concept of risk assessment and self auditing. This means identifying where errors are most likely to be made, and then reviewing your Medicaid claims and documentation for compliance with applicable requirements. Hypotheticals for risk assessment and self audit will be discussed. As participants will hear, self auditing can be the best preventative medicine. A question and answer period will be provided. Complying with the Nonprofit Revitalization Act:  Practical Webinars for New York Nonprofits Presented by David Watson, Esq, Sr. VP of Legal Accountability Services, NYCON and Michael West, Esq., Legal Advisor, NYCON May 20th and June 26th, 2014 Webinars are held from 11am to 12:30pm. The Nonprofit Revitalization Act is a landmark change in the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York and will usher in a modern era for the operation and governance of nonprofit corporations starting July 1, 2014. As always, here at the New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. (NYCON) your one-stop tool box and soap box we eagerly anticipated the updated statutes and have prepared a practical webinar series to address your immediate needs in the updating of your bylaws and governance materials. We encourage all of our Members to take advantage of these webinars. Part 1: New York Nonprofit Revitalization Act Part- Steps To Compliance - An Overview A comprehensive overview of the Act to take place with a plenary Q/A portion to be held in February, April & June. This offering will provide you with an overview and a practical set of actions to take to amend your bylaws to meet the new standards of the Act. Dates: June 26th    Part 2:  New York Nonprofit Revitalization Act: Implementing Your Compliance Checklist - Whistleblower, Conflict of Interest, Committees & Executive Compensation These webinars will be held In March and May will be a more detailed and focused on the various topics included in the Act that are new and have implications on Board governance in general and your operations specifically. Click here to register. Dates: May 20th   Cost: FREE & Open Only to current NYCON Nonprofit Members. All webinars are from 11:00am to 12:30pm.   Membership Benefits: Get to Know Us! [Webinar] May 30, 2014 2:00 pm Register In our "Get to Know Us" Sessions, NYCON staff will tell you a lot more about our membership benefits - and answer all the questions you have regarding our process, costs and what you get for FREE. We will be talking about these benefits... Nonprofit Training, Education and Professional Assistance NYCON empowers our members with the best practices, policies, and procedures as well as information on ever-changing regulations, funding, accountability and more. Cost Savings Solutions for Nonprofits NYCON leverages the purchasing power of thousands of nonprofits to bring you economies of scale on everything from Office Supplies to Fundraising Software. The Nonprofit Voice in New York State NYCON represents our members on the local, state and national level, giving voice to small and medium sized nonprofits everywhere. Protocols of Medicaid Self Disclosure [Webinar] Presented by David Ross, Esq. O'Connell & Aronowitz and David M. Rottkamp, CPA, Partner, Grassi & Co.   June 5th, 2014  11:00am to 12:30pm Register   Under Obamacare, providers are required to report, repay and explain all Medicaid overpayments received. Learn what "overpaym  ents" are, the sixty day rule, and the federal False Claims Act, which imposes potentially severe civil liability on providers for failing to self-report, repay and explain overpayments received. Learn how to handle routine overpayment situations and also when to seek advice on non-routine matters. A question and answer period will be provided.

Museum Association of New York Appoints Executive Director

Museum Association of New York Appoints Executive Director

 

The Board of Directors of the Museum Association of New York is pleased to announce Devin Lander as the organization’s new Executive Director, effective June 2, 2014. Devin brings years of legislative and advocacy work built on a foundation of museum and cultural heritage experience.

“I am honored by the opportunity afforded me by the Board to lead our state’s Museum Association,” Lander said. “New York State is home to one of the world’s greatest and most diverse collection of museums, historical sites, zoos, botanical gardens, and aquariums. These institutions of optimism provide world-class education and are major economic drivers for the entire state. I am excited to continue, and expand upon, MANY’s important mission; to support and grow the capacity of the museum industry, provide assistance to museum professionals, volunteers, and board members, and ensure that the vital educational mission of our museums is sustainable and able to flourish well into the future.”

Devin joins MANY after six years with the New York State Assembly as Deputy Legislative Director for Assemblyman Steve Englebright. During his time in the Legislature, Devin worked as the Committee Clerk for both the Assembly Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development and the Committee on Governmental Affairs. Devin also acted as the Staff Director for the Historic Hudson-Hoosic Rivers Partnership, a public-benefit corporation created by the NYS Legislature to preserve, enhance, and develop the historic, agricultural, scenic, natural, and recreational resources and the waterways within the Northern Hudson River region. Through the tradition of municipal home rule, the Partnership fosters collaborative projects with non-profit and governmental entities with an emphasis on agricultural and open space protection, economic and tourism development, and the protection and interpretation of our natural and cultural heritage.

Before joining Assemblyman Englebright’s staff, Devin worked as an archivist at the State University of New York at Albany’s Department of Special Collections and Archives and a contract consultant for the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s Bureau of Historic Sites. A published historian specializing in post-World War II social and cultural movements, Devin holds a B.A. in American History from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh and a M.A. in Public History from the University at Albany and is a lifetime member of Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honor Society.

Joining Devin in MANY’s Troy, New York office as Associate Director is Dana Krueger. Dana has many years of experience with the organization, serving as MANY’s Associate Director for Programs for the past year and formerly as a board member of Museumwise, participating throughout its consolidation process with MANY. Previously she held positions as Registrar for the Emerson Gallery at Hamilton College and as the Collections Manager at the Madison County Historical Society. Dana received her M.A. in Museum Studies as well as her M.S. in Art Education from Syracuse University. She earned a B.A. in Studio Art at St. Lawrence University. Dana also currently serves as an adjunct faculty member in Syracuse University’s Museum Studies program.

Catherine Gilbert will transition out of the Association to pursue new opportunities. Catherine began with the organization in 2008 as Director of Museumwise and continued as director of MANY after the 2012 consolidation of the two organizations.  

Nonprofit Advocacy Matters | May 5, 2014

A “Pre-cap” of the Congressional Agenda It’s an even-numbered, election-shortened year for Congress. Typically that means anything that can be done in the non-spending area must occur in May (before Memorial Day) and in the appropriations arena before the month-long August recess. Officeholders of all stripes have already begun calculating the competing urges of doing no harm to themselves and their party versus hurting/embarrassing the other side. Conventional wisdom holds that those urges are more intellectual than visceral prior to August, and then controlling thereafter until Election Day. With those thoughts in mind, here is a summary of what’s scheduled: Spending: For the first time in years, House and Senate appropriators are officially and actually following “regular order,” that is, each of the 12 spending bills that funds federal programs is being proposed and debated in committee and is being scheduled for floor consideration prior to the end of the fiscal year on September 30. The House may pass several of the bills prior to Memorial Day; the Senate usually moves slower, but appears committed to passing as many individual measures as possible. The Labor-Education-HHS bill, which funds the largest number of programs performed in communities through the work of charitable nonprofits, tends to be the most controversial and gets put off until the last. Taxes: Comprehensive tax reform is all but officially off the table for this year and the Senate and House are taking different approaches to restoring some or all of a package of expired tax provisions. Among those are the enhanced deductions for donations of food inventories and land conservation easements, and the IRA charitable rollover. The Senate is scheduled to take up a bill to restore for 2014 and extend through 2015 the package of about four dozen tax provisions. The House, instead, is planning to go through the package on a piecemeal basis, starting with six that are very popular with the business community. No plan has yet emerged to get the two chambers on the same page, suggesting that an end-of-year bill is likely. Social Issues: It remains too soon to say whether several stalled issues will break free of gridlock in the coming weeks, but as time passes, their chances diminish. A Republican-led filibuster blocked action last week on a proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. The Republican majority in the House continues to insist on inclusion of one or more of its priorities, such as reforms to job-training programs, before taking up aSenate-passed bill to restore extended unemployment benefits. Neither chamber has been successful in reaching consensus on immigration reform which may or may not include a form of amnesty or pathway to legal status for individuals who entered the United States illegally. Opposition to IRS Proposed Form 1023-EZ and Express-Lane Approvals The IRS recently proposed a new Form 1023-EZ that would create an express-lane approval process for 501(c)(3) status. Opposition to the proposed two-page form and fast-track process has focused on how it would significantly reduce the amount of due diligence done by the IRS. One executive director forecasts chaos for fundraising and foundations "if the field is suddenly flooded with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of newly minted c3’s.”  The National Council of Nonprofits filed Comments in opposition as well. In summary, “We agree with the IRS that the long-established Form 1023 and application process need review and streamlining. However, we are concerned that the proposed new EZ Form and related express-lane approval process go too far and too fast, representing radical departures from proven protocols.” The National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO) also filed Comments in opposition to the IRS proposal, noting that “State charity officials uniformly oppose a Form 1023-EZ,” and predicting “that the Form 1023-EZ will increase opportunity for fraud and heighten the burden on state regulators.” Challenges Remain for State Revenues, Spending Priorities The data for 2014 are mixed on how states are faring with tax revenues and on which programs they are restoring funding that they previously slashed at the depths of the recession. State revenues have experienced growth for 16 straight quarters through the third quarter of 2013, according to the Census Bureau. Governors in 42 states proposed higher spending levels for 2014 than the prior year, the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) reports. Yet an analysis by The Pew Charitable Trusts found that, after adjusting for inflation, only 20 states were back to their peak levels by the second quarter of 2013. The NASBO survey shows that that the vast majority of states are increasing spending on elementary and secondary education, as well as on transportation and infrastructure. Other spending is going to “any kind of program that can be tied to economic development and job creation,” according to a NASBO official. For Florida, that means spending on tourism, while Nebraska is cutting taxes by $412 million. California, on the other hand, is considering devoting additional resources to the state’s rainy day fund. Noticeably absent from the reports is restored funding for human services and other programs that are typically provided through contracts and grants with nonprofit organizations. For a more detailed analysis, read “Lawmakers Jockey Over Budget Surpluses,” published in Stateline. Taxes, Fees, PILOTs PILOTs: Princeton University agreed to make nearly $22 million in payments in lieu of taxes to Princeton, New Jersey over a seven-year period. The new payments come on top of roughly $3 million in property tax payments the university pays on tax-exempt properties and upcoming contributions to local fire stations. In announcing the new PILOT agreement, the university president stated that the purpose was “to reaffirm both our desire to help sustain the vitality and well-being of our home community and our deep appreciation for the many aspirations and interests we share.” PILOTs: The Hartford Courant has come out in strong opposition to legislation sponsored by the Connecticut House Speaker (and opposed by the Governor) that would impose property taxes on nonprofit hospitals and universities. Calling the proposal unfair and premature, aCourant editorial observed: “just because a college or hospital isn't paying property taxes doesn't mean it isn't contributing to the community. The University of Hartford, for example, offers scholarships to Hartford residents, has made land available for two magnet schools, helps incubate small businesses in the Upper Albany neighborhood and beautifully renovated an empty car dealership into an arts building, among other things.” The editors ask: “If the school was pressed for property tax revenue and had to abandon programs such as these, would Hartford be better off? Is it worth the chance?” The Connecticut House passed a scaled-down version of the Speaker's bill over the weekend; Senate passage is uncertain. Vermont Calls for Constitutional Convention onCitizens United On May 1, Vermont became the first state to call for a convention to amend the U.S. Constitution to reverse the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which disallowed many restrictions on money in politics. The Legislature formally resolved: “That the General Assembly, pursuant to Article V of the U.S. Constitution, hereby petitions the U.S. Congress to call a convention for the sole purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America that would limit the corrupting influence of money in our electoral process, including, inter alia, by overturning the Citizens United decision, ….” Congress must convene a constitutional convention if thirty-three other states call for one. Government-Nonprofit Contracting News New Jersey Sees Contracting Reform Progress, Continues Streamlining Efforts The recent progress report from New Jersey’s Red Tape Review Commission includes two items of particular interest to nonprofits. The Department of Children and Families has implemented an electronic system for bidding on contracts that reduces time and duplicative paper submissions. Additionally, the State Board of Social Work Examiners has revised its licensing requirements for greater flexibility, and the Board will now defer to accreditation standards set by national social work organizations, rather than utilizing its own. In recognition of the progress the Review Commission is making in streamlining government contracting and other problem areas, this past week Governor Christie issued an Executive Order extending its operations through 2015. The Order expressly recognizes the contributions and public input of nonprofits in helping the Review Commission analyze the impact of the regulatory environment on job creation, economic growth, and investment in New Jersey. The Review Commission was established in 2010 to address the concerns of for-profit businesses, but quickly added nonprofits as a result of the successful advocacy efforts spearheaded by the Center for Non-Profits, the state association of nonprofits in New Jersey. Arizona Revises Nonprofit Audit Requirements Arizona legislatively revised audit requirements for nonprofits with state contracts, increasing the audit threshold as well as adjusting the frequency with which audits conducted by a certified public accountant are necessary. Under the new law, nonprofits with more than $250,000 annually in state contracts must undergo an audit each year. Less stringent financial reporting requirements will apply to nonprofits with $250,000 or less in state contracts for the year. Under previous law, nonprofits were required to secure an audit every other year if they receive between $50,000 and $100,000 in contracts and annually if they receive more than $100,000. Nonprofit Conservancy Helps Preserve National Park The Yosemite Conservancy, a nonprofit based in San Francisco, has agreed to pay the lion’s share of a $36 million project to help preserve the giant Sequoias in Yosemite National Park. Past mistakes and declining federal spending on parks reportedly have caused experts to fear that the 2000-year-old trees in the Mariposa Grove at Yosemite may suffer decline. The new project will remove a road and parking lot, build an elevated walkway, and make other improvements to make the trees more resilient. In recent years, nonprofits and private funders have stepped in to underwrite operations or maintain public access to parks in Arizona, California, North Carolina, Wyoming, and elsewhere. Judge Blocks Clothing Bin Ban A federal judge granted Planet Aid a temporary restraining orderagainst enforcement of an Ypsilanti, Michigan ban on unattended clothing and shoe collection bins on commercial property. Asserting that the solicitation of clothing and other donations is a form of free speech, the nonprofit argued that the city’s prohibition infringed its First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The clothing bin ban reportedly was spurred by complaints about dumping near the bins and criticism about the organization's sale of the donated goods overseas. A bill pending in the Michigan Senate would take away from local governments the power to impose bans on clothing bins set up on private property. Round One Goes to Maine Nonprofits, Round Two … Nonprofits in Maine won a stunning legislative victory when they successfully lobbied for a bill to partially remove a cap on charitable giving. While some would be tempted to declare victory and go home, the Maine Association of Nonprofits (MANP) is rallying the advocates for the next phase. First, the background. In 2013, at the very end of the legislative session, the Legislature, with the Governor’s concurrence, imposed a $27,500 cap on all itemized deductions, including for charitable donations. In April 2014, the Maine House and Senate undid some of the damage by increasing by $18,000 the amount of charitable donations that are deductible in tax year 2016, and removing charitable giving from the cap altogether in 2017 and beyond. The Governor didn’t sign the bill nor veto it; he let it go into law without taking any action.  Now comes the nonprofit advocacy leadership lesson. In announcing the news about the legislative win, Brenda Peluso of MANP first gave credit where it was due: to the nonprofit leaders who spoke up for the work they perform and the people they serve. Brenda wrote: “If it were not for the calls, emails, and public testimony this community generated, we would not have been as successful as we were.” And second? Brenda reminded her coalition colleagues that “our work is not done.” Removing charitable deductions from the cap has always been the goal, so she laid out an aggressive advocacy strategy to maintain momentum toward that aim. She encouraged Maine nonprofits to join MANP in engaging candidates throughout the campaign season, encouraging other nonprofits to talk to the candidates, and identifying sponsors and champions for new legislation next year. MANP has a special webpage to learn more. Brenda didn’t say it, but we will: if at first you succeed in nonprofit advocacy, try, try for more. © Copyright 2014 National Council of Nonprofits. All rights reserved  1200 New York Avenue, NW | Suite 700 | Washington, DC 20005 | www.councilofnonprofits.org