NYCON endorsed vendor, Idealware, is pleased to announce three free seminars in the month of July!
Website Domains: Getting, Keeping and Working with a Website Address
Thursday, July 22, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Eastern. FREE!
In this free one-hour seminar, we'll talk through the important things you need to know about setting up and maintaining control over a website domain, as well as how to use it for your website and email needs. This seminar is funded by the Pierce Family Foundation.
Read more or register >
Raising Your Network's Technology IQ
Thursday, July 29, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Eastern. FREE!
Are you a membership organization, grantmaker, or affiliate group? Are you trying to figure out affordable ways to help your network use technology more effectively? We'll talk through the types of technology support your network is most likely to need, and the methods -- from free to inexpensive to more comprehensive -- that are likely to help.
Read more or register >
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
National Council of Nonprofits: Nonprofit Advocacy Matters Update
Five Worst Government Contracting Abuses
Late payments for contracted services is only one of many ways that governments shortchange nonprofits and exploit the contracting relationship. See the five worst government contracting abuses and let us know if you can add further documentation, if you've seen worse, or if you know of solutions in your state that help prevent these and other abuses.
Hearing to Consider Gulf Coast Need for Charitable Assistance
Viewing the impact of the Gulf oil spill on people in the region, Congress is asking "what needs to be done and how the charitable sector and others can reach out to these communities and help." The Oversight Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee has scheduled a hearing for Tuesday, July 20, to consider these questions and examine how donations contributed to charities are being used. In announcing the hearing, Chairman John Lewis (D-GA) stated, "This is the moment when government must rely on charitable organizations to fulfill their missions and address these urgent needs."
Rival Estate Tax Revisions Proposed
The estate tax expired at the end of 2009, but will snap back automatically in 2011 to a 55 percent tax rate with a $1 million exemption unless changes are made. Senators are proposing rival plans to weaken or strengthen the federal tax on estates. Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ) introduced a measure last week to set the estate tax rate at 35 percent, with a $5 million exemption phased in over 10 years and indexed for inflation. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) recently introduced the Responsible Estate Tax Act, S.3533 to set an exemption of $3.5 million and impose tax rates from between 35 percent and 55 percent based on the size of the estate above the exemption level. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has said that he does not intend to allow any estate tax votes in the coming weeks, but he continues to negotiate with the Republican Leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), on the Senate schedule and amendments.
Financial Regulatory Reform Enacted, Cuts Debit Card Fees
Last week the Senate passed and sent to President Obama the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (H.R.4173). The measure imposes new restrictions on risky financial investments, creates a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau within the Federal Reserve, and allows the Federal Reserve to regulate the amount of fees that nonprofits and merchants can be charged for debit card transactions. President Obama is expected to sign the bill this week.
Nonprofit Sector Act
Federal Data of "Uncertain Quality"
The case for the Nonprofit Sector and Community Solutions Act, H.R. 5533, was made recently by SubsidyScope, a program of Pew Charitable Trusts. In seeking to analyze the effects of tax subsidies and federal grants, the authors reached the following conclusions:
"It is challenging to assemble and present spending and subsidy data regarding the nonprofit sector because the federal government does not identify nonprofits as a distinct budget category. Further, federal budget data are of uncertain quality; specifically, the data available through USAspending.gov are incomplete because certain program information is missing for a number of records, making it difficult to discern which specific agencies and programs may be awarding funds to nonprofits."
A key component of H.R. 5533 is to overcome the data challenges that SubsidyScope, and many other nonprofit researchers, have identified.
IRS Seeks Comments on New Disclosure Requirement
The health care reform law enacted earlier this year requires nonprofits and businesses, starting in 2012, to report aggregate payments to vendors in excess of $600 for goods and other property. The requirement applies for payments to all vendors, not just those related to health care. Currently, nonprofits and others are required to file Form 1099s for payment of services by independent contractors, but not for goods from vendors. The IRS is seeking public comment on how to most effectively carry out the law change, with the stated goal of minimizing burdens and avoiding duplicate reporting. The deadline for comments is Sept. 29, 2010. Please share this information with your accounting and operations personnel and send the National Council your ideas on how best to limit the impact of this new reporting requirement.
Late payments for contracted services is only one of many ways that governments shortchange nonprofits and exploit the contracting relationship. See the five worst government contracting abuses and let us know if you can add further documentation, if you've seen worse, or if you know of solutions in your state that help prevent these and other abuses.
Hearing to Consider Gulf Coast Need for Charitable Assistance
Viewing the impact of the Gulf oil spill on people in the region, Congress is asking "what needs to be done and how the charitable sector and others can reach out to these communities and help." The Oversight Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee has scheduled a hearing for Tuesday, July 20, to consider these questions and examine how donations contributed to charities are being used. In announcing the hearing, Chairman John Lewis (D-GA) stated, "This is the moment when government must rely on charitable organizations to fulfill their missions and address these urgent needs."
Rival Estate Tax Revisions Proposed
The estate tax expired at the end of 2009, but will snap back automatically in 2011 to a 55 percent tax rate with a $1 million exemption unless changes are made. Senators are proposing rival plans to weaken or strengthen the federal tax on estates. Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ) introduced a measure last week to set the estate tax rate at 35 percent, with a $5 million exemption phased in over 10 years and indexed for inflation. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) recently introduced the Responsible Estate Tax Act, S.3533 to set an exemption of $3.5 million and impose tax rates from between 35 percent and 55 percent based on the size of the estate above the exemption level. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has said that he does not intend to allow any estate tax votes in the coming weeks, but he continues to negotiate with the Republican Leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), on the Senate schedule and amendments.
Financial Regulatory Reform Enacted, Cuts Debit Card Fees
Last week the Senate passed and sent to President Obama the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (H.R.4173). The measure imposes new restrictions on risky financial investments, creates a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau within the Federal Reserve, and allows the Federal Reserve to regulate the amount of fees that nonprofits and merchants can be charged for debit card transactions. President Obama is expected to sign the bill this week.
Nonprofit Sector Act
Federal Data of "Uncertain Quality"
The case for the Nonprofit Sector and Community Solutions Act, H.R. 5533, was made recently by SubsidyScope, a program of Pew Charitable Trusts. In seeking to analyze the effects of tax subsidies and federal grants, the authors reached the following conclusions:
"It is challenging to assemble and present spending and subsidy data regarding the nonprofit sector because the federal government does not identify nonprofits as a distinct budget category. Further, federal budget data are of uncertain quality; specifically, the data available through USAspending.gov are incomplete because certain program information is missing for a number of records, making it difficult to discern which specific agencies and programs may be awarding funds to nonprofits."
A key component of H.R. 5533 is to overcome the data challenges that SubsidyScope, and many other nonprofit researchers, have identified.
IRS Seeks Comments on New Disclosure Requirement
The health care reform law enacted earlier this year requires nonprofits and businesses, starting in 2012, to report aggregate payments to vendors in excess of $600 for goods and other property. The requirement applies for payments to all vendors, not just those related to health care. Currently, nonprofits and others are required to file Form 1099s for payment of services by independent contractors, but not for goods from vendors. The IRS is seeking public comment on how to most effectively carry out the law change, with the stated goal of minimizing burdens and avoiding duplicate reporting. The deadline for comments is Sept. 29, 2010. Please share this information with your accounting and operations personnel and send the National Council your ideas on how best to limit the impact of this new reporting requirement.
Friday, July 16, 2010
State Drops “R” Word as OMRDD Becomes OPWDD
The NY Nonprofit Press reported that The NYS Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) has a new name. The agency will now be known as New York State Office For People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). Legislation removing the words “Mental Retardation” from the agency’s name – as well as from State statute and regulations, was signed by Governor Paterson on Tuesday and takes effect immediately.
“This name change sends a strong message that New York values the dignity and respect of individuals with developmental disabilities” Governor Paterson said. “For many people with developmental disabilities the words ‘mental retardation’ are hurtful and represent a disrespectful term. The Office For People With Developmental Disabilities is a name that respects their rights as people with developmental disabilities to have an agency name that invokes pride, and not shame.”
“The time has finally come for New York to join the 48 other states that have dropped the ‘R’ word,” said OPWDD Commissioner Diana Jones Ritter. “I want to assure everyone that our name may be changing, but who we are and what we do stays the same: We have and will always provide top quality supports and services to people and families.”
“The use of the “R” word is hurtful, perpetuates prejudice and discrimination in a time when we seek to create communities of respect and acceptance of all people” said Ann Hardiman, Executive Director of NYSACRA. “The state agency name change is one major milestone to reverse language which is disparaging and harmful and promotes greater awareness, acceptance and inclusion across the State of New York.”
“As the organization that initiated the idea of a separate office for persons with developmental disabilities nearly half a century ago, we applaud the Governor and the Legislature for a successful initiative that keeps with the tradition of dignity and respect that our families and their loved ones have fought to maintain for so many decades,” said Marc Brandt, Executive Director of NYSARC, Inc.
“This was clearly something that people with developmental disabilities wanted,” said Peter Pierri, Executive Director of the InterAgency Council of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Agencies (IAC). “In recent years, the term had taken on a very negative connotation.” Pierri went on to note that some nonprofit agencies – including his own – would soon be following the State’s lead. “We absolutely have to,” he said, indicating that he expected a name change at IAC this Fall.
“This name change sends a strong message that New York values the dignity and respect of individuals with developmental disabilities” Governor Paterson said. “For many people with developmental disabilities the words ‘mental retardation’ are hurtful and represent a disrespectful term. The Office For People With Developmental Disabilities is a name that respects their rights as people with developmental disabilities to have an agency name that invokes pride, and not shame.”
“The time has finally come for New York to join the 48 other states that have dropped the ‘R’ word,” said OPWDD Commissioner Diana Jones Ritter. “I want to assure everyone that our name may be changing, but who we are and what we do stays the same: We have and will always provide top quality supports and services to people and families.”
“The use of the “R” word is hurtful, perpetuates prejudice and discrimination in a time when we seek to create communities of respect and acceptance of all people” said Ann Hardiman, Executive Director of NYSACRA. “The state agency name change is one major milestone to reverse language which is disparaging and harmful and promotes greater awareness, acceptance and inclusion across the State of New York.”
“As the organization that initiated the idea of a separate office for persons with developmental disabilities nearly half a century ago, we applaud the Governor and the Legislature for a successful initiative that keeps with the tradition of dignity and respect that our families and their loved ones have fought to maintain for so many decades,” said Marc Brandt, Executive Director of NYSARC, Inc.
“This was clearly something that people with developmental disabilities wanted,” said Peter Pierri, Executive Director of the InterAgency Council of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Agencies (IAC). “In recent years, the term had taken on a very negative connotation.” Pierri went on to note that some nonprofit agencies – including his own – would soon be following the State’s lead. “We absolutely have to,” he said, indicating that he expected a name change at IAC this Fall.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Nonprofit Leaders Speak Up to Stop Charitable Deduction Changes
NYCON has added it's voice to those of other nonprofit leaders taking a stand against the proposed change to charitable deducations for high income individuals in New York State.
The proposal would result in a 50% decrease in the deductibility of charitable gifts from higher income donors. Already, earners of $1 million or more can only claim 50% of their contribution as a deduction. This proposal would allow donors earning $10 million or more to claim just 25% of their contribution. NYCON is also concerned that this may potentially be the start of eroding charitable deductions in general.
We are urging our members to learn more about this proposal by reading the following articles by the New York Nonprofit Press, The Daily News, and the Chronicle of Philanthropy.
Then, please join us in adding your voice to the memo of opposition by contacting us via email or calling Doug Sauer, CEO at (800) 515-5012 ext. 103.
Contact NYCON and sign onto the Memo of Opposition.
Contact your Senator. Click here for a searchable database of representatives.
The proposal would result in a 50% decrease in the deductibility of charitable gifts from higher income donors. Already, earners of $1 million or more can only claim 50% of their contribution as a deduction. This proposal would allow donors earning $10 million or more to claim just 25% of their contribution. NYCON is also concerned that this may potentially be the start of eroding charitable deductions in general.
We are urging our members to learn more about this proposal by reading the following articles by the New York Nonprofit Press, The Daily News, and the Chronicle of Philanthropy.
Then, please join us in adding your voice to the memo of opposition by contacting us via email or calling Doug Sauer, CEO at (800) 515-5012 ext. 103.
Contact NYCON and sign onto the Memo of Opposition.
Contact your Senator. Click here for a searchable database of representatives.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
PGA Tour's Turning Stone Resort Championship: 100% Ticket Sales Benefit Nonprofits
Good afternoon, Valerie,
I hope you had a nice holiday weekend! I am writing to tell you about a special initiative with which the Addictions Care Center of Albany is involved. We are the only non profit in the Capital District participating in the Turning Stone Resort Championship's Tickets for Charity program. Our involvement allows us to sell tickets to this event (occurring 8/2 – 8/8), with 100% of the proceeds from our ticket sales directly benefiting ACCA’s many programs and services. I am reaching out to you to find out how NYCON could help us to publicize this initiative to your network so that we can sell as many tickets as possible. Below you will find more information about this fundraiser. Please let me know if you have any ideas on how we could collaborate!
I look forward to speaking to you in the near future!
-Francine
Francine Sinkoff
Marketing & Development Coordinator
The Addictions Care Center of Albany
"Healing the hearts of everyone touched by addiction."
(P) 518-465-5829
fsinkoff@theacca.net
Don’t miss your chance to purchase tickets to the PGA Tour’s Turning Stone Resort Championship, August 2-8, 2010!
100% of the tickets ACCA sells will go DIRECTLY to support ACCA!
This FedExCup season event features:
132 PGA players
2 days of practice play, Monday, August 2nd and Tuesday, August 3rd
Pro-Am play Wednesday, August 4th
Competition beginning on Thursday, August 5th through Sunday, August 8th.
Ticket Costs:
Good Any Day Tickets, valid Wednesday through Sunday, are only $25.00 EACH
Weekly booklets are available for $100 each (booklets include 5 Good Any Day Tickets and 2 Practice Round Tickets) for a savings of $25
Purchase tickets by:
Calling Francine Sinkoff at 518.465.5829 or emailing fsinkoff@theacca.net.
Use this link http://turningstoneC14.digbro.com and provide the code 2ACCALBANY
Contact Ticketmaster directly and provide the code 2ACCALBANY
Deadline for ticket sales is July 30, 2010…
SEE GREAT GOLF…SUPPORT A GREAT CAUSE
I hope you had a nice holiday weekend! I am writing to tell you about a special initiative with which the Addictions Care Center of Albany is involved. We are the only non profit in the Capital District participating in the Turning Stone Resort Championship's Tickets for Charity program. Our involvement allows us to sell tickets to this event (occurring 8/2 – 8/8), with 100% of the proceeds from our ticket sales directly benefiting ACCA’s many programs and services. I am reaching out to you to find out how NYCON could help us to publicize this initiative to your network so that we can sell as many tickets as possible. Below you will find more information about this fundraiser. Please let me know if you have any ideas on how we could collaborate!
I look forward to speaking to you in the near future!
-Francine
Francine Sinkoff
Marketing & Development Coordinator
The Addictions Care Center of Albany
"Healing the hearts of everyone touched by addiction."
(P) 518-465-5829
fsinkoff@theacca.net
Don’t miss your chance to purchase tickets to the PGA Tour’s Turning Stone Resort Championship, August 2-8, 2010!
100% of the tickets ACCA sells will go DIRECTLY to support ACCA!
This FedExCup season event features:
132 PGA players
2 days of practice play, Monday, August 2nd and Tuesday, August 3rd
Pro-Am play Wednesday, August 4th
Competition beginning on Thursday, August 5th through Sunday, August 8th.
Ticket Costs:
Good Any Day Tickets, valid Wednesday through Sunday, are only $25.00 EACH
Weekly booklets are available for $100 each (booklets include 5 Good Any Day Tickets and 2 Practice Round Tickets) for a savings of $25
Purchase tickets by:
Calling Francine Sinkoff at 518.465.5829 or emailing fsinkoff@theacca.net.
Use this link http://turningstoneC14.digbro.com and provide the code 2ACCALBANY
Contact Ticketmaster directly and provide the code 2ACCALBANY
Deadline for ticket sales is July 30, 2010…
SEE GREAT GOLF…SUPPORT A GREAT CAUSE
Monday, July 5, 2010
Arts-Oriented Development Encouraged through NEA and HUD Grant Partnership
NEA CHAIRMAN LANDESMAN AND HUD SECRETARY DONOVAN INVITE THE ARTS COMMUNITY AND CREATIVE SECTOR TO PARTICIPATE IN FUNDING OPPORTUNITES DESIGNED TO CREATE MORE LIVABLE, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITITES
Arts-Oriented Development Encouraged through New Sustainable Communities Grant Programs
Washington, DC – National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Rocco Landesman and U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today issued an invitation to the arts and creative sector to participate in ajoint webinar on Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. EDT to learn about two new, innovative community development funding opportunities.
Last week, HUD and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released two Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs): $100 million in grants available through HUD’sSustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program, and up to $75 million in grants available through a joint HUD and DOT Sustainable Communities Challenge Grant Program. Under both programs, arts organizations are eligible to partner with state and local governments, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), transit agencies, philanthropic and non-profit organizations and other eligible applicants to develop consortia grant proposals.
“The arts are a natural component to furthering this Administration’s commitment to creating more livable, walkable, environmentally sustainable communities,” said HUD Secretary Donovan. “They can play a key role as a partner that is able to enhance the unique characteristics of communities and increase our economic competitiveness through supporting creativity and innovation.”
“The arts are creative placemakers,” said NEA Chairman Landesman. “We are able to work alongside federal agencies like HUD to help create places where people want to live work and play, both today and in the future.”
Both programs build on the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, an innovative interagency collaboration, launched by President Obama in June 2009, between the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide more sustainable housing and transportation choices for families and lay the foundation for a 21st century economy. Guided by six Livability Principles, the Partnership is designed to remove the traditional silos that exist between federal departments and strategically target the agencies’ transportation, land use, environmental, housing and community development resources to provide communities the resources they need to build more livable, sustainable communities.
This is the first time that HUD and the NEA have co-convened the arts and creative sector on a national level around funding opportunities, and it demonstrates the Obama Administration’s commitment to changing the way the federal government operates by working more collaboratively across federal agencies and making smarter investments. The Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program is the first HUD Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) that explicitly contains language encouraging the arts community to participate in the consortia submitting applications.
Anyone interested in participating in the webinar should log on to HUD’s website at 3:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 7th, 2010.
HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.
The NEA is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts - both new and established - bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Arts Endowment is the largest annual national funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases. For more information, please visit www.arts.gov.
Arts-Oriented Development Encouraged through New Sustainable Communities Grant Programs
Washington, DC – National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Rocco Landesman and U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today issued an invitation to the arts and creative sector to participate in ajoint webinar on Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. EDT to learn about two new, innovative community development funding opportunities.
Last week, HUD and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released two Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs): $100 million in grants available through HUD’sSustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program, and up to $75 million in grants available through a joint HUD and DOT Sustainable Communities Challenge Grant Program. Under both programs, arts organizations are eligible to partner with state and local governments, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), transit agencies, philanthropic and non-profit organizations and other eligible applicants to develop consortia grant proposals.
“The arts are a natural component to furthering this Administration’s commitment to creating more livable, walkable, environmentally sustainable communities,” said HUD Secretary Donovan. “They can play a key role as a partner that is able to enhance the unique characteristics of communities and increase our economic competitiveness through supporting creativity and innovation.”
“The arts are creative placemakers,” said NEA Chairman Landesman. “We are able to work alongside federal agencies like HUD to help create places where people want to live work and play, both today and in the future.”
Both programs build on the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, an innovative interagency collaboration, launched by President Obama in June 2009, between the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide more sustainable housing and transportation choices for families and lay the foundation for a 21st century economy. Guided by six Livability Principles, the Partnership is designed to remove the traditional silos that exist between federal departments and strategically target the agencies’ transportation, land use, environmental, housing and community development resources to provide communities the resources they need to build more livable, sustainable communities.
This is the first time that HUD and the NEA have co-convened the arts and creative sector on a national level around funding opportunities, and it demonstrates the Obama Administration’s commitment to changing the way the federal government operates by working more collaboratively across federal agencies and making smarter investments. The Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program is the first HUD Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) that explicitly contains language encouraging the arts community to participate in the consortia submitting applications.
Anyone interested in participating in the webinar should log on to HUD’s website at 3:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 7th, 2010.
HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.
The NEA is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts - both new and established - bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Arts Endowment is the largest annual national funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases. For more information, please visit www.arts.gov.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Report Aims to Help Nonprofits Engage in Advocacy Efforts
The Johns Hopkins Listening Post Project has issued a report about how organizations can best leverage their limited financial and staff resources and assets to support nonprofit advocacy efforts.
The Report on the Listening Post Project Chicago Roundtable on Nonprofit Advocacy and Lobbying (9 pages, PDF) is based on a roundtable convened by Johns Hopkins to expand on the results of a 2007 Listening Post Project survey on nonprofit engagement in the public policy process. Conducted in partnership with the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest, the survey found that although nonprofits are widely engaged in efforts to influence public policies affecting them and the individuals they serve, they are often constrained in their advocacy efforts by a lack of adequate resources, including tight budgets and limited staff time and expertise.
In addition, the report found that advocacy efforts must directly involve nonprofits themselves, including the active use and dissemination of real-world stories and increased engagement of patrons in the lobbying process; intermediary organizations should play an active role in supporting the advocacy efforts of nonprofits by engaging members in mission-based advocacy and helping establish long-term funding streams for advocacy efforts; foundations and their boards must be better educated on the relationship between engaging in advocacy and achieving organizational mission; and the policy community needs to be better engaged by nonprofits and their intermediaries and educated about the impact of existing lobbying laws on nonprofit advocacy.
Moreover, concerns over perceived conflicts of interest pose a challenge to getting board members to emphasize advocacy. "There is much more business involvement in order to go after private and corporate funding, and now it's causing some potentially serious dilemmas on the advocacy front," Listening Post board chair Peter Goldberg told the Chronicle of Philanthropy, "because the agencies may want to take advocacy positions with respect to the role of government and government funding that can oftentimes be at variance with the generally held positions of the business community that their board members represent."
The Report on the Listening Post Project Chicago Roundtable on Nonprofit Advocacy and Lobbying (9 pages, PDF) is based on a roundtable convened by Johns Hopkins to expand on the results of a 2007 Listening Post Project survey on nonprofit engagement in the public policy process. Conducted in partnership with the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest, the survey found that although nonprofits are widely engaged in efforts to influence public policies affecting them and the individuals they serve, they are often constrained in their advocacy efforts by a lack of adequate resources, including tight budgets and limited staff time and expertise.
In addition, the report found that advocacy efforts must directly involve nonprofits themselves, including the active use and dissemination of real-world stories and increased engagement of patrons in the lobbying process; intermediary organizations should play an active role in supporting the advocacy efforts of nonprofits by engaging members in mission-based advocacy and helping establish long-term funding streams for advocacy efforts; foundations and their boards must be better educated on the relationship between engaging in advocacy and achieving organizational mission; and the policy community needs to be better engaged by nonprofits and their intermediaries and educated about the impact of existing lobbying laws on nonprofit advocacy.
Moreover, concerns over perceived conflicts of interest pose a challenge to getting board members to emphasize advocacy. "There is much more business involvement in order to go after private and corporate funding, and now it's causing some potentially serious dilemmas on the advocacy front," Listening Post board chair Peter Goldberg told the Chronicle of Philanthropy, "because the agencies may want to take advocacy positions with respect to the role of government and government funding that can oftentimes be at variance with the generally held positions of the business community that their board members represent."
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