Study: CEO Salaries At Nonprofits Up In 2008

NPR reported on a new study by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, released Monday, shows that the top pay at the nation's largest nonprofits rose again last year, with some eye-popping results. But the survey also found signs that these high-dollar salaries may be starting to turn around. Read more here.

The interesting issue here is that it included only large nonprofits. In fact, the Chronicle stated that there median salary level was over $400,000. How can NPR or any other news source draw conclusions on salary levels for nonprofits increasing, when the majority of organizations aren't even included (or given a voice)? It is news stories like this that are problematic and tarnish the sector, even though the figures apply to a minority of nonprofits. Have your own thoughts, share them here.

New round of grants for park & trail groups aim to boost organizational capacity

Parks & Trails New York is offering a new round of Capacity Building Grants for park and trail groups in New York State. The grants, of up to $3,000, will strengthen not-for-profit organizations that are working to build and protect parks and trails in communities across the state --- helping to not only provide places for close-to-home, healthy physical activity but also generate additional tourist dollars to strengthen local economies. Funds can be used to assist with activities associated with organizational start-up and development, training, communications, and volunteer recruitment and management.

Deadline for submitting applications is November 20, 2009.
For more information email or call 518-434-1583.

Next Meeting: "The Leaders Challenge: A Heart for Mission & A Head for Business"

Please join us…

October 16th, 2009
8:30am to 10:30am

Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Hospitality Center
385 Watervliet-Shaker Road Latham
Cost: Please bring $5 (for light breakfast)

"The Leaders Challenge: A Heart for Mission & A Head for Business"
How Nonprofits Can Balance Bottom Line & Community Need

Running a nonprofit is serious business. And just like any business your organization can indeed make money, run efficiently, measure outcomes and determine a return on investment for your donors. But unlike other businesses, nonprofits have a “double bottom line.” A community based nonprofit (whether a human service group or a cultural institution) is also a business that measures their impact in “doing good” for the community.

Exactly how do you measure that? How do you maximize community "good" as well as profit?

Our panel of experienced executives and business leaders will give us insight on how to balance the “heart for mission and head for business” question that nonprofit execs struggle with every day.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• How we want our nonprofit community to be viewed. How do we feel about the word “business” when referring to nonprofits?


• The importance of new thinking when it comes to running a nonprofit business. How do we move away from “we’ve always done it that way.”


• Compensating quality staff in a competitive environment. What can we offer as a total package and how do we communicate that?


• What are some tools different nonprofits are using to manage more effectively?
  

Join us for this exciting opportunity to learn and share with your Executive Director peers from around the region.

Moderator:
Chris Burke, Executive Director, Unity House, Inc.

Panelists:
Beth Coco, Founder, MicroKnowledge
Kevin Connally, Executive Director, Hope House, Inc.
Ann DiSaro, Former Executive Director, Albany Senior Services &
Owner, Ann DiSarro Consulting

Obama visit to Troy's Hudson Valley Community College confirmed

President Barack Obama will give a speech in Troy, N.Y., next week on education, the economy and high-tech job creation occurring in the Capital Region.

Obama plans to speak at Hudson Valley Community College at 11 a.m. on Sept. 21. More details were not immediately available; a call to the White House press office was not returned.

“We are very excited about the president’s decision to showcase Hudson Valley Community College on a national stage,” the two-year college said on its Web site today. Read more here.

Free Social Media Forum Set for September 22 at Cohoes Music Hall

The Business Review reported that an Albany, N.Y., social networking company will host a forum this month to help businesses make better use of social media.

The free forum will be held Sept. 22 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Cohoes Music Hall. The forum’s host, iZoca Inc., said the event will help companies discover ways to use social media to communicate and collaborate with colleagues and potential clients as well.

“In addition to traditional marketing, business leaders must now utilize social networking Web sites to stay ahead of their game,” said iZoca president and CEO Jeffrey Goronkin. “At the same time, professionals are struggling to figure out which ones are most effective for their needs.”
Among popular social networking Web sites are Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. IZoca, a 2-year-old company, distinguishes itself from other networking sites because members create their own groups.

For more information, call 867-7940. The event is being organized at www.izoca.com/groups/albany-social-networking-for-professionals, and also at www.meetup.com/albanysmb.

State unemployment rises to highest level since 1983

The Central NY Business Journal reported that New York's unemployment rate climbed to 9 percent in August, up from 8.6 percent in July, according to new data the state Labor Department released today.

August's rate was the highest since April 1983, according to the department. The state's unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in August 2008.

New York's private-sector job count fell by about 2,200 in August, less than 0.1 percent, to about 7.1 million. Read more here.

What Can Nonprofit Groups Do To Save Money, Energy and the Environment?

The Schenectady ARC will host a FREE workshop entitled "What Can Nonprofit Groups Do to Save Money, Energy and the Environment?"

The workshop will be held in room 233 of Schenectady ARC's 214 State Street Offices.
The presentation will be conducted by Mark De Chiro Regional Coordinator for the Capital/Saratoga Region Energy $mart Communities Program c/o the New Your State Energy and Research and Development Authority. Information about NYSERDA program will be available. The event, which will be one hour in duration, will begin at 8:00 a.m. with registration at 7:30 a.m.

To Register, please contact Mark Sheehan, Schenectady ARC's Director of New Initiatives, at 518.372.1160, ext. 8217.

SPONSOR: Schenectady ARC
WHEN: 9/22/2009 at 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
WHERE: 214 State Street, Room 233, Schenectady, NY 12301
SPEAKER: Mark DeChiro
ADMISSION COST: FREE
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Mark DeChiro or call 518.542.5175 or email mdechiro1@nycap.rr.com