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Friday, March 22, 2013

Featured Nonprofit Job: Project Coordinator

Do you have experience working with grants? If so, the latest featured nonprofit job from our online career center might be of interest to you.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) in Chicago, Ill., is looking to hire a Project Coordinator for a grant the organization recently received from the DentaQuest Foundation. The grant examines oral health screening, risk assessment, prevention, and referral by pediatricians and family physicians.

The chosen candidate will be asked to perform the following tasks:
  • Coordinating and ensuring timely completion of project activities;
  • Maintenance of project-related information and data;
  • Maintenance of project related information and data; overseeing the development and dissemination of project materials;
  • Organizing focus groups and practice observation sessions; and,
  • Serving as liaison to the primary investigator, the grant advisory group, and other collaborative partners.
Applicants will be asked to have a minimum of five years' work experience, preferably in an association or nonprofit. A Master's degree in a related field is preferred, but not required.

You can find out more information by visiting The NonProfit Times' jobs page.

Webinar: Nonprofit Accounting Software Experts Live

Update: Missed yesterday's webinar? You can view it in its entirety online.

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It can be very difficult at time to keep up with the latest advances in nonprofit accounting software. It seems like new trends emerge everyday, making for major headaches when deciding which program to use. That's why anyone who is having trouble with these issues should attend The NonProfit Times' latest webinar with Intacct.

"Nonprofit Accounting Software Experts Live," presented by nonprofit accounting software experts Taylor Macdonald of Intacct, and Susan Campbell, vice president of Soft Trac, will lay out the right direction for those who are having trouble choosing a new accounting system. Using there many years of experience in the field, Macdonald and Campbell will show you how to simplify the process of selecting new software.

This free webinar will also teach you how to:
  • Determine what you need from a new accounting system;
  • Make sure the system you select maximizes financial transparency and accountability to the board;
  • Find the right vendor by following five best practices;
  • Take advantage of new options made possible by cloud computing; and,
  • Calculate the return on investment (ROI) you can expect from a new cloud financial management and accounting system.
The webinar will begin on March 21 at 2:00 p.m. EST. Register for free today to help your nonprofit take the next step in the world of accounting.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

5 Steps To Processing Workplace Accommodations

Most nonprofits will at some point have an employee that needs special accommodations. This is usually in the case of physically disabled employees, and nonprofits in every state are required to consider their requests even if they ultimately cannot be met.

As Barbara Mitchell and Cornelia Gamlem noted in "The Big Book of HR," employers do have some protection from "undue hardship" in providing workplace accommodations for employees. They caution, however, that organizations cannot deny a request without first giving it serious consideration. They suggest the following process for requests for accommodation:
  • Consider and document all requests. The responsibility applies to applicants and employees alike.
  • Each request should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Evaluate all available options. This includes: Evaluate the job’s functions against the individual’s qualifications during the selection process; identify barriers to job performance; consult with the individual to find specific abilities and limitations relative to the job’s functions; determine if several accommodations are appropriate and determine the effectiveness, cost and impact on the job environment and, consider the individual’s preference;
  • Document the possible accommodations considered and resources consulted; and,
  • Document the interactive steps – discussions with the individual.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Nonprofit Administrator Sentenced In Theft Case

The former administrator of a nonprofit in Prince George's County, Md., was sentenced to four and a half years in prison Monday on charges that she stole thousands of dollars from the organization.

According to a report on Gazette.net, Penny Parker Green was charged with leading a scheme to steal $166,137 from the Arc of Prince George's County and 72 group home residents between November 2006 and February 2012. During those dates, she allegedly used the company credit card to purchase a flight for an Aruba vacation, install custom closets in her home and purchase computers, electronics, furniture and other merchandise and services.

U.S. prosecutors also charged that Green instructed employees to withdraw cash from residents' bank accounts for her personal use.

Green worked as an administrator at The Arc for 13 years, according to staff at the organization, and made an annual salary of $95,000. Arc Executive Director Mac Ramsey told Gazette.net that Green first was suspected of wrongdoing when he learned that she allegedly lied about having her master's and doctorate degrees, even though those were not requirements for the job. Since the incident, Ramsey said, the organization has reviewed it security practices and closed some loopholes to ensure something like this never happens again.

Green eventually was arrested on May 23 on charges of wire fraud.

U.S. District Court Judge Alexander Williams Jr., also sentenced Green to three years of supervised release and ordered her to pay the Arc $166,137. She was made to forfeit the items she purchased with the company credit card.

You can read the full story on Gazette.net.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

9 Telecommuting Procedures

One of the new opportunities available to job seekers is telecommuting. While it certainly has its advantage for potential employees, it can be a challenge for employers.

Programs such as Skype have allowed remote employees to better interact with their co-workers, but it can still be hard when someone is not physically in the office. If your nonprofit decides to allow telecommuting, there must be strict policies put in place to make sure things run as smoothly as possible.

Jeff Tenenbaum, chair of the Nonprofit Organizations Practice Group at Venable LLP, suggested several components that organizations need to include when creating telecommuting policies. These include:
  • A clear definition of “telecommuting” for purposes of the telecommuting policy and any agreements between the employer and the employee;
  • Easy-to-understand eligibility requirements;
  • The steps of the telecommuting-approval procedure;
  • Clarity that participation in the telecommuting program is a privilege and not a right, subject to revocation at any time for any lawful reason;
  • Notice that abuse of telecommuting can result in disciplinary action, including termination;
  • Understanding of the employer’s right to inspect the home-based work environment;
  • A non-disclosure and confidentiality agreement;
  • Statement of the employer’s right to change the terms of its telecommuting policy; and,
  • Clear language that the telecommuting employee is expected to meet the same performance standards as on-site employees.

Former Girl Scout Treasurer Accused Of Theft

The former treasurer of a Girl Scouts troop in Douglasville, Ga., allegedly stole nearly $10,000 from the group according to police.

Darlene Jo Lewis allegedly stole $9,800 from Girl Scout Troop 798, according to a report on the website of Fox Atlanta. Investigators state that she was treasurer of the organization from 2010 to 2012, and that her daughter was also a member of the troop. She was arrested by local police on Friday.

Investigators allege that Lewis used the money she stole to pay for gifts for herself, her son, and a senior dating service. Troop 798 will be disbanding because of the loss of money, according to police.

Lewis faces charges of felony theft by taking and is being held on bail at Douglas County Jail.

You can read the full story on MyFox Atlanta.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Exempt Magazine: Winter 2013 Edition

The new issue of The NonProfit Times was released last Friday and today we have another new release, this time for our sister publication, Exempt Magazine.

The Winter 2013 edition of Exempt covers a variety of topics in the world of nonprofit finance, including the very important issue of Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs). Here is a sneak peek at some of the stories you can expect to find in this issue:

Articles

  • Annuities On The Comeback TrailHistorically low interest rates are driving up interest in Charitable Gift Annuities (CGA) around the nonprofit sector. This article takes a look at some of the organizations that are seeing the biggest increases.
  • Beyond Strategic Planning: Nonprofit board expert Dennis Miller explains the different ways a nonprofit can "recharge," especially through the traditional means of strategic planning.
Column
  • Your Next HireThere are a number of persistent myths about background checks that get in the way of sound screening practices. Screening prospective staff and volunteers effectively begins with understanding these myths.
Want to view the full issue of Exempt? Head to our online store and purchase a digital or print edition of the magazine.