In what would represent a significant diplomatic development, an Atlanta, Ga.-based nonprofit is planning to bring North Korea's national orchestra for a tour of the U.S.
The Associated Press (AP) reported that the North Korean Symphony Orchestra will start the tour with a concert in Atlanta, the home of Global Resource Service (GRS), a humanitarian nonprofit that works in the secluded country. GRS hopes the concert will begin in the spring, but details, including government approval, are still left to be resolved.
The deal comes at a time when relations between the U.S. and North Korea are warming, but still fragile. The country's long time leader, Kim Jong Il, died in December, which created hope among some aid groups that relations would improve. This seemed to be confirmed when North Korea agreed last month to stop its nuclear activities and allow U.N. inspections to resume in exchange for food aid. However, recent plans by the country to launch a satellite have renewed tensions.
You can read the full article in the AP.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Group Behind Controversial Calendar Shuts Down
A Denver, Co.-based organization has agreed to cease its operations after reaching a settlement with the state over whether the group was really a nonprofit.
Fired Up For Kids would transfer all of its assets to a new group, according to a report on TheDenverChannel.com. The group got in hot water with Colorado's Office of the Attorney General over its sale of firefighter calendars. It's website stated that all proceeds from the calendars would go to The Children's Hospital Burn Center, and it's pamphlets presented Fired Up For Kids as a nonprofit.
The Attorney General's office saw things much differently.
In December 2011, the state filed a lawsuit against Fired Up For Kids alleging the group operated as a for-profit business despite the fact that it had registered as a nonprofit. Prosecutors also accused the organization's owner, Kirsten Hamling, of using company accounts and assets for personal uses, including airline tickets and gym memberships. Hamling defended herself after the lawsuit was fired, saying that the donations to the hospital were voluntary and that she was "in no way contractually obligated" to give money to the hospital.
In the end, it appears Hamling decided it was a better course to settle rather than fight the lawsuit.
Assets for the now dissolved Fired Up For Kids will go to a new organization, Colorado Firefighter Calendar, Inc. Proceeds from the calendar will still go to the Children's Hospital Burn Center, in addition to promoting fire safety and awareness.
You can read the full story on TheDenverChannel.com.
Fired Up For Kids would transfer all of its assets to a new group, according to a report on TheDenverChannel.com. The group got in hot water with Colorado's Office of the Attorney General over its sale of firefighter calendars. It's website stated that all proceeds from the calendars would go to The Children's Hospital Burn Center, and it's pamphlets presented Fired Up For Kids as a nonprofit.
The Attorney General's office saw things much differently.
In December 2011, the state filed a lawsuit against Fired Up For Kids alleging the group operated as a for-profit business despite the fact that it had registered as a nonprofit. Prosecutors also accused the organization's owner, Kirsten Hamling, of using company accounts and assets for personal uses, including airline tickets and gym memberships. Hamling defended herself after the lawsuit was fired, saying that the donations to the hospital were voluntary and that she was "in no way contractually obligated" to give money to the hospital.
In the end, it appears Hamling decided it was a better course to settle rather than fight the lawsuit.
Assets for the now dissolved Fired Up For Kids will go to a new organization, Colorado Firefighter Calendar, Inc. Proceeds from the calendar will still go to the Children's Hospital Burn Center, in addition to promoting fire safety and awareness.
You can read the full story on TheDenverChannel.com.
Activities Excluded From UBIT
As a nonprofit manager, you've probably heard of the term unrelated business income tax (UBIT) and, chances are, you aren't too fond of it. We have some good news for you: There are plenty of activities that are excluded from UBIT!
Here's a quick recap of the rule: According to Marci Thomas, CPA, MHA, and Kim Strom-Gottfried, Ph.D. in their book "The Best of Boards," UBIT applies to any income from a trade or business that is carried on regularly by a nonprofit when the purpose of the activity is not related to the mission. Even if the net proceeds from the activity will be used to further the nonprofit’s mission, it is still subject to UBIT.
Now on to the good news. There are at least five activities that are excluded from UBI taxes. Thomas and Strom-Gottfried list them as:
Here's a quick recap of the rule: According to Marci Thomas, CPA, MHA, and Kim Strom-Gottfried, Ph.D. in their book "The Best of Boards," UBIT applies to any income from a trade or business that is carried on regularly by a nonprofit when the purpose of the activity is not related to the mission. Even if the net proceeds from the activity will be used to further the nonprofit’s mission, it is still subject to UBIT.
Now on to the good news. There are at least five activities that are excluded from UBI taxes. Thomas and Strom-Gottfried list them as:
- Volunteer work force. If the activity is conducted with volunteers, then the income is not UBI even if the business is regularly carried on and not related to the organization’s tax-exempt purpose.
- Convenience of members. If the activity is operated for the convenience of members, students, patients, officers, or employees it is not UBI.
- Sponsorship payments. When a nonprofit receives a payment from a sponsor and the only benefit the sponsor gets is the inclusion of his or her company’s name or logo or use of products.
- Selling donated merchandise. When substantially all of the merchandise being sold in a business activity is donated.
- Telephone Pole rental. Pole rentals are not considered unrelated trade or business when rented by a mutual or cooperative telephone or electric company described in section 501(c) (12).
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Lollapalooza Deal Puts Nonprofit At Risk
The Washington Post reported today that a deal struck with Lollapalooza promoters has put the future of the Chicago Park District's nonprofit arm, the Parkways Foundation, at risk. The foundation received 45 percent of its revenue from Lollapalooza. This stands to change after C3 Presents, the Austin, Tex.-based promoter of the festival, agreed for the first time to pay annual city and county amusement taxes and liquor taxes. The new deal also extends the festival's stay in Chicago's Grant Park through 2021. The Foundation's second largest contributions come in the form of grants and donations from private corporations such as the Kraft Foods Foundation.
At past festivals, C3 would make contributions to the Parkways Foundation in lieu of taxes. Now that they have agreed to pay these taxes, those contributions will no longer exist. The loss of this significant revenue caused the nonprofit to discuss its options. One of those options, according to The Washington Post, is whether the organization should continue to exist.
The Parkways Foundation took in $2.6 million from Lollapalooza last year, but it also experience significant loss of personnel. Ten people have left the board since 2010, and longtime executive director Brenda Palm left in December. Jay Terry has filled that position since her departure.
Lollapalooza, which has included groups from Nine Inch Nails to Kanye West, has made its home in Chicago since 2005. It was originally formed in 1991 by Jane's Addiction singer Perry Farrell as a farewell tour for his band.
You can read the full article in The Washington Post.
Former Nonprofit Exec Dies After Indictment
A former chief financial officer (CFO) of an Austin, Tex.-based nonprofit died only days after she was indicted for theft.
According to The American-Statesman, Mary Ann Hernandez, 58, was charged with funneling more than $100,000 from Austin Resource Center for Independent Living Inc (ARCIL) to her personal credit card accounts from 2005 to 2009. She was arrested hours after her indictment on March 1 and was released after posting $250,000 bail. Authorities said she died on March 6. The cause of her death is unknown pending the results of an autopsy.
The indictment charged Hernandez of two felonies: One count of misapplication of fiduciary property with a value of $100,000 or more but less than $200,000 and another count of theft of $200,000 or more but less than $100,000. These all stemmed from accusations that, between March 2, 2005, and Jan. 30, 2009, she allegedly transferred checks from ARCIL's Bank of America account to make payments on her Visa credit card accounts.
The investigation of Hernandez started after the state auditor's office was contacted by the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, which had contracted with ACRIL from 2005 to 2009 to provide rental assistance to disabled people. The accusations against Hernandez were also reported in an earlier edition of NPTtv.
With their only suspect now gone, prosecutors are discussing whether to dismiss the case. Jason Knutson, an assistant district attorney with the state's Public Integrity Unit, told The American-Statesman that she was in charge of all the money as CFO, so they have no reason to believe anybody else was involved.
You can read the full story in The American-Statesman.
According to The American-Statesman, Mary Ann Hernandez, 58, was charged with funneling more than $100,000 from Austin Resource Center for Independent Living Inc (ARCIL) to her personal credit card accounts from 2005 to 2009. She was arrested hours after her indictment on March 1 and was released after posting $250,000 bail. Authorities said she died on March 6. The cause of her death is unknown pending the results of an autopsy.
The indictment charged Hernandez of two felonies: One count of misapplication of fiduciary property with a value of $100,000 or more but less than $200,000 and another count of theft of $200,000 or more but less than $100,000. These all stemmed from accusations that, between March 2, 2005, and Jan. 30, 2009, she allegedly transferred checks from ARCIL's Bank of America account to make payments on her Visa credit card accounts.
The investigation of Hernandez started after the state auditor's office was contacted by the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, which had contracted with ACRIL from 2005 to 2009 to provide rental assistance to disabled people. The accusations against Hernandez were also reported in an earlier edition of NPTtv.
With their only suspect now gone, prosecutors are discussing whether to dismiss the case. Jason Knutson, an assistant district attorney with the state's Public Integrity Unit, told The American-Statesman that she was in charge of all the money as CFO, so they have no reason to believe anybody else was involved.
You can read the full story in The American-Statesman.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Nonprofit Recruiting Tips
Nonprofits have plenty of options when choosing where to recruit new employees. The most popular choice these days is online job boards.
Most employers choose to use the Internet for their recruiting because it's easier and it allows them to reach a wider audience. With the rising popularity of social networks, recruiters have even more tools at their disposal. While the Internet is definitely a great tool to use, it's important to remember there are other options at your disposal.
In their book "The Big Book of HR," Barbara Mitchell and Cornelia Gamlem remind nonprofits of the following recruiting methods to use in addition to the Internet:
Most employers choose to use the Internet for their recruiting because it's easier and it allows them to reach a wider audience. With the rising popularity of social networks, recruiters have even more tools at their disposal. While the Internet is definitely a great tool to use, it's important to remember there are other options at your disposal.
In their book "The Big Book of HR," Barbara Mitchell and Cornelia Gamlem remind nonprofits of the following recruiting methods to use in addition to the Internet:
- Former Employees: Employees don't always leave their former workplaces on bad terms. If your organization has a good exit interview process, you should be able to determine which individuals left amicably, and whether you would want to bring them back.
- Retirees: It is becoming increasingly difficult for retirees to live without some income. Consider bringing some of these individuals back to do special projects.
- Radio/TV Ads: If you have enough room in your budget, take out an ad on the radio or TV to invite job seekers to your career website.
- State Employment Offices: All states have offices where you can list open positions. These agencies do a great job of linking job seekers to open positions, so don’t discount the amount of help you can get from them.
Community Garden Looks For Life After Nonprofit Funding
C-Ville reported today that the Urban Agricultural Collective of Charlottesville (UACC) had to learn quickly about the finer arts of fundraising and budget management after it lost the funding of Quality Community Council (QCC) during the fall of 2011. The nonprofit ultimately decided the farm was successful enough to stand on its own after five years of funding.
The farm's project director, Todd Neimeier, quickly formed an advisory board of community members to help determine the farm's next step. That turned out to be a partnership with Virginia Organizing, a nonprofit that serves as a fiscal agent for around 40 groups in the state. The partnership will result in the organization accepting grants and donations on behalf of the UCC. This will allow the farm to focus on its mission without having to worry about the financial aspects.
Neimeier is not just relying on the help of Virginia Organizing. UACC started a grassroots fundraising campaign to get donations from individuals in the community. The farm will also receive one final act of good will from QCC. In exchange for UACC helping out with some deliverables, the nonprofit will assist with funding for this year's budget. Neimeier told C-Ville this was a "lifesaver" for the farm which he hopes will carry it through a good portion of the year.
You can read the full story in C-Ville.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Some Nonprofits Drowning In Water Fees
Nonprofits don't pay property taxes but, as The NonProfit Times explained, they often end up paying money to the government anyway. This come in the form of payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs).
Newsmax reported today on one such PILOT that is being debated in an Oregon court. Some cities are starting to charge nonprofits and churches double for their water bills. This is the case in Canyonville, Ore., where a city ordinance states that nonprofits, churches, and schools will be charged this amount in lieu of taxes. The city of Canyonville boasts that its residents pay less for water than neighboring towns.
Canyonville Christian Academy (CCA), established in 1924, told Newsmax that the extra charges for water date back nearly 30 years, totaling about $200,000. The law is written to cover all nonprofits that use water, but CCA believes that the regulations targeted 10 churches and four Christian schools. CCA informed the school of what they considered to be improper billing in June, but they said nothing was done to solve the problem. The school offered to resolved the issue on Oct. 19, 2011 by taking a small amount of the surcharges of the last six years in the form of credits on future bills. That offer was rejected.
Believing the law to be unconstitutional, CCA appealed to the Douglas County Circuit Court in Roseburg, Ore. to give a ruling on the matter. If the court rules in the school's favor, it could potentially trigger similar lawsuits in the future.
You can read the full story in Newsmax.
Newsmax reported today on one such PILOT that is being debated in an Oregon court. Some cities are starting to charge nonprofits and churches double for their water bills. This is the case in Canyonville, Ore., where a city ordinance states that nonprofits, churches, and schools will be charged this amount in lieu of taxes. The city of Canyonville boasts that its residents pay less for water than neighboring towns.
Canyonville Christian Academy (CCA), established in 1924, told Newsmax that the extra charges for water date back nearly 30 years, totaling about $200,000. The law is written to cover all nonprofits that use water, but CCA believes that the regulations targeted 10 churches and four Christian schools. CCA informed the school of what they considered to be improper billing in June, but they said nothing was done to solve the problem. The school offered to resolved the issue on Oct. 19, 2011 by taking a small amount of the surcharges of the last six years in the form of credits on future bills. That offer was rejected.
Believing the law to be unconstitutional, CCA appealed to the Douglas County Circuit Court in Roseburg, Ore. to give a ruling on the matter. If the court rules in the school's favor, it could potentially trigger similar lawsuits in the future.
You can read the full story in Newsmax.
Oregon Nonprofit Could Help School's Turf
Two Millard, Neb. high schools are reaching out to boosters and donors to get the aid of a Salem, Ore.-based nonprofit that would help fund the cost of artificial turf for their fields.
The Omaha World-Herald reported today that the nonprofit, the Community Sports Development Council (CSDC), has been involved with a number of development projects for sports facilities and parks. It also uses the same material used in artificial turf in the locality of Millard North and Millard West High Schools, which are both trying to get turf fields.
The agreement with CSDC calls for $350,000, and the schools got a big initial boost when they received $50,000 from the Millard Public Schools Foundation, which is contingent on the two schools raising the rest of the money. All donations would go through an account set up with the nonprofit Mustang Booster Club, which will make them tax deductible. The cost of the project for each school would be more than $1 million, though CSDC has agreed to cover $700,000 of that. The deadline to raise the money is April 13.
Chad Zimmerman, assistant principal and athletic director at Millard North, told The Omaha World-Herald that he is optimistic they will meet their fundraising goal. His school has already received interest from potential donors: A baseball group has pledged a "substantial" amount of money, while a donor with ties to a football program is willing to match all donations.
The help from CSDC was needed because a $140.8 million bond issue was rejected by the city last November. One in four residents who voted against it did so because they were opposed to turf fields, according to The Omaha World-Herald. The bond issue, which was voted down 57 to 43 percent, would have funded school repairs, classroom additions, and technology and security upgrades in addition to the turf field, which accounted for 2 percent of the bond.
You can read the full story in The Omaha World-Herald.
The Omaha World-Herald reported today that the nonprofit, the Community Sports Development Council (CSDC), has been involved with a number of development projects for sports facilities and parks. It also uses the same material used in artificial turf in the locality of Millard North and Millard West High Schools, which are both trying to get turf fields.
The agreement with CSDC calls for $350,000, and the schools got a big initial boost when they received $50,000 from the Millard Public Schools Foundation, which is contingent on the two schools raising the rest of the money. All donations would go through an account set up with the nonprofit Mustang Booster Club, which will make them tax deductible. The cost of the project for each school would be more than $1 million, though CSDC has agreed to cover $700,000 of that. The deadline to raise the money is April 13.
Chad Zimmerman, assistant principal and athletic director at Millard North, told The Omaha World-Herald that he is optimistic they will meet their fundraising goal. His school has already received interest from potential donors: A baseball group has pledged a "substantial" amount of money, while a donor with ties to a football program is willing to match all donations.
The help from CSDC was needed because a $140.8 million bond issue was rejected by the city last November. One in four residents who voted against it did so because they were opposed to turf fields, according to The Omaha World-Herald. The bond issue, which was voted down 57 to 43 percent, would have funded school repairs, classroom additions, and technology and security upgrades in addition to the turf field, which accounted for 2 percent of the bond.
You can read the full story in The Omaha World-Herald.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Nonprofit Job Posting Special
Is your nonprofit looking to reach a new audience of active job seekers? The Nonprofit Job Seeker, the official career center of The NonProfit Times, is offering a job posting special that will expand the reach that your listing will get. Here are the details:
Featured Employer Special $895
What's included:
Featured Employer Special $895
- Online 30 day posting on our career center.
- Also posted at indeed.com.
- Listed in feature job section of main page of The Nonprofit Job Seeker.
- 30-day banner ad on The Nonprofit Job Seeker, site-wide.
- Job tweeted to @nptjobs & @Nonprofittimes Twitter list 3x each.
- All ads are automatically posted to our Facebook career center page.
- Job listed in the digital and print editions of The NonProfit Times.
- Posting on this blog.
- Banner ad on NPT Jobs eNewsletter.
- BONUS: Ad will be posted in the Job of The Week section in our weekly eNewsletter.
Interested in taking advantage of this opportunity? Register to post on our site, and then contact Janice Freedman at 973-401-0202 x.219 or by e-mail at janice@nptimes.com.
Standards For Tax Revenue Tougher For WI Nonprofits
Delavan, Wisc.-based nonprofits didn't have to jump through many hoops to get a share of the city's room tax revenue in past years. Organizations would simply request it during a council budgeting meeting and hope for the best.
Things will be significantly different this year. Walworth County Today has reported that nonprofits in Delavan must now prove their events have the potential to fill hotel rooms. The city collected $252,000 in room taxes last year, and statutes state that 17.5 percent of that money must be used for the promotion of tourism activities that will bring money to restaurants and hotels. Therefore, $44,110 will be available for nonprofits this year.
The change in rules for grant eligibility will make the competition for dollars stiffer than ever. It also has the potential to disqualify nonprofits that were eligible for the money in the past. Here's how the new process will work: Organizations must fill out an application and go before a committee that consists of one council member, two hotel industry representatives, local restaurant owners, and others who will have a stake in getting people to the city. The nonprofit will be grilled on many details, including how it will track the success of the event.
This will definitely be a more time-consuming process for nonprofits than in the past, but it will also force them to think more carefully about the events they plan. You can read the full article in Walworth County Today.
Things will be significantly different this year. Walworth County Today has reported that nonprofits in Delavan must now prove their events have the potential to fill hotel rooms. The city collected $252,000 in room taxes last year, and statutes state that 17.5 percent of that money must be used for the promotion of tourism activities that will bring money to restaurants and hotels. Therefore, $44,110 will be available for nonprofits this year.
The change in rules for grant eligibility will make the competition for dollars stiffer than ever. It also has the potential to disqualify nonprofits that were eligible for the money in the past. Here's how the new process will work: Organizations must fill out an application and go before a committee that consists of one council member, two hotel industry representatives, local restaurant owners, and others who will have a stake in getting people to the city. The nonprofit will be grilled on many details, including how it will track the success of the event.
This will definitely be a more time-consuming process for nonprofits than in the past, but it will also force them to think more carefully about the events they plan. You can read the full article in Walworth County Today.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Texas Planned Parenthood CEO Arrested For Indecent Exposure
The CEO of a Texas Planned Parenthood branch was arrested Monday afternoon after he exposed his genitals at a Lubbock, Texas baseball field.
KCBD-Texas, an affiliate of CBS News, reported that Ray Thornton agreed to take a leave of absence from his position at the Planned Parenthood Association of Lubbock one day after he posted a $750 bail on the charge of indecent exposure. As of this writing it is not clear how long Thornton will be absent from his position, but the organization quickly announced a replacement: Tara Haskell, who previously served as the organization's Director of Finance.
Thornton expressed deep regret for causing distraction from the organization's goals in a statement released to KCBD-Texas. "I will work with my attorney through the appropriate court process to correct any misinformation and take responsibility for errors," he continued.
You can read more about this story on KCBD's website.
KCBD-Texas, an affiliate of CBS News, reported that Ray Thornton agreed to take a leave of absence from his position at the Planned Parenthood Association of Lubbock one day after he posted a $750 bail on the charge of indecent exposure. As of this writing it is not clear how long Thornton will be absent from his position, but the organization quickly announced a replacement: Tara Haskell, who previously served as the organization's Director of Finance.
Thornton expressed deep regret for causing distraction from the organization's goals in a statement released to KCBD-Texas. "I will work with my attorney through the appropriate court process to correct any misinformation and take responsibility for errors," he continued.
You can read more about this story on KCBD's website.
March 15 Issue Released
Articles
- A Tree Grows In Direct Response: Direct response Guru Larry May sits down with Glen Beasley, director of direct marketing of the National Arbor Day Foundation. The two talk about various subjects, including the organization's history and how they handle "tree fulfillment."
- LGBT Groups Gain Mainstream Recognition For Community-Wide Grants: Civic leaders were trying to raise money in 2000 for a Latino Cultural Center, so one same-sex couple thought they’d tap into some of their friends and raise perhaps as much as $5,000.
- Cancer Walk Competitors Busy In Wake Of Komen Debacle: In what could be considered an incredible coincidence, during the first three weeks of February the Avon Foundation for Women aired 6,000 commercials promoting its breast cancer awareness and research walks that start in April, including the one in New York City, which isn’t until October.
Column:
- Why Me?: Is the assumption that all those prospective donors out there share your appreciation for your cause a tactical mistake? You bet it is.
Check out more about the issue, including the featured nonprofit job and marketplace listing, on our website!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Nonprofit CFO Accused Of Embezzlement
A top executive of a Bronx, N.Y.-based nonprofit was indicted by the state Attorney General's Office for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from the organization.
The New York Post reported today that Clement Gardner, who was the chief financial officer (CFO) of the Christian Community Benevolent Association (CCBA), allegedly embezzled at least $75,000 dollars in funds. The indictment alleges that Gardner wrote the checks to himself from 2004 to 2007, writing false memo lines to cover himself. State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced yesterday that his office launched the corruption probe after getting a referral from the FBI.
The indictment of Gardner is the first result from an ongoing probe of nonprofits with ties to state lawmakers. CCBA was previously run by Bronx state Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., who steered $500,000 in state grants to the nonprofit.
Gardner is currently being held without bail as he awaits a hearing. He has claimed he wrote the checks because he was not being paid for the work he was doing for CCBA. You can read the full story in The New York Post.
Featured Job: President/CEO
Looking for a good executive job? The Village Network, based in Smithville, OH, is looking to hire a new President/CEO.
Established in 1946, The Village Network specializes in the treatment and care of troubled youth. The President/CEO reports directly to the Board of Trustees and is involved in the following critical areas of the organization:
Established in 1946, The Village Network specializes in the treatment and care of troubled youth. The President/CEO reports directly to the Board of Trustees and is involved in the following critical areas of the organization:
- Children's treatment;
- Human resources;
- Fundraising;
- Maintenance of buildings;
- Grounds and equipment;
- Fiscal management;
- Volunteerism;
- Licensing and accreditation; and,
- Public relations.
All these responsibilities are in addition to the day-to-day CEO duties, such as ensuring the continued growth of the organization and overseeing the budget (which is over $25 million).
It goes without saying that this is an extremely high-level job. As a result, you will need to have a wealth of experience at your disposal. The ideal candidate will meet the following requirements:
- Extensive experience with fundraising, building partnerships with stakeholders, and development and implementation of organizational strategy.
- Master's Degree with both clinical and nonprofit business experience or equivalent.
- At least 10 years of related experience.
- Math, reasoning, and computer skills, including spreadsheet management, are of great importance.
- Must have a valid driver's licence and be able to drive to various locations throughout Ohio and, occasionally, out of state.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Featured Job: Meeting Coordinator
The New Jersey Association for Justice, based in Trenton, NJ, is looking for a highly experienced meeting coordinator to help plan its various meetings and events.
The ideal applicant will have excellent negotiation skills, an ability to deal with all types of people, computer proficiency (specifically Microsoft Office programs), and superb on-site operations experience. If chosen, the candidate will report to the Executive Director and manage legal education meetings for the Association. These meetings range from the small (15) to the large (2,300). The coordinator will also manage high-level gatherings, such as executive and Board of Directors meetings.
Here are some additional qualifications needed:
The ideal applicant will have excellent negotiation skills, an ability to deal with all types of people, computer proficiency (specifically Microsoft Office programs), and superb on-site operations experience. If chosen, the candidate will report to the Executive Director and manage legal education meetings for the Association. These meetings range from the small (15) to the large (2,300). The coordinator will also manage high-level gatherings, such as executive and Board of Directors meetings.
Here are some additional qualifications needed:
- 4-year college degree in related field.
- Experience dealing with a volunteer-based committee environment.
- At least 2 years experience in all facets of meetings management.
- Strong background in budget management and conference reconciliation.
Interested? Apply for this job via our career center.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Live From SXSW
One of the largest entertainment festivals in the country, South By Southwest (SXSW) kicked off last Friday in Austin, Tex. The event is a mecca for music film, and entertainment fans, as well as people interested in hearing about the latest advancements in social media and other technologies. Prominent panel speakers have already taken the stage, including former Vice President Al Gore, Napster founder Sean Parker, and author and scientist Ray Kurzweil.
Amy Sample Ward of NTEN is covering SxSW for The NonProfit Times and will be filing blog posts throughout the event. You can follow her posts for us on our website or click the links below:
Amy Sample Ward of NTEN is covering SxSW for The NonProfit Times and will be filing blog posts throughout the event. You can follow her posts for us on our website or click the links below:
- Ambient Location and the Future of the Interface: SXSW Keynote with real implications for Nonprofits
- Social Philanthropy: Raising Money on YouTube and Twitter
- Stand with Planned Parenthood: Lessons from Crisis Response Campaigns
We will be posting new articles to the site as they come. Keep an eye on our Live From SXSW Feed for the latest updates.
Featured Job: Executive Director
As you might expect, the Executive Director (ED) plays a big role at New England Village. The chosen applicant will work with the Board of Directors to provide a vision for the future of the organization. This will include playing a primary role in purchasing service contracts from the state, managing construction and renovation projects, fundraising, and much more. The ED will also work with New England Village's senior management team to establish annual and long-term organizational goals, and will be actively involved with new staff and program development. You're going to have a lot of responsibilities, so make sure you are excellent at multitasking.
Speaking of requirements, here's a list of things you must have to be considered:
- Experience leading and managing organizations or units of compatible purpose and similar complexity.
- Experience with state and federal contract negotiations and Medicaid/Medicare reimbursement is preferable.
- Demonstrated skills internally of communication and inspiration, including team-building and participatory decision-making, and externally of organizational representation, including the formation of strategic partnerships.
- A comprehensive professional understanding of and background in working with individuals with developmental disabilities.
- Four-year college degree in related field.
To make things even better, the job is in an ideal location: Only 35 miles south from Boston! Interested? Apply for the job on our website.
Investigators: Nonprofit Faked Job Placements
A nonprofit hired by New York City to help residents find jobs falsified 1,400 job placements, according to NYC investigators.
ABC News reported Saturday that Seedco, which operates in 14 states and Washington, D.C., used data from past and current clients to falsely claim they had placed the individuals in jobs. The NYC Department of Investigation claims the organization also claimed credit for placing people in jobs they'd lost before they sought help. The city's investigation found 1,400 false claims from 2010 to 2011, but there could be many more because of the city law permitting the shredding of documents.
City officials first learned of the allegations against Seedco in an August column in The New York Times. The matter was quickly referred to investigators after the article was published. The nonprofit's $22.2 million contracts with NYC are to be reassigned over the next two months.
Barbara Dwyer Gunn, president and CEO of Seedco, said in a statement that they "deeply regret" what happened at the local Workforce1 centers which they ran. She said the organization fired the employees responsible and implemented policy changes to ensure their data is accurate.
You can read the full story in ABC News.
ABC News reported Saturday that Seedco, which operates in 14 states and Washington, D.C., used data from past and current clients to falsely claim they had placed the individuals in jobs. The NYC Department of Investigation claims the organization also claimed credit for placing people in jobs they'd lost before they sought help. The city's investigation found 1,400 false claims from 2010 to 2011, but there could be many more because of the city law permitting the shredding of documents.
City officials first learned of the allegations against Seedco in an August column in The New York Times. The matter was quickly referred to investigators after the article was published. The nonprofit's $22.2 million contracts with NYC are to be reassigned over the next two months.
Barbara Dwyer Gunn, president and CEO of Seedco, said in a statement that they "deeply regret" what happened at the local Workforce1 centers which they ran. She said the organization fired the employees responsible and implemented policy changes to ensure their data is accurate.
You can read the full story in ABC News.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Hire For The Future
Here's a simple question: Why is your nonprofit looking to hire a new employee? The obvious answer would seem to be "Because we have a current need in the position." While hiring for the present is all well and good, nonprofits also need to make sure they are keeping the future in mind.
This can be a difficult idea to sell. After all, the present needs of the organization are much clearer than those years from now, and there is seemingly more to gain by focusing on the here and now. In reality, there is much more to be gained by looking towards the future. One of the best ways to do this is hire employees who have multiple areas of expertise.
Even if you are hiring for a fundraising position, you should make sure this person has more to offer than the proven ability to raise money. For example, a fundraiser with social media savvy will help your nonprofit as new trends emerge. It wasn't too long ago that Twitter and Facebook were the talk of the town. Then, out of seemingly nowhere, Pinterest arrived, bringing a new social media platform for nonprofits to explore. Having the ability to raise money in multiple arenas will be of great help down the road.
Make sure to keep this in mind the next time you review an applicant's resume. Your employees must be able to adapt, especially in an environment that changes as often as the nonprofit sector does.
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