North Carolina Nonprofits Could Soon Pay Sales Tax

The North Carolina state Senate passed a measure Thursday that would cap sales tax refunds, a measure that critics say could cost hospitals, universities, and other charities millions of dollars.

According to a report in The Charlotte Observer, the Senate bill would cap sales tax refunds at $7.5 million initially, with that number going down to $100,000 beginning in July 2017. The state House did not include such a cap in their version of the bill, so its fate will be decided when the two chambers enter negotiations. The measure has strong support from Sen. Phil Berger (R-Rockingham), the president pro tem of the Senate who argued that nonprofit hospitals and other large organizations are nothing more than businesses organized as nonprofits. Berger framed the bill as a way to invigorate the state's economy.

“Our compromise plan incorporates feedback from folks across the state, provides much-needed tax relief to North Carolina families of all incomes and propels our state from the bottom of national rankings to the 6th best business tax climate in America,” Berger said in a statement.

On the other hand, the N.C. Hospital Associate has come out strongly against the cap estimating that it would eventually force the state's numerous nonprofit hospitals to pay $220 million a year in sales taxes. The N.C. Center for Nonprofits also estimates that the bill would affect about 250 of its 1,600 members. Don Dalton, a spokesman for the Center, said in a statement that hospitals would also be forced to cut back on services.

“Our hospitals are already facing $780 million per year in decreased payments every year for the next 10 years for serving Medicare patients,” Dalton said. “The State has not yet chosen to expand Medicaid or provide alternative coverage options for the state’s poor. Hospitals will continue to serve these uninsured patients without adequate compensation.”

Reach Thousands Of Potential Customers With NPT's Resource Marketplace

Your company can be listed, for FREE, in The NonProfit Times' online Resource Marketplace. The Directory is a special feature on our newly updated website which draws 100,000 unique visitors every month and generates 420,000 page views.

To be listed, simply click this link, fill out the form the page links to, and email it to me at mary@nptimes.com or fax it to (973) 401-0404. It’s that easy.

If you’re looking to stand out from the crowd, you can choose from two enhanced listing packages -- the Silver and Gold packages, priced at $599/year and $1,195/year, respectively -- which include such additional features as linked email and website, complete company description, logo, and pop-to-the-top listing in the category you choose.

Don’t hesitate to call Mary Ford with any questions about this great opportunity to add your free listing to our online directory or about advertising in our print Resource Marketplace which runs in all 16 editions per year of The NonProfit Times. All print advertisers automatically get an enhanced listing online.

Once again, here is Mary Ford's contact information:

E-mail: mary@nptimes.com

Phone: 973-401-0202 x206

Webinar: Catching the Attention of the Smartphone Generation

UPDATE: Missed this webinar? You can view the event in its entirety by clicking here.

Should your organization really care about (and value) a Like, a Tweet, or a share? It may not seem like much right now, but these activities could be worth a fortune in the future.

In partnership with Avectra, The NonProfit Times is pleased to present a free webinar -- "Catching the Attention of the Smartphone Generation" -- on the value of social giving on June 6 at 2:00 p.m. EST. John F. Clese of Avectra, along with Dennis Chyba, president and founder of Adcieo, and Brittany Flower, communications and marketing manager at Susan G. Komen's Maryland affiliate, will discuss how your organization can reach the Millenial generation. Although they aren't in their prime donation years, it doesn't mean they aren't supporting your organization.

Here is some of the things you will learn from this webinar:

• Why your organization's future depends on engaging the next generation of donors known as the Millenials -- a group larger than the influential baby boomers. 
• Strategies to engage Millenials and attract them to your cause. 
• How micro-project fundraising and crowd-contributing are ready-made for the way this generation likes to engage and participate. 
• A case study on how to run a successful peer-to-peer fundraising campaign and leverage peer networks in the new digital giving landscape.

Register today so you can get your organization on the right track for the future.

3 Ways To Analyze Data

Prospecting for donors has some similarities to what the Gold Rush prospectors did in the the 19th century. Back then, it was enough to shake a pan of gravel in the water and look for what nuggets stayed behind.

Fundraisers are doing the same thing now when combing through data, but it's no longer good enough to use that old-fashioned approach.

Prospecting is a much more sophisticated process these days and, according to Helen E. Brown, Jennifer Filla and Debbie Sokolov, it can pay much bigger dividends than before. Speaking during the AFP 50^th International Conference on Fundraising, they said that fundraising can be improved through prospect research, and that consists of three main components: data analytics, relationship management and donor research.

Looking more closely, they are:

• Data analytics. This includes electronic screenings, data mining, donor modeling and graphing. It helps identify new prospects, segments donors and prospects quickly and efficiently, and, illustrates division/department/individual progress toward goals.
• Relationship management. This means prospect tracking. It makes sure no potential major donor gets lost between the cracks, measures activities to show the board and donors how close the organization is to its goals, and, provides continuity with donors even though staff changes.
• Donor research. This gives the organization the confidence to ask for a stretch gift, finds the links between donors, prospects and the organization, allows the organization to set up a personalized strategy around each major gift prospect, and, keeps the organization current on public events in a prospect’s world.

Do All Nonprofit CEOs Make $100K?

Executive compensation is a tricky subject for nonprofits. Since this information is available in an organization's Form 990, it's important that a CEO does not make more (or less, for that matter) than those at similar agencies lest it face public backlash.

Luckily, there's an easy way to fix this potential problem.

Get behind the numbers by participating in The NonProfit Times' 2013 Salary & Benefits Survey. In addition to the tantalizing data about average salaries ($107,561 for  CEO/President/Executive Directors) and salary increases, the survey goes several steps beyond, drilling down to details about benefits, bonuses and turnover rates to present a rich tapestry of key data and information.

The completion deadline for the survey is July 31, and those who finish on-time will be entered to win an iPad Mini. You can start the process, which takes no more than an hour, by visiting the survey application page.

7 Elements Of A Successful Fundraising Event

Every nonprofit wants a successful fundraising event but are they doing the right things to have one? According to one expert, this is not always the case.

During a recent international conference on fundraising, Vivian A. Smith of Liberty Quest Enterprises said that a diverse fund development program should include events, but urged organizations to incorporate them thoughtfully into their overall strategy. They should not, she said, be viewed as standalone initiatives used just to raise money.

To be successful, planners of an event must consider:

• Event Purpose. Is it just money, new prospects, increasing public awareness, gaining attention or some other objective?
• Prospective audience. Think of characteristics and demographics, as well as the size of the group and the kind of appeal that is appropriate.
• Type of event. It should meet the goals and reach the target market. It should be mission focused. Is there competition?
• Resources needed for the event. This includes staffing, leadership, volunteers, time, skills, budget and a contingency plan.
• Cost per dollar raised. This includes both direct an indirect costs.
• Evaluation. Think of event goals, net revenue, staff commitment and volunteer impact.
• Outcome. This is not just dollars raised at the time of the event. It can also serve as an opportunity to build team spirit among volunteers and staff.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Executive Director, National Chimney Sweep Guild

Looking for a new high-level nonprofit job? The National Chimney Sweep Guild in Plainfield, Ind., is looking to hire an Executive Director. Read on for more details.

The chosen candidate for this position will be responsible for the management of the day-to-day operations of the organization, staff development, budget preparation, financial oversight, public relations oversight, member recruitment, program development oversight, and development and maintenance of standard operating procedures.

Other responsibilities include:

• Staff leadership;
• Board facilitation and strategic planning;
• Financial management;
• Marketing oversight;
• Membership development; and,
• Convention planning and execution.

Want to apply? Head to the NPT Jobs Career Center for application instructions.

Nonprofit Employee Retention And The NPT Salary Survey

If there's one thing a nonprofit can't afford in these tough times it's losing workers. Employee retention is an essential ingredient of any successful organization and, as a nonprofit manager, it's your responsibility to figure out what is going wrong if you are losing staff left and right.

High turnover can be caused by many things but the common denominator is usually salary. This is one of the many reasons The NonProfit Times' Salary Survey is so important. Simply put, your organization will find itself with a dearth of talent if your salary and benefits packages are not on par with similar nonprofits.

As was mentioned in previous blog posts, the data from the 2013 Salary Survey will be used to NPT's comprehensive Salary and Benefits Reports. Just for completing the Survey, participants will receive a FREE executive summary of the results and your entire organization will get 50 percent off the full 2013 Salary and Benefits Report. Once you get this crucial information, you will be able to see if the compensation you are offering your employees needs to be adjusted to remain competitive with similar nonprofits. 

Participating in the Salary Survey is easier than ever with some of the new features in this year's edition. Anyone who participated in the survey in 2011 or 2012 can use their existing data to jump start the 2013 survey completion process. You only need to change the data that is different. In addition, the survey has been streamlined to make for a smoother and faster experience for first-time users.

Participate in the 2013 Salary Survey today and help all nonprofits get on the right financial track!

Professional Development Guide 2013: Don't Rest On Your Laurels

What makes a nonprofit successful? More often than not, it's a strong leadership team that is willing to make the tough decisions. This makes it easy for managers to rest on their laurels but, if they are not careful, that one-time strength can quickly disappear.

The NonProfit Times' Professional Development Guide, which appears in the newly released June 1 issue, is a white pages for services that will help potential nonprofit leaders hone their skills. From nonprofit management degrees at leading universities to leadership seminars, organizations should consider all of these services for their employees so there are worthy successors when it comes time to pick a new CEO or executive director.

There are other things nonprofits can do to develop new leaders. In the Bridgespan Group's Plan A: How

Successful Nonprofits Develop Their Future Leaders, Kirk Kramer and Preeta Nayak detailed five steps that can be taken that will get your organization on the path to a brighter future. Those steps are:

• Engage Your Senior Leaders: If you are a CEO just launching your leadership development efforts, begin by telling your senior team that it is important that they develop as individuals and that you’ll help each of them to do so.
• Understand Your Future Needs: Gather your senior team for a once-a-year offsite meeting to discuss where your organization is going and the potential of their direct reports to move into more senior roles.
• Develop Your Future Leaders: Meet twice a year with each of your direct reports to discuss their progress against their leadership development goals.
• Hire Externally to Fill Gaps:Identify the areas where you will likely need to hire externally to meet your future needs and those where you should aim to build capacity from within.
• Monitor and Improve Your Practices: Set targets for accomplishing the work of the previous items on this list. Next, report on your organization’s progress against those targets to your senior team and the board. Finally, determine leadership development priorities for the coming year.

Follow these steps and check out NPT's Professional Development Guide, and your nonprofit will be on the path to a more sustainable future.

The June 1 2013 Issue Of The NonProfit TImes

The June 1 issue of The NonProfit Times is now online and with it, all the reading material you will need to get through the summer heat. The new edition contains, among other stories, a look at how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is affecting part-time work and a list of the favorite websites of nonprofit tech experts.

Here's a closer look at the content you can expect to find in the magazine:

Special Report

• Nonprofit Techies Find Comfort In The Familiar: We talked to six tech experts in the nonprofit sector and asked them what their favorite web hangouts were. Answers ranged from PostSecret to Invisible People yet all these sites had one thing in common: They fit with their passions.

Articles

• ACS: Next 100 Years: Now that the American Cancer Society has hit its 100th anniversary, CEO John Seffrin looks back at what the organization has accomplished, and its goals for the future.
• Online Auctions Can Be The Cat's Meow: Go into any of the 2,700 Goodwill stores and you’ll find a lot of the same types of things: clothing, books, electronics, furniture. What you won’t find are pieces of artwork worth as much as a new car, all of which are being auctioned on the organization's website.
• Part-Time Staff Hours In Flux Due To Obamacare: Many organizations are having trouble with how to meet ACA's implications — including what will be required of the association under the shared mandate for employees’ health insurance.

Columns

• Transformational Gifts: Rick Christ, vice president of Amergent, argues in this column that all gifts need to be "transformational." What makes a gift have this trait? Turns out there are at least eight characteristics.
• To-Ga. To-Ga. To-Ga: Want to thank your volunteers for a job well done? Susan J. Ellis, president of Energize, Inc., has some ideas on how to throw a great party for them.

What Can The Nonprofit Salary And Benefits Report Do For You?

Now that the 2013 Nonprofit Salary and Benefits Survey has begun, you are probably asking yourself: "What's in it for me? What do I get for my time?" A large cash prize might not be heading your way for completing the Survey but you will get something even more valuable: Peace of mind for your nonprofit.

Our annual Salary and Benefits Reports are born out of these surveys and they provide important financial information for all nonprofits. Among the things these reports will help you do are:

• Avoid trouble with the IRS by being able to check YES on your Form 990 regarding salaries for your chief executive and key employees set using comparability data for similar positions.
• Learn about 94 employee benefits — going way beyond dental plans and summer hours.
• Get data by nonprofit field, budget size, number of employees, and region throughout the U.S.
• Attract and retain the best employees by knowing how to offer fair and competitive compensation.

In addition to these benefits, participants also receive a FREE executive summary of the Survey, with full salary data for all positions, and will be entered to win an iPod Nano if your survey is completed by July 31! All of that for just an hour of your time.* So what are you waiting for? Start your 2013 Salary and Benefits Survey today!

 *Good news – this year’s survey is streamlined and even easier to complete! And if you’ve participated in past years, you can use your existing data as a jumpstart and just change any data that is different.

NPT Takes Home Top Awards In Better Journalism Contest

The Society of Professional Journalists has released the results of its annual Better Journalism Contest, and The NonProfit Times is proud to have been honored with eight top awards.

Sweeping the entire category for Magazine – Opinion, NPT landed first, second, and third place prizes for in-the-moment editorials on crippling attitudes toward poverty, the federal government’s dangerous attempt to establish a fundraising arm, and the Planned Parenthood scandal that rocked the Susan G. Komen organization.

Another first place win came in the Online – State or Regional News category for NPT’s comprehensive “The Recovery Begins from Jersey Girl Sandy” posted on October 31, capturing the raw response to the ongoing crisis in the state.

Other wins include:

• Second place for Magazine – Business Reporting
• Second and third place prizes for Magazine – Investigative Reporting
• Second place for Magazine – Reporting

Featured Nonprofit Job: Fundraising and Sponsorship Major Donor Gifts Manager

Looking for a new nonprofit job? The NPT Jobs Career Center has a new featured job that is perfect for experienced fundraisers. Interested? Read on for more details.

Odell, Simms, & Lynch in Tysons Corner, Va., is looking to hire a Fundraising and Sponsorship Major Donor Gifts Manager to to work in their Fundraising & Sponsorship (F&S) team. The position entails working with a wide spectrum of national and local Non Profits to fundraise on their behalf for capital campaigns, programs, and general operating expenses.  The Account Manager will work closely with other members of the F&S team to service multiple clients.

Other major responsibilities include:

• Cultivate and solicit high net worth individuals, foundations, leadership at Fortune 500 companies, and c-suite executives.
• Develop and manage creative fundraising strategy collaboratively with nonprofit clients.
• Write and edit customized letters, proposals, fact sheets, presentations, and additional marketing materials.
• Collaborate with nonprofit clients, development and support staff, and board of directors.

All interested applicants should head to our career center to learn more about this job, including the necessary qualifications and application instructions.

5 "Murphy's Law" Scenarios For Your Special Event

Murphy's Law dictates that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Veteran special event planners swear by this rule, which is why they are always prepared for the worst possible scenario for their events. Paranoid? Maybe, but you can't argue they aren't being careful enough.

Special events inherently have an element of risk involved, explained Organic Events Founder Marika Holmgren in “Nonprofit Management 101.” While she wrote that there is no foolproof way to predict what issues will arise, that doesn't mean planners shouldn't prepare for every single scenario possible.

Holmgren identified five of the most impactful worst-case scenarios and suggested reviewing these and others to identify what needs to be done in each case and how to reduce the risk and liability of the organization:

• Event income or registration does not meet your goals, financial or otherwise;
• Natural disasters (hurricane, earthquake, etc.);
• Hotel strikes and boycotts;
• A key team member or event planner leaves the project; or,
• A keynote speakers falls through.

Ex-Nonprofit Director Sentenced

The ex-director of a nonprofit in Sanford, Maine was sentenced Tuesday to 2 1/2 years in prison for stealing more than $900,000 from the organization over six years. He was also ordered to pay $1.35 million in restitution and will report to prison on June 18.

According to a report in the Portland Press Herald, Thomas Nelson embezzled the money from York County Community Action (YCCA) from 2004 until his resignation in 2010. The organization provides services for low-income women and children.

Nelson's attorney, Jeffrey Silverstein, said that his client stole the money to fuel his gambling addiction, a habit he has since stopped. Nelson apologized for his actions in court, saying he let down YCCA.

"They trusted me, treated me well and I let them down."

Nelson transferred the money he stole from YCCA to a consulting firm outside Maine that returned part of the money in cash or payments toward his personal finances, according to court records. He continued to work for other nonprofits after he left YCCA in 2010, working as an executive director for Rockingham County Community Action in New Hampshire until, when faced with charges of embezzlement, he pleaded guilty in 2012.

The U.S. Attorney's Office recommended a reduced prison sentence for Nelson since he cooperated fully with investigators. Judge Nancy Torresen accepted this recommendation for this reason and because she wanted Nelson to return to the workforce quickly so he could repay his debt.

"From my point of view, you stole money from people who could least afford to lose it," Torresen told Nelson. "I consider this crime shameful."

In a written statement, Barbara Crider, YCCA's current executive director, thanked the U.S. Attorney's Office for their efforts and said that no program funds were taken as a result of Nelson's actions, and that services were not interrupted. The organization has also recovered a significant amount of the lost funds from its insurance bond.

You can read the full story in the Portland Press Herald.

Can You Fire A Volunteer?

Everyone knows a nonprofit can fire an employee for not doing a good job, but is it possible to fire a volunteer? According to Susan J. Ellis, a consultant specializing in volunteerism and a frequent contributor to The NonProfit Times, it is entirely appropriate given the right circumstances.

There is a belief among some nonprofit managers that they just can't fire a volunteer. According to Ellis, this stems from three mistaken attitudes:

• Thinking that the threat of punishment is the best way of getting good work;
• Thinking that available punishment guarantees prevention of unwanted behavior; and,
• Failure to understand why volunteers work without salary.

While it is appropriate to fire an under-performing volunteer, it should not be the first option. Ellis recommended trying these positive steps before resorting to discipline or dismissal:

• Careful screening of volunteers when they apply is essential, as it would be for employees. This includes clarification of expectations, on both sides, even if this means writing a letter spelling out the purpose of the volunteer work, anticipated outcomes or products, lengths of commitment and other key mutual decisions.
• Both employees and volunteers deserve full instructions — training, on how to do their work the best way.
• Motivate through approval. Managing through rewards and recognition of work well done is always more effective.
• Finally, understand that it is possible to terminate a volunteer. This is actually not as difficult as many nonprofit managers think. Remember, the manager has a legal right to designate who will be an agent of the organization, paid or not.

Lehman Bros. Seek Bigger Payments From Nonprofits

A year after exiting bankruptcy, Lehman Brothers Holding Inc. is back and is demanding larger exit payments from a host of nonprofits.

Lehman Bros. is not a name that brings back fond memories for most people. The financial institution's bankruptcy in Sept. 2008 was one of the major causes of the financial collapse that ravaged the economy.

According to a report in Bloomberg, the managers of Lehman's estate feel they were shortchanged by some nonprofits that made exit payments on derivatives that crashed after the bank filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, forcing it to sell its assets.

One of these organizations is Buck Institute for Research on Aging in Novato, Calif., which paid Lehman $2 million in Oct. 2008 to cancel a contract with the bank. Lehman has now come back to the organization and demanded $12.1 million more in addition to $4.7 million in interest. These funds are more than half of what the nonprofit spent o Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other diseases last year according to its most recent financial statement.

Mary McEachron, Buck’s chief administrative officer and general counsel, declined to comment on the situation to Bloomberg, saying only that the matter has not yet been resolved.

One other organization targeted by Lehman Bros. is a 5,000-student liberal arts college in Boston called Simmons College. The school paid Lehman $5.5 million in Jan. 2009 to exit from three interest rate swaps. In its June 30, 2012 financial statement, Simmons stated it held back $800,000 of that payment for out-of-pocket expenses. This didn't set well with Lehman, which now wants to enter a settlement through mediation with the college.

Lehman exited the bankruptcy process in March 2012 and has since liquidated about $46.2 million in assets. The bank needs $65 million more to repay its creditors by 2016.

You can read the full story in Bloomberg.

May 15, 2013 Edition Of The NonProfit Times

The May 15, 2013 issue of The NonProfit Times is now online and hitting mailboxes across the country. Here's a peak at the content you can expect to find in the second issue of the month:

Articles

• Keeping Score With Capital Campaigns: The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra culminated a four-year capital campaign this past June, raising $35.8 million, some 12 percent more than its original $32 million goal, despite the worst economy since the Great Depression.
• Binders Full Of Fundraisers Causing A Diversity Stir: Veteran UK fundraiser Giles Pegram, CBE, caused a social media uproar when he tweeted “women are still not adequately engaged in the thinking in fundraising,” causing flashbacks to Mitt Romney's infamous "binders full of women" line.
• 10 Issues That Top The Activist List For 2013: a new report from Future 500 indicates that a series of issues will force corporations to partner with nonprofits to adapt to a changing environment.

Columns

• Donors And Their Wealth: Everyone’s looking for investment advice. Charities and donors are no different. Some of the nation’s largest nonprofits are complex businesses, generating income from donations but also via fundraising events, program service revenue or membership fees, as well as investment income.
• Now Casting: An actor who can play equally well Prospero, Willy Loman, and Felix Unger or Lady Macbeth, Amanda Wingfield, and Lady Bracknell, is highly valued by any theatre company. Likewise, grant writers who can flawlessly execute diverse roles bring real value to their nonprofits.

Nonprofit Galas Breaking Fundraising Records On West Coast

Nonprofit galas in the Bay Area are breaking all sorts of fundraising records this year, bringing hope that organizations could soon be returning to pre-recession fundraising levels.

A report in the San Francisco Business Times reveals that many San Francisco-based organizations are getting a big boost in revenue from their annual galas. For example, Meals on Wheels (MoW) raised almost $2.17 million for homebound seniors at its 26th annual Star Chefs and Vinters Gala in April. That amount was the most ever raised by the organization for that particular event. In total, it netted $300,000 more than last year's gala, as more than 1,000 guests showed up to sample a spread of food made by gourmet chefs.

MoW Executive Director Ashely McCumber told The Business Times that she believed the success of this year's gals stems from a couple of factors: Strong donor relationships and an increased confidence in the economy, as people are feeling more comfortable giving once again. He added that most of the money from the gala came from individuals while corporate donations remained the same. Around 200 businesses and individuals participated in the gala's live and silent auctions.

While Habitat for Humanity San Francisco has not yet had its annual gala, Executive Director Phillip Killbridge told The Business Times that he is confident it will also break fundraising records, especially after Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage wrote the nonprofit a $25,000 check.

Are your nonprofit galas and special events seeing similar results? Let us know in our comments section.

You can read the full story in the San Francisco Business Times.

NJ Nonprofit Director Charged With Embezzlement

The former director of human resources for a New Jersey nonprofit was charged Saturday with embezzling more than $100,000 from the organization.

According to a report on a Philadelphia CBS affiliate, prosecutors allege that Christopher English generated paychecks from previously terminated employees of the Arc Mercer -- an advocacy and resource group for the mentally disabled -- and deposited those checks into his personal checking account. He allegedly spent that money on items ranging from a new truck to a $30,000 travel trailer.

English faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Authorities say the alleged theft was discovered when the Arc's payroll company reported some discrepancies to the organization. The nonprofit was able to recover almost all of the funds that was taken in English's alleged embezzlement.

The Arc Mercer is located in Ewing, N.J., and has almost 350 employees and an annual budget of close to $17 million.

You can read the full story on CBS Philly's website.