California Nonprofit, Union Spar Over New Contract

A new contract between a Berkeley, Calif., nonprofit and the California Professional Employees (CAPE) union is being held-up because of disagreements regarding a potential pay raise for the organization's workers.

According to a report in The Daily Californian, Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS) -- which provides food and shelter for the homeless -- and CAPE began negotiations for a new contract in January, but have yet to reach common ground on pay. The union is demanding a 2-percent pay raise, an amount that BOSS Executive Director Donald Frazier said would bankrupt the organization.

"They’re asking me to increase the deficit, and I’m just not willing to do that," The Daily Californian quoted Frazier as saying. "BOSS is not equipped to do that." BOSS has an annual budget of more than $5 million, according to its most recent federal Form 990. The organization has 90 employees, most of whom are members of CAPE.

In an interview with The NonProfit Times, Frazier said they got an extension of the current contract until August 31. As to what happens after that, he said that it's hard to say at this point, but that it's possible they will get another extension of the contract so they can continue negotiations.

"I've asked the union to work with me for one year. We can certainly do a two-percent increase eventually, but we need to stabilize financially first," said Frazier.

A representative from CAPE took issue with Frazier's statement, saying that employees at BOSS have not received a pay raise since 2006. Christoper Graeber, who is CAPE's business representative, reportedly said that the only concession BOSS is offering is to give workers an extra day-off each year.

Graeber reportedly described the wage increases sought as "minimal," and expressed disappointment that Frazier is refusing "to bend at all."

You can read the full story in The Daily Californian.

Participate In The 2013 Nonprofit Salary And Benefits Survey -- Final Deadline!

Every year, The NonProfit Times and Bluewater Nonprofit Solutions publish the Nonprofit Salary and Benefits Reports. These in-depth studies help organizations to determine whether they are in line with similar organizations and to remain in compliance with the Internal Revenue Service. The data for these reports come from surveys of our readers and this week will be your last chance to add to the large amount of information we have already collected for our upcoming 2013 Salary and Benefits Reports.

We have have received tremendously valuable data already from participants who have completed the 2013 Nonprofit Salary and Benefits Survey, but there's always room for more! Those participants who complete their survey by August 31 will get a FREE Executive Summary of the Survey, with full salary data for all positions. Everyone who completes the survey will receive 50% off the full report ($285 currently). In addition, one lucky individual will be selected to win a Kindle Fire HD!

We know that your time is valuable so we have streamlined the survey so that it will be even quicker to complete. In addition, if you have previously completed the 2011 or 2012 surveys, you now have the ability to jump start the 2013 survey completion process–you only need to change the data that is different.

Other new features of the 2013 Survey include:

• The survey is now compatible with all major Internet browsers including Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.
• We've made it easier and more intuitive to enter data. We've also added more prompts to guide users.

Head to our website today to start the survey and help all nonprofits. Remember, the deadline to complete it is in just four days!

11 Tips To Limit Fraud At Your Nonprofit

Unless someone develops a way to stop humans from having feelings of greed, nonprofit leaders are going to have to continue to be vigilant about fraud prevention. At a recent AICPA Not-for-Profit Industry Conference, the best ways to do this were discussed.

At the conference, Mitchell Lewis, David McRoberts and William Mellon said that while it is nearly impossible to stop fraud, there are ways to reduce the chances it will happen to you and to limit the damages if it does. They said that one of the main causes of fraud is a work environment where lack of oversight and too much trust are rampant.

With that in mind, Lewis, McRoberts, and Mellon offered five suggestions for organizations to practice:

• Fraud governance structure, including tone at the top, a zero tolerance policy, documented fraud policy statement and a code of ethical behavior.
• Regular education and training.
• A fraud tip line.
• Completion of a fraud assessment to identify fraud exposures and related events that require mitigation.
• An investigation and response reporting process.

In terms of specific anti-fraud controls, they suggested:

• Vendor bidding process;
• Completion of background and reference checks;
• Dual signatures and levels of approval;
• Segregation of duties;
• Mandatory vacations; and,
• Internal audits and use of Computer Assisted Audit Techniques (CAATs).

Featured Nonprofit Job: Consultant For Fundraising, Director Of Development

The American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM) Foundation, located in Chevy Chase, Md., is looking to hire a Consultant for Fundraising, Director of Development. Interested? Read on for more details.

The chosen candidate for this position will plan, develop, execute and manage a comprehensive marketing and development program that will meet the philanthropic needs of the organization. The Director of Development is responsible for all of The ABAM Foundation’s fund-raising operations and results.  The successful candidate must have the energy and ability to articulate the vision of the organization and to shape a philanthropy program that supports that vision.

An ability to successfully lead team members is also required, as the position will require you to supervise at least one part-time assistant.

The preferred qualifications applicants should have include:

• Minimum of 3 – 10 years’ experience ( or recent graduate from a university Development Program.
• B.S. or B.A. Degree.
• Demonstrated success in meeting fundraising goals.
• Experience in conducting annual fundraising and capital campaigns, and expediting planned giving. 
• Background of collaborating with physicians, medical education, health care systems, and grateful patients: useful but not necessary.
• Strong history of board and volunteer involvement.

You can find out more about this position by visiting the NPT Jobs Career Center.

Redesigned Resource Marketplace Now Online

The NonProfit Times' Online Resource Marketplace has long been a place where nonprofits can find great services to enhance their organization. With our just-launched redesign of the page, it will be even easier to find what you need.

The major change you will notice is that all of the resource categories have been organized into sections based on their area of focus. For example, the Online Fundraising category has been placed into the Fundraising Services section. Each of these sections can be easily browsed with a simple click of the mouse.

Sections will collapse into drop-down menus when clicked, allowing you to browse the relevant categories

One of the other changes you will see is largely cosmetic but is very important for clients who list their services on the Marketplace. Advertisers who have purchased a Gold or Silver listing with us will have their postings highlighted with the appropriate color, giving it extra recognition. For more information on the differences between a Gold, Silver, or Basic listing, contact Mary Ford at 973-401-0202 x206

A gold listing on the Online Resource Marketplace.

We hope that you enjoy the redesign of the Resource Marketplace. We are always open to feedback, so let us know if you have any suggestions or concerns.

Take Advantage Of Sizzling NPT Summer Savings

Update: There are just over four weeks left to take advantage of this deal. Place your order now before time runs out!

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There is a reason The NonProfit Times has been the leading publication for the nonprofit sector for over 20 years. Through insightful reporting of the latest news and trends in the world of nonprofits, this valuable resource has been used to keep organizations ahead of the curve.

If your organization does not already receive a copy of the magazine, now is your chance to take advantage of a new summer special on subscriptions. For a limited time only, you can subscribe to a full year of NPT in both print and digital forms for just $49.95 (usually $59.95) and, for no additional price, you will receive a copy of our 2013 Best Nonprofits to Work For report. Finally, all customers who take advantage of this offer will be signed up to get our companion NPT Weekly eNewsletter, which highlights the latest nonprofit news.

You can view a sample of NPT Weekly by clicking here.

This deal is only for the summer so take advantage of it before it's too late! The last day to place your order is September 15th.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Development Director

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) in Indianapolis, Ind., is looking to hire a Development Director. Interested? Read on for more details on this featured nonprofit job.

The chosen candidate for this position will be responsible for assisting the Regional Development Director in the implementation of action plans developed with the national office; reaches target for assigned area in raising funds to support the 37 member institutions and serves as an ambassador for UNCF.

Other duties include:

• Identify and recruit campaign leaders and Advisory Board members and create a formal campaign organization strategy.
• Establish and maintain liaison with volunteers.
• Develop and submit solicitation proposals; design, develop, and implement special fundraising events.
• Assist the Regional Development Director in establishing local campaign goals, including planning and implementing campaign strategies consistent with UNCF national action plans and policies.

Qualified applicants will have a Bachelor's degree in a related field and at least 5-7 years of fundraising experience. You can find more information about this job by visiting the NPT Jobs Career Center.

Thieves Return Stolen Computers To Nonprofit

When something is stolen from your home or place of work, the last thing you would expect is for it to be politely returned by the perpetrators. Yet that is exactly what happened to one nonprofit in California.

Just hours after six computers were stolen from the offices of San Bernardino County Sexual Assault Services on July 31, a local ABC affiliate reported that the burglars apparently had a change of heart: The computers were returned intact along with a handwritten note that said [sic]: "We had no idea what we were takeing. Here your stuff back. We hope that you guys can continue to make a difference in people's lives. God Bless."

"I don't know what to feel," Executive Director Candy Stallings told KABC. "One minute I'm devastated, and the next minute I just thought, 'Wow, this is just incredible.'" Stallings plans to frame the note left by the burglars to "tell each and everyone one of the staff here that do this work that you never know when you're going to touch somebody."

Police said that the thieves were able to bypass the organization's security systems by clipping phone wires and alarm cables. They were then able to enter the office through a crawlspace.

Though Stallings will be able to breathe a sigh of relief with their computers now returned, the nonprofit will still be out $5,000 because of the damages caused by the burglars. Individuals interested in donating should e-mail candyir@aol.com or call 909-855-8884.

You can read the full story on KABC's website.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Chief Financial Officer

EMQ FamiliesFirst, located in Los Gatos, Calif., is looking to hire a Chief Financial Officer. Do you think you have what it takes to succeed in this demanding position? Read on for further details.

The chosen candidate for this position will be responsible for all financial aspects of the organization. Specifically, he/she will have the following daily tasks:

• Plans, organizes, directs and controls the financial activities of the agency.
• Recommends financial policies and actions to be considered by key managers.
•  Establishes directly or indirectly through management, short-term and long-term strategic financial planning.
• Directs the organization’s relationship with lending institutions, contracting agencies, and the financial community.
• Directs, administers, and coordinates the fiscal activities of the organization in support of policies, goals, and objectives established by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Board of Directors.

Qualified applicants will have a Bachelor's degree in finance or a related field and at least 10 years of executive management experience. Preferred qualifications include:

• Master's degree in finance or related field.
• Previous experience managing diverse geographical operations.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
• Medicare and MediCal experience or like California MediCal (other similar states)  experience preferred.

Head to the NPT Jobs Career Center for more information, including application instructions.

Nonprofit To Oversee Broadband Network

The city councils of two Central Illinois towns have approved a measure that would create a private nonprofit to oversee a large broadband network running through both locations.

The Urbana-Champaign Big Broadband network (UC2B) was created by the towns of Urbana and Champaign to boost Internet access in low-income areas, but there were concerns over government control of the network. That's why, according to a report in The News Gazette, both city councils passed the bill to have it run by a nonprofit.

Before it could pass, however, several key changes had to be made to the bill. This includes a requirement that the nonprofit submit an annual report to the cities and that the network's high, self-imposed standards for procuring minority contractors be maintained. Another key provision, which was critical to gain the support of Urbana Alderman Charlie Smyth, was to allow attendees of the organization's board meeting to provide their input.

The board will not have to follow Illinois' Open Meetings Act, which has strict requirements for advance public notification of meetings and the accessibility of meetings. Council members in Urbana and Champaign believed those requirements would hurt the board's efficiency.

The UC2B network, which cost $30 million to create, is currently being funded by a federal grant created in 2010. That grant expires on Sept. 30 and at that time, much of the expenses will fall on the shoulders of local governments. City officials are confident that it will only need support from the cities for the first six months, just to get it off the ground.

The nonprofit overseeing UC2B, which has not yet been given a name, will be governed by a nine-member board, and the cities of Champaign and Urbana and the University of Illinois will each appoint three members to that board.

You can read the full story in The News Gazette.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Major Gifts Officer

Looking for a nonprofit job in beautiful Orlando, Florida? Our latest featured nonprofit job offers job seekers the chance to be a Major Gifts Officer for Wycliffe Bible Translators.

The chosen candidate for this position will be responsible for procuring major gifts in the Southwest region, including Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. This candidate would need to reside in a major city within the region (Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh or Knoxville).  This position requires travel 30% - 40% of the time. Other responsibilities include contacting, cultivation, and solicitation of gifts from major donors in these areas.

Qualified applicants should have at least five years of recent and increasingly productive face-to-face fundraising experience, including two years with high net worth donors.

Want to find out more about this position? Head to the NPT Jobs Career Center for application instructions and more.

4 Kinds Of Bequests

The standard definition of a bequest is a planned gift that ranges from the simple (money) to the extravagant (a house) that is made through a will. Yet while all bequests share the same definition, they are not all created equal.

Nonprofits received more than $23.41 billion in bequests according to the most recent edition of Giving USA. All of those gifts came in different forms and, as Elizabeth Ziemba, J.D., M.P.H. wrote in her book "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Giving Back," it’s important for fundraising officers to clearly understand their differences.

Ziemba noted that there are four distinct types of bequests that can be made in a will. All of these can be mixed and matched in the donor’s will, depending on giving goals. The four types are:

• Pecuniary Bequest: A gift of a fixed or stated sum of money designated in a donor’s will.
• Specific Bequest: A gift of a designated or specific item in the will. The item will most likely be sold by the organization and the proceeds would benefit that nonprofit.
• Residuary Bequest: A gift of all or a portion of the remainder of the donor’s assets after all other bequests have been made as well as debts and taxes paid.
• Contingent Bequest: A gift in a will made on the condition of a certain event that may or may not happen. A contingent bequest is specific and fails if the condition is not made.

The 2013 Power And Influence Top 50

Sixteen years ago today The NonProfit Times released the first edition of the Power and Influence Top 50. The report listed the 50 nonprofit executives that we determined were at the top of their field. Since then, there have been many multiple-time honorees and some new ones.

With this year's edition, there is quite a bit of turnover.

The 2013 Power and Influence Top 50, included in the August 1 edition of NPT, features 18 first-time honorees. In addition, there are three returning executives who will be returning to our September Power and Influence Top Gala in Washington, D.C., after some time away. The evening’s keynote will be national commentator Juan Williams.

Some of the new faces in this year's list include:

• James (Jim) Manis, the Mobile Giving Foundation;
• Jacqueline Novogratz, Acumen;
• Anthony D. Romero, American Civil Liberties Union;
• Vanessa Kirsch, New Profit Inc; and,
• Chris Anderson, Sapling Foundation/TED

You can view the full list by clicking here.

Of course, the Power and Influence Top 50 is not the only part of the August 1 issue. Other major articles include a piece on retaliation lawsuits, restructuring at the Girl Scouts, and how World Wildlife Fund and other organizations handle compressed workweek schedules.

12 Nonprofit Administrative Job Salaries

UPDATE: The deadline has been extended! Surveys completed by August 31st will be entered to win a Kindle Fire HD. Start the 2013 Salary and Benefits Survey today!

The nonprofit executive gets well-deserved credit for the success of the organization but, as is often the case, those below the positions of power also have an important role to play. As a result, it should come as no surprise that they are well-compensated for their work.

As we draw closer to the deadline -- July 26th -- to complete the 2013 Salary and Benefits Survey, we thought this would be a good time to show more of the data that comes from your participation. Below are 12 administrative positions and their salaries from the 2012 Salary and Benefits Report. That report would not have been possible had it not been for the participation of the 1,000 plus participants who took the time to complete the survey.

Here are the 12 positions:

• Administration Director -- $57,465
• Administrative Assistant, Intermediate Level -- $31,285
• Administrative Assistant, Junior Level -- $30,268
• Administrative Assistant, Senior Level -- $39,292
• Data Entry Operator -- $29,262
• Data Entry Supervisor -- $42,865
• Executive Assistant -- $43,593
• File Clerk -- $25,562
• Mail Clerk -- $32,780
• Meetings and Events Manager/Planner -- $50,223
• Office Manager -- $39,964
• Receptionist -- $26,886

Will these numbers change for this year? The only way to know for sure is to complete your 2013 Surveys so we can have as much data as possible for our reports. Start the 2013 Salary and Benefits Survey today and help all nonprofits with their financial needs.

Campaign Brings $91 Million To SDSU

San Diego State University (SDSU) just had the most successful fundraising campaign in the school's 116-year history.

The institution announced Thursday that its annual Campaign for SDSU bought in more than $91 million during the 2012-2013 fiscal year, which ended June 30. Overall, the campaign has reached $413.8 million of its $500 million goal.

“We are grateful to our generous alumni and community supporters whose gifts continue to fuel our development as a leading public research university,” said SDSU President Elliot Hirshman. “This record breaking year is a critical milestone in the development of our culture of philanthropy.”

During 2012-2013, SDSU raised nearly $58 million for student scholarships, endowed professorships, and program support. These gifts will enhance the broad institutional goals set forth in “Building on Excellence,” SDSU’s new strategic plan, which builds upon SDSU’s areas of strength and pride: student success, research and creative endeavors and community and communication.

Some of the more notable gifts from this year's campaign include:

• A gift of $3 million from Charles and Chinyeh Hostler to support international programs in the College of Arts and Letters;
• A gift of $1.5 million from the Campanile Foundation board member Terry Atkinson to establish an endowment that will strengthen SDSU’s ambitious research agenda by supporting faculty research; and,
• A $1.5 million endowment from the late Professor Emeritus Donald G Wilson for the College of Engineering.

The Campaign for SDSU, the first campus-wide fundraising event in the school's history, was launched in 2007 as a way to provide new opportunities for students. To date, The Campaign has received more than 43,000 gifts from alumni, friends, faculty, staff, parents and community partners, including 78 gifts of $1 million or more.

You can find more information about the campaign at http://campaign.sdsu.edu/campaign/ 

Free Webinar: #GivingTuesday in July: Get Ready for December Now!

Update: Thanks to everyone who attended yesterday's webinar! It was a blast. If you missed the event for any reason, you can see it in its entirety here

Online giving is one of the more popular methods of fundraising these days, and last year's debut of the Twitter-based campaign #GivingTuesday was just another example of the power of fundraising on the Internet. Although the campaign won't be starting again until December, your organization can still make preparations for it now.

Join The NonProfit Times and Salsa Labs for a FREE webinar on July 24th: "#GivingTuesday in July: Get Ready for December Now!" Henry Timms, founder of #GivingTuesday, and Christine Schaefer, VP Community and Marketing, Salsa, will discuss how your organization can use #GivingTuesday (which begins on December 3rd), as part of a wider online and offline campaign to help increase your end-of-year funding. We’ll offer tips for building your campaign and share insights from other non-profits who got a boost thanks to their #GivingTuesday participation last year.

Organizations should know that end-of-year fundraising doesn't just happen when the calendar flips to December; it takes months of planning including building lists and cultivating donors. That's why every fundraiser and nonprofit manager should attend this webinar so they are prepared when December 3rd rolls around. Register today!

NY Archdiocese To Let Nonprofit Run Struggling Catholic Schools

In an effort to save six struggling Catholic schools, the Archdiocese of New York has contracted an education nonprofit to run them this fall.

According to a report in The New York Daily News, the Partnership for Inner-City Education (PICE) -- which already has a history of working with Catholic schools -- will take over the finances and oversee the curriculum of the cash-strapped schools, located in the Bronx and Harlem. It marks the first time an independent organization has taken control of a NY parochial school.

“We want to have full enrollment and sustainability for the very long term,” Jill Kafka, executive director of PICE, said according to the report. “We’re really looking to have these schools alive for a long time.”

The six schools are:

• Mt Carmel-Holy Rosary, Our Lady Queen of Angels and St. Mark the Evangelist (Harlem) 
• St. Athanasius, Immaculate Conception (151st Street) and Sacred Heart (South Bronx)

PICE plans to allocate $9 million over the next five years to repair the building of the schools classroom materials, professional development for teachers, enrichment programs and other resources. The archdiocese will continue to oversee religious instruction and will retain ownership of the buildings.

In an announcement on the nonprofit's website, the following goals were laid out in regards to the group's plans for the schools:

• Provide low-income students with the academic preparation, values and life skills they will need to be successful throughout their lives. 
• Develop Catholic schools that are strong operationally and financially by maximizing enrollment, improving efficiency, rationalizing increased costs, and stabilizing revenue sources.

You can read the full story in The NY Daily News.

Queens Nonprofit Head Pleads Guilty To Stealing Funds

The head of a nonprofit youth camp in Queens, N.Y. pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds allocated by state lawmakers.

Van Holmes, president of the Young Leaders Institute Inc., was arrested on July 16th on charges that he misused $850,000 in member items that were set aside for the organization over several years. According to a report in The Times Ledger, Holmes claimed he would use the money to take campers on trips to Wall Street and Albany, but prosecutors allege that he used nearly $77,000 of the funds to pay employees of an after-school programs he ran.

Holmes has agreed to pay back tens of thousands of dollars to the state.

“Today’s plea and sentencing are an appropriate punishment for the crimes committed against the taxpayers of New York and the children for whom these funds were intended,” said state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli in a join statement. “We thank the Department of Investigation, as well as staff in both the attorney general’s and comptroller’s offices, for their diligent work and a successful outcome in this case.”

A large portion of the grants that Holmes received came from then-State Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Queens), who allocated almost $80,000 in funds for Young Leaders Institute. Huntley plead guilty earlier this year to embezzling $88,000 from the Parents Workshop, an education nonprofit she helped create. Her case is not related to Holmes', authorities said.

You can read the full story in The Times Ledger.

Report: Budgets Up, But Women Underpaid At Central Florida Nonprofits

A new report from the Rollins Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership Center revealed that while budgets have increased at nonprofits in Central Florida, female executives are still being underpaid when compared to their male counterparts.

The 2013 Nonprofit Compensation and Benefits Report, the latest installment in a bi-annual report, studied the compensation practices of over 160 nonprofits in Central Florida. Margaret Linnane, executive director of Rollins Philanthropy, stated that salary disparity between male and female executives represents a continuation of trend found in their previous reports. She noted, though, that the economy seems to be improving, with 70 percent of nonprofits surveyed implementing some kind of pay raise.

"Almost two thirds of nonprofits reported increased budgets and salaries, especially in the development director field," said Linnane. "There was also a higher turnover rate for employees seeking new jobs and considering retirement. These factors indicate a recovering economy, which we haven’t seen in the reports for some time."

The average pay for all CEOs/Executive Directors in the sample was $99,868 per year; for men, the average annual CEO/Executive Director pay was $115,731; for women, the average annual CEO/Executive Director pay was $87,693. While a majority (57 percent) of those surveyed was women, a greater number of men are found in the CEO/Executive Director positions of the largest organizations, which tend to pay higher wages.

You can view the full report by visiting Rollins Philanthtopy's website.

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Want more data on nonprofit salary and benefits? Purchase The NonProfit Times' 2012 Salary and Benefits Reports, and don't forget to participate in our 2013 Salary Survey (deadline for completion in July 26th).

6 Tips For Your eNewsletter Campaigns

eNewsletters are an easier and cheaper alternative to print for keeping people in the loop about the latest happenings at the organization. Just because this technology is convenient, however, doesn't mean it's free of potential pitfalls.

People hate unwanted online communications just as much as telemarketers, and anti-SPAM rules have made sending eNewsletters to your supporters into an art form. If you don’t do it correctly you could find yourself in trouble and blocked.

Kivi Leroux Miller, president of NonprofitMarketingGuide.com, wrote in the book "Nonprofit Management 101" that there are a multitude of ways to ensure your organization gets its message across through eNewsletters while also remaining in compliance. She wrote that you should begin by following these six dos and don'ts:

• DO use an email service provider. You can’t do bulk email from your desktop for a variety of reasons, including the potential you’ll be labeled as a spammer.
• DO let your readers talk back. If someone replies to your eNewsletter, make sure it goes to an email box that someone is monitoring.
• DO master the art of subject line writing. The “From” field and the “Subject” line determine whether your email gets opened or deleted. Ensure what’s in the “from” field is recognizable to the reader and what’s in the subject line is interesting, intriguing, or otherwise compelling to your readers.
• DO master the art of headline writing. People naturally skim email, starting with headlines and subheads, so you want to grab their attention.
• DON’T send attachments, including PDFs of your print newsletter.
• DON’T rent or sell your e-mail list, and let your subscribers know that’s the case.