October 2011
IN THIS EDITION 3
Greetings from ACE
4-5 Upcoming Trainings & Events
ACE VISION & MISSION: ACE is committed to strengthening Arkansas nonprofits. Working together with nonprofits, businesses, individuals, and government agencies, we believe in the vision of a strong, vibrant, and effective nonprofit sector that is well positioned to meet the diverse needs of all Arkansans.
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ACE Member Spotlight: LifeQuest of Arkansas
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New & Renewing Members
8-9 Important Federal Policy Issues 10 Resources & Other Links 11 Contact Us
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GREETINGS FROM ACE Dear ACE Members & Friends, Fall is here – and as the leaves begin to change, ACE is making some changes of our own! First, we would like your feedback on the layout of our new eNewsletter. After you have had time to look it over, please give us your feedback in this one-question survey by Clicking Here. We are excited to announce the addition of two new faces to our team! Rebecca Zimmermann is our new AmeriCorps*VISTA for Membership and Communications. If you have any questions about your ACE membership, benefits, or login information – you may contact Rebecca at rzimmermann@acenonprofit.org. We are also excited to have Chase Hawkins on board as our Communications & Social Media Intern! We are feeling pretty high tech around here, so please watch for updates on our Facebook page and YouTube Channel. If you have questions or comments for Chase, please email chawkins@acenonprofit.org. We know this is a busy time of year for all of you, both personally and professionally. As you make plans for the holidays and the upcoming new year, we hope you will continue to include ACE as a key part of your planning process. Please make sure that your (very affordable) ACE Membership is included in next year’s budget! If you are not currently an ACE Member, please Click Here to learn more about the benefits of membership including advocacy efforts, insurance and discount products, educational trainings, research reports, networking opportunities, and more. And last, but not least - please tell a friend about your fantastic ACE Membership and ask them to join the Coalition! What a great time to buy a membership for a friend, colleague or partner organization. Thank you for continuing to make ACE an important part of your life. With your help, we are here to strengthen Arkansas’ nonprofits. ACE is here to support your nonprofit as you fulfill your mission in our local Arkansas communities. In Service,
Hunter P. Goodman Executive Director
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UPCOMING TRAININGS, EVENTS & PROGRAMS Building a Sustainable Nonprofit Presented by the Arkansas Coalition for Excellence and Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, this half day event will begin with lunch and discussion with funders; an interactive workshop entitled, ―The Importance of Planning & Partnerships to Strengthen Your Nonprofit Community;‖ followed by the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit Committee Kick Off. Led by Ken Hubbell, Ken Hubbell & Associates Click Here to read Ken’s Bio
October 26, 2011 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce 1709 E. Nettleton Avenue Jonesboro, AR 72401
$50 ACE and Chamber Members / $65 Nonmembers SPECIAL OFFER: Pay for your registration and bring a co-worker for FREE! For more information please call (501) 375-1223, or Click Here to register.
ACE/AFP Monthly Webconference Series Face-to-Face Basics: Intergrating Individuals into your Development Plan Presented by Amy Eisenstein, MPA, CFRE Wednesday, November 2, 2011 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ACE Office (located in the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation Offices) 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100, Little Rock, AR 72201 $15 for ACE and AFP Members / $25 for Nonmembers (lunch included) 2011-2012 Webconference Schedule: December - No Program Scheduled January 4, 2012 - From Boomers to Echo Boomers: Giving Across the Generations February 1, 2012 - Secrets to Success in the Small Shop To register for this event, Click Here.
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ACE Network Lunch: eNewsletters & eMarketing ACE invites you to attend a monthly Network Lunch designed to give nonprofit peers a time and place for informal discussion and information sharing. Each month a topic is identified and participants are encouraged to bring questions, samples, and insights related to the topic of the day. November 10 – eNewsletters & eMarketing Facilitator: Katie McManners, Public Information Specialist for Arkansas Waterways Commission 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ACE office located in the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100, Little Rock Please bring your lunch (drinks and dessert provided), business cards, questions and ideas. This network is free, but seats are limited, so please RSVP and let us know you are coming! To register for this event, please email rzimmermann@acenonprofit.org.
Disaster Preparedness Series The American Red Cross and the Arkansas Coalition for Excellence (ACE) have teamed up through the Ready When the Time Comes program, to provide a way for Arkansas’ nonprofit sector to become prepared should a disaster strike. This informative Lunch & Learn series is FREE and by the end of the series, you will walk away with a complete preparedness plan for your organization! Please mark your calendar and plan to join us: November 16, 2011-- Preparing Your Agency & Employees for the Unthinkable December 14, 2011 – Overview of Continuity of Business Operations Planning January 18, 2012 -- Overview of the Red Cross Ready Rating Program Lunch & Learn Preparedness Sessions: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Cost: FREE (lunch & materials provided) American Red Cross 401 South Monroe, 2nd Floor Board Room, Little Rock R.S.V.P. at www.acenonprofit.org or email elliotr@arkansasredcross.org 5
MEMBERSHIP ACE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: LIFEQUEST OF ARKANSAS
LifeQuest of Arkansas was founded in 1981 to provide a framework through which adults could plan and create a more purposeful and rewarding Third Age*. Membership-based and volunteer driven, LifeQuest provides a setting where adults can continue to experience intellectual stimulation, physical well-being, social interaction and sense of purpose in helping others. The flagship program, Adventures in Learning, offers eight-week terms of diverse classes in an open-university setting. The Fall 2011 term had over 600 active older adults attending 38 different classes. The Community Services program coordinates volunteers to help older adults with medical transportation, minor home repairs, personal computer technical assistance and a Parkinson’s support group. *Third Age – life after one’s primary career and child-rearing, which now spans approximately two to three decades
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NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS Thank you to our new and renewing members! New Members Northeast Arkansas Children’s Advocacy Center, Jonesboro Ouachita Children’s Center, Hot Springs McGehee Desha Alumni Center, Inc., McGehee River Valley Shelter for Battered Women & Children, Russellville Renewing Members Family Promise of Pulaski County, Little Rock
ACE MEMBER BENEFIT SPOTLIGHT
Dharma Eye Media
Video has become one of the strongest marketing tools on the web. Research from the Nielson shows us that people are twice as likely to buy a product when video is present. Consumers spend 45 percent more time on a website where video is present, and e-mails have a greater ―click-through‖ rate when a video is embedded to the e-mail. For nonprofits, it’s important to keep up with his video trend to elevate fund raising activities and awareness campaigns. It can be costly for an NGO to produce a short video. The mission of Dharma Eye media is to make compelling videos that help nonprofits succeed- ultimately making the world a better place. Dharma Eye Media has created an affordable, quality solution for non profits. Learn more… ACE MEMBER DEALS 3-5 minute video 2-day shoot includes up to five interviews, three locations, Editing, graphics and upload to YouTube, DVD creation $2,000. Cost savings over more than $10,000. 3-5 minute video 1-day shoot includes up to three interviews, two locations. Editing and upload to YouTube $1,000. Cost savings over $8,000. 3-5 minute video Half-day shoot includes two interviews, one location Editing and upload to YouTube. $800. Cost savings over $5,000
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PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY Charitable Giving Incentive at Risk The charitable giving incentive that supports the work of all charitable nonprofits is at risk! Policymakers from across the political spectrum have put forward plans to address ways to reduce the federal budget deficit through spending cuts, entitlement reforms, and changes to the tax code, and many propose changing the charitable deduction in one way or another. No one knows the true impact that any of these proposals will have on the ability of nonprofits to raise the resources needed to provide the programs and services in their local communities. You can help protect the charitable giving incentive by signing onto the nonprofit community letter. And please pass this message along to all nonprofits you know so their voices can be heard! Sign on - to Protect the Charitable Giving Incentive
Policymakers Express Party Lines to Supercommittee The 12-member Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reform (supercommittee) has less than six weeks to issue its plan to reduce the federal deficit by at least $1.2 trillion, and policymakers from all sides are making recommendations on how the panel, created in August under the Budget Control Act, could resolve decisions on spending cuts, revenue increases, and entitlement reforms. Democratic members of the House Ways & Means Committee in a letter Friday urged inclusion of the President’s American Jobs Act, expressed their opposition to any changes to entitlement programs, and insisted that comprehensive tax reform raise revenues to reduce the deficit. Senate Finance CommitteeRepublican Senators, on the other hand, recommended overhauling entitlement programs, including Social Security, and urged a revenue-neutral rewrite of the tax code with the top tax rate at no higher than 25 percent. Neither letter directly expresses views on tax policies affecting nonprofits and the work they do. Special Thanks to ACE''s national partner, the National Council of Nonprofits, for providing this information. Nonprofit Advocacy and Lobbying: Roles and Rules for Influencing Policy For those of you who were unable to attend the workshop Nonprofit Advocacy and Lobbying: Roles and Rules for Influencing Policy hosted by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and Arkansas Coalition for Excellence, here are a few tools for your organization to build your advocacy infrastructure. Below is the Alliance for Justice’s presentation and valuable resources for Arkansas nonprofits! Check out the PDF version of the presentation for your notes and reflection Take a look at additional resources through the Alliance for Justice regarding Lobbying and Advocacy for Nonprofits Contact us at ace@acenonprofit.org with additional ways ACE may help you strengthen your nonprofit organization’s role in public policy! There are critical issues at hand—we need your voice. Delta Regional Authority National Policy Conference Have you registered for the 2011 Delta Regional Authority National Policy Conference yet? It’s only 3 weeks away, and we need you there. The conference will bring together the Delta’s best and the brightest – from cutting-edge entrepreneurs and small business owners to public policy and business leaders – for a simple objective: Making Today’s Challenges Tomorrow’s Opportunities. Go to: http://www.eventfarm.com/drapolicyconference2011 Your registration will include access to: Five-star welcome reception Four main stage panels with renowned speakers Breakout and technical assistance sessions, and A late-night blowout celebrating the Delta with world-famous musicians! Due to the outpouring of interest, we have even added special workshops on Wednesday November 16 to help community leaders access capital and help grow the economy.
RESOURCES AND OTHER LINKS IDEALWARE TIP OF THE MONTH Can you access the information you need in your accounting software, and create useful reports, pay stubs or invoices? The accounting software you use can make your work easier -and it doesn't have to cost a fortune. QuickBooks, Peachtree and Fund E-Z are all affordable packages that can help you get your books in order read more...
NONPROFIT RISK MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE MONTH As 2011 comes to a close and tax season nears, it is time to begin thinking about your organization’s audit. Creating an audit charter and committee can go a long way in ensuring the auditing process goes a smoothly as possible. Find helpful resources here.
ARKANSAS WORK-LIFE BALANCE AWARD Arkansas Governor’s Work-Life Initiative celebrates 10 years of recognizing Arkansas employers for establishing policies and providing resources that support employees in balancing the needs of both work and family. Balancing family life with a career is never easy, especially when our nation’s economy is going through tough times. That’s why we are especially appreciative of those Arkansas businesses that are stepping up to help their employees meet that challenge. The Work-Life Balance Awards let us recognize those businesses that take steps to improve quality of life for their employees. - Governor Mike Beebe Arkansas Business is looking for the GREAT places to NOMINATE at: work in Arkansas — Where the leaders know people are their most valuable asset. ArkansasBusiness.com/Family Nominations must be received by 12/5
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Thank you for reading this month’s edition of our newsletter. Questions or Comments? Contact us.
Hunter Goodman, Executive Director hpgoodman@acenonprofit.org Emily Ingram, Associate Director eingram@acenonprofit.org Rebecca Zimmermann Membership & Communications Coordinator, AmeriCorps VISTA rzimmermann@acenonprofit.org Chase Hawkins, Communications Intern chawkins@acenonprofit.org
Located within the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation Offices 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 375-1223 www.acenonprofit.org
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