Helping Nonprofits Help Arkansas
February 2013
Keeping Your Mission in Mind
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence: Helping Nonprofits Help Arkansas We are proud to work with you to achieve ACE’s mission and vision together: Mission: Strengthen Arkansas Nonprofits Vision: A strong, vibrant, united and effective nonprofit sector that is well positioned to meet the diverse needs of all Arkansans. Our Core Values: Best Practices |Inclusive | Unity in Diversity | Connecting & Equipping | Statewide Vision | Regional Approach
Welcome Ivan Martinez! ACE is excited to welcome our new Membership Services VISTA Ivan Martinez on March 4th! Ivan will assist ACE with membership recruitment and benefits management. You can reach Ivan and say welcome at imartinez@acenonprofit.org.
IN THIS EDITION 3
Greetings from ACE
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Upcoming Trainings and Events
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Member Corner
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Grants Corner
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ARVets- Keeping Their Mission in Mind
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Advocacy Updates Benefit of the Month
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Resources & Other Links Contact Us
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org
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GREETINGS FROM ACE ACE Members and Friends,
How many of us really think much about our mission statements? I imagine most of us constantly think about our missions, but don’t give much thought to the statement that communicates the purpose or goals of our nonprofits except during strategic planning sessions. I think we can get more mileage out of our mission statements in helping manage our organizations. Most of us have attended training or worked with consultants about what a mission statement should look like and how it should describe the organization’s focus, as well as how we should be able to recite it from memory if someone asks which has never actually happened to me. There is less said about how a mission statement can work for us. Pull out your nonprofit’s mission statement (dust it off) and see how it stacks up to the formal definition of “mission” from dictionary.com – “a goal or purpose that is accompanied by a strong conviction.” Most of our time in mission statements is focused on the first part, which is putting a frame around the work we have set before us to serve the common good. It is the second part – “a strong conviction” that drives us to DO. Doing is the active part of an agency’s mission. Without this frame or with a weak frame, mission creep sets in and an organization begins to go beyond its mission, sometimes chasing dollars or because there is insufficient commitment to the nonprofit’s mission and programs. Equally as problematic is that of mission stagnation. We’ve all seen examples of nonprofits that had outlived their missions and had not understood it was time to reframe their work or, in some cases, to dissolve the nonprofit. There is another way to use our mission statements and that is to use them to manage our organizations. By occasionally taking our mission statements off of the wall and out of the frame to examine it, clean it up, change it and reframe it, we are keeping our missions relevant. By holding decisions up to the light of our mission statements, we are remaining true to our purpose and our decisions will reflect this. By consciously and proactively using our mission statements to guide and manage our staff, we are creating a better nonprofit. Many times, when there has been a disagreement or unhealthy interactions within an agency I have managed, I point to our mission statement and ask staff to reflect on whether these disagreements or interactions are helping us meet our mission. Most of time, they are not. This technique helps us minimize unproductive time better spent on helping our communities. That is a mission we can all get behind! Sincerely, Stephanie F. Meincke, MSW President & CEO
Mission Frames Your Work
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org
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UPCOMING TRAININGS, EVENTS & PROGRAMS On Topic With ACE: Keeping Your Mission In Mind (Today!) It is easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day operations of your organization. But from programming to financials it is important to frame your nonprofit’s activities within the organization’s mission. In this call hear from two nonprofit executives on how they keep their mission in mind and discuss with your nonprofit peers on how to best focus your operations to be mission driven. Facilitated by: Jody Dilday, Single Parent Scholarship Fund of NWA & Nicole Hart, ARVets Tuesday, February 26 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Webinar– Accessible by phone and online (you will receive your log-in information following registration) Cost: Free – This webinar is for ACE Members Only (Are you an ACE Member? Click Here) Register Here
On Topic With ACE: Managing Your Money (March) Proper financial management is one of the most important responsibilities of your nonprofit. Join us for our March networking call and learn some of the top "do’s and don’ts" of nonprofit financial management. Glenn Nishimura, with Arkansas Nonprofit Services, will lead a conversation and facilitate questions and discussion about financial management with you and your peers. Facilitated by: Glenn Nishimura, Arkansas Nonprofit Services Tuesday, March 26 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Conference Call– Accessible by phone (you will receive your call-in information following registration) Cost: Free – This webinar is for ACE Members Only (Are you an ACE Member? Click Here) Register Here
Collaboration & Communication Session Highlights: Learn how to build a high functioning collaborative team, Identify and understand the key components of collaborative leadership, Learn how to use communication strategies to build trust and collaboration, Participate in small group activities and open discussion Presented by: Charlotte Strickland, University of Central Arkansas Thursday, February 28 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. UCA, Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center, Room 111 Cost: $20 (Limited scholarships available) Register Here
Nonprofit Audits in a Nutshell We hear the same questions about independent audits from large and small charitable nonprofits. Do we need to have an independent audit? (And what does that entail anyway?) Are there special rules for us because we receive government grants? How can we prepare so that the process goes smoothly? What’s the board’s role? From legal requirements to practical advice, this program is designed to give you background on everything you need to know about the independent audit process. (Target audience: charitable nonprofit board members and staff members.) In partnership with the National Council of Nonprofits Presented by: Jenifer Holland, Senior Governance Consultant, BoardSource Thursday, March 28 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost: Free – This webinar is for ACE Members Only (Are you an ACE Member? Click Here) Register Here Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org
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Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org
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ACE Welcomes Board Expert, Susan Meier Susan Meier, Principal of Meier and Associates, brings over 23 years of experience in nonprofit boardrooms. As the former Vice President of Consulting and Training at BoardSource, the premier national organization dedicated to nonprofit governance, Susan has worked with over one hundred boards and thousands of nonprofit leaders. Join us for this rare opportunity to hear and engage with a national expert on the critical issue of board engagement and effective governance.
Thursday, May 9 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. UCA, Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center Cost: ACE Member $65, Non-Member $95 Register Here Sponsored by:
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org
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MEMBERSHIP New and Renewing Members Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas, Little Rock Precious Hearts Student Center, Pine Bluff The Darnell Brown CDC, TX Arkansas Interfaith Conference, Little Rock Glenda Schmidt, Conway Every Child is Ours, Tuckerman Reptile Rescue Center, Little Rock LifeQuest of Arkansas, Little Rock Hispanic Community Services, Jonesboro Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Home & Family Services, Little Rock
Want to join our coalition of over 300 members dedicated to strengthening the nonprofit sector ? Contact Rebecca at 501.375.1223 or email rzimmermann@acenonprofit.org.
Member of the Month: OneCommunity
Mission: To promote communities working together as One and to enhance the quality of life of all people through use of best practices and outreach services that improve health, education and leadership skills. Goals:
Encourage people from diverse backgrounds to work together
Foster cultural understanding among all community members
Address health disparities Prepare future leaders
Promote the work and initiatives of schools, non-profit organizations, and other communitybased organizations
Accomplishments: Implemented the Parents Taking Leadership Action (PTLA) program in the Springdale School District to provide leadership training to 20 parents in 15 sessions. Partnered with ACE to launch Center for Leadership Innovation (CFLI) Latino Nonprofit Leadership Academy with 12 nonprofit organizations Partnered with United States Hispanic Leadership Institute and collaborated with the University of Arkansas, Oficina Latina, to provide a Student Leadership Series that promoted education and leadership development to over 10,000 students in 7 Springdale School District schools. Participated in La Zeta and Fest of All community festivals in NWA Originated ArkanSalsa Fest, an eclectic art and music festival, in Fayetteville on Dickson Street and George’s, to raise money for scholarships and to inspire community leaders. Awarded scholarships to 3 college students for $500.00 each through the OneCommunity Scholarship Program. An outreach to recruit Latino parents for the Sonora Elementary and Sonora Middle School, Springdale School District Family Literacy Program was conducted. PTLA parents presented their Legacy Projects to announce projects they have undertaken that will continue to enhance and develop their leadership skills Volunteer: Volunteers are sought periodically to serve for special events and committees such as the ArkanSalsa Fest Funding: OneCommunity is funded through grants and contributions from individuals and corporations and through fund-raising projects. Donations may be made directly to the organization. One Community received nonprofit status in February 2011. Diana Gonzales Worthen, PhD and Al Lopez are the co-founders. Find out more at www.onecommunityar.org.
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org
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New and Renewing Members The Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center, Bentonville Communication Arts Institute, Eureka Springs Senior Citizens Active Today, Little Rock AR United Community Coalition, Fayetteville Project 3:27, Conway St. Mary’s Women’s Life Alliance, Russellville Gardner & Associates Consulting Group, LLC, Searcy Marion Chamber of Commerce, Marion NEW Hang Yang, Conway NEW The Brandon Burlsworth Foundation, Harrison NE AR Regional AIDS Network, Jonesboro CASA of Clark County, Arkadelphia Generations of Faith, El Dorado McGehee Desha Alumni Community Center, McGehee The CALL, Little Rock Conway Interfaith Clinic, Conway CASA of Saline County, Benton
GRANTS CORNER Arkansas Community Foundation Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Foundation Grants This grant program is sponsored by the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Foundation and administered by Arkansas Community Foundation. Grants are awarded to programs that serve African-Americans or other minority populations in Arkansas. Projects must focus on: Education, Health and wellness, Youth development, Small business development/economic development. Grants will typically range from $1,000 to $2,500 but may approach $5,000 in special circumstances. Who’s Eligible? 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, hospitals, public schools and government agencies are eligible to apply. All geographic areas of the state are eligible. We’re especially interested in proposals for projects that show evidence of collaboration with other organizations and that have multiple sources of funding.
Services for People Affected by Autism Funded Autism Speaks Family Services Community Grants The goal of Autism Speaks is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. The organization’s Family Services Community Grants support programs nationwide that work to build the field of services for individuals with autism and to expand the capacity to effectively serve this growing community. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 are provided in the following categories: Education, Recreation/Community Activities, and Young Adult/Adult Services. Priority will be given to agencies and organizations that address the needs of those who have little access to services. Letters of intent are due March 25, 2013; final proposals must be submitted by April 22, 2013. Visit the Autism Speaks website to download the Request for Applications
Support Available to Aid Farmworkers Department of Labor The National Farmworker Jobs Program Grants provide support for training, employment services, and related assistance in order to increase economic opportunities for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents. The application deadline is April 2, 2013.
AmeriCorps Program Grants DHS Division of Community Service and Nonprofit Support AmeriCorps programs address disaster services, education, clean energy, healthy futures, economic opportunity, disaster preparedness, and veterans and military families, as defined by a local sponsoring organization. AmeriCorps programs recruit and place members in direct service to their community to fulfill these initiatives. Applications will be accepted for grants in the 2013-2014 Arkansas state AmeriCorps formula funding cycle. Successful applicants will be expected to establish programs and begin recruiting members to serve in programs beginning September 1 or October 1, 2013 for up to a one year period.
Look for more available grants on GrantStation.com. Get a free subscription with your ACE membership. Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org
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ARVets: KEEPING THEIR MISSION IN MIND By:Blake Welch, ARVets Thousands of Veterans in Arkansas struggle adjusting to civilian life. Some are homeless; others are unaware of the resources available to them to help make life easier. ARVets accomplishes our mission to enhance the overall quality of life for military personnel, veterans and their families by confronting these and many other obstacles through case-management and supportive services. Each program and service offered is driven by and centered on this mission. Our professional staff takes an individual approach to determine each veteran’s needs. If a veteran is on the job search, our case managers may be able to connect them with work through our employer network. Veterans interested in going to college or job training may be eligible for tuition assistance through the Arkansas Veterans Education and Training Partnership (AVETP), a partnership with two-year colleges and apprenticeship programs. We can also help connect veterans with VA benefits and public assistance they are privileged to. Our new Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), in partnership with St. Francis House, combats homelessness and case managers develop a housing stability plan for each veteran. This program, funded through a VA grant, allows us to assist veterans with permanent housing, pay their utilities bills or several other assist support areas. Each day we are building our Network of Care in hopes to connect veterans across the state with any need they may have. Transportation, food pantries and utility assistance are just a few of the many services in our network. ARVets is quickly becoming the premier non-profit veteran service organization and a one-stop shop for veterans. Every program is uniquely designed to meet the needs of each veteran and their families, building those personal relationships to better understand whatever life circumstances they are in and accomplishing our mission to enhance their overall quality of life.
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org
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ADVOCACY UPDATES Arbitrary Spending Cuts Scheduled to Start March 1 Unless Congress and the President reach agreement on an alternative plan by this Thursday, $85 billion in arbitrary, across-the-board spending cuts go into effect, causing disruptions for governments, nonprofits, and ordinary citizens in every community across the country. The cuts, known as sequestration, are the result of a budget deal in 2011 that purposefully designed cuts so painful that politicians would be forced to compromise – a result that appears unlikely at present. This week the Senate is expected to consider competing bills, one by Democrats and another by Republicans, to prevent sequestration, but due to a combination of partisan and procedural reasons neither is expected to pass. No votes are expected in the House prior to the cuts taking effect. Despite the apparent impasse, pressure is building for Congress to take action by the end of March. The Congressional Budget Office recently predicted that the sequester will cost 750,000 jobs, changing the debate from arcane budget terms to the impact on real lives. This weekend, the White House released state-specific details of what the cuts mean in terms of local jobs and services to individuals. Starting March 1, federal agencies will inform governors, private contractors, grant recipients, and other stakeholders of the dollars they will lose. But realistically, it will take a few weeks for most of the cuts to be felt. That timing coincides with the expiration of the current “Continuing Resolution” on March 27, at which time authority for funding the entire federal government runs out, forcing Congress to enact legislation to prevent the government from shutting down. Some observers are predicting that the threat of a shutdown, rather than the sequester, will be the sufficient impetus to get Congress and the President to finally reach agreement on a deal to address the recurring fiscal challenges. Witnesses at House Hearing Link Charitable Giving Incentive to Community Needs On February 14th, the House Ways and Means Committee, the tax-writing committee with jurisdiction over charitable giving incentives and tax-exemption policies, held a hearing on “Tax Reform and Charitable Contributions.” Of vital interest, the testimony and questions focused almost exclusively on the people and communities that benefit from the work of nonprofits, rather than on rich donors or rich institutions. Most witnesses focused on the need to enhance giving to support the work of nonprofits in communities, but some academics and economists offered various tax-law changes, such as allowing all taxpayers to deduct charitable giving – but only above a certain floor (e.g., one- or twopercent of adjusted gross income) – and further restricting non-cash contributions like household goods. While mostly praising the work of charities, a few individual Representatives through their questions exhibited misunderstandings about the relationship between government and nonprofits (contracts and grants) and between nonprofits and for-profits (alleging unfair competition), and expressed interest in narrowing the scope or changing incentives to target giving in support of immediate needs. Nonprofit organizations are encouraged to provide comment to the Committee on any and all of these issues by February 28. SeeNational Council of Nonprofits testimony for background information and testimonials from more than 130 charitable nonprofits in support of the giving incentive. Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org
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BENEFIT OF THE MONTH Member Benefit of the Month: On Topic with ACE ACE is excited to announce a new benefit for ACE Members Only. "On Topic with ACE" is a free, monthly networking call designed to give ACE Members the chance to network with nonprofit peers from around the state. Each month, the call will be held in conjunction with the publication date and theme of our monthly eNewsletter. These exclusive calls will focus on a specific topic and be facilitated by local nonprofit and community leaders. Facilitators will also provide time for everyone on the call to participate by asking questions and sharing helpful information. Join us on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. This month's call will focus on "Keeping Your Mission in Mind," facilitated by Jody Dilday, Single Parent Scholarship Fund of NWA and Nicole Hart, ARVets, Little Rock. Join the conversation! Register Today. Click here to learn about additional ACE Member Benefits.
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org
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RESOURCES AND OTHER LINKS TIP OF THE MONTH Avoid Transition Trauma with a Succession Plan Melanie Lockwood Herman and Erin Gloeckner Succession planning can be a touchy subject. Members of a nonprofit board may fear the risk of insulting a CEO by suggesting the topic as an agenda item. Some CEOs may feel disinclined to raise the subject because it could send mixed signals about their intent to remain with the nonprofit. Yet succession planning is a critical risk management issue for every nonprofit board. Getting over the taboo associated with succession planning is the first step to managing the myriad risks associated with poorly planned executive leadership transitions. If conversations from recent Risk Assessments are any indication, the lack of a succession plan opens the door to confusion and turmoil in the board room, infighting on the senior management team, concern on the part of key institutional donors, uncertainty and fear among rank and file staff, reduced productivity, and more. Based on our engagements with dozens of nonprofits and nonprofit boards, the absence of a plan outlining critical steps in the wake of a CEO departure is the #1 risk issue keeping members of nonprofit boards awake at night. Click here for more...
LEADERSHIP TIP OF THE MONTH How a Clear Mission Creates Income Mike Harbour, Harbour Resources There is a common pattern in organizations when it comes to mission statements. The governing board will spend days - sometimes months - developing a mission statement, and then as soon as it is communicated, it is essentially lost in the day-to-day operations. A mission statement, by definition, is the core of your organization – what you do and why you exist. It is the foundation of your business and the gauge of your operations. It should be simple and clear enough that every person in the organization knows it and abides by it. Why is a mission statement so critical to an organization’s success? 1. It defines who you are. 2. It defines who you are not. Kary Oberbrunner, successful author, speaker and trainer, says the reason a leader can’t say “no” to an opportunity is because he doesn’t know what his “yes” is. He also says that the number one need of a person, organization, or business is clarity. Click here for more... Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org
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HELPFUL HINTS Keeping Your Mission in Mind Before you keep your mission in mind, make sure you have the right mission statement. Here is a quick reference from Idealist.org on how to craft a mission statement… Or drastically re-think your mission statement with this article by Hildy Gottlieb…. You should also consider attending: Why and How Mission-Driven Leaders Are Embracing Performance Management webinar hosted by Perform Well.
IN THE KNOW 2013 Nonprofit Salary Survey ACE will participate in a 2013 Nonprofit Salary Survey through a partnership with the National Council of Nonprofits and Columbia Books. ACE members who complete the survey, will receive a free copy of the final report. Pre-register for the Nonprofit Salary Survey today at www.columbiabooks.com/NationalCompensation-Report. The survey opens March 15th, 2013!
UALR School of Social Work Career & Internship Fair The School of Social work will be hosting a career and internship fair on Thursday, March 14. R.S.V.P to socialwork@ualr.edu or to receive more information.
Ouachita Baptist Career Fair Ouachita Baptist University is hosting its annual Career Expo on Thursday, March 7 from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on their Arkadelphia campus. This is a fantastic chance to meet outstanding college students in all majors and share internship future job opportunities! Quite a few students have a real heart for service and are exploring the nonprofit sector - please share your story with them! Deadline to register is March 1. Please contact Lauren Land at landl@obu.edu or call 870-245-5283 with any questions! Registration is available online at www.obu.edu/career.
2013 Most Endangered Places List The Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas is proud to announce it is accepting nominations for the 2013 Most Endangered Places List. Properties selected will be announced in May during Arkansas Heritage Month and National Preservation Month. The deadline for nominations is Friday, March 22, 2013. Click here for more information.
JOBS CENTER Director of Annual Giving– University of Central Arkansas Chief Operating Officer– Kingsley House, New Orleans ACE Members can post jobs to the ACE Jobs Board for free as part of their membership. Click here to create your employer account. Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org
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Thank you for reading this month’s edition of our newsletter. Questions or Comments? Contact us.
Stephanie F. Meincke, MSW President and CEO smeincke@acenonprofit.org Emily C. Ingram, Vice President eingram@acenonprofit.org Rebecca Zimmermann, Program Coordinator rzimmermann@acenonprofit.org
Helping Nonprofits Help Arkansas
Located within the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation Offices 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 375-1223 www.acenonprofit.org