ACE July Newsletter by Arkansas Coalition for Excellence

July 2012

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence: Helping Nonprofits Help Arkansas We are proud to work with you to achieve ACEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

The results are in! The Nonprofit Compensation Report: An Analysis of Arkansas Nonprofits 2012. Click here to find out more and get your copy.

IN THIS EDITION 3

Greetings from ACE

4-5

Upcoming Trainings and Events

6-7

Federal and State Policy Updates Grants Corner

9 10-11

The Arkansas Secretary of State's Annual Report for Nonprofit Corporations is due August 1, 2012.

Member Corner

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

GREETINGS FROM ACE Dear ACE Members and Friends, Here we are – just beginning the long “dog days of summer” when the thought of going outside is quickly dismissed. In the good old days, or back in the day as they say now, it seemed summer in the south meant work would slow down, things would move at a slower pace and there would be time to prepare for the fall. Not anymore. Work and life, in general, continue at a breakneck pace. How do we slow down and get back the time we need to rejuvenate our energy and creativity? Here are my top 10 suggestions: 10. Plan ahead – make sure important projects are completed before those dog days start allowing you to spend some “quality time” with your brain. 9. Stop scheduling all but the most important meetings. Freeing up your time speaks to your seriousness in prioritizing your time for the important things. Then schedule this “found” time to play with ideas, concepts, and creative solutions to clingy problems. 8. Make it a party – invite your staff to play, too. 7. Have fun at work – plan a potluck at lunch, have an early tailgate party, surprise the staff with the unexpected. 6. Institute a new ritual by cleaning out your office during the month of August. Box up the old, set up the new and get ready for productivity. Can’t get started – take it one day (or one pile) at a time. 5. Do something that enhances your career such as writing an article, giving a speech, or cleaning up your resume. 4. Expand your mind by engaging it with new information or concepts that help keep you current in your field, and remain innovative and fresh in the approach to your mission. 3. Spread the knowledge and insight you gain with a colleague, test your ideas, find a mentor to help you make the changes you want to make in yourself as a leader or in your organization. 2. Just put your feet up, sip a cool drink and RELAX – it’s highly underrated as a method of improving productivity, but it works! 1. And the most important - DON’T FORGET TO COME TO THE ARKANSAS COALITION FOR EXCELLENCE ANNUAL MEETING AT THE CLINTON CENTER ON AUGUST 22ND FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 3:00 P.M. This meets at least 6 of the Top 10 suggestions. Talk about a winning strategy! Hope to see you there –

Stephanie Meincke, MSW Executive Director Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org

UPCOMING TRAININGS, EVENTS & PROGRAMS Arkansas Coalition for Excellence Summer Tech Series Online Communications Strategy 101 Still haven’t quite mastered social media, e-mail blasts, and e-newsletters? Have trouble integrating new trends in technology to your overall communications strategy? In this workshop learn important tools and goals to utilize online communications. And learn how to create an online community of volunteers, donors, staff, and even clients that will help to form a solid base of support for your organization. Conducted by. Rebecca Zimmermann– ACE Membership and Communications Coordinator– AmeriCorps VISTA Thursday, August 2 12:00p.m.-1:00p.m. Webinar– online and by phone FREE Register Here

AFP Arkansas How to Talk to Your Board Our Boards tend to place a great deal of emphasis on results. Your Board wants to hear about ROI and low fundraising costs. How do you create an understanding of the long-term nature of major gift development? What do you do if you don't really even have access to the Board to try to deepen their understanding? Perhaps you have leadership gaps and issues to deal with from a campaign, or you are not sure what your own position or credibility is with the Board. We will explore three actual case studies where the development professional successfully handled talking to their boards and outline several strategies you can ADAPT to your SPECIFIC SITUATION to help you talk to YOUR Board! Wednesday, August 1, 2012 11:45a.m.- 1:30p.m. Little Rock ACE members pay AFP member rate of $15 Register Here

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org

ACE MEMBER BENEFITS Do you know all of the cost-savings your membership includes? Research Grants Online for FREE as Part of Your ACE Membership GRANTSTATION offers nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies the opportunity to identify potential funding sources for their programs or projects as well as the resources to mentor these organizations through the grantseeking process. GrantStation provides access to searchable databases of private grantmakers that accept inquiries and proposals from a variety of organizations; profiles of Federal financial assistance programs; state-level financial and technical assistance provider resources; and a constantly growing database of international grantmakers. IN THE SEARCH AREA, GrantStation offers Members access to all of our grantmaker listings and research tools. (Click on the highlighted headings to see sample records) This section of the website helps you find grantmakers who might fund your programs and projects. You can search private grantmakers based in the United States, Canada, and internationally. These profiles are searchable by geographic focus, areas of interest, and types of support. You can also search for upcoming federal grants and loans and identify state funding opportunities. IN THE WRITE AREA, GrantStation offers a set of practical tutorials to assist grantseekers in developing a solid base for their grantseeking programs, and in crafting compelling documents designed to garner the attention ofgrantmakers. Included in this section are step by step guides on how to get started in the grantseeking process, write a letter of inquiry, develop a full proposal, and revise and edit past proposals. IN THE LEARN AREA, GrantStation offers a number of resources to bolster grantseeking strategies and the management of grant awards, including how to document in-kind contributions questions to ask the grantmaker before applying and Online Education sessions that can further your grant knowledge. GRANTS2020, an interactive visioning tool to help you realize the grants potential for your organization is also included. In addition to the visual depiction of your funding sources, you also receive custom analysis and recommendations.

Contact Rebecca at 501.375.1225 or rzimmermann@acenonprofit.org for more information. Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org

Mission Outreach of Northeast Arkansas Mission Outreach of Northeast Arkansas, Inc. Celebrates 30 Years What began as a simple vision to provide a place of refuge to those with no home has turned into a multi-faceted non-profit organization that not only provides shelter, but many other programs and services designed to help one change their life for the better. Mission Outreach is a sixty-bed emergency homeless shelter that is located in Paragould and primarily serves Greene, Craighead, Clay, Lawrence and Randolph counties. An on-site food pantry, which has distributed 2,412 food boxes in 2012, and an on-site soup kitchen, which has served 25,385 meals this year, help to fight hunger in Northeast Arkansas. Mission Outreach also operates a charitable clinic that offers primary medical care and prescription assistance to individuals who have no private health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, thus having no access to healthcare besides a visit to a local emergency room. Other services offered by the staff such as one-on-one case management, goal setting, financial strategies classes, support groups, transportation and employment assistance are all crucial to the goal of offering new hope. Recently, Mission Outreach has cast forth a new vision for the future that includes the construction of a new facility dedicated to meeting the needs of homeless families, women with children and single women. This new facility will allow Mission Outreach to address needs more promptly and will separate those in need from an environment of potentially harmful choices. If you would like more information on Mission Outreach of Northeast Arkansas, Inc. please visit their website at www.missionoutreachnea.com or contact them at 870-236-8080.

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org

PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY DHS Division of Community Service & Nonprofit Support, Little Rock | SWADC Literacy Councils, Hope | Quapaw Quarter Association, Little Rock| Junior League of Little Rock, Little Rock NEW | Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas, Little Rock | Just Communities of Arkansas, Little Rock | Lonoke County Council on Aging, Lonoke | Kids Life & Money, Conway NEW | Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central AR, North Little Rock|

Want to join our coalition of 309 members dedicated to strengthening the nonprofit sector ? Contact Rebecca at 501.375.1225 or rzimmermann @acenonprofit.org

Action on Tax-Cut Extensions, Sequestration Report Unless Congress acts, the tax cuts of 2001, 2003, and 2010 automatically cease at the end of this year. To stop that from happening, the House is scheduled to vote this week on two bills (H.R.8, H.R.6169) to continue tax cuts for all income levels and to implement an expedited process for comprehensive tax reform legislation next year. The House will also vote on a version (S.3412)the Senate passed last week (51-48) that would continue the tax cuts for everyone except those earning more than $250,000 annually. House Ways and Means Democrats today plan to introduce legislation identical to the Senate bill, as well as a measure to return the estate tax to 2009 levels with a $3.5 million exemption and a maximum rate of 45 percent. The two chambers could also resolve differences this week and pass a bill requiring the Administration to issue a detailed report on how federal agencies would implement the $109 billion in automatic cuts scheduled for January 2. Donor Disclosure Ordered for Some Political Ads Non-charitable nonprofit organizations spending money for “electioneering communications” will be required to disclose the names of donors contributing $1000 or more in a year, the Federal Election Commission announced Friday. The new guidance applies to groups, such as chambers of commerce, unions, and 501(c)(4) advocacy organizations, that run ads that expressly name a federal candidate prior to an election. The FEC decision comes in response to court rulings overturning a prior rule that limited disclosures to contributions intended for political messaging. The new guidance does not apply to 501(c)(3) organizations because they are already barred from engaging in partisan election activities. Learn more about how your nonprofit can advocate at ACE’s annual meeting afternoon breakout session. Creating a United Front: Arkansas Nonprofits & Public Policy What is the role of nonprofits in the political realm? Do we have an active part to play, or do we passively react to changes? In this session, learn what Arkansas nonprofits can do to strengthen our voice in policy discussions. Led by: Brett Kincaid, Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families. Click here to register today.

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org

GRANTS CORNER Arkansas Community Foundation Giving Tree Grants Through ARCF signature Giving Tree Grant Program, ARCF supports a broad range of projects with the potential for statewide impact and programs serving immediate local needs. Each of their 27 local offices and our central office in Little Rock offers Giving Tree grants at least once a year. Typically, these grants are available for a wide variety of charitable causes;. Check with the local office to which you’re applying for information about the current grantmaking focus. How to Apply Download and complete the application form at www.arcf.org between July 10 and August 15, 2012. Applications must be submitted to arcfgrants@arcf.org by 11:59 p.m. on August 15. If you need assistance, contact Chris Love, Arkansas Community Foundation’s program director, at clove@arcf.org or 501-372-1116.

Barber Law Firm Century Fund For over a century, the Barber Law Firm has prided itself on being a forward-thinking organization – a leader in our profession. To honor our 100th year in practice, we committed to giving back for the next century with the formation of the Barber Law Firm Century Fund. With annual contributions from the firm for the next century, each year the Barber Law Firm Century Fund will distribute a portion of its annual earnings to a designated nonprofit partner. Designed to generate approximately $8 million in charitable contributions over the next century, the fund will produce greater impact each year with total annual distributions of approximately $250,000 by 2110. For Information on how to apply click here. Deadline August 15.

Support for Social Justice Groups in the U.S. and Canada Unitarian Universalist Association: Fund for a Just Society The Fund for a Just Society, a program of the Unitarian Universalist Association, provides grants to nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and Canada that address issues of social and economic justice. The Fund supports organizations that use community organizing to bring about systemic change leading to a more just society and mobilize with those who have been disenfranchised and excluded from resources, power, and the right to self-determination. Consideration is given to projects that are less likely to receive conventional funding because of the innovative or challenging nature of the work or the economic and social status of the constituency. The maximum grant amount is $15,000; however, most grants range between $6,000 and $8,000. Requests are reviewed two times per year; the next application deadline is September 17, 2012. Visit the Unitarian Universalist Association website to review the funding guidelines. 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

RESOURCES AND OTHER LINKS TIP OF THE MONTH Mind the Gap By Melanie Lockwood Herman Readers who have been to a “tube” station in London will instantly recognize the title of today’s essay on risk. Introduced in 1969 on the London Underground, “Mind the Gap” signs were posted to warn riders to exercise care when stepping over the varying-in-size gap that exists between the station platform and the train. The phrase is now used in transit systems worldwide from Singapore to Stockholm. While waiting for a mechanic to finish routine maintenance on my Mini Cooper this morning I heard a promo for TV coverage of the 2012 Olympic Games. The mention of London reminded me of the simple, but effective “Mind the Gap” signs I’ve seen on my trips across the pond, and led me to ponder the frequent “gaps” that go unnoticed and therefore unattended in risk management programs. While pondering strategies for increasing the winning percentage (or sustaining the winning streak!) of your risk management program, ask whether the following gaps may be present:

         

A gap between the intent of your volunteer policies… and your volunteers’ understanding of those policies. A gap between the knowledge required to provide thoughtful fiscal oversight… and the demonstrated fiscal literacy of your current board. Hint: if board members don’t ask any questions when the Finance Committee delivers its report, the word “gap” is probably an understatement. A gap between your proudly proclaimedcommitment to safety… and your track record of injuries, accidents and near misses. A gap between the 100% participation target for your staff and volunteer training, and actual attendance at “required” education sessions. A gap between your lofty statement expressing a “commitment to transparency” and yourwillingness to let stakeholders peek behind the organizational curtain of secrecy. A gap between your resolution to “adopt best practices in youth protection” and your track record of reaching out for help to implement best-in-class program design, screening, training and supervision. A gap between your intent to embrace “enterprise risk management” and the narrow scope of your silobased, operational risk management program. A gap between your statement, that “our most important assets are our people” and staff morale. A gap between your avowed “trust in employees” and your inclination to micromanage them. A gap between your resolve to “hire the best and the brightest” and your compensation and benefits package.

A gap between nonprofit sector and risk management industry “best practices” andbusiness as usual. If you’re keen to spot other “gaps” in your risk management efforts, AND close any of the applicable gaps listed above, consider joining our team of risk leaders for the 18th annual RISK SUMMIT sponsored by the Nonprofit Risk Management Center, this August 26-28 in Chicago. As indicated at the top of this issue of the eNews, the Early-Bird discount will disappear tomorrow. Registertoday to avoid disappointment. To learn more about the conference, visit the SUMMIT webpage. Click on the PROGRAM tab to see the line-up of sessions and speakers.

Melanie Lockwood Herman is Executive Director of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. She welcomes your ideas about any risk management topic, suggestions for simple but clever warning signs, and questions about the Center’s resources at Melanie@nonprofitrisk.org or (202) 785-3891. The Center provides risk management tools and resources at www.nonprofitrisk.org and offers consulting assistance to organizations unwilling to leave their missions to chance. Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org

TIP OF THE MONTH Using Social Media to Improve Corporate Event Sponsorships If your organization works with corporate sponsors, you’ve probably put some thought into defining the different levels of sponsorship and what to include in each. Such perks can help lure new sponsors by offering a return on their investment beyond just a charitable contribution or can tempt existing sponsors to increase their donation. There’s an entire realm of perks you can offer to increase the value of your sponsorship packages. By thinking about ways to incorporate online resources into your packages, including websites, email and social media, you might find exciting new ways to draw sponsors and let your community know about the businesses that help make your programs possible. Designing such key communications as emails to your list, or a sign-up page, using a sponsor’s corporate colors, fonts and other branding elements can draw a strong connection between them and the event. If the nature of your website makes it difficult to incorporate someone else’s brand, consider creating a micro-site. It is simply a small, separate site just for the event. Don’t forget the possibility of using your social media channels to recognize your sponsors. You could include a commitment to write about your partnership. For example, you could agree to mention them in one blog post, twice on Facebook and four times on Twitter. If your organization has a blog, you could offer sponsors a guest post about something cause-related that overlaps with your mission. You could hold a contest to find the employee who’s most enthusiastic about your cause and then hand them the reins of your Twitter feed or Facebook page for a day. Multimedia can be a compelling way to recognize sponsors. Consider a photo with key staff members from your sponsor’s company, or a video interview. If they provide a branded banner or sign, you could use it for a backdrop. If you’re hosting a live event, take pictures of participants in front of it and post them on your Facebook page or with your event photos. Read more.

JOBS CENTER Membership Coordinator/ Americorps VISTA– Arkansas Coalition for Excellence Executive Director– National Community Land Trust Network Chief Development Officer– American Red Cross Major Gifts Associate– American Red Cross Program Associate– The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation Create a JOBTARGET account on our site to post your organization’s open positions. ACE members post for free! Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org

Thank you for reading this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition of our newsletter. Questions or Comments? Contact us.

Stephanie Meincke, MSW Executive Director smeincke@acenonprofit.org Emily Ingram, Associate Director eingram@acenonprofit.org Rebecca Zimmermann, Membership & Communications Coordinator, AmeriCorps VISTA 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