July, 2010
This edition of The Nonprofit Partnership's e-news is sponsored by Malin, Bergquist & Co.
Updating Our View of Conflict of Interest
The traditional view of conflict of interest focuses on financial benefit to board members or staff to the detriment of the organization, like the organization buying something unnecessary or overpriced from a board member or the nonprofit hiring an unqualified, overpaid family member of the executive director. But as Jan Masaoka points out in this month’s Board Café, the changing lives of nonprofits today are forcing us to update our view of an increasingly nuanced type of conflict of interest. Consider:
• Competition and Collaboration scenarios. The times we live in dictate both increasing alliances and increasing competition between nonprofits. But what happens when your board members are also board members of your collaborator or your competitor for a coveted grant? Whose interests should be favored?
• Constituencies. Our times also favor including key constituencies and stakeholders on the board of directors. But the times are also demanding that we raise fees in order to survive. What position does this place clients and parents in who may also be board members? And what of the funder who may be on the board but faces pressure on the job to reduce the giving portfolio which places your agency in a precarious position?
These questions go to the heart of the conflict of interest discussion and are also at the core of one of the nonprofit boards’ fiduciary pillars: the duty of loyalty. What about the question of divided loyalties? We see it all the time. For a full discussion of this issue and some proposed remedies, see http://www.blueavocado.org/print/545.
Upcoming at The Nonprofit Partnership
Town Hall Meeting with Dan Onorato
• Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato will be in Erie on Thursday, July 22 from 3:00 to 4:45 pm for a Town Hall meeting with nonprofit leaders to discuss the issues of the day. The meeting will take place at Erie DAWN, 2549 West 8th St. on the Villa Maria Campus. Please RSVP to gravetto@thenonprofitpartnership.org.
Education and Training Events
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Guide for Developing a Website RFP
Presented by the eMarketing Learning Center and Nick Kosanovich, Jr., Long Dog Marketing
Thursday, July 29, 8:30 am - 12 Noon at WQLN, 8425 Peach Street, Erie
Will you be developing a new website? A Website RFP is a document that articulates the entire scope of work for the design or re-design of a Web site project.There is a lot of work that needs to be done before you hire a vendor to create your website. And by creating an RFP, you can save yourself time and money. It is also easier to get accurate proposals back from vendors when you have a clear and defined RFP.
What you will learn:
-Recognize the need for an RFP when designing or redesigning your Web site.
-Strategic Planning.
-Identify the key aspects to be included in an RFP.
-How to identify your budget.
-Look at an example of an RFP.
-What to look for in a Website service provider.
-Best practices and Project Management.
-This session will help guide you in a process for developing a website Request for Proposal (RFP). Learn best practices that will ensure you receive website development proposals and quotes that will meet your requirements based on a sound strategy.
Nick Kosanovich Jr began his Web Marketing experience four years ago as the Program Coordinator for the eMarketing Special Interest Group and E-marketing Apprentice for the eMarketing Learning Center (eMLC). Since leaving eMLC Nick has gone on to found Long Dog Marketing, an online marketing agency in Erie, Pennsylvania.
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The Story Project
NPP's 2010 training in the power of story combines the leader's personal story, the organization's elevator speech, and the organization's story of transformation into a compeling narrative that moves audiences. Participants leave the session with a recording that can be used for marketing purposes.
Facilitated by Robert Wooler and Heidi Kerner.
Tuesday, August 10, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at WQLN, 8425 Peach Street, Erie
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The Grantsmanship Center Training Workshop Comes to Erie August 16-20
This summer The Nonprofit Partnership will again host the world-renowned Grantsmanship Center training program, an intensive full week of immersion in best-practice grant-finding and grantwriting skills. This training will be held at the Bayfront Center for Maritime Studies and is limited to 30 participants, so reserve your spot today by calling 454-8800 or e-mailing tnp@thenonprofitpartnership.org.
Save the Date for Nonprofit Day 2010 – October 21
Yes, we are enjoying our summer now, but fall will be here before you know it, and this year’s Northwest PA Nonprofit Day promises to be the best ever. Mark your calendars now for Thursday, October 21 and get ready for 18 relevant, practical workshops that will give you the tools you need to solve the problems at hand in your organization. Top leaders in nonprofit marketing and communication, leadership and management, and strategy and fund development will be with use to share best practices.
On Wednesday, October 20, we will be offering a Pre-Conference Institute on public policy and the budget outlook and strategy for 2011 featuring statewide leaders in the battle for nonprofit viability.
During our award ceremony at lunchtime on Nonprofit Day, we will be recognizing member organizations for excellence in two areas:
• Annual Reports. $2,500 awards will be given for the best large and small organization annual reports. Submissions are due to NPP on September 17. Applications details are available on our website.
• Bracken Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Governance. The $5,000 Bracken Award goes to the board that shows exemplary practice in governance. As above, applications, due on September 17, are available on the NPP website.
Donors Need Immediate Thank Yous
New research by fundraising pioneer Penelope Burk, reported on Guidestar, points to the importance of donors receiving an immediate thank you call from the organization. Not just the obligatory thank you letter with details about the impact of gift and your results, a call from a board member! The research study showed that the next time they were solicited, these donors gave 39% more than the donors who did not receive a call. After 14 months, those donors were giving 42% more.
For details, see the article at Guidestar.
Advance Your Fundraising Skills This Fall
Fundamentals of Fundraising, a 12-week certificate program in the nuts and bolts of fundraising, will be presented this fall by some of the region's most experienced development professionals under the banner of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
The course begins on Monday, August 23 at the Penn State Behrend campus and continues through the fall on Monday evenings. An informational session will be held on Wednesday, July 21 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm at Behrend, so reserve your seat by caling 898-6103. To learn more, go to www.behrend.psu.edu/cde/fundraising.htm.
The Recession Takes its Toll on Nonprofits
According to a new report just released by the Listening Post project at Johns Hopkins University, the recession its taking a heavy toll on nonprofits nationally. The report notes:
- 40% of nonprofit organizations currently lack adequate staff to deliver their programs and services.
- 49% have redefined job descriptions, the euphemism used when laid-off employees' duties are re-assigned to others.
- 39% have implemented salary freezes.
- 23% have altered hours or reduced benefits.
Arts and culture organizations have been among the hardest hit. The full report, "Recession Pressures on Nonprofit Jobs is available at http://ccss.jhu.edu.
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