| In This Issue | |
| Resource Quick Picks |
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Advocacy Handbook (May 2008) for engagement at state, local levels - where most nonprofits are likely to have
the capacity to engage, and the potential to see quicker results - as
well as for opportunities at the federal level. The Conversations Network nonprofit online publisher that helps people capture, produce, preserve, find and share recordings of spoken-word events such as conferences, lectures and meetings. MeetingsNet The meeting industry's portal for information and resources related to planning meetings and events. See their Meeting Planner Survival Guide. |
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| Jobs | |
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For more info: WNA Career Center |
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| Join WNA Today! | |
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Not yet a member? Become part of the collective voice promoting the impact of our vital sector. Visit us at or contact Elaine Glowacki, Member Services Coordinator, elaine@wisconsinnonprofits.org or 608-238-7103.
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| About Us |
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Wisconsin Nonprofits Association
Our
purpose is to increase the effectiveness, visibility, and credibility
of Wisconsin's nonprofits through advocacy, resource sharing, and
technical support. Executive Director: Mary Riordan Member Svcs: Elaine Glowacki |
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WNA is a proud member of:
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Thank you to our
2009 Annual Funding Partners:
| Dear Elaine, | |
| Association News | |
 Summit 2010 Survey - Help us choose June Date & CityPlease take a few moments to let us know what you think! Click HERE to go to the Survey.
New Wisconsin Nonprofit Sector Report Released
Mary Goes to Washington Mary Riordan, our newly hired, first executive director, is already guiding the organization into its next phase of growth. On July 15, as part of a National Council of Nonprofits member summit, Mary and the executive directors of other state associations of nonprofits met at the White House with Michele Jolin, Senior Advisor to President Obama’s new Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation. They discussed ways in which the National Council’s unique national/state/local network could help the Office connect to small and midsize nonprofits in local communities to identify, promote, and support innovative and scalable programs New schedule for Common Ground eNews. You can now look forward to this free Common Ground eNews on the 3rd Wednesday of every month. We encourage you to forward it or bits to co-workers and other colleagues (see the easy-to-use forward link at the bottom - which protects your subscription privacy). We welcome feedback and contributions and will happily give appropriate credit. Contact Elaine Glowacki for submission info. |
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| Nonprofit Sector News & Information | |
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[podcast] Tax Incentives and the Nonprofit Sector
Given current tax laws, $300 billion in charitable dollars can end up costing the U.S. Treasury $50 billion in lost income. Should taxable income exclude charitable contributions? In this talk, sponsored by the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, Stanford professor Rob Reich asks some tough questions, ultimately proposing a new way of looking at tax incentives to support the nonprofit sector. (57 min) The Economic Effects of Health Care Reform on Small Businesses and Their Employees Small businesses play an important role in the U.S. economy and are a strong driver of job growth and innovation. But small businesses are severely disadvantaged by the current U.S. health care system relative to their larger counterparts. A new report by the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) examines the challenges faced by smaller firms under the current health care system, and the likely impacts of health care reform on small businesses and the workers they employ. Health Care Reform: Don't Leave Nonprofits Out The National Council of Nonprofits is concerned that many of the proposed health care reform proposals fail to recognize the nation's nonprofit sector, which employs as many as 15 million workers. The vast majority of nonprofits are small - 93.6% of nonprofits have income of less than $1 million - and they face the same rising health care costs as small for-profit businesses. The National Council of Nonprofits recently sent this letter to the Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisors as a reminder that small nonprofits are also feeling the pain of rising health costs and that any meaningful heath care reform should help all small employers equally, rather than provide only a partial solution that leaves out America's nonprofits. Two Special Reports from the National Council of Nonprofits Highlight Recent Survey Data on the Impact of the Economic Crisis on the Nonprofit Sector New survey data reported in the spring and early summer of 2009 sheds light on important collective experiences of nonprofits all around the country Everything You Wanted to Know About Nonprofits & Committees, Part One The board of directors of a nonprofit corporation is generally empowered to create committees at its discretion, subject to the nonprofit corporation’s bylaws and the laws of the state of incorporation. While committees can be utilized to alleviate the board of some tasks and help increase efficiency, committee formation should not be taken lightly or used overzealously because the ultimate oversight is still the board’s responsibility. If done improperly, committees instead complicate the board’s workload and cause inefficiencies in the nonprofit corporation’s operation. Importantly, successful committee use begins with understanding the basics of a board versus non-board committee and a standing versus ad hoc committee. Donors and Overhead: Maybe They Don’t Care I’m convinced that the reason that people care about the overhead ratio of charities is because we keep telling them that it’s important. I have an announcement to make: I am a donor to quite a few nonprofits, and I don’t care what percentage of their budget is spent for overhead. I think that a lot of donors would agree. |
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| Management Tip | |
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Ten Quick Ways to Invigorate Board Meetings Board members invest a tremendous amount of time and energy at board meetings. A few simple changes can often make that investment pay off in important ways. Make a resolution to implement at least one of the following ideas this month. |
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| Technology | |
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Free eBook on Storylistening Through Social Media If you've been thinking of social media as just another media channel, this is your wakeup call. There's a real revolution going on that's forever altering the way people and brands communicate, and ushering in what we call the Post-Advertising Age. Don't miss out on the biggest game-changing opportunity in a generation. This 61-page PDF slide show is a quick read with some profound ideas that remind us of the basics of communicating with humans. Note: you'll need to sign in to dowload the eBook, so you'll be on another elist you may need to unsubscribe from, but it's very fast. Getting realistic about microblogging to volunteers (also known as tweeting) ... Microblogging is NOT for everyone. There, I said it. It's not appropriate for every nonprofit organization (and maybe most nonprofit organizations). It's also not something every volunteer and other supporter of a nonprofit wants to use. Rare is the situation where microblogging will be the only way a volunteer coordinator will interact with volunteers. Don't use it as a replacement for emails, posts to online discussion groups, regular blogging ... and face-to-face meetings and phone calls. Is Your Nonprofit Website Turning Off New Readers? Nobody cares about your website,” Gerry McGovern tells business folks: “Your customers couldn’t care less about your new look, your new design or whether your dog has just had kittens.” So never mind the navel-gazing and self-congratulation, the personal stories, the excuses for a lack of recent updates, or the announcement of your new blog design... The primary job of your website is to meet the needs of your "customers," not to blow your own horn. Focus on your audience: That’s the single most important piece of advice you’ll ever get about publishing a successful website or blog. Does this advice apply equally to non-profits? Yes, and no. |
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| Workshops and Seminars | |
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Workshop: Photography and Photo-Editing, Duluth MN, 9/1/09, 11am - 1pm. Sponsored by Twin Ports Area Nonprofit Coalition, Lake Superior Initiative and the Nonprofit Administration Certificate program at UW-Superior’s Center for Continuing Education held at the Ordean Building, 424 W. Superior St, Duluth. Cost: $10 (or $5 if enrolled in the program.) For more info or to register, call 715-394-8469 or visit www.uwsuper.edu/seminars. Bring a lunch, coffee provided.
Donors Forum of Wisconsin Luncheon for National Day of Service and Remembrance, Milwaukee. 9/11/09, 12pm - 2pm. Pfister Hotel 2-day Online Nonprofit Technology Conference: Managing Technology to Meet Your Mission 9/16/09, 11am - 4:30pm (Central) 9/17/09, 10:40am - 5pm (Central). 2 tracks - Leadership Skills and IT Performance - interspersed with Ask the Expert sessions to give attendees multiple opportunities to engage and learn. Includes Virtual Happy Hour and Closing Reception! Registration includes a FREE copy of the NTEN book, Managing Technology to Meet Your Mission: A Strategic Guide for Nonprofit Leaders. Cost: $250 for NTEN Members; $350 for Nonmembers. Register Agenda Grant Writing Workshop (2 days), Franklin. 10/7/09 - 10/8/09. Milwaukee County Sheriffs Training Academy, 9225 South 68th Street. Beginning grant writers will learn what they need to be successful and more experienced writers will gain new insights, sharpen skills and leave with a sense of renewed confidence in their abilities and mission. Cost: Special WNA member rate of $375. For more info: 800-814-8191 or Grant Writing USA site. Rural Arts Management Institute, Amery. Weekends monthly from 10/16/09 - 4/10/10. Northern Lakes Center for the Arts. For artists and performers, organizational representatives, and creative entrepreneurs in rural communities throughout the Upper Midwest to help you increase your personal and organizational effectiveness and sustainability, understand the complexities involved, and develop comprehensive leadership skills to succeed now and in the future. Applications due 9/15/09. Cost/scholarships: $600 ($100/session) includes lodging, food, materials. Partial scholarships, flexible payment plans available. For more info: Arts Wisconsin website or Anne Katz at akatz@artswisconsin.org or 608-255-8316. |
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| Preferred Vendor Highlight | |
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GrantStation is an online funding resource for organizations seeking
grants throughout the world. The site provides access to a comprehensive online
database of grantmakers, as well as other valuable tools, to help your organization make smarter, better-informed fundraising
decisions.
Search Members have full access to search through all of GrantStation’s funding databases:
Learn This area of the website offers Members a number of resources to bolster their grantseeking strategies and the management of their awards. Read In this area of the website, Members can read the current e-newsletters, the GrantStation Insider and the GrantStation International. This area also features the Tracks Depot, which serves as an archive for the most recent and most popular Tracks to Success series. Wisconsin Nonprofits Association brings members this benefit through our relationship with the Society for Nonprofit Organizations. Join WNA Today. |
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| New Members - Welcome! | |
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Wisconsin Campus Compact, Madison The Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation, Milwaukee  |
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