Common Ground
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For more info: WNA Career Center

Shelter Coordinator, Interfaith Volunteers of Dunn County, Menomonie

Technology Consultant, Wipfli LLP, Madison

Chief Development Officer, Riverfront Inc., La Crosse

Our purpose is to increase the effectiveness, visibility, and credibility of Wisconsin's nonprofits through advocacy, resource sharing, and technical support.
We find common ground for common good to offer a collective voice for nonprofits.

Mark Your Calendar!
3rd Annual Summit • May 17 - 18 • Green Bay
Registration Opens Soon! Early bird and Member Discounts!

Check out our list of workshops and growing list of Sponsors and Exhibitors

Thanks to our Summit Silver Sponsors:

   

2010 Census - Why Everyone Counts and What We Must Do

What it is: The U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States, regardless of age or citizenship status, and the Constitution requires the Census to take place every 10 years.

Why it's important: Originally designed to ensure equal representation in political districts, the 2010 Census will help local communities across the country receive more than $400 billion in federal funds each year for the next 10 years – or over $4 trillion. In addition, residents themselves have used Census data to support community initiatives involving environmental legislation, quality-of-life issues, and consumer advocacy.

The problem: Lower income and more mobile populations, precisely those served by many nonprofits, are frequently undercounted by the Census, leading to underfunding of critical services and infrastructure and under-representation in government.

Our answer: Nonprofits can play an important role in making sure their communities are accurately counted by educating these communities on the importance of the Census and how to participate. The message is simple:

• Every person counted in the Census contributes more than $12,000 to their community over the next decade.
• It's easy to participate: just 10 questions and a postage-paid return envelope.
• No questions about citizenship and no requests for a social security number.
• It's confidential: no information about any specific person can be divulged for 72 years under penalty of prison and a steep fine.

What you can do: Make sure everyone is counted. The Census forms will be mailed mid-March. Go to Nonprofits Count, the most comprehensive website on the 2010 Census for the nonprofit community. There you can:

• Request a free Census Toolkit that will help you ensure your constituents are counted.
• Stay informed about what's going on in Wisconsin.

Teach for America's federal funds threatened by grant competition proposal
Teach for America, which enlists recent college graduates for two-year stints in some of the nation's most troubled public schools, would lose its uncontested claim on $18 million in federal funding under an Obama administration proposal to launch a grant competition for teacher training programs.

America’s Top 50 Philanthropists Gave Less in 2009
It is no secret that the rich have been giving less to charity.The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s list of top 50 philanthropists now shows that total giving by the group plunged almost 75%, to $4.1 billion from $15.5 billion. The median gift fell to $41.4 million from $69.3 million in 2008.

University and Pickens Sue Over Fund-Raising Plan
Oklahoma State University and T. Boone Pickens, an alumnus and one of its largest donors, have sued a life insurance company over a fund-raising plan that took out policies on alumni with the aim of raising hundreds of millions of dollars for the university.

Supreme Court Overturns Campaign Spending Rules
The nation’s highest court, by a 5-4 vote, struck down a rule that prohibits corporations from using money to pay for campaign advertisements. Justices also repealed part of the 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill prohibiting issue ads paid for by unions and corporations during primary and general elections.

President Obama Proposes Small Cuts and Consolidations to Arts Programs in FY 2011 Budget
As Americans for the Arts President & CEO Robert Lynch noted in a press statement, "The Administration's FY 2011 budget request of $161.3 million for the National Endowment for the Arts--while just a fraction of the $6.3 billion of direct expenditures for all arts nonprofits in the United States--is unfortunately a $6 million decrease from what Congress appropriated for FY 2010.  Also, the consolidation of the Arts in Education (AIE) program within the Department of Education's new 'Effective Teaching and Learning for Well-Rounded Education' category puts us at unease and could lead to a diminished focus on arts education."

Can Newspaper Muckraking Carry on in Nonprofits?
As financially strapped newspapers have scaled back, charitable foundations have poured tens of millions of dollars into nonprofit watchdogs in hopes of keeping politicians and businesses in check. These groups figure to do a bigger share of the investigative legwork in the coming years.

National Council Applauds President's Call for Jobs Bill That Includes Nonprofits
The National Council of Nonprofits applauded President Barack Obama for including nonprofit organizations in his proposal to spur hiring by small employers. As the nation's largest network of small and midsize nonprofits, the National Council expressed gratitude that the White House recognizes the vital role nonprofits play not only as service providers, but also as employers important to the economic health of local communities.[Editor's note: It's a start! Unfortunately, as follow up to the bigger picture, see also: Why Did Harry Reid Yank the Jobs Bill]

Nonprofit Corporation Legal Audit
All too often, the issue of legal compliance receives attention from a nonprofit corporation only after a conflict arises. Instead, a nonprofit corporation can better prevent conflicts and protect itself through regular legal audits. Financial audits alone, while important, will not sufficiently account for the bigger issue of overall compliance with state and federal laws.

[commentary] Should CEOs and Executive Directors Use Social Media?
In order for social media to have full impact, it needs to scale within an organization.  Your organization's social media strategy should be not implemented by one lonely intern sitting in the corner of your communications and marketing department.  You may be wondering if that means that your executive director and CEO needs to write a blog or have their own Twitter account to share their wisdom.  I think it depends. 

Vital Voices: Lessons Learned from Board Members of Color
While more than 86 percent of board members of color recently surveyed said they either almost always or often feel comfortable voicing their opinions at meetings, 13 percent said they have encountered some form of tokenism. Vital Voices: Lessons Learned from Board Members of Color is BoardSource’s first survey designed to amplify the voices of people of color serving on nonprofit boards of directors.

[Boardstar podcast, 9 min, 2007] Diversifying the Board
Why do so many well-intentioned leaders miss the point when it comes to diversifying a nonprofit Board? Social Development Commission Chief Executive Officer Deborah Blanks, author of Weaving Diversity into the Fabric of America and WNA Board President, talks with BoardStar’s José Vásquez about the value of engaging individuals with varying skill sets, backgrounds, and perspectives; how to find them; and how they help a Board make great decisions.

5 Tips for Creating Non-Profit Online Communities
So much conversation about social networking revolves around Twitter and Facebook, but in actuality these networks are just the tip of the iceberg. From general networks like Wiser Earth and Care2, to cause specific networks like PickensPlan and the Sierra Club’s Activist Network, there’s a hotbed of social activity occurring in private communities.

Nominate a volunteer leader in your community for the opportunity to be honored with a $15,000 grant!
In celebration of the upcoming first anniversary of the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the most comprehensive and expansive service legislation since Franklin Roosevelt's Presidency, University of Phoenix and HandsOn Network will recognize 10 outstanding volunteer leaders: the top honoree will receive $15,000 to donate to the nonprofit organization of their choice and the others will receive $10,000 each to donate. who motivate others and are a true catalyst for change in their communities. Deadline: March 10. More info/online nomination form.

Corvington Appointment To Run CNCS
Five months after being nominated by President Barack Obama, Patrick Corvington was confirmed by the Senate to be the next chief executive officer for the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Senate consent was unanimous and Corvington is expected to officially begin later this month after the president signs his confirmation.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection invites project proposals to the Agricultural Development and Diversification (ADD) Grant Program that will stimulate the Wisconsin food and agriculture industry through the research and exploration of new products, new markets and new technologies. Deadline: March 15, 2010. RFP and More Info HERE.

See Full Calendar for More

Forum – Nonprofits and Government Funding: Opportunities, Challenges, Trends, and Trade-offs, Milwaukee, 3/12, 8:30a-11a. Government funds are an important source of support for many nonprofit organizations.  But this form of support carries costs and risks as well as benefits. For more info/to register.

Roundtable – Marketing as the Key to Survival for Non-Profit Organizations, Madison, 3/16, 11:30a-1p. Marketing can help non-profits better understand the needs of the people they serve, improve employee recruitment and retention, fundraise more effectively, reach out to more people, obtain tangible proof of how effectively they live up to the mission--and more! For more info/to register.

Conference – Wisconsin Volunteer Coordinators Association 41st Annual Conference Finding Your Way Through the Jungle, Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells. 5/6-7. State and national speakers, networking, Professional Achievement award, WVCA Annual Meeting, new Ropes Course option. Early Reg'n Deadline: 3/22. Brochure/Reg Form Download.

Office Products & Services

Staples, the world's largest office products company, strives to make it easy for you to buy a wide range of office products, including supplies, technology, furniture, and business services. WNA members receive special discount pricing based on our collective buying power: the more we order over time – the larger the savings for all members. www.Staples.com

Member Benefit: Deeply discounted office supplies. Plus:

• Easy online ordering
• Free, next-day delivery
• Our personal rep can negotiate prices on other often-purchased items on request 

Members - to set up your account, refer to the special Members Only benefits packet. It's worth the time and will save you money to comparison shop and switch!

Staples.com Limited Time Offer (good through 2/27 or while supplies last) - Did you know that our new, low-priced Sustainable Earth cleaning products perform as well as national brands? It's true. Plus, you don't have to sacrifice performance for being eco-conscious. At a limited-time price of $2.99, our cleaners are made with bio-based cleaning agents that are safer for you and the environment. Note: WNA members already may be receiving this price or even lower!

Read about other Wisconsin Nonprofits Association Member Benefits here.

Early Music Now, Milwaukee
Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley, Appleton
Liberty Comfort Quilt Corp, Beaver Dam
Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee, Milwaukee
Wisconsin Recyclers Association, Madison

See our full Member List here.

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