2014 IHS Annual Conference - Register Today!

2014 Annual Conference: Putting Your Capacity to Work   Join Us in Celebrating Our 30th Anniversary! Wednesday, March 19, 2014 8:30 am - 4:10 pm Radisson Hotel, Corning, NY The Institute for Human Services invites you to join us for our Annual Meeting & Conference!    Participants will get the chance to meet with staff members from other regional nonprofit organizations, learn about valuable community resources, and attend professional development seminars. This year's all-day conference will feature three different workshop tracks with three concurrent sessions focusing on a range of nonprofit issues and trends that encompass all levels of nonprofit professionals. Customize your conference experience, delve deeper into challenges, and sharpen your skills!    To register for the conference, please visit the online registrationor print, complete, and email (or fax) a scanned copy of the form located in the brochure.  Be sure to register by March 1st to receive Early Bird rates! Register here!    Please take the time to renew your IHS membership or consider becoming a member today! Not only will you save on the Annual Conference registration fee, but your organization will receive benefits year-round! View the membership form in the conference brochure or complete the form online. The Institute for Human Services is a non-profit management support organization founded in 1984. The Institute provides management support, information and referral, organizational development, research and technology services to planners, funders and providers serving the Southern Tier of New York State. For more information, please visit www.ihsnet.org. Conference Brochure  To learn more  about  the  Conference,  including  speaker bios,  scheduled  workshops,  and registration,  download the 2014 Conference  Brochure. Featuring Nationally  Known Speaker &  Co-Editor of the  Journal for  Nonprofit  Management: Dr. John Brothers Principal & Founder, Quidoo Consulting New This Year!  An Organizational  Capacity Building  Track (A follow-up from our Fall Symposium!) Questions?  Contact Kelli  Guilford at (607) 776-9467  ext. 226 or MannonK@ihsnet.org Fax: (607) 776-9482

Nonprofit Advocacy Matters | January 27, 2014

Proposed Electioneering Rules for 501(c)(4) Social Welfare Groups Under Attack The Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee is leading an effort to the block implementation of proposed regulations from the Treasury Department that would redefine what constitutes electioneering activities of 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations under the Internal Revenue Code.Legislation by Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) would prohibit the modification of the rules for one year, thus freezing in place the standards and definitions for determining whether a 501(c)(4) organization crosses the line from promoting social welfare to engaging in too much partisan electioneering. The legislation adds Camp’s name to the list of individuals and groups that oppose draft regulations released in November that would restrict the types of political activities that 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations could engage in without running the risk of losing their tax-exempt status.Conservative and progressive groups alike are panning the proposed regulations. Readers are encouraged to read the proposed regulations and tosubmit comments (to IRS REG-134417-13) byFebruary 27, 2014. Strong, Bi-Partisan Support Expressed in Senate for Charitable Giving Incentive A third of the US Senate has taken a public position insupport of the charitable giving incentive in federal tax law in a letter delivered last week to Senate tax committee leaders. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), who is expected to be the next Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and John Thune (R-SD), who also serves on the Committee, wrote the letter and called on their colleagues to sign on. The message in support of the work of charitable nonprofits in communities is clear: “The charitable deduction is unique. It is the only provision that encourages taxpayers to give away a portion of their income for the benefit of others. For this reason, it is not a loophole, but a lifeline for millions of Americans in need.” Thirty-three Senators from more than half the states signed the Wyden-Thune letter: Alaska (Murkowski); Arkansas (Boozman), California (Boxer); Colorado (Udall); Florida (Nelson); Hawai`i (Hirono, Schatz); Idaho (Risch); Illinois (Kirk); Indiana (Coats); Kansas (Roberts, Moran); Louisiana (Vitter); Maine (Collins); Maryland (Mikulski); Massachusetts (Markey); Michigan (Levin, Stabenow); Minnesota (Klobuchar); Mississippi (Cochran, Wicker); Missouri (Blunt); Nebraska (Heller); New Hampshire (Shaheen); New York (Schuster, Gillibrand); North Dakota (Hoeven, Heitkamp); Oklahoma (Inhofe); Oregon (Wyden); South Carolina (Scott); South Dakota (Thune, Johnson). The State of the States As the Governors See It Governors across the country are announcing their plans and priorities this month as their legislatures convene for the 2014 session. Here are recurring themes and trends of interest to nonprofits: “Comeback State”: Many Governors used their State of the State address to define 2014 as a “comeback” year of recovery from the Great Recession. But as the Washington Post reports, “in many cases, the ‘comebacks’ will manifest as an absence of further cuts, rather than a return to pre-recession spending levels. Thirty states are collecting less revenue than they did before the recession hit.” Tax Reform: A handful of Governors are hoping positive signs in their states’ economic outlooks will make tax cuts possible in 2014. Citing a more comfortable economic outlook than in years past, the Nebraska Governor proposed $500 million in tax relief, particularly in property taxes. Similarly, the Governor in Wisconsin proposed cutting property and income taxes for the third time in less than a year. Governors in New Jersey andIowa also spoke in favor of property tax relief. Conversely, Rhode Island’s Governor wants to keep tax rates the same and increase overall spending levels. Social Services: Some governors spoke of the need to reinvest in programs that suffered secere cuts during the recession. The CaliforniaGovernor remarked on the significant economic growth the state has experienced and recommended a $154.9 billion spending plan that would increase funding for social services and schools. The Governor of Michigan also touted the state’s improving economy and promised to increase funding for Great Start early childhood education and Meals on Wheels, programs which support the work of many nonprofits in communities. Education: Governors from many states made new investments in education a top priority in their State of the State addresses. Several pledged support for early education: the Governor of New York announced proposals for full funding of a statewide pre-kindergarten; the KansasGovernor proposed full funding for all-day kindergarten while simultaneously fighting a state court case that mandates additional education funding; and Missouri’s Governor proposed tripling pre-school funding. In higher education, Governors in Missouri, Rhode Island, and Iowarecommended freezing tuition rates at public institutions. Similarly, the Arizona Governor wants to stabilize university tuition rates, and is pushing again for a controversial program that would tie base funding for public schools to performance measures. Governors in Alabama, Washington, and Georgia are calling for raising teacher salaries. Maine Nonprofits Call for Return of Full Charitable Giving Incentive The Maine nonprofit community came out in full force at a public hearing last week in support of a bill that would exempt charitable deductions from the $27,500 cap on itemized deductions enacted late in the session last year. If enacted, the new legislation would be retroactive to January 1, 2013. The Maine Association of Nonprofits (MANP) estimates that application of the cap to charitable giving will result in reduced donations by at least $20 million per year, a conservative estimate according to many of the speakers at the hearing. To learn more about efforts to protect Maine’s charitable giving incentive, see the nonprofit sign-on letter with 83 nonprofit signatories and testimony ofMANP and the National Council of Nonprofits. Taxes, Fees, and PILOTs Taxes: To lower the tax rate for for-profit businesses, proposed legislation in New Hampshire seeks to apply the state’s business enterprise tax base to larger nonprofits. The proposal, which targets mostly nonprofit hospitals and colleges, would extend the tax to nonprofits that accept fees for services and collect more than $2 million in annual revenues. Mary Ellen Jackson, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits, has expressed opposition to the bill because it ignores nonprofits’ contributions to society and the “long-held” agreement between government and nonprofits. Tax Exemptions: A Nebraska State Senator introduced a bill to eliminate property tax exemptions for religious organizations, arguing that churches should pay property taxes and that the legislation would increase state revenue. Religious nonprofits have opposed the legislation, saying it ignores the important contributions of churches to their communities. PILOTs: Wisconsin policymakers are considering legislation that would require municipalities that negotiate payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) from nonprofits to share the revenues with “overlying” taxing bodies, such as school districts and state and county governments. Municipalities oppose the legislation and believe it infringes on local authority. “[The other taxing bodies] are not coming here and cleaning our streets, removing snow ... why should they get a piece of the revenue?,” one City Administrator asked.  Government-Nonprofit Contracting News New Mexico Withholds Contract Payments to Nonprofit Mental Health Providers New Mexico is withholding payments to fifteen mental health services providers and has transferred their caseloads to Arizona providers based on allegations of fraud that state officials have not substantiated to the public. The accusations of fraud are reportedly based on findings by a private consulting firm which also manages the New Mexico Health Care Exchange; state officials have so far refused to make the audit findings public. The State Attorney General’s Office, which is investigating the findings, found no fraud in its first review of one of the organizations and cleared it to reopen. Unfortunately, that nonprofit has already gone out of business because of the state’s actions and is still owed $400,000 for services it provided under contracts with the state. The situation raises serious questions about the need for government to follow the same transparency expectations it has for nonprofits and to exercise due process for nonprofits contracting with governments to provide services. State legislators reportedly are considering how to protect service providers from unfair attacks.  Additional State and Local Issues How Do You Measure That?: Questioning Business Tax Breaks Florida Considers Increasing Charity Oversight Mandating Volunteerism for Public Benefits Recipients Proposed in Alabama States Reform Gaming Laws Directing Proceeds to Charities Putting Policy In Nonprofit Perspective State of the State addresses give Governors the opportunity to tick off the things they have done and offer a to-do list for their legislators to act on. (See related article, above.) Donna Murray-Brown, President and CEO of the Michigan Nonprofit Association, took the opportunity of the Michigan Governor’s recent address to provide insights to nonprofits in the Wolverine State and hand out a few to-do items as well. First, Donna offered perspective on which all nonprofits should agree: “No matter your political persuasion, and whether you agree or disagree with the progress Michigan has made over the last few years, one thing is certain: all sectors must all work together to realize the hopes and dreams we have for the residents of Michigan.” Reflecting on the significant economic impact provided by the nonprofit community, she observed, “It is becoming clearer and clearer that real progress is inextricably connected with the work nonprofits do every day to meet the needs of the community.” Murray-Brown moved past the statement of fact and provided a call to action: “We must enhance our narrative of our work beyond ‘it’s the right thing to do,’ to ‘our work is imperative to creating a thriving state, and we too have proven results!’” Donna provides six to-do items that all nonprofits, in Michigan and beyond, can take to heart to improve our public policies, our own performance, and our communities. These include continuing to collaborate; leveraging technology as a strategy for mission attainment; recognizing that diversity, inclusion, and equity are key principles to meeting mission; and nonprofits must hone their public policy and advocacy skills to block threats to our work. We are inspired by the optimism of this nonprofit leader in one of our nation's most economically challenged states. As advocates for your mission, we hope that all readers can say the same thing about their work as Donna Murray-Brown did in her conclusion: “These are exciting times in the state of Michigan. It will require much to accomplish the goals we set for ourselves, yet we can and will succeed. We are truly the change we have been looking for! Now, let’s get to work!” © Copyright 2014 National Council of Nonprofits. All rights reserved  1200 New York Avenue, NW | Suite 700 | Washington, DC 20005 |www.councilofnonprofits.org

Call for Presenters: IHS Conference 2014

Request for Presenters 2014 Annual Conference Institute for Human Services, Inc. The annual conference presented by the Institute for Human Services, Inc., attracts approximately 150 nonprofit professionals throughout the region and New York State. Participants include professionals from a variety of nonprofit sectors such as human services, health care, environmental, children & families, youth, etc. Participants typically represent the following: front-line workers, mid-level managers, executive directors and board members. We are seeking presenters on a broad range of topics related to nonprofit issues and trends that encompass all levels of professionals in the nonprofit work place. Participants will be interested in workshops that offer concrete ideas, methods, and resources that they can incorporate into their own programs and services.    Conference Location:  Radisson Inn, Corning, NY Conference Date:  Wednesday, March 19, 2014 Submission Process: RFP Application Here Request for Presenters Information: Please submit your proposal at the online RFP Application above.  Questions or concerns?  Please contact Kelli Mannon at 607-776-9467, extension 226 or email mannonk@ihsnet.org.  Deadline for Submission: December 1, 2013 Review Process:  Upon receipt of an application package, the IHS Education Committee will review it for completeness and topic relevance. Acceptance notices will be e-mailed in late December.    Workshop Format:  Each workshop session is 90 minutes long, including time for questions. You may present your session in lecture, discussion, or panel format. Interactive sessions are encouraged.      Workshop Categories:  Below is a list of topic areas that we would like to cover. The list is not all-inclusive; if you have a presentation that does not address one of these topics but that is generally relevant to the nonprofit sector, it will be considered by the planning committee.      Special Requests for 2014: Dealing with Change Employee Moral Peer to Supervisor Transition Nonprofit Risk Taking Nonprofit Organizational Advocacy Positive Perception of Leadership  Governance Track: Examples of Topics - Board/CEO Relationships, Professional Recruitment & Engagement, Succession Planning, Strategic Approach to Board Member Identification & Recruitment Resource Development Track: Examples of Topics - Fundraising, Fundraising with Special Events Staff & Board Fundraising Partnerships, Telling your Nonprofit Story Emerging Leaders Track: Examples of Topics - Next Generation of Leaders, What They Don't Tell You About Leadership, Professional Development Opportunities when Time and Money Don't Exist, Balancing Work & Family, Speed Networking Community Engagement Track: Examples of Topics - Fostering Philanthropy, Getting Your Board and Volunteers Involved, Social Media & Community Engagement, Collaborating for Community Impact, Current Legislative Issues Operations Track: Examples of Topics - Trends in Technology, Strategic Sustainability, Hiring the Right Nonprofit Employee, Healthcare Reform on Nonprofits, Fraud: How it Happens and How to Prevent It Growth Track: Examples of Topics - Creating Strong Result Measures, Effective Change Management, Effective Customer Service in the Nonprofit World, Benchmarking for Nonprofits Front-Line Workers: Examples of Topics - Preventing Burn-Out , Presentation Skills, How to Write Meeting Minutes, How to Conduct a Business Meeting, Setting Professional Goals, Improving Communication Skills  Mid-Level Management: Examples of Topics -Conducting Effective Meetings, Communicating Your Organizations Needs/Expectations, Performance Management, Introduction to Outcomes and Logic Models Executive Directors: Examples of Topics - Legislative Trends, Financial Sustainability, Program-Related Investments, Accountability, Transparency, and Legal Compliance, Marketing and Communication