Summit attendees see economic crisis as opportunity for volunteerism

The current economic crisis is an opportunity for volunteers from all sectors of the American public to work together to help their neighbors in need and even plant the seed for a national movement. That was the view of participants at "A Nation of Neighbors Helping Neighbors: A Summit on Volunteerism as a Response to the Economic Crisis" sponsored Feb. 27 in New York by the Knights of Columbus and Fairfield University. Read more here.

With the value of volunteer time at $19.51 per hour (according to the Independent Sector), could this be an option for nonprofits to look more closely at? Is your nonprofit recruiting more volunteers? Share your thoughts.

Arts Input About Cultural Blueprints Available

Miss the New York State Council on the Arts Cultural Blueprints session held last fall? Visit their blog and learn about this statewide series of public forums initiated by the New York State Council on the Arts to identify regional and statewide strategies and opportunities for the arts to serve as a catalyst for cultural, economic and community development. A session was held in the Mid-Hudson Valley, and the notes outline the discussions that took place. Participants explored five themes: Infrastructure, Intellectual Capital and Workforce Development, International and Global Thinking, Investment and Financial Models, and Image and Identity. Explore the key themes of these breakout sessions as well as some of the potential action steps proposed by participants.

Nonprofit Conference List

An interesting list of upcoming nonprofit conference opportunities:

Young Nonprofit Professionals Network Leaders Conference April 24-25
Nonprofit Technology Conference April 26-28
Nonprofit Congress May 14-16
Alliance for Nonprofit Management July 15-17
Blogher July 24-25
Academy of Management August 7-11
Nonprofit Day August 27th
Risk Management and Finance Summit for Nonprofits September 20-22
Nonprofit HR Conference October 4-6
Independent Sector Nov 4-6
International Leadership Association Nov 11-14
ARNOVA Nov 19-22
Board Source Leadership Forum Nov 20-21
American Humanics Management Institute Jan 2010
Nonprofit Governance Symposium Jan 2010
Nonprofit Bootcamp Date TBD
California Association of Nonprofits Date TBD

Media Roundup

The Minnesota Council on Foundations featured the following roundup of how the media is covering nonprofits and philanthropy.

Economy:

• The Upside to a Down Economy: Volunteer Numbers Are Up KARE11
• Giving in Bear Times Forbes
• Charities See Donations Drop as Need Spikes CNN
• Raising Money for Nonprofits in Terrible Times Forbes
• CSR is Still Good for Business Washington Post
• Where Stimulus Funds Can Make a Difference Letter from Independent Sector president Diana Aviv
• Downturn Spurs Some Foundations to Give More Boston Globe
• Nonprofits Seek Approval to Tap Endowments Philanthropy News Digest
  

National:

• Dramatic IRS Shift for Nonprofits Philadelphia Inquirer: Nonprofits, which don’t pay federal taxes, but still must report their income, are confronted with a new, more complicated public-reporting form, called form 990, that demands a deeper look at how organizations operate. It now delves into questions such as how top officers are compensated and what potential safeguards exist to prevent corruption.
• Twitter Followers Raise Thousands of Dollars for Charity Chronicle of Philanthropy: Twestival, which took place in more than 175 cities around the world from Banaglore to Baton Rouge, brought together people who use the social networking site, Twitter, to meet in person and raise money for charity.

Developing Entrepreneurial Ventures for the Arts

The New York Council of Nonprofits (formerly the Council of Community Services of New York State, Inc.) will offer Entrepreneurial Ventures for the Arts in 2009. This specialized training, supported in part by the New York State Council on the Arts, will address the interests and markets of arts organizations in exploring alternative revenue generating activities. With funding cuts, decreasing donations, and growing economic challenges, the need is greater than ever to develop other sources of unrestricted operating revenue for arts organizations. An entrepreneurial venture takes calculated risk based on sound facts and adherence to rules and regulations, and this two-day session can help organizations figure out the feasibility and keys to success in undertaking such ventures.

Unlike traditional social entrepreneurship trainings, this curricula will include but extend beyond business planning and include expert assistance and advice on legal and tax related matters. This training course is a highly interactive immersion into the world of innovation and revenue generation. Participants learn through instructional and peer-learning experiences how to develop and practically apply "real world" elements of entrepreneurial ventures to their organization, including strategies on developing board understanding and support for such ventures. At the conclusion of the program, participants will be invited to submit a business venture plan for development, which will be reviewed and given constructive feedback.


Entrepreneurial Ventures for the Arts will be offered on two dates this year. The first program will be May 7 and 8 at the Support Center for Nonprofit Management in New York City. The second program will be held July 9 and 10 in Albany at the Council of Community Services of New York State. For more information and registration, click NYC or Albany. You can also call 1-800-515-5012 ext 141.

Charities Now Seek Bankruptcy Protection

NY Times examines a number of nonprofits seeking bankruptcy protection as an option. The article relates that usually insolvent nonprofits would shutdown and put a dissolution plan in place with charity regulators in their state. Now, nonprofits are exploring bankruptcy because "nonprofits have been pressured by donors to operate more like businesses." Have any comments or feedback on this article? Share them here.

Saving Federal Arts Funds: Selling Culture as an Economic Force

The NY Times featured a look at the stimulus development and the push to recognize the economic impact the arts make. The article discusses how this argument for the arts was carried out and the preservation of $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts in the stimulus package.