United Way of Westchester and Putnam's 10th annual Not-For-Profit Leadership Summit to attract a sold-out crowd of more than 600
. .New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman will be the keynote speaker for the Not-For-Profit Leadership Summit X presented by the United Way of Westchester and Putnam
The United Way of Westchester and Putnam in partnership with the Westchester Community Foundation present the Not-For-Profit Leadership Summit X on Monday, May 7, 2012. This year’s event, held from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel Tarrytown, features keynote speaker New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who will discuss his plan to “reform and revitalize” the state’s nonprofit sector.
“New York is the proud home of the world’s most dynamic and vibrant nonprofit sector, but for too long, our state’s regulatory framework has placed unnecessary burdens on these essential organizations. It’s time to unlock the full potential of our nonprofit community, and improve the lives of the countless New Yorkers they serve every day,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “In these difficult economic times, it is more important than ever to make New York a hospitable environment so nonprofits can continue to carry out their vital work. At the same time, we must maintain the public’s trust by ensuring that nonprofits are governed effectively, and with meaningful oversight.”
In 2010, nonprofits employed 1.2 million people, or nearly one of every five people in New York’s private sector (Crain’s New York February 2012). However, as the demand for nonprofit services increases, government funding has weakened. In February, Schneiderman unveiled legislation that would eliminate outdated and costly burdens on nonprofits, strengthen oversight and accountability, and reaffirm his office’s commitment to policing fraud and abuse. Acknowledging that organizations throughout New York face historic financial and strategic challenges, his plan also includes several new partnerships with the business and academic communities to enhance nonprofit governance.
The Leadership Summit kicks off at 8:30 a.m. with the breakfast keynote speaker, Bartley “BJ” Costello, Esq., partner with Hinman Straub P.C., who is a well-known legal expert and has done considerable advocacy work on both sides of the isle in Albany.
“We are delighted to welcome Eric Schneiderman and B.J. Costello.” said Naomi Adler, president and chief executive officer of the United Way of Westchester and Putnam. “It is a perfect time to dive deeper into the subject of reforming regulations of the nonprofit sector with the Attorney General and to learn from BJ Costello how nonprofits can work together more effectively to lead legislators in the direction of smart policies.”
After breakfast, attendees will be able to choose from sixteen breakout sessions on topics such as web technologies, strategic planning, profitable fundraising techniques, work/life balance, skills-based volunteerism, social media in the workplace, executive compensation, IT outsourcing, and board strategies, among others. Schneiderman will address the group during lunch at 11:45 a.m.
“Nonprofit agencies face a multitude of challenges, but the biggest hurdle remains: providing Westchester residents the services they need, every day, while federal, state and local governments cut essential funding,” said Catherine Marsh, executive director of the Westchester Community Foundation. “Everyone in the audience will be eager to hear the Attorney General’s presentation and provide constructive feedback.”
The Leadership Summit is underwritten in part by the TD Charitable Foundation. Gold sponsorship is provided by ConEdison and the afternoon reception is sponsored by NonProfit Guard. Other sponsors include BDO, Council Services Plus, Pragmatix, Association of Development Officers, Fordham University – Westchester Campus, Long Island University – Hudson, Mutual of America, Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York, Helene & Grant Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Pace University, POW'R Against Tobacco, US Alliance Federal Credit Union and Westchester Arc. There is a $30 non-refundable event fee for a nonprofit’s initial reservation. Each additional participant from the same organization is $20. Walk-in registration is $35, space permitting. Sponsorships and vendor tables are also available. The Doubletree Hotel Tarrytown is located at 455 S. Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591. For more information or to register, call 914.997.6700 ext. 704 or visit http://www.uwwp.org/summit.shtml.
About the Westchester Community Foundation
THE WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (WCF) is a nonprofit community endowment for the benefit of Westchester County. Its mission is to develop and manage philanthropic resources, and to distribute them in a way that is responsive to donor interests and community needs. The Foundation actively promotes charitable giving on behalf of the area’s nonprofit organizations. WCF is a division of The New York Community Trust, one of the largest community foundations in the country with assets of approximately $1.8 billion.
About the United Way of Westchester and Putnam
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2012, United Way of Westchester and Putnam operates with the fundamental belief that all people deserve a quality education, enough income to support a family, and opportunities for a healthy lifestyle. The not-for-profit organization works with agency partners, government, businesses and community leaders to solve problems that are too complex for any one entity alone. All contributions go toward improving the education, income, and health of the children, youth and families throughout Westchester and Putnam. United Way’s Hudson Valley Region 2-1-1, covering Westchester and Putnam as well as Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster counties, answers up to 500 calls and 1,000 online inquiries per day ranging from tax, heating, and mortgage questions to childcare, basic needs, natural disaster and crisis calls. United Way of Westchester and Putnam is at 336 Central Park Ave., White Plains, NY 10606. They can be reached at 914-997-6700 or by visiting http://www.uwwp.org. Follow United Way on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/UnitedWayWP) and Twitter (@UnitedWayWP) for the latest news and updates.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Announcing Launch of NYMAC, the New York Merger, Acquisition, and Collaboration Fund
The New York Merger, Acquisition, and Collaboration Fund was launched, which is a new initiative to encourage and enable mergers, acquisitions, and other types of formal, long-term collaborations between nonprofit organizations working in New York City. NYMAC will provide vital support to a diverse set of nonprofit organizations as they navigate a very challenging operating environment, supporting leaders willing to make difficult mission-driven decisions, and encouraging innovation and best practices in the nonprofit sector. The official launch date for NYMAC is March 2012.
NYMAC will support organizations that already have a serious interest either in coming together in some way, or in exploring how they might, and will make grants to help cover a portion of the one-time costs required to explore or complete the transaction. As a neutral, credible, and experienced outside party willing to invest time and money, NYMAC will work constructively and confidentially with the funders, boards, and leaders of the organizations considering a transaction as a catalyst for sensible action. In addition to making grants in support of particular transactions, NYMAC will work with foundations, government agencies, and umbrella groups to encourage New York's nonprofits to more proactively explore the various ways in which they might collaborate with one another.
NYMAC brings together a unique cross section of individuals and institutions, including The Altman Foundation, The Clark Foundation, The Heckscher Foundation for Children, The Lodestar Foundation, The Robert K. Steel Family Foundation, and SeaChange Capital Partners, who have provided the initial resources to support the first few years of activity. Doug Bauer, executive director of The Clark Foundation said, "As one of the major funders of capacity building and management training in New York City, we are proud to be an investor in NYMAC. We look forward to seeing it play a major role in assisting nonprofits in making wise choices about their future and the future of those they serve."
NYMAC is organized by SeaChange Capital Partners, a nonprofit organization with deep experience as a funder of nonprofit collaborations on a national basis.
More information is available at www.nymac.org
NYMAC will support organizations that already have a serious interest either in coming together in some way, or in exploring how they might, and will make grants to help cover a portion of the one-time costs required to explore or complete the transaction. As a neutral, credible, and experienced outside party willing to invest time and money, NYMAC will work constructively and confidentially with the funders, boards, and leaders of the organizations considering a transaction as a catalyst for sensible action. In addition to making grants in support of particular transactions, NYMAC will work with foundations, government agencies, and umbrella groups to encourage New York's nonprofits to more proactively explore the various ways in which they might collaborate with one another.
NYMAC brings together a unique cross section of individuals and institutions, including The Altman Foundation, The Clark Foundation, The Heckscher Foundation for Children, The Lodestar Foundation, The Robert K. Steel Family Foundation, and SeaChange Capital Partners, who have provided the initial resources to support the first few years of activity. Doug Bauer, executive director of The Clark Foundation said, "As one of the major funders of capacity building and management training in New York City, we are proud to be an investor in NYMAC. We look forward to seeing it play a major role in assisting nonprofits in making wise choices about their future and the future of those they serve."
NYMAC is organized by SeaChange Capital Partners, a nonprofit organization with deep experience as a funder of nonprofit collaborations on a national basis.
More information is available at www.nymac.org
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
A.G. SCHNEIDERMAN ANNOUNCES BOLD PLAN TO REVITALIZE AND REFORM NEW YORK’S NONPROFIT SECTOR
Attorney General Announces Nonprofit Report: Recommendations Guided by the Leadership Committee for Nonprofit Revitalization
New York State Attorney General Schneiderman unveiled a new plan on Thursday to reform and revitalize New York's nonprofit sector.
Announced before an audience of nonprofit and business leaders, the plan includes legislation to eliminate outdated and costly burdens on nonprofits, strengthen oversight and accountability, and reaffirm his office's commitment to policing fraud and abuse.
Acknowledging that organizations throughout New York State face historic financial and strategic challenges, the Attorney General's plan also includes several new partnerships with the business and academic communities to enhance nonprofit governance.
"New York is the proud home of the world's most dynamic and vibrant nonprofit sector, but for too long, our state's regulatory framework has placed unnecessary burdens on these essential organizations. This plan will unlock the full potential of our nonprofit community, and improve the lives of the countless New Yorkers they serve every day," said Attorney General Schneiderman. "In these difficult economic times, it is more important than ever to make New York a hospitable environment so nonprofits can continue to carry out their vital work. At the same time, we must maintain the public's trust by ensuring that nonprofits are governed effectively, and with meaningful oversight."
"NYCON applauds the Attorney General for his leadership in putting forth a positive agenda for reform of state and nonprofit relations," said Doug Sauer, NYCON CEO. "In the spirit of cooperation and partnership, we are hopeful that the AG, Comptroller, Governor and Legislature can work together to further shape and support the recommendations."
In 2011, Attorney General Schneiderman convened a Leadership Committee for Nonprofit Revitalization with 32 nonprofit leaders, including NYCON CEO Doug Sauer, to recommend proposals that would reduce regulatory burdens on nonprofits, while strengthening governance and accountability.
Today's legislative and reform initiatives are responsive to the committee's recommendations.
They include:
The Nonprofit Revitalization Act, to be proposed by the Attorney General;
"New York on BOARD" and;
"Directors U" designed to improve nonprofit governance
More Details & Full Report
http://www.ag.ny.gov/media_center/2012/feb/feb16a_12.html
New York State Attorney General Schneiderman unveiled a new plan on Thursday to reform and revitalize New York's nonprofit sector.
Announced before an audience of nonprofit and business leaders, the plan includes legislation to eliminate outdated and costly burdens on nonprofits, strengthen oversight and accountability, and reaffirm his office's commitment to policing fraud and abuse.
Acknowledging that organizations throughout New York State face historic financial and strategic challenges, the Attorney General's plan also includes several new partnerships with the business and academic communities to enhance nonprofit governance.
"New York is the proud home of the world's most dynamic and vibrant nonprofit sector, but for too long, our state's regulatory framework has placed unnecessary burdens on these essential organizations. This plan will unlock the full potential of our nonprofit community, and improve the lives of the countless New Yorkers they serve every day," said Attorney General Schneiderman. "In these difficult economic times, it is more important than ever to make New York a hospitable environment so nonprofits can continue to carry out their vital work. At the same time, we must maintain the public's trust by ensuring that nonprofits are governed effectively, and with meaningful oversight."
"NYCON applauds the Attorney General for his leadership in putting forth a positive agenda for reform of state and nonprofit relations," said Doug Sauer, NYCON CEO. "In the spirit of cooperation and partnership, we are hopeful that the AG, Comptroller, Governor and Legislature can work together to further shape and support the recommendations."
In 2011, Attorney General Schneiderman convened a Leadership Committee for Nonprofit Revitalization with 32 nonprofit leaders, including NYCON CEO Doug Sauer, to recommend proposals that would reduce regulatory burdens on nonprofits, while strengthening governance and accountability.
Today's legislative and reform initiatives are responsive to the committee's recommendations.
They include:
The Nonprofit Revitalization Act, to be proposed by the Attorney General;
"New York on BOARD" and;
"Directors U" designed to improve nonprofit governance
More Details & Full Report
http://www.ag.ny.gov/media_center/2012/feb/feb16a_12.html
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Nonprofits Testify on Executive & Admin Comp Caps
The NY Nonprofit Press reported that nonprofits got their first chance on Monday to testify publicly in response to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s move to limit State reimbursement for executive compensation and administrative expenses. Three of the four individuals invited to testify before the NYS Senate Committee on Investigations and Government Operations agreed that the Governor’s Executive Order to cap state reimbursement to nonprofit CEOs and other employees at $199,000 would do little to address what they described as a relatively small number of abuses among the thousands of nonprofits that contract with the state. Conversely, they argued, the Executive Order would add significant bureaucratic and compliance burdens to a sector that is already struggling due to budget cuts and unfunded regulatory mandates.
The nonprofit representatives maintained that legal, regulatory and procurement mechanisms for monitoring and controlling executive compensation and administrative expense reimbursement already exist – even if frequently underutilized. They called for strengthening and coordinating use of these provisions to identify and address individual cases of abuse rather than imposing a new series of broad-brush compliance requirements on thousands of nonprofits where no problem exists.
A fourth witness, Jayne Cammisa of the NYS State Nursing Association, praised the Governor’s initiative, citing “exorbitant executive salaries in some hospitals and nursing homes” even as they are implementing significant reductions in the numbers of “bed-side” nursing staff.
“Cases of excessive executive compensation and abuse are few and far between and
what does exist, needs to be exposed and eliminated,” said Doug Sauer, CEO of the New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON), noting that NYCON represents 3,100 small and mid-sized nonprofits. “Under-compensation is a much more prevalent and serious issue.” Sauer went on to note that “charities in New York State, and particularly those that contract with the State, are arguably the most regulated in the Country, and many of these regulations are outdated, piecemealed, and ineffective.”
“Not-for-profit organizations are already subject to federal and state oversight that includes regulation of excessive executive compensation and administrative expenses,” said Jim Lytle of the law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips who spoke on behalf of a group of 17 nonprofit associations and coalitions, including:
•Association For Community Living
•Black Agency Executives
•Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York
•Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services, Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens
•Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies
•Family Planning Advocates of New York State
•Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
•Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State
•Human Services Council of New York
•Long Island Coalition of Behavioral Health Providers
•Mental Health Association of New York City
•Mental Health Association of Westchester
•New York State Coalition for Children’s Mental Health Services
•New York State Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
•Supportive Housing Network of New York
•UJA-Federation of New York
•United Neighborhood Houses of New York
Lytle noted that “the Attorney General’s Office exercises comprehensive regulatory authority to supervise the operation of the state’s not-for-profit corporations, including the reasonableness of compensation. The Attorney General can hold officers and directors of NFP Corporations fully accountable for their actions, including the right to remove directors who authorize or acquiesce in payments or practices that are deemed inappropriate or excessive.”
He went on to highlight that the IRS requires detailed disclosure of executive compensation and that substantial tax penalties can be levied on executives that receive excessive compensation. “In reviewing whether the compensation is reasonable, the IRS reviews what compensation is received for similar services by similar organizations (whether for- or not-for-profit) and under similar circumstances. To get the benefit of the doubt, entities must demonstrate that the board actually established and followed a reasonable compensation policy, and that the board actually reviewed comparable compensation data and comparability information to make a reasonable decision,” said Lytle.
Michael Cooney, an attorney with law firm of Nixon Peabody concurred. “I would urge the legislature to evaluate and incorporate existing processes and structures that are already in place. What is needed is a better understanding of this structure and enforcement mechanisms,” he said.
Give Me a Number!
Nonprofit sector representatives criticized the Governor’s proposal for blanket caps on reimbursement for executive compensation and administrative expense as a blunt instrument which is ill-suited to the complexity of the state’s nonprofit sector. “Taking a ‘one-size fits all’ approach to addressing the compensation and administrative spending practices of tens of thousands of not-for-profit organizations will not effectively curb excessive compensation by the handful of offending entities and will do harm to an already fragile New York State not-for-profit infrastructure,” said Lytle.
Despite these concerns, Committee Members pressed witnesses for their views regarding the proposed $199,000 salary cap or appropriate alternatives. “What is reasonable?” State Senator Daniel Squadron asked repeatedly.
Lytle and Cooney declined to give any number, citing the need for case-by-case assessments of the position, its responsibilities and complexity, issues of size and scope, and comparable pay levels in the competitive marketplace in which an agency must recruit leadership.
NYCON’s Doug Sauer, on the other hand, offered a “personal” opinion. “If somebody is making $1 million, I think you really need to look at it,” he said, and then added. “If someone is making $500,000, I think you should look at it.”
Costs of Compliance
Witnesses argued that the Governor’s Executive Order would establish an entirely new and unnecessary set of bureaucratic burdens on nonprofits. They noted that multiple State agencies -- DOH, OASAS, OMH, OCFS, etc. --- were being asked to develop their own separate regulations and procedures which would likely to lead to overlapping, conflicting and confusing reporting requirements.
“Every new regulation, every new reporting requirement, and every new unfunded mandate, comes with a cost,” said NYCON’s Doug Sauer. He noted that the Governor’s Task Force on Nonprofit Entities – appointed last year to explore the executive compensation issue – was already imposing unnecessary compliance costs on both nonprofit agencies and the state itself. The Task Force reportedly has demanded detailed staff salary and compensation data from hundreds of nonprofits with state contracts. “This information already is readily available,” said Sauer. “How much has the State spent to find out what is already out there? How much has it cost nonprofits to fill out these forms?”
Several witnesses – as well as State Senator Reuben Diaz – questioned why the Task Force had yet to offer any report on its findings -- even as an Executive Order was already establishing new State policy.
“No analysis of the collected data has been released nor have there been any recommendations or other reports from the Task Force,” said Lytle. “It may be appropriate, at a minimum, to review the results of that review before implementing such a sweeping across-the-board approach to a problem that we sincerely believe is much more limited and much better addressed by targeting the actual wrongdoers before impugning the practices of the whole charitable sector.”
Committee Chair Carl Marcellino, himself a member of the Task Force, may have unintentionally underlined the nonprofit sector’s concerns when he responded that “the Task Force is still receiving data. What slowed that down is the volume and the extent of the questionnaire. It was quite extensive.”
Alternatives
Nonprofit representatives offered some alternatives to the Governor’s Executive Order.
“Rather than rely on State-issued governmental guidelines or across the board caps that dictate salary and administrative expense caps for thousands of organizations, we recommend that the Legislature enact tough new requirements that will hold the contracting organizations themselves accountable for the discharge of their obligations in setting reasonable compensation and limiting administrative costs,” said Lytle on behalf of the 17 nonprofit associations and coalitions.
They proposed the following specific steps:
•Require that not-for-profit boards apply the Internal Revenue Code's reasonable compensation standards for tax-exempt organizations.
•Authorize the Attorney General to investigate compliance with, and enforce these requirements by directing the corporation to produce evidence of its compliance with these standards, upon request.
•Provide sufficient resources to the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau to investigate and to enforce these requirements, through reasonable fees if necessary.
•Require State agencies to adopt reimbursement and contracting practices that ensure that administrative expenses remain within appropriate levels, taking into account the specific services being rendered and other factors that may dictate the appropriate level of “overhead.”
•Establish a commission—perhaps building upon the existing Task Force on Not-for-Profit Entities, potentially supplemented with membership from reputable not-for-profit leadership—that could take a careful look at these issues and develop its own proposals.
“The State of New York needs to better coordinate efforts, focus resources, and streamline its attention to the business relationship with the nonprofit sector,” said NYCON’s Doug Sauer. “It is in that spirit that we point to solutions similar to those recently enacted by the State of Connecticut and their decision to hire a cabinet-level appointee whose sole purpose is to help manage the myriad issues related to the State-nonprofit relationship. We point to contracting solutions highlighted by our colleagues from the New York City area submitted testimony before this hearing. And, we point to solutions already proposed by the State Comptroller forthcoming from the Attorney General.”
What’s the Problem?
Throughout the hearing – as well as much of the public debate – a fundamental question remained. Which of two separate problems is the Governor’s proposal intended to address:
•Exorbitant executive salaries in any nonprofits that might represent a “sticker shock” to the public and a blow to their confidence in the sector; or,
•An inappropriate use of State resources when purchasing services.
While much of the moral outrage propelling the Governor’s initiative seems driven by the former, the provisions of the Executive Order seem entirely aimed at the latter.
“If for- and not-for-profit contracting entities that receive a substantial amount of their revenue from non-state sources may be able to supplement compensation over the established levels and exceed the administrative expense limitation with non-state resources, the proposal would unfairly target only contractors that are entirely dependent upon State support,” said James Lytle.
“The proposed system provides exemptions and waivers which we believe will result in exceptions for those organizations whose compensation levels are most likely to “shock the conscience,” said Doug Sauer.
The nonprofit representatives maintained that legal, regulatory and procurement mechanisms for monitoring and controlling executive compensation and administrative expense reimbursement already exist – even if frequently underutilized. They called for strengthening and coordinating use of these provisions to identify and address individual cases of abuse rather than imposing a new series of broad-brush compliance requirements on thousands of nonprofits where no problem exists.
A fourth witness, Jayne Cammisa of the NYS State Nursing Association, praised the Governor’s initiative, citing “exorbitant executive salaries in some hospitals and nursing homes” even as they are implementing significant reductions in the numbers of “bed-side” nursing staff.
“Cases of excessive executive compensation and abuse are few and far between and
what does exist, needs to be exposed and eliminated,” said Doug Sauer, CEO of the New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON), noting that NYCON represents 3,100 small and mid-sized nonprofits. “Under-compensation is a much more prevalent and serious issue.” Sauer went on to note that “charities in New York State, and particularly those that contract with the State, are arguably the most regulated in the Country, and many of these regulations are outdated, piecemealed, and ineffective.”
“Not-for-profit organizations are already subject to federal and state oversight that includes regulation of excessive executive compensation and administrative expenses,” said Jim Lytle of the law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips who spoke on behalf of a group of 17 nonprofit associations and coalitions, including:
•Association For Community Living
•Black Agency Executives
•Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York
•Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services, Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens
•Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies
•Family Planning Advocates of New York State
•Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
•Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State
•Human Services Council of New York
•Long Island Coalition of Behavioral Health Providers
•Mental Health Association of New York City
•Mental Health Association of Westchester
•New York State Coalition for Children’s Mental Health Services
•New York State Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
•Supportive Housing Network of New York
•UJA-Federation of New York
•United Neighborhood Houses of New York
Lytle noted that “the Attorney General’s Office exercises comprehensive regulatory authority to supervise the operation of the state’s not-for-profit corporations, including the reasonableness of compensation. The Attorney General can hold officers and directors of NFP Corporations fully accountable for their actions, including the right to remove directors who authorize or acquiesce in payments or practices that are deemed inappropriate or excessive.”
He went on to highlight that the IRS requires detailed disclosure of executive compensation and that substantial tax penalties can be levied on executives that receive excessive compensation. “In reviewing whether the compensation is reasonable, the IRS reviews what compensation is received for similar services by similar organizations (whether for- or not-for-profit) and under similar circumstances. To get the benefit of the doubt, entities must demonstrate that the board actually established and followed a reasonable compensation policy, and that the board actually reviewed comparable compensation data and comparability information to make a reasonable decision,” said Lytle.
Michael Cooney, an attorney with law firm of Nixon Peabody concurred. “I would urge the legislature to evaluate and incorporate existing processes and structures that are already in place. What is needed is a better understanding of this structure and enforcement mechanisms,” he said.
Give Me a Number!
Nonprofit sector representatives criticized the Governor’s proposal for blanket caps on reimbursement for executive compensation and administrative expense as a blunt instrument which is ill-suited to the complexity of the state’s nonprofit sector. “Taking a ‘one-size fits all’ approach to addressing the compensation and administrative spending practices of tens of thousands of not-for-profit organizations will not effectively curb excessive compensation by the handful of offending entities and will do harm to an already fragile New York State not-for-profit infrastructure,” said Lytle.
Despite these concerns, Committee Members pressed witnesses for their views regarding the proposed $199,000 salary cap or appropriate alternatives. “What is reasonable?” State Senator Daniel Squadron asked repeatedly.
Lytle and Cooney declined to give any number, citing the need for case-by-case assessments of the position, its responsibilities and complexity, issues of size and scope, and comparable pay levels in the competitive marketplace in which an agency must recruit leadership.
NYCON’s Doug Sauer, on the other hand, offered a “personal” opinion. “If somebody is making $1 million, I think you really need to look at it,” he said, and then added. “If someone is making $500,000, I think you should look at it.”
Costs of Compliance
Witnesses argued that the Governor’s Executive Order would establish an entirely new and unnecessary set of bureaucratic burdens on nonprofits. They noted that multiple State agencies -- DOH, OASAS, OMH, OCFS, etc. --- were being asked to develop their own separate regulations and procedures which would likely to lead to overlapping, conflicting and confusing reporting requirements.
“Every new regulation, every new reporting requirement, and every new unfunded mandate, comes with a cost,” said NYCON’s Doug Sauer. He noted that the Governor’s Task Force on Nonprofit Entities – appointed last year to explore the executive compensation issue – was already imposing unnecessary compliance costs on both nonprofit agencies and the state itself. The Task Force reportedly has demanded detailed staff salary and compensation data from hundreds of nonprofits with state contracts. “This information already is readily available,” said Sauer. “How much has the State spent to find out what is already out there? How much has it cost nonprofits to fill out these forms?”
Several witnesses – as well as State Senator Reuben Diaz – questioned why the Task Force had yet to offer any report on its findings -- even as an Executive Order was already establishing new State policy.
“No analysis of the collected data has been released nor have there been any recommendations or other reports from the Task Force,” said Lytle. “It may be appropriate, at a minimum, to review the results of that review before implementing such a sweeping across-the-board approach to a problem that we sincerely believe is much more limited and much better addressed by targeting the actual wrongdoers before impugning the practices of the whole charitable sector.”
Committee Chair Carl Marcellino, himself a member of the Task Force, may have unintentionally underlined the nonprofit sector’s concerns when he responded that “the Task Force is still receiving data. What slowed that down is the volume and the extent of the questionnaire. It was quite extensive.”
Alternatives
Nonprofit representatives offered some alternatives to the Governor’s Executive Order.
“Rather than rely on State-issued governmental guidelines or across the board caps that dictate salary and administrative expense caps for thousands of organizations, we recommend that the Legislature enact tough new requirements that will hold the contracting organizations themselves accountable for the discharge of their obligations in setting reasonable compensation and limiting administrative costs,” said Lytle on behalf of the 17 nonprofit associations and coalitions.
They proposed the following specific steps:
•Require that not-for-profit boards apply the Internal Revenue Code's reasonable compensation standards for tax-exempt organizations.
•Authorize the Attorney General to investigate compliance with, and enforce these requirements by directing the corporation to produce evidence of its compliance with these standards, upon request.
•Provide sufficient resources to the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau to investigate and to enforce these requirements, through reasonable fees if necessary.
•Require State agencies to adopt reimbursement and contracting practices that ensure that administrative expenses remain within appropriate levels, taking into account the specific services being rendered and other factors that may dictate the appropriate level of “overhead.”
•Establish a commission—perhaps building upon the existing Task Force on Not-for-Profit Entities, potentially supplemented with membership from reputable not-for-profit leadership—that could take a careful look at these issues and develop its own proposals.
“The State of New York needs to better coordinate efforts, focus resources, and streamline its attention to the business relationship with the nonprofit sector,” said NYCON’s Doug Sauer. “It is in that spirit that we point to solutions similar to those recently enacted by the State of Connecticut and their decision to hire a cabinet-level appointee whose sole purpose is to help manage the myriad issues related to the State-nonprofit relationship. We point to contracting solutions highlighted by our colleagues from the New York City area submitted testimony before this hearing. And, we point to solutions already proposed by the State Comptroller forthcoming from the Attorney General.”
What’s the Problem?
Throughout the hearing – as well as much of the public debate – a fundamental question remained. Which of two separate problems is the Governor’s proposal intended to address:
•Exorbitant executive salaries in any nonprofits that might represent a “sticker shock” to the public and a blow to their confidence in the sector; or,
•An inappropriate use of State resources when purchasing services.
While much of the moral outrage propelling the Governor’s initiative seems driven by the former, the provisions of the Executive Order seem entirely aimed at the latter.
“If for- and not-for-profit contracting entities that receive a substantial amount of their revenue from non-state sources may be able to supplement compensation over the established levels and exceed the administrative expense limitation with non-state resources, the proposal would unfairly target only contractors that are entirely dependent upon State support,” said James Lytle.
“The proposed system provides exemptions and waivers which we believe will result in exceptions for those organizations whose compensation levels are most likely to “shock the conscience,” said Doug Sauer.
Monday, February 6, 2012
NYCON CEO Doug Sauer Testifies at Public Hearing on Executive Compensation at Not-for-Profits
Public Hearing: To examine executive compensation at not-for-profit organizations receiving State funding and the actions needed to prevent State tax dollars from being wasted on excessive salaries
Senate Standing Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
Chair: Senator Carl L. Marcellino
NY Council of Nonprofits CEO Doug Sauer shares feedback and testimony on the Governor's Executive Order addressing Executive Compensation for Not-for-Profits. You can hear Doug's comments beginning at 49:30. Watch for more from NYCON shortly. Interested in joining the NYCON mailing list? Subscribe here.
Senate Standing Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
Chair: Senator Carl L. Marcellino
NY Council of Nonprofits CEO Doug Sauer shares feedback and testimony on the Governor's Executive Order addressing Executive Compensation for Not-for-Profits. You can hear Doug's comments beginning at 49:30. Watch for more from NYCON shortly. Interested in joining the NYCON mailing list? Subscribe here.
BBB Sponsors Charity Effectiveness Symposium in NYC
February 28th, 2012 8 am to 12 pm
Hosted by:
Baruch College School of Public Affairs, 55 Lexington Avenue at 24th Street, 14th Floor
Keynote Remarks:
"The Art of Thinking Big: Lessons from Grassroots Leaders"
Maria Mottola, Executive Director, New York Foundation
Panel Discussions by Experts
"Meeting Challenges with Creativity: Views from Innovators"
Moderated by Timothy J. McClimon, President, American Express Foundation
David Garza, Executive Director, Henry Street Settlement
Paula L. Gavin, President, National Urban Fellows
Evie Hantzopoulous, Executive Director, Global Kids
"Managing Great Performance: Differentiating Your Organization Through Stellar Planning and Evaluation"
Moderated by Hilda H. Polanco, CPA, CCSA, Founder & Managing Director, Fiscal Management Associates, LLC
Sister Paulette LoMonaco, Executive Director, Good Shepherd Services
Megan McAllister, Program Officer, Altman Foundation
Peter York, Senior Partner and Chief Research & Learning Officer, TCC Group
Update: Jason Lilien, Bureau Chief, Charities Bureau, Office of the New York State Attorney General
Cost: $25.00
For more information: Please contact Luana Lewis, SVP-Programs & Services, BBB Education and Research Foundation, 212.358.2842, llewis@newyork.bbb.org
Hosted by:
Baruch College School of Public Affairs, 55 Lexington Avenue at 24th Street, 14th Floor
Keynote Remarks:
"The Art of Thinking Big: Lessons from Grassroots Leaders"
Maria Mottola, Executive Director, New York Foundation
Panel Discussions by Experts
"Meeting Challenges with Creativity: Views from Innovators"
Moderated by Timothy J. McClimon, President, American Express Foundation
David Garza, Executive Director, Henry Street Settlement
Paula L. Gavin, President, National Urban Fellows
Evie Hantzopoulous, Executive Director, Global Kids
"Managing Great Performance: Differentiating Your Organization Through Stellar Planning and Evaluation"
Moderated by Hilda H. Polanco, CPA, CCSA, Founder & Managing Director, Fiscal Management Associates, LLC
Sister Paulette LoMonaco, Executive Director, Good Shepherd Services
Megan McAllister, Program Officer, Altman Foundation
Peter York, Senior Partner and Chief Research & Learning Officer, TCC Group
Update: Jason Lilien, Bureau Chief, Charities Bureau, Office of the New York State Attorney General
Cost: $25.00
For more information: Please contact Luana Lewis, SVP-Programs & Services, BBB Education and Research Foundation, 212.358.2842, llewis@newyork.bbb.org
Monday, January 23, 2012
How New York City Helps Nonprofits Get More Bang For Their Buck
Billings-Burford, the head of NYC Service, discusses the courage and innovative spirit organizations must have to use volunteers to help expand their services.
In the face of a volatile economy, adaptation is key. Families, small businesses, and all levels of government must adjust to the ever-changing environment. Nonprofit organizations are no exception.
This post is part of a series on the future of service in America, in conjunction with Catchafire.
As resources become increasingly limited, the need for services provided by those organizations grows. However, often these limited resources also prevent nonprofits from maintaining the status quo of service delivery, and in response, organizations are forced to cut programs and focus staff energy on development work. But this can severely hamper innovation.
To avoid--or at least reduce--reliance on those usual models of dealing with limited resources, nonprofits must develop and implement bold, innovative adaptations. Such innovations require immense courage, but have the potential to both maintain an organization’s service delivery and foster a mentality of renewal desperately needed in the nonprofit sector.
Rosabeth M. Kanter of the Harvard Business School describes two types of courage: intellectual courage, required to challenge conventional wisdom, and moral courage, required to stand up for a principle rather than stand on the sidelines.
“”There are two types of courage: intellectual courage, required to challenge conventional wisdom, and moral courage, required to stand up for a principle.
In the years since our launch in 2009, NYC Service has witnessed the most success and added the most value to organizations that have demonstrated both of these types of courage by using volunteers in new and strategic ways.
Engaging volunteers in unprecedented roles is a central tenet of the NYC Service philosophy. The first to take this approach in municipal government, our ideas have certainly been met with resistance. But nearly three years later, our partnerships with City agencies have maintained or expanded the delivery of services to New Yorkers. Shape Up NYC, an initiative of the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, recruits volunteer fitness instructors to teach free classes, attended by an average of 3,000 New Yorkers each week. This represents a 150% increase in attendees, an expanded capacity that would have been impossible without volunteers.
This new approach to volunteerism isn’t just happening in New York, it’s happening in cities around the country through the Cities of Service coalition. Thirty mayors have already hired a Chief Service Officer or launched a high-impact service plan, with more doing so each month. And it’s working. In May 2010, when Nashville experienced a flood of historic proportions with over $2.5 billion in damages, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean tapped citizens to power recovery efforts and to help prevent future flooding. Using volunteers, Nashville planted over 800 trees in strategic areas and built almost 100 rain gardens to help reduce the build-up of storm water. Similarly, nonprofits must tap volunteers to administer programs that may otherwise be cut.
“”Innovations challenge conventional wisdom and thus require intellectual courage. Their implementation almost always requires moral courage.
Skills-based volunteering is another example of using volunteers strategically. Individuals with industry-specific skills are an underutilized resource for nonprofits that need assistance in specific areas. Nonprofits like Catchafire and Npower specialize in recruiting and placing such volunteers, but nonprofit volunteer departments can build such a strategy into their operations. This matching model has proven successful; through Taproot’s Professional Services program, the Mentoring Partnership of New York was paired with volunteer website developers and graphic designers who updated the organization’s website and produced new marketing materials.
By definition, innovations challenge conventional wisdom and thus require intellectual courage. Their implementation almost always requires moral courage. As the economic recession continues, this courage will be required by even more organizations. Nonprofit leaders must identify new and untapped resources--we make the case here for volunteers, but there are surely others--to maintain and even increase the impact of their organizations.
Though volunteerism itself is not a new concept, using it as a serious strategy to meet critical community needs is still in an experimental phase. NYC Service has proven its effectiveness and encourages nonprofits across the board to pursue a similar approach.
In the face of a volatile economy, adaptation is key. Families, small businesses, and all levels of government must adjust to the ever-changing environment. Nonprofit organizations are no exception.
This post is part of a series on the future of service in America, in conjunction with Catchafire.
As resources become increasingly limited, the need for services provided by those organizations grows. However, often these limited resources also prevent nonprofits from maintaining the status quo of service delivery, and in response, organizations are forced to cut programs and focus staff energy on development work. But this can severely hamper innovation.
To avoid--or at least reduce--reliance on those usual models of dealing with limited resources, nonprofits must develop and implement bold, innovative adaptations. Such innovations require immense courage, but have the potential to both maintain an organization’s service delivery and foster a mentality of renewal desperately needed in the nonprofit sector.
Rosabeth M. Kanter of the Harvard Business School describes two types of courage: intellectual courage, required to challenge conventional wisdom, and moral courage, required to stand up for a principle rather than stand on the sidelines.
“”There are two types of courage: intellectual courage, required to challenge conventional wisdom, and moral courage, required to stand up for a principle.
In the years since our launch in 2009, NYC Service has witnessed the most success and added the most value to organizations that have demonstrated both of these types of courage by using volunteers in new and strategic ways.
Engaging volunteers in unprecedented roles is a central tenet of the NYC Service philosophy. The first to take this approach in municipal government, our ideas have certainly been met with resistance. But nearly three years later, our partnerships with City agencies have maintained or expanded the delivery of services to New Yorkers. Shape Up NYC, an initiative of the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, recruits volunteer fitness instructors to teach free classes, attended by an average of 3,000 New Yorkers each week. This represents a 150% increase in attendees, an expanded capacity that would have been impossible without volunteers.
This new approach to volunteerism isn’t just happening in New York, it’s happening in cities around the country through the Cities of Service coalition. Thirty mayors have already hired a Chief Service Officer or launched a high-impact service plan, with more doing so each month. And it’s working. In May 2010, when Nashville experienced a flood of historic proportions with over $2.5 billion in damages, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean tapped citizens to power recovery efforts and to help prevent future flooding. Using volunteers, Nashville planted over 800 trees in strategic areas and built almost 100 rain gardens to help reduce the build-up of storm water. Similarly, nonprofits must tap volunteers to administer programs that may otherwise be cut.
“”Innovations challenge conventional wisdom and thus require intellectual courage. Their implementation almost always requires moral courage.
Skills-based volunteering is another example of using volunteers strategically. Individuals with industry-specific skills are an underutilized resource for nonprofits that need assistance in specific areas. Nonprofits like Catchafire and Npower specialize in recruiting and placing such volunteers, but nonprofit volunteer departments can build such a strategy into their operations. This matching model has proven successful; through Taproot’s Professional Services program, the Mentoring Partnership of New York was paired with volunteer website developers and graphic designers who updated the organization’s website and produced new marketing materials.
By definition, innovations challenge conventional wisdom and thus require intellectual courage. Their implementation almost always requires moral courage. As the economic recession continues, this courage will be required by even more organizations. Nonprofit leaders must identify new and untapped resources--we make the case here for volunteers, but there are surely others--to maintain and even increase the impact of their organizations.
Though volunteerism itself is not a new concept, using it as a serious strategy to meet critical community needs is still in an experimental phase. NYC Service has proven its effectiveness and encourages nonprofits across the board to pursue a similar approach.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
