Nonprofit Director Shares Input

Gordon J. Campbell, the president and chief executive of United Way of New York City, answered selected readers’ questions in a two-part New York Times article. In each segment, he answers questions on how New York City nonprofits are coping with the recession and how New Yorkers can give back and provide assistance to those in need. He also mentions resources for nonprofits to turn to in challenging times, which included CCSNYS, now officially New York Council of Nonprofits.

Managing Nonprofits in Lean Times Forum Held in Poughkeepsie

The NY Times covered the recent Managing Nonprofit Organizations in Lean Times program sponsored by the Dyson Foundation. 350 officials from 170 different Hudson Valley nonprofit organizations attended this special program, which featured Clara Miller, president and chief executive of the Nonprofit Finance Fund.

Telemarketers Take Hefty Share of Charity Dollars, Cuomo Says

New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo’s annual report, PENNIES FOR CHARITY: WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES, details telemarketing campaigns in New York and shows donors how much of their contributions made in response to telemarketers’ solicitations are actually retained by the charity. The report is intended as a tool to assist donors as they decide which charities to support. It can also be used by charitable organizations to evaluate a professional fundraiser’s performance.

Career Books to Stay Competitive

Technology, business and the working world are changing rapidly. AbeBooks has assembled a list of resources from strategic thinking to leadership tips and innovation to inspiration. Do you have a favorite book or a good resource to share with other EDs? What book or article gives you guidance in tough times?

Credit Crisis Is Leaving Charities Low on Cash

The NY Times featured an article about how charities are being caught in the credit crunch as banks reduce their lines of credit or cut them off. This is very concerning for nonprofits, especially as the demand for services is increasing significantly. Read more here. How should nonprofits respond to this issue? The article discusses some ideas being advocated. Share you thoughts here.

New Rules For Donor-Restricted Endowments

The Nonprofit Times newsletter recently related the following info on new rules for donor-restricted endowments:
The new year started on December 15. This new "year" is the one begun by the new provisions issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), set to take effect midway through the last month of 2008.

FAS 117-1 includes changes in financial statement reporting and disclosure requirements regarding donor-restricted endowment funds and board-designated endowment funds.

According to Mark J. Piszko, a partner in the Not-for-Profit Services Division of O’Connor Davies Munns & Dobbins, LLP, the disclosures required by FAS 117-1 include:

• The governing board’s interpretation of the law(s) underlying the net asset classification of the donor-restricted endowment funds;
• The organization’s policy for appropriation of endowment assets for expenditure;
• The organization’s investment policies, including a description of the organization’s return objectives and risk parameters, how those objectives relate to the organization’s endowment spending policy, and the strategies employed for achieving those objectives;
• The composition of the organization’s endowment by net asset class at the end of the period, in total, and by type of endowment fund, showing donor-restricted endowment funds separately from board-designated endowment funds;
• A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of the organization’s endowment, in total and by net asset class, including, at minimum, line items investment return separated into investment income and net appreciation or depreciation of investments, contributions, amounts appropriated for expenditure, reclassifications and other changes.

NYS Arts calls for support against funding cuts

NYS Arts is calling for support in helping fight the cuts facing Arts and Arts education funding in New York State. Complete details on the proposed cuts and the list of the nearly 600 Arts organizations effected can be found by clicking here. Their goal is to get 20,000 messages sent by January 13th, which will feature a march on Albany. Their intention is to bring as many people as possible to the Capital to meet with their elected representatives. Their specific message is to oppose the Governor's proposed cuts to the New York State Council on the Arts 2008-2009 budget funding.

Poughkeepsie Journal advocates for all of upstate

Early next year, Hillary Rodham Clinton will vacate her Senate position to become U.S. Secretary of State in the Obama administration. Gov. David Paterson will then appoint a Senate replacement. Upstate communities are rightly adamant the new senator pay attention to their concerns, which often are overshadowed by the political power of New York City and other downstate regions.

The Poughkeepsie Journal editorial board reached out to editorialists across upstate, as well as to Journal readers and online posters, to get their thoughts on these issues - and to find out what the new senator needs to know about upstate. Here are those views.