ace june 2012 newsletter
DESCRIPTION
ACE June 2012 NewsletterTRANSCRIPT
June 2012
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org 2
We are proud to work with you to achieve
ACE’s mission and vision together:
Mission: Strengthen Arkansas Nonprofits
Vision: A strong, vibrant, united and effective
nonprofit sector that is well positioned to
meet the diverse needs of all Arkansans.
Our Core Values: Best Practices | Inclusive |
Unity in Diversity | Connecting & Equipping |
Statewide Vision | Regional Approach
IN THIS EDITION
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4-5
6-7
8
9
10-11
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Greetings from ACE
Upcoming
Trainings and Events
Member
Corner
Federal and State
Policy Updates
Grants Corner
Resources & Other
Links
Contact Us
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence:
Helping Nonprofits Help Arkansas
Shout Outs!
Congratulations to ARVets and Literacy Action
of Central Arkansas for becoming Clinton
School of Public Service project sites!
Also congratulations to Ralph Nesson of
Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund on his
retirement! After many years of excellent ser-
vice to Arkansas, you definitely have earned
some “you” time!
And finally, congratulations to ACE members
Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas’ Christie
Jordan and AR Symphony Orchestra’s Philip R.
Mann on be selected one of Arkansas Business’
40 under 40!
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org 3
GREETINGS FROM ACE Dear ACE Members and Friends,
As the new executive director of the Arkansas Coalition for Excellence,
I am learning so much about this wonderful network of nonprofits and
the dedicated people who lead and support them. Though I am fairly
new to Arkansas (by way of Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi), I am not
new to the nonprofit field and the challenges we all face. As a long-
time nonprofit director, I am delighted to be part of a dynamic team
both here in the Little Rock office and with all of our members throughout the state. Together,
we are quite a force. We will need to be - to creatively and persistently deal with the
challenges our state faces.
I also appreciate the warm welcome I have received at ACE. Thanks to all of you who have
reached out to me by attending my reception as well as calling, emailing and sending
messages via Facebook and Twitter (Our VISTA, Rebecca, is teaching me to “tweet” – never say
never…). I am looking forward to working with all of you to strengthen our own nonprofits and
also the nonprofit sector in Arkansas. In the next several months, we will be asking for your
feedback on the direction ACE should take in its second decade. Please let us know what you
think as we move ahead, so that we provide meaningful support for you.
I would be remiss if I did not thank the Board of Directors of ACE for all they have done,
particularly during this executive transition. In addition, as all of you know, and as I am learning,
we have some fantastic people dedicated to serving ACE’s mission at the highest level
possible. Thanks to Emily Ingram, our associate director, and Rebecca Zimmermann, our VISTA
member, for not only holding down the fort, but continuing to provide high-quality training and
support for our members. Many thanks, too, to Hunter Goodman, former executive director, for
being there to support, explain, and share the history of ACE with me.
Yes, there is much to do over the next year, but there is one thing you can do right now - renew
your membership or become a member if you aren’t already. And recruit a few colleagues to
join you - so we can move forward together, stronger.
With warm regards,
Stephanie
P.S. Don’t hesitate to give me a call and say hello or to invite me to your area.
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org
UPCOMING TRAININGS, EVENTS &
PROGRAMS
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Arkansas Coalition for Excellence Summer Tech Series
Quickbooks Basic and Intermediate
Quickbooks most likely plays a central role in your organization’s financial tracking, but
unfortunately it can be difficult to navigate. This great workshop will be taught at both basic and
intermediate level to help you understand the ins and outs of Quickbooks. The workshops will cover the
following topics:
Getting Started| Setting Up QuickBooks | Working with Lists | Working with Bank Accounts|
Using Other Accounts in QuickBooks | Entering Sales Information | Receiving Payments and Making
Deposits | Entering and Paying Bills| Analyzing Financial Data | Customizing Forms and Writing
QuickBooks Letter
Conducted by. Paul A. Bax
Paul brings experience, skill and expertise in financial management of small businesses
and not-for-profit organizations. Holding positions such as chief accountant,
accounting manager, auditor and controller in various companies, Paul gained basic
understanding from both the operational and management perspective. He has been
in the accounting field for over twenty (25) years. Currently, Paul provides accounting
and income tax services to individuals and small businesses. He also offers QuickBooks
training and facilitates seminars and workshops in the area of financial management.
His practice has provided services to over 300 small businesses and not-for-profit
organizations and has prepared over 1,000 tax returns, both individual and corporate.
Basic Quickbooks Intermediate Quickbooks
Tuesday July 3 Tuesday July 17
1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Little Rock Little Rock
Cost: $60 for ACE Members $85 nonmembers Cost: $60 for ACE Members $85 nonmembers
Register Here Register Here
Online Communications Strategy 101
Still haven’t quite mastered social media, e-mail blasts, and e-newsletters? Have trouble integrating
new trends in technology to your overall communications strategy? In this workshop learn important
tools and goals to utilize online communications. And learn how to create an online community of vol-
unteers,
donors, staff, and even clients that will help to form a solid base of support for your organization.
Conducted by. Rebecca Zimmermann–
ACE Membership and Communications Coordinator– AmeriCorps VISTA
Thursday, August 2
12:00p.m.-1:00p.m.
Webinar– online and by phone
FREE
Register Here
Webinars
Now is the Time– Mobilize Your Board to Raise Funds: Part 1
Board members today no longer have the option of saying "I don't fundraise." In this webinar, Judi
Margolin provides tools to incentivize board members and help them become more comfortable
with the fundraising process. Participants will learn who should and should not be on your board,
what policies and structures need to be in place to facilitate fundraising by board members, and
how your organization can best achieve a state of grantseeking readiness to ensure board member
success at this critical undertaking. Nonprofit development staff and volunteers should consider
attending with a member of their board. This webinar will be held on Thursday, July 12, 2012. Part II of
this series will be held on Thursday, July 26, 2012. (These webinars may be taken individually.)
Judith Margolin is an independent consultant and workshop leader on foundations and grants. She
served as Vice President for Planning and Evaluation at the Foundation Center for a number of
years. She is the author of several books, including The Individual’s Guide to Grants and Financing a
College Education and has served as editor of multiple editions of the Foundation Center’s how-to
books.
Thursday, July 12
1:00p.m.-2:30p.m.
Location: ACE Offices
Cost: $20 for ACE Members/ $35 for non-members
Register Here.
Now is the Time– Mobilize Your Board to Raise Funds: Part 2
This webinar, presented by Judi Margolin (see description above), addresses in a highly specific and
proactive way the reluctance of board members to fundraise. There are many roles that board
members can play in helping to secure financial resources for your organization, beyond simply
asking for money. The webinar identifies and fully explores each of these roles, with the goal of
making your board members far more proficient at fundraising. Practical advice is provided on
developing an action plan to establish and maintain a fully engaged fundraising board. Nonprofit
development staff and volunteers should consider attending with a member of their board. This
webinar will be held on Thursday, July 26, 2012.
Thursday, July 26
1:00p.m.-2:30p.m.
Location: ACE Offices
Cost: $20 for ACE Members/ $35 for non-members
Register Here.
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org
UPCOMING TRAININGS, EVENTS &
PROGRAMS
5
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org 6
ACE MEMBER BENEFITS
Do you know all the cost-savings your membership includes?
Contact Rebecca at 501.375.1225 or
[email protected] for more information.
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org
MEMBERSHIP
Fort Smith Public Library Endowment Trust Thank you to all of our
new and renewing
members!
Paul Bax and Associates,
Hot Springs Village NEW |
Ladies of Vision, Inc.,
Bryant NEW | Single
Parent Scholarship Fund of
Pulaski County, Little Rock
| Alliance of Nonprofits for
Insurance, Risk Retention
Group (ANI), California |
CASA of the 10th Judicial
District, Hamburg | CASA
of Northwest Arkansas,
Springdale | CASA of
Lonoke County, Inc.,
Lonoke | Food Bank of
North Central AR, Norfolk |
Crossroads Coalition, Inc.,
Wynne |13th Judicial
CASA South, El Dorado|
Literacy Action of Central
Arkansas, Little Rock|
Northwest Arkansas
Workers Justice Center,
Springdale | Developmental
Disabilities Providers Asso-
ciation, Little Rock |
Economics Arkansas, Little
Rock | Batesville Area Arts
Council, Batesville |
CASA of Phillips County,
Helena | Hearts and
Hooves, Sherwood |
The Winthrop Rockefeller
Foundation, Little Rock |
Children’s Advocacy Cen-
ter of Benton County,
Rogers
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Mission
The mission of the Fort Smith Public Library Endowment Trust is to promote and
maintain the stability and the future growth of the Fort Smith Public Library
through the receipt, administration, and distribution of Trust funds to the Library.
Gifts to the Trust may be used to enhance the Library’s acquisitions and to fund
special projects that are beyond the capacity of the Library’s normal operating
budget.
Purpose
The purpose of the Fort Smith Public Library Endowment Trust is:
To promote, encourage, support and aid the public library in its existing and/or
future enterprises.
To develop funds from all sources, including individuals, businesses, and founda-
tions, to enhance the library’s public funding.
To allocate those funds to the Fort Smith Public Library to support such areas
as special projects and acquisitions.
To provide the extra margin of excellence for the public library system by en-
hancing existing public support for the library and its programs.
To use and administer gifts, grants, and bequests for the library.
History and Background
The Fort Smith Public Library Endowment Trust was created in 1996 with a bequest
from the Leah Cohn Arendt estate. The endowment has grown to over $2.5 mil-
lion through the generosity of private donors.
Read more.
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org
PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY
Great Debate, Slight Progress on Tax Reform
With $400 billion in automatic tax hikes waiting to take effect after
the end of the year, Members of Congress are stepping up the
rhetoric and appearance of action, if not actually making progress.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has promised a vote before
the August recess to extend the expiring Bush-era individual tax
rates. Perhaps as early as this month, the Senate may consider rival
proposals to extend those rates for all (the Republican approach)
or only those with income under $250,000 (the Democratic
approach). On the substantive front, Senate Finance Committee
Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) last week outlined his plan for
comprehensive tax reforms that calls for maintaining higher rates for
upper-income earners, paring rates for other individuals and
corporations, and eliminating numerous loopholes and tax breaks.
The Finance Committee also has held a closed-door meeting to
discuss renewing – before the elections – the package of expiring
or expired tax provisions, which includes several charitable giving
incentives such as the IRA rollover, gifts of food inventories, and
land for conservation purposes.
Citizens United Decision Promoted, Challenged
The U.S. Supreme Court and Congress may express divergent views
this summer on the scope of the 2010 Citizens United casethat
invalidated restrictions on corporate and union spending during
elections. The Court met in conference last week to consider
whether to review the extent to which the Citizens United decision
extends to state campaign finance laws. Two corporations and an
advocacy group have called on the Court to effectively overturn
Montana’s 1912 Corrupt Practices Act which prohibits corporate
campaign donations. Twenty-two states and the District of
Columbia filed a brief in support of the Montana law and the
autonomy of the states in governing their own election processes. A
decision by the Court is expected by the end of the month on
whether to grant review of the state court case. Meanwhile, the
Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider a
constitutional amendment(S.J.Res 29) that would grant Congress
and the states more authority to regulate federal and state
campaign spending and contributions.
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Servant Leadership
School of Little Rock,
Bigelow | Butler’s Adult
Daycare Center, Pine
Bluff | Ozark Foothills
Literacy Project,
Batesville | Children’s
Advocacy Centers of
Arkansas, Fayetteville |
Literacy Council of
Bowie and Miller
Counties, Texarkana |
Charles Burrell, Little
Rock |Andra Dillard,
Little Rock NEW | Angel
Fund Foundation, Inc.,
Texarkana, TX | Topps,
Inc., Pine Bluff |AR
Community Action
Agencies Association,
Inc., Little Rock |
The Foundation of the
Arts, Jonesboro |
Tutoring Resources of
Arkansas, Rogers NEW
| Park Central Little
Rock, Little Rock |
Heart to Heart
Pregnancy Support
Center, Fort Smith |
Family Promise of
Pulaski County, Little
Rock
Interested in becoming
an ACE Member? Call or
e-mail us at 501-375-
1224 or rzimmermann
@acenonprofit.org to
find out how ACE can
help strengthen your
organization.
Arkansas Community Foundation Giving Tree Grants Through ARCF signature Giving Tree Grant Program, ARCF supports a
broad range of projects with the potential for statewide impact and
programs serving immediate local needs. Each of their 27 local offices
and our central office in Little Rock offers Giving Tree grants at least
once a year. Typically, these grants are available for a wide variety of
charitable causes;. Check with the local office to which you’re apply-
ing for information about the current grantmaking focus.
How to Apply
Download and complete the application form at www.arcf.org between July 10
and August 15, 2012. Applications must be submitted to [email protected] by
11:59 p.m. on August 15. If you need assistance, contact Chris Love, Arkansas
Community Foundation’s program director, at [email protected] or 501-372-1116.
Support for Public Health Collaborations
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Center for Sharing Public Health Services: Shared
Services Learning Community
The Center for Sharing Public Health Services: Shared Services Learning Community,
an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, supports teams of public
health officials that are addressing cross-jurisdictional sharing (CJS) issues.
(Cross-jurisdictional sharing refers to sharing of services, resources, and functions
across multiple public health agencies and jurisdictions.) The Foundation will provide
two-year grants of up to $125,000 to up to 18 teams of public health officials,
policymakers, and other stakeholders that are exploring, implementing, and/or
improving CJS arrangements between two or more public health agencies. Eligible
teams must include public health leaders from each jurisdiction involved in the CJS
effort. The application deadline is August 29, 2012. Visit the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation’s website to review the Call for Proposals.
Employment Systems Change Efforts Supported
Department of Health and Human Services
The Partnerships in Employment Systems Change Grants Program provides support
for projects developed by consortia that demonstrate a collaborative approach to
creating employment systems change at the state level on behalf of youth and
young adults with developmental disabilities (DD), including intellectual disabilities.
Proposed projects will contribute to the following: development of policies that
support competitive employment in integrated settings, removal of systemic barriers
to competitive employment in integrated settings, implementation of strategies and
best practices that improve employment outcomes for youth and young adults with
DD, and enhanced statewide collaborations that can facilitate the transition
process from secondary and post-secondary school, or other pre-vocational
training settings, to competitive employment in integrated settings. The application
deadline is July 17, 2012.
GRANTS CORNER
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org 9
Look for more available grants on GrantStation.com.
Get a free subscription with your ACE membership.
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org
RESOURCES AND OTHER LINKS
TIP OF THE MONTH
Everything You Need to Know About Risk…
You Learned in Kindergarten
By Melanie Lockwood Herman
As I prepare for my daughter’s eighth grade graduation this week, I feel nostalgic for the days when she
began her academic career as an energetic tow-headed little Kindergartener. I remember her coming
home wide-eyed and excited to tell me all of the things she was learning at school. There were as many
‘life lessons’ learned as there were academic lessons. If you think about it, many of the lessons we learn
in our first year of school directly relate to risk. Here are a few of my favorites…
Risk is everywhere. Even a gently sloping playground slide can be risky. A damp surface could
make the ride faster than anticipated and a shove from a mischievous classmate could send
you airborne. Sizing up risk is a skill we begin to develop very early in life. But children quickly
realize that risk is everywhere and they need lots of practice to get their risk assessment muscle
in shape. When she was very young my daughter learned that going down the slide back-
wards was not worth the “risk.”
Protect your sensitive parts. Many children begin riding bikes and playing organized sports at age
five and they quickly learn that helmets, shin guards and facemasks are necessary to protect
the vulnerable parts of their bodies. In nonprofit organizations, we use risk management poli-
cies, staff training and volunteer screening protocols to protect the most vulnerable players in
an organization, the people we serve.
The people who help you build the castle probably won’t knock it down. There is nothing more
tempting to a young child than a tower of blocks carefully-constructed with painstaking effort
by a nearby classmate who refuses to share the blocks. The offended child’s brain screams,
"Hiii-yaaaah!" Relief is only achieved by giving in and knocking down the tower! The lesson
here is that if you include others in developing your risk management policies, they will be the
least likely to resist them or to tear them down once they are in place.
We all make mistakes. Most young children try so hard to please teachers, parents, coaches and
other caregivers but it is inevitable that even with the best of intentions, they will make mis-
takes. Learning to say, “I’m sorry,” and move on is an important skill. Even when organizations
anticipate and plan for risk, mistakes are made. Long-serving employees, dedicated volun-
teers and enthusiastic participants are also human and they too will make mistakes. Strive to
create a culture where people feel comfortable admitting mistakes (rather than hiding them)
and prepare to regroup and recover when the inevitable mistakes are made.
Like Kindergarten, risk management is a discipline that offers innumerable opportunities to learn. And
like the first year of school, important lessons sometimes come in surprising packages, in unfamiliar envi-
ronments, and from our interactions with other people while at work or play.
Melanie Lockwood Herman is Executive Director of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. She wel-
comes your ideas about any risk management topic, feedback on this article and questions about the
Center’s resources at [email protected] or (202) 785-3891. The Center provides risk manage-
ment tools and resources atwww.nonprofitrisk.org and offers consulting assistance to organizations un-
willing to leave their missions to chance.
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Arkansas Coalition for Excellence | 200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.375.1223 | www.acenonprofit.org
TIP OF THE MONTH
JOBS CENTER
Community Investment Associate, AmeriCorps VISTA– Arkansas Community Foundation
Museum Custodian, Museum of Discovery
Fund Development Communications Assistant, Girls Scouts Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas
Program Consultant Nature Center Coordinator, Girls Scouts Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas
Case Manger/Patient Navigator, Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation
Executive Director, Literacy Action of Central Arkansas
Museum Exhibit Technician, Museum of Discovery
Create a JOBTARGET account on our site to post your organization’s open positions.
ACE members post for free!
For a complete list of jobs click here.
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Is Your Data Safe in a Cloud?
Many organizations question the security of information kept in the cloud. The internet can be a dangerous place for data, but no
more so than your own computer, where your data faces many of the same threats—in fact, a good cloud storage vendor is likely
to protect your data better than you’d reasonably be able to do on your own. With a little planning, it’s possible to take advan-
tage of the benefits offered by the cloud while making sure your organization’s data is as safe as is practically possible.
Information security comprises three simple ideas: confidentiality, which refers to the prevention of unauthorized access to data
and systems; integrity, which means protecting data from unintended change; and availability, which is the accessibility of your
data, because secure information is useless if you can’t get to it when you need it. A good solution for keeping your data safe in
the cloud will address all three.
What are the risks to your data? Computers and the information they store and process are vulnerable to myriad threats. Hackers
and viruses are the obvious ones, but a rat feasting on server cables can also wreak havoc—and so can an employee who acci-
dentally deletes a critical file. A comprehensive list would fill volumes, but a few common risks include the following:
Environmental threats. Severe weather can cause outages or knock servers offline. Downed lines from a freak autumn snow
storm last year left millions in the Northeast without power for several days.
Unauthorized users. Firewalls and intrusion-detection systems can protect outside users from changing your data or accessing
confidential information like human resources and payroll, but the largest risks often come from an organization’s own em-
ployees.
Technical failures. Damage to the equipment that stores, processes and transmits information can range from someone trip-
ping over and disconnecting a cable to a catastrophic server crash.
Malicious software. All computers, especially those connected to the internet, are vulnerable to attacks, viruses, worms, Trojans
and other malware that can exploit weaknesses and damage data.
Read further.
Also, ACE Members can log-on to their account here to view ACE’s webinar “Life in the Clouds” pre-
sented by Whitney Montague.
Thank you for reading this month’s edition of our
newsletter. Questions or Comments? Contact us.
Stephanie Meincke
Executive Director
Emily Ingram,
Associate Director
Rebecca Zimmermann
Membership & Communications
Coordinator, AmeriCorps VISTA
Located within the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation Offices
200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 375-1223
www.acenonprofit.org
Helping Nonprofits Help Arkansas