February MTc3 eNews
In This Issue: Director's Update | Consultant's Corner | News & Resources | Great Links | Welcome New Members
Director's Update
Obama’s Jobs Proposal A Sign of Change?
by Brian Magee, MNA Executive Director
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With the release of President Obama’s jobs proposal a few weeks ago, the nonprofit community crossed another important bridge in the long (overdue) journey towards having a seat at the table regarding key public policy issues that impact nonprofits and our country more generally. As previously reported by MNA, the President’s proposal to stimulate job creation involves providing tax credits to small employers – including nonprofits, to hire new employees, or expand hours or wages of existing employees. Aside from the relative merits of the proposal, why is this development so significant?
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The nonprofit community, which employs roughly 10% of the U.S. workforce and more than 37,000 Montanans, has historically been ignored and/or overlooked in major domestic policy matters. Just nine months ago, for example, nonprofits across the country were angered, perplexed, frustrated and generally quite vocal about being left out of health care reform. The President’s own health care plan ignored nonprofit employers from the very start. So did the House of Representatives. Fast forward to present day – tax credits for small nonprofits are part of the Senate’s version of health care reform now being debated in Congress. Our own Senator Baucus had a major hand in making this happen.
What changed from June 09 to September 09? One simple, yet powerful action. Rather than accepting the proposals that were being debated, thousands of nonprofits, including many Montana charitable organizations, spoke with one voice and worked tirelessly for months to see that small nonprofits were supported and covered in the Senate bill. No matter what happens with health care reform (passage of a final bill looks bleak at best), this is significant progress in terms of nonprofits securing a seat at the policy table and shaping important public policy.
Now back to present day. With Obama’s jobs proposal, we’re clearly seeing the additive effect of that collective action on health care reform nine months ago on the jobs discussion of today. Rather than scratching and clawing to be added to the jobs proposal after the fact, we are part of the proposal from the very start. That is a much different vantage point from which to work. Is the proposal the way we want it to be? That is the discussion that is now under way and will play out over the coming weeks, but there is no doubt that nonprofits are much better positioned to have that discussion from inside the tent. Let the real work begin.
With the Serve America Act, Nonprofit Capacity Building Initiative, IRA Rollover Extension, and Health Care Reform in 2009, the nonprofit community stepped forward in a big way last year. It appears that our policy makers may finally be taking notice. All of us at MNA thank the leadership of the National Council of Nonprofits at the national level and all of you who stepped forward at the grassroots level to make this happen.
We look forward to building on those successes in 2010!
consultant's corner
Q&A with Barbara Harrington on Corporate Sponsorships
by Barbara Harrington, co-founder of the Sponsorship Network
Barbara Harrington
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This month, Consultant’s Corner features an MNA interview with Barbara Harrington. Along with her business partner, Barbara has been helping nonprofits raise funds from corporate marketing budgets for 20 years. We asked her recently to share her knowledge about the basics of marketing sponsorships and the essentials of how a nonprofit should prepare to solicit funds from corporate marketing budgets. Barbara will be presenting the Creative Partnerships: Building Your Bottom Line With Innovative Corporate Sponsors webinar for MNA on Feb 25 (see the end of the blog article for details).
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| MNA: What are corporate marketing sponsorship funds and why should nonprofits consider seeking them? BH: Diversifying funding is a necessity for most nonprofits, yet many of us are unfamiliar with the revenue “marketing sponsorships” can bring. Corporate marketing or sponsorship budgets are different from corporate philanthropy dollars. Corporations spend a tremendous amount on marketing and getting their products in front of their target consumers. Traditional advertising is costly and not as effective, hence the growing popularity of marketing sponsorships with nonprofits. Some may think there isn't a corporate structure in Montana…think again! Every product you see in every store is backed by considerable marketing dollars, and proven strategies exist for tapping into those funds for your organization. To be successful, nonprofits need to understand how corporations spend their marketing dollars and how toaccess these funds by setting values, clarifying benefits and ultimately documenting a return-on-investment for the sponsor.
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...Read the entire article on the MNA Blog Nonprofit News & Resources
PRODUCTS & SERVICES:
MNA Product Webinars - Learn about and take advantage of MNA's great discount products and services during our FREE product webinars:
MNA Online Career Center Webinar - Feb 24th at 11:30
This 30 minute webinar will help you learn how to use our Career Center to find candidates, increase your search area, save money, and supplement your newspaper advertising. The MNA Online Career Center has over 750 job seekers registered and interested in nonprofit careers. Join the 400 employers already saving money and reaching a demographically focused job market. For more info, or to register, email Brad Robinson.
ReadyTalk Voice and Web Conferencing - March 9th at 11:30
This 30 minute webinar will help you learn how to use our Phone and Web Conferencing program to produce webinars for your constituents, save travel costs, record presentations for volunteers or donors, and increase board attendance. If you already have a voice and web conferencing system, check out rates to see if we can save you more money! For more info, or to register, email Brad Robinson.
Discounted Background Check Program - March 25th at 11:30
This 30 minute webinar will help you learn about MNA’s discounted Employee and Volunteer Back Ground Check program. Our program provides you with different tools including criminal background checks and information verification checks. Background checks can help protect your organization. For more info, or to register, emailBrad Robinson.
RESOURCES:
Senior Corps 2010 RSVP Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) is Now Open
$2.5 million is available for existing RSVP grantees and other organizations; and $229,000 is available specifically for organizations that are not grantees of the Corporation. The overview, NOFA, and Grant Application Instructionscan be foundhere.
Federal Employee Giving Campaign
Last year federal employees in 36 Montana counties donated over $238,759 to non-profit organizations through the “BIG SKY” Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) -- the workplace, charitable giving campaign of federal employees. To be considered for inclusion in this year’s CFC campaign, go to www.usbr.gov/gp/cfc. Completed applications are due Friday, April 9, 2010 by 4:00 p.m.
Community Conversation with Michael Kaiser
As President of the Kennedy Center and author of The Art of the Turnaround: Creating and Maintaining Healthy Arts Organizations, Michael Kaiser will speak to the Montana arts and cultural community about maintaining artistic creativity and integrity during these challenging economic times on Monday, March 29 at the Albert Bair Theaterin Billings. The event is Kaiser’s only stop in Montana as part of his national Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative tour of all 50 states. Register here.
MHCCDA Conference - Planning for Success: Practical Tools for Improving Your Development Program
The annual MHCCDA (Montana Healthcare Communications and Development Association) Spring 2010 Conference is being held at the legendary Chico Hot Springs Resort in Pray, Montana, March 18-19, 2010. Registration deadline is March 5 and there is plenty of room left. For details and a registration packet, contact Marilyn.
Webcast with Richard Louv: Saving our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation invites you to tune in for a FREE,live webcast on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010, as the Foundation’s Speaker Series hosts Richard Louv. Louv has created a national conversation about the disconnection between children and nature, and his message has galvanized an international movement.The webcast will run from 6 – 7:30 p.m. (EST). Please visit the webcast page to learn more about the program, and bookmark the URL.
great links
Links from around the Web
Welcome New Members
As always we would like to close with a sincere, great thanks to our recently joined new members:
- Montana Conservation Science Institute, Missoula,
- Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter, Bozeman,
- Continental Divide Trail Allilance, Whitefish,
our renewing members, and our new Affiliate Member - Allison Baker.
View all of MNA's members.