Thursday, July 8, 2004:
Volume #2, Issue #36
The VERB Weekly Email Digest
Edited by Sophy Pich, VERB Project Associate
Note: Documents on this page or in this section may be in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. In order to read them, you require Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is downloadable free from Adobe.
In This Week's Issue
- Announcements
- 13th Annual CAN Conference
- 3rd Annual Nonprofit Finance Conference
- CAN Regional Conference
- Promising Practices
- Nonprofit Financial Management: Getting a Grip on Spending
- News
- Hmong Donation Drive
- Hmong walking group stops in Madison
- Don't Touch that Dial
- From killing fields to court
- A destructive obsession
- Hmong Refugees May be Put on Waiting List for English Classes
- Preparing for Hmong Refugees
- US Congressional Forum on Laos, Washington Events Conclude
- Controversy surrounds Vietnam War exhibit
- Doyle says more money available to help Hmong refugees
- Refugee task force set
- New Wave of Hmong Head to Minn.
- Hmong Americans Celebrate July 4 in Minnesota
- Remembering the Killing Fields
- Postcard from Thailand
- Cambodian king requests aid for refugees from Vietnam
- Toward the land of the free
- Immigrants proud to be Americans
- THE 'Killing Fields'
- Oakland exhibit angers Vietnamese-Americans
- 500 Hmong to settle in N.C. in coming months
- New partnership helps immigrants
- Brave parents show refugee meaning of freedom
- Funding Opportunities
- Tiffany & Co. Foundation
- Beaumont Foundation
- Women's Sports Foundation
- National Alliance for Justice
- Barbara Bush Foundation
- Altria Group, Inc.
- Do Something
- Resources
- Connect for Kids
- Help US Vote
I. Announcements
13th Annual CAN Conference
Learning, networking, and long-term support for your nonprofit!
Expert-led workshops will cover fundraising, finance, technology,
operations, management, and leadership. Grantmakers' Forums will focus on
trends and strategies. And the Awards of Excellence Luncheon will send you
off on a note of inspiration!
Thurs-Fri, Oct 28-29 in Los Angeles and Thurs-Fri, Nov 4-5 in San
Francisco. For info, see the website.
***
3rd Annual Nonprofit Finance Conference
All you need to know about the practicalities, ethicalities, and legalities
of nonprofit accounting and reporting. Workshops and plenaries will cover
accounting and tax updates, financing just for nonprofits, budgeting
basics, accountability management in the age of scandal, and more.
Wed, Sept 22 in Los Angeles; Wed, Sept 29 in San Jose; and Wed, Oct 6 in
Fresno.
Look for a brochure in your mailbox soon, and see the website.
***
CAN Regional Conference
This conference is specially designed for the far northern California
communities! Opening plenary will give insight on how Sacramento's climate
affects your neighborhoods. Workshops will teach real board change
strategies, coaching, volunteer management, individual fundraising, and
more. And don't miss the presentation of NorCAN's first Award of Excellence!
Tues, Sept 14 in Eureka/Arcata.
Look for a brochure in your mailbox soon, and see the website.
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II. Promising Practices
Nonprofit Financial Management: Getting a Grip on Spending
Posted by: PNNOnline on Friday, June 25, 2004
Like for-profit businesses, nonprofit organizations have to spend money to
raise money. But unlike the company operating with a seemingly endless
spending budget, nonprofits struggle to justify purchases and make sure
expenditures stay within budget.
Despite efforts to manage costs, spending often gets out of control, which
can quickly lead to disaster.
How Spending Gets Out of Control:
Consider Jane, an office employee who needs basic supplies, such as
staples, pens and notebooks. Jane submits a paper purchase request to her
manager, who has received six similar requests from other employees that
day. Jane's manager calls the accounting office to speak with the
purchasing manager, who tracks all requests and expenditures on paper.
Without a centralized online financial system to manage purchases, she
cannot track commitments against the budget or forecast to be sure money
will be available closer to the fiscal year's end. And, with many
accounting duties to fulfill in addition to processing purchase requests,
the purchasing manager is often too busy to check the books and simply
fills the orders, leaving the business office to deal with the budget
shortage when invoices come in.
Why the Old Method Just Isn't Enough:
All nonprofits need to do more with fewer resources, and most are looking
for ways to update and streamline the purchasing process to effectively
control spending and proactively manage expenses. Manually keeping paper
records to manage purchasing is cumbersome and inefficient. Employees have
no easy way to see how much money is available or how actual spending
compares to the budget. In the worst scenario, a paper-based system can
lead the organization to financial ruin.
When spending is unconstrained and budgets are consistently exceeded,
payments must be drawn from other funding sources. Endowments and retained
earnings - the lifeblood of any organization - are usually the first to
feel the impact, and depletion of these funds threatens the nonprofit's
long-term viability. Eventually, if control is not regained, the
organization is forced to scale back its services, or worse - cease
operations.
Using Technology to Streamline the Purchasing Process:
In the purchasing process, paper forms and documents lead to chaos. Moving
the records to an online database can result in significant productivity
increases. The software automates the requisition process by enabling
multiple departments, sites and budget managers to make purchase requests
electronically, through a single shared environment. Users save time, and
records are always current and accurate. Furthermore, an electronic
purchase management system creates an automatic digital audit trail,
eliminating the need to follow paper trails at tax time.
Read on: http://www.pnnonline.org/article.php?sid=5290
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III. News
Hmong Donation Drive
June 28, 2004
ABC News
***
Hmong Walking Group Stops in Madison
June 28, 2004
6 News First Online
***
Don't Touch That Dial
June 28, 2004
Connect for Kids
***
From Killing Fields to Court
June 28, 2004
Deseret Morning News
***
A Destructive Obsession
June 29, 2004
Voice of Vietnam
***
Hmong Refugees May Be Put on Waiting List for English Classes
June 29, 2004
Kare 11
***
Preparing for Hmong Refugees
June 30, 2004
ABC30.com
***
US Congressional Forum on Laos, Washington Events Conclude
June 30, 2004
U.S. Newswire
***
Controversy Surrounds Vietnam War Exhibit
June 30, 2004
Mercury News
***
Doyle Says More Money Available to Help Hmong Refugees
July 1, 2004
Duluth News Tribune
***
Refugee Task Force Set
July 2, 2004
Wausau Daily Herald
***
New Wave of Hmong Head to Minn.
July 2, 2004
Seattle Post-Intelligence
***
Hmong Americans Celebrate July 4 in Minnesota
July 2, 2004
Pacific News Service
af1e7099dbba2dc0ca
***
Remembering the Killing Fields
July 3, 2004
Puget Sound Journal
***
Postcard from Thailand
July 3, 2004
Stevens Point Journal
***
Cambodian King Requests Aid for Refugees from Vietnam
July 3, 2004
The Star Online
***
Toward the Land of the Free
July 3, 2004
JS Online
***
Immigrants Proud to Be Americans
July 4, 2004
Stevens Point Journal
***
The 'Killing Fields'
July 4, 2004
St. George Daily
***
Oakland Exhibit Angers Vietnamese-Americans
July 4, 2004
Contra Costa Times
***
500 Hmong to Settle in N.C. in Coming Months
July 4, 2004
Wilmington Star
***
New Partnership Helps Immigrants
July 4, 2004
The Argus Online
***
Brave Parents Show Refugee Meaning of Freedom
July 4, 2004
Star Telegram
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IV. Grants
- (National)
Tiffany & Co. Foundation
Established in 2000 as a philanthropic vehicle for Tiffany & Co., the
Tiffany & Co. Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations in the
following areas:
Crafts and arts education: educational institutions that provide talented
artisans with the necessary instruction to become highly skilled
professionals in their chosen field.
Preservation and conservation: preservation of arts and traditional
craftsmanship.
Decorative arts: world-recognized cultural institutions, as well as
community-based organizations that foster these arts. The foundation seeks
to strengthen the capacity of these institutions, while making cultural
programs more accessible to the public and facilitating artistic growth and
innovation.
Environmental conservation: organizations dedicated to the conservation of
natural resources.
To qualify for a grant, a prospective grantee must be a U.S.-based
tax-exempt organization with 501(c)(3) status.
A preliminary letter of inquiry is recommended for an initial approach to
the foundation.
Deadline: November 15 and May 15, annually
- (NC & WI)
Beaumont Foundation
The Beaumont Foundation of America is a
nonprofit philanthropic organization dedicated to providing technology to
historically underserved schools and communities. Established with funds
from the settlement of a class action lawsuit, the foundation provides
Toshiba branded equipment for programs in all 50 states and the District of
Columbia.
The foundation's new nationwide Community and Individual Pilot Program
(CIPP) is designed to identify and develop successful programs to address
the needs of groups with special or unique challenges. This initiative is
designed to benefit groups not currently being served by BFA grantees.
The foundation has identified the following areas for potential CIPP
placements: affordable housing; children's hospitals; children of fallen
heroes; college and university scholarship programs; faith-based
initiatives; foster care and mentoring programs for children; homeless
persons; persons with disabilities; restart programs for released
offenders; and senior citizens. Additionally, the foundation plans to
continue grants to its national alliance partners, the Salvation Army and
Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
The current round of funding targets groups in the following states:
Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah,
Vermont, and Wisconsin.
All proposals must be submitted by a 501(c)(3) organization, hospital, or
government agency serving at least 50 percent or more individuals at or
below the poverty level.
All interested organizations must register at the BFA Web site. Online
applications will be accepted June 16 through July 30, 2004 (Salvation Army
and Boys & Girls Club of America may submit applications through June 30,
2004).
The 2004 Community and Individual Pilot Program Guidelines can be
downloaded at the Beaumont Foundation's Web site.
Deadline: July 30, 2004
- (National)
Women's Sports Foundation
The GoGirlGo! Grant and Education Program is dedicated to the development
and funding of girls' sports/physical activity programs that combine
athletic instruction and programming with the delivery of educational
information aimed at reducing risk behaviors.
Administered by the Women's Sports Foundation, the GoGirlGo program
provides financial assistance to sports and physical activity programs
seeking to add new or expanded participation opportunities for an
underserved population of girls, particularly economically disadvantaged
girls and/or girls from populations with high incidences of health-risk
behaviors.
To be eligible for grants through the program, organizations, agencies, and
schools must agree to participate in the GoGirlGo! educational curriculum.
The curriculum is available free of charge from the Women's Sports
Foundation. Applicants must have nonprofit status and possess the
demonstrated ability to deliver girls' sport/physical activity programming
to girls in third to eighth grade.
The program will award a total of $200,000. To date in 2004 the average
grant awarded has been $7,500. Funds requested may be used for athletic
equipment, supplies, facility rental, league/tournament fees, travel,
coaching, scholarships, and/or program administration expenses. Funds may
only be used for girls' sports/physical activity programs.
Complete program guidelines, application instructions, and an FAQ are
available at the Women's Sports Foundation Web site.
Deadline: November 30, 2004
- (National)
National Alliance for Justice
A national program of the Alliance for Justice, Co/Motion helps organizations build their
capacity to foster youth leadership in the formulation, implementation, and
evaluation of action strategies designed to address community problems.
Through a competitive selection process, Co/Motion awards matching
challenge grants of up to $10,000 each year to organizations engaged in
youth-driven initiatives focused on gun violence prevention issues. Grantee
organizations also will receive training, ongoing technical assistance, and
action alerts.
Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations or government agencies are eligible to
apply. Matching challenge grants are available only to organizations that
have received funding from the Alliance for Justice in the past and are
able to demonstrate that they have another source of funding to match the
requested grant amount.
See the Alliance for Justice Web site for complete program information and
application instructions.
Deadline: July 16, 2004
- (National)
Barbara Bush Foundation
The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy is accepting applications for its
2005 national grant competition.
The foundation's grantmaking program seeks to develop or expand projects
that are designed to support the development of literacy skills for adult
primary care givers and their children. A total of approximately $650,000
will be awarded in 2005; no grant request should exceed $65,000.
To be eligible for a grant, an organization must have current nonprofit or
public status, have been in existence for two or more years as of the date
of the application, and operate an instructional literacy program that has
been in existence for at least two years and includes one or more of the
following components: literacy for adults, parent education, pre-literacy
or literacy instruction for children pre-K to grade 3, and
intergenerational literacy activities.
Complete program guidelines, application instructions, and information on
previous grant recipients are available at the foundation's Web site.
Deadline: September 10, 2004
- (National)
Altria Group, Inc.
Altria Group, Inc., in partnership with the National Meals on Wheels
Foundation, has announced the 2004
Senior Helpings Request for Proposals.
The goal of the Senior Helpings program is to ensure the availability of
meals for the homebound elderly by funding services that will directly and
immediately alleviate a documented waiting list of individuals who are
eligible for meals on wheels services but who cannot receive services due
to the organization's funding limitations; and/or that are expanding to
serve an underserved region or population of seniors.
The program will provide one-year grants of up to $50,000 to fund
food/meals; supplies, equipment, and mechanisms for delivering, preparing,
packaging, and storing meals; and salaries for new program staff.
The program is very competitive. Applicants must be U.S. nonprofit,
tax-exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS tax code and
must have been in operation for a minimum of three years. Priority will be
given to organizations that are targeting traditionally underserved
communities and populations, including, but not limited to, communities of
color, rural or under- served geographic areas, and economically
disadvantaged communities. Programs serving within the five boroughs of New
York City are not eligible to apply.
See the Altria Web site for complete program guidelines, selection
criteria, and application procedures.
Deadline: July 23, 2004
- (National)
Do Something
Community leaders ages 18 and under may apply for the 2004 Do Something
BRICK Awards.
The awards honor and support youth community leaders who have developed and
implemented innovative responses to such local issues as community
building, health, and the environment. Winners receive a $5,000 scholarship
and a $5,000 grant to continue their work.
Applicants must be 18 or under as of April 14, 2005.
Deadline: Nov. 1, 2004
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V. Resources
Connect for Kids helps adults make their communities better places for
families and children. An alternative news source on the Web, Connect for
Kids provides solutions-oriented coverage of critical issues for children
and families. Our goal is to go far beyond the personal stories that
dominate family coverage in most news outlets by bringing together
meaningful information, success stories and ideas for action.
* * *
Announcing a new web resource dedicated to giving nonprofits the tools they
need to help their communities vote.
Congress passed the Help America Vote Act in response to voting problems in
the 2000 Presidential election. With new electronic voting provisions
getting all the news coverage, the public is unaware of other new
procedures mandated by the Help America Vote Act.
Nonprofits are the public's best source of nonpartisan information about
candidates and voting procedures. You can help set the stage for greater
civic participation - get ideas at www.npaction.org/helpUSvote
For example, nonprofits can:
- help get their constituents registered to vote
- educate others about the new laws that govern the way elections will be administered (such as electronic voting machines and provisional balloting)
- assist at the polls or become a poll watcher
sponsor candidate debates and forums.
Stop by http://www.npaction.org/helpUSvote and see how you can help with
elections. While you are there, learn about legal rules and how to continue
your advocacy activities in an election season.
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If you wish to contribute to the VERB Weekly e-Digest, please send all
materials to sophy@searac.org
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