Philanthropy Front and Center - Washington, DC

Getting Social at the White House

The Young Nonprofit Professional Network of Greater DC held its annual networking reception at the White House on October 22 in the South Court Auditorium, and I was glad to be able to attend. Guests were treated to talks by a number of Obama staffers including:  Buffy Wicks, Deputy Director, White House Office of Public Engagement; Trooper Sanders, Deputy Director of Policy, Office of the First Lady; and Sonal Shah, Director, Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.

Macon Phillips, Director of the White House Office of New Media, however, stole the show with his lively presentation on how the White House is using social media tools. He acknowledged that many administrators fear social media because it opens you up to "failing big in public."

In sharing tips for success with new media, Mr. Phillips stated that content is key -- a message we have heard from others during our TechSense programs. He counseled the audience not to go online just because everyone one else is. You need to have a clear message. His message is simple -- "Obama." He also underscored the need for a social media strategy. Theirs is to open up the White House so that is seen as belonging to the people, increasing engagement in government, and amplifying the administration's agenda. In fact, his post to the White House blog on Inauguration Day focused on their new media priorities.

So take a look at the White House web site to see how Mr. Phillips and his team are working to engage people. And if you missed our previous blog posts on our TechSense programs, including how nonprofits can use social media, you can find them here.

Foundation Center Launches National Education Stimulus Initiative

The Foundation Center announced the launch of Foundations for Education Excellence, a national initiative to engage philanthropic institutions and education leaders across the country in a unified, strategic drive to improve public education.

Foundationcenter.org/educationexcellence, the web portal developed by the Foundation Center with a grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, was launched in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education. It connects foundation funders in education to information and tools that will help them support ARRA's education reform goals.

"There is a unique window of opportunity in the coming weeks and months for private philanthropy to leverage its investment in education," said Bradford K. Smith, the Center's president. "Funders need fast-track tools to target areas of need and collaborate in new ways to improve educational opportunities across the country. The Foundation Center is ideally positioned to provide foundations with the knowledge platform needed to advance this process."

Read the full press release for details on the contents and uses of the portal.

Foundationcenter.org/educationexcellence, the web portal developed by the Foundation Center with a grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, was launched in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education. It connects foundation funders in education to information and tools that will help them support ARRA's education reform goals.

"There is a unique window of opportunity in the coming weeks and months for private philanthropy to leverage its investment in education," said Bradford K. Smith, the Center's president. "Funders need fast-track tools to target areas of need and collaborate in new ways to improve educational opportunities across the country. The Foundation Center is ideally positioned to provide foundations with the knowledge platform needed to advance this process."

Read the full press release for details on the contents and uses of the portal.

September 11 -- National Day of Service and Remembrance

September 11 has been designated by the Obama administration as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. People all across the country are encouraged to participate in the call to action by getting involved in their own communities. To learn more about this initiative, read the press release describing the nation’s first federally recognized 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Here in the Washington area, you can find out about volunteer opportunities and other ways to participate from Greater DC Cares. The Foundation Center-Washington is partnering with Greater DC Cares on this initiative by offering a special training session on Proposal Writing Basics, along with a tour of our library/learning center. You can find more information about this session and other volunteer programs on the Greater DC Cares web site.

You still have time to participate, so register now. Help transform a day of sorrow into a day of service.

Missed one of our programs?

Look for it in our Events Archive!

Our online Events Archive provides free access to recorded Foundation Center programs, classes, and other events. View videos and webcasts, listen to or download audio recordings, and read transcripts of selected events at our web site.

While we have long offered a wide array of special programs at our five library/learning centers, now many of these events are being captured and made accessible online, enabling audiences anywhere to take advantage of free educational opportunities otherwise not available to them.

You can view or listen to these programs now:

Turning Crisis Into Opportunity: A Conversation With Two Nonprofit Sector Leaders

Foundation Center president Bradford K. Smith and GuideStar president and CEO Robert G. Ottenhoff discuss how nonprofits are weathering the economic storm, how foundations are responding to support the sector, and the challenges, strategies, and opportunities for both going forward. Recorded in New York, July 22, 2009.

Webinar: Find and Apply for Government Grants Using Grants.gov

This presentation by Michael Pellegrino from Grants.gov provides details on how to find and apply for federal grants using Grants.gov, focusing primarily on how to research potential grants from the Department of Education. Recorded June 8, 2009.

Philanthropy Chat: Social Media and the Role of Young Nonprofit Leaders

Rosetta Thurman, director of development and special programs at the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington, talks with Pat Pasqual, director of Foundation Center-Washington, about social media and the role young nonprofit leaders can play in helping organizations weather the economic storm. Recorded in Washington, DC, April 10, 2009.

Check in often—we are continually adding new recordings to the Archive as they become available.

More Details on the Social Innovation Fund

The Corporation for National and Community Service has recently published answers to frequently asked questions about the forthcoming Social Innovation Fund. This fund, authorized by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, will award grants in the range of $1 to $10 million to existing grantmaking institutions (government agencies, private foundations, etc.) to in turn provide subgrants to nonprofit community organizations to expand or replicate proven initiatives or to develop new initiatives for underserved populations. Although Congress has not yet approved funding for the plan, President Obama has requested that $50 million be appropriated for the Social Innovation Fund for FY 2010.

Besides providing much-needed capacity-building support for community nonprofits, the fund will also work to maximize the impact of government funding by requiring grantmaking institutions to implement evidence-based practices in the funding decision process and to use measurable outcomes to assess the effectiveness of their subgrants. In addition, both grantmaking institutions and nonprofit community organizations that are awarded grants will be required to provide matching funds, such that every $1 in government spending will ultimately result in $3 in funding for programs and services.

For more information on the Social Innovation Fund, read CNCS' Frequently Asked Questions on the Social Innovation Fund or see the following articles and online resources:

What Exactly is the Social Innovation Fund?
&
Why the Social Innovation Fund Matters
Sean Stannard-Stockton - Tactical Philanthropy

Details on the Social Innovation Fund from the Serve America Act
America Forward

White House Seeks $50-Million for 'Social Innovation'
Chronicle of Philanthropy

$50 Million Social Innovation Fund To Target Education, Health, Economy
NonProfit Times

Mrs. Obama Announces New Fund to Aid Nonprofits
New York Times

What Is the Social Innovation Fund?
The White House Blog

Thanks to Stephen Sherman, Reference Librarian, Foundation Center-Atlanta, for sharing this post.

Besides providing much-needed capacity-building support for community nonprofits, the fund will also work to maximize the impact of government funding by requiring grantmaking institutions to implement evidence-based practices in the funding decision process and to use measurable outcomes to assess the effectiveness of their subgrants. In addition, both grantmaking institutions and nonprofit community organizations that are awarded grants will be required to provide matching funds, such that every $1 in government spending will ultimately result in $3 in funding for programs and services.

For more information on the Social Innovation Fund, read CNCS' Frequently Asked Questions on the Social Innovation Fund or see the following articles and online resources:

What Exactly is the Social Innovation Fund?
&
Why the Social Innovation Fund Matters
Sean Stannard-Stockton - Tactical Philanthropy

Details on the Social Innovation Fund from the Serve America Act
America Forward

White House Seeks $50-Million for 'Social Innovation'
Chronicle of Philanthropy

$50 Million Social Innovation Fund To Target Education, Health, Economy
NonProfit Times

Mrs. Obama Announces New Fund to Aid Nonprofits
New York Times

What Is the Social Innovation Fund?
The White House Blog

Thanks to Stephen Sherman, Reference Librarian, Foundation Center-Atlanta, for sharing this post.

Free Presentation on the New Form 990

On June 24, 2009, Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman, CPAs, will be hosting their sixth free program on the new Federal Form 990, which will be used for the 2008 tax year for returns filed in 2009. 

The recent revisions to the Form 990 include new filing requirements for smaller organizations (see this article from GuideStar), expanded reporting requirements for topics such as governance, executive compensation, and joint ventures, and categorized reporting of fundraising activities and revenue. To learn more about these revisions, please see our previous blog post and our FAQ.

The June 24 seminar will begin with registration, continental breakfast and networking from 8:00 am to 8:30 am. The technical presentation will run approximately three hours beginning at 8:30 am. Attendees are welcome to remain at the program’s conclusion and speak to one of the nonprofit tax experts from GRF.

To register for this program, which will be held at the GRF office in Bethesda, please visit the GRF web site or call Elizabeth Paris, Marketing Associate, at 301-664-8578.

Looking for Help with Your Form 990 This Year?

The deadline for individual tax returns has come and gone, so now is a good time to focus on annual filings for nonprofits. Last year, the IRS unveiled the revised Form 990, which includes new filing requirements for smaller organizations (see this article from GuideStar), expanded reporting requirements for topics such as governance, compensation, and joint ventures, and categorized reporting of fundraising activities and revenue. Listed below are some resources that will help you adapt to the new Form 990 and complete your annual filing this year.

Our FAQ on the redesigned Form 990 provides an overview of the major changes to the form, as well as links to related resources from the IRS and other organizations.

Full coverage of the redesigned Form 990, including filing instructions and frequently asked questions, can be found at the IRS web site. 

Looking for training on how to complete the new Form 990? The IRS offers a series of web-based mini-courses covering the redesigned Form 990 and its various schedules. There are additional online courses on applying for tax-exempt status, employment issues, charitable tax deductions, unrelated business income, and more. The IRS also conducts a number of in-person Workshops for Small and Mid-Size Tax-Exempt Organizations.  Each one-day workshop is presented by an experienced tax professional and includes information on what 501(c)(3) organizations must do to keep their tax-exempt status and comply with tax obligations.

The IRS also has a section of its site devoted to more general Tax Information for Charitable Organizations, including tax exemption, filing requirements, restrictions on political activities, and the life cycle of a public charity.

The Foundation Center-Washington, DC has a number of guides and handbooks for completing the Form 990 in its collection, including:

The New Form 990: Law, Policy, and Preparation (Hokoken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2009) provides instructions for completing the revised Form 990. Following the overview, the chapters conform to the order of the form, looking at each part, line, and schedule of the document, explaining the pertinent laws. Written in non-technical language, the book also discusses those aspects of the new form that are controversial or have been challenged. A copy of the form is included.

The Zondervan Church and Nonprofit Organization Tax & Financial Guide (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) discusses various financial and accounting topics in plain language. Subjects covered include tax exemption, employee compensation, reporting, and charitable gifts; the book contains sample documents.

You can find more books, articles, and other resources on this topic by searching the Catalog of Nonprofit Literature (CNL) for the subjects "Tax returns," "Taxation," or "Nonprofit organizations--accounting."

You may also be interested in these recorded presentations on the new 990:

Video New Governance Practices Required by the Revised Form 990: Is Your Board Ready?

Podcast Getting Ready for Schedule G on the New IRS Form 990

If your nonprofit needs additional assistance in completing the new 990, the DC Bar Pro Bono Program may be able to help.

(Based on a post by Stephen Sherman, Reference Librarian, Foundation Center-Atlanta)

Talking About Grants from DC Agencies

Representatives from the DC Department of Health (DOH), Office of Latino Affairs (OLA), and the Effi Barry HIV/AIDS Program briefed attendees at our Dialogue with Donors program on today. The panel outlined their funding priorities and offered general advice on how to succeed as a grantseeker. Pat Henry from the Office of Partnerships and Grants Services moderated the session and reminded participants of the services her office organizes -- giving their 10th Annual Public-Private Partnership Conference on May 7th a big plug!

Charles Nichols from DOH urged the audience to use Grants.gov and the Funding Alert to identify grants awarded by DC agencies, by the federal government, and from the stimulus package. Priority areas for DOH grants mentioned by Nichols included reducing infant mortality, obesity, and chronic diseases through preventative care. He also pointed out that proposals need to be well written and that funding reviewers are carefully considering how a program will be sustained after the grant ends.

Jabari Bruton from the Effi Barry HIV/AIDS Program outlined the critieria and goals for its capacity building two-year award. The technical assistance provided with this award is tailored and intense.

Ezequiel Williams (OLA) manages a city-wide grants portfolio of over $4.6 million. He has provided funding for English as a Second Language programs, Spanish literacy, and a number of health initiatives. He shared that his program is being re-organized next year, so check their web site for updates.

The program was a pleasant reminder that there is still funding available. The panelists were very positive, informative, and helpful. For more ideas on how to thrive in this downturn, check out other  special programs during  April at the Foundation Center. Our focus is on Funding for Health and Human Services programs. In June, we will focus on funding for education projects.

OPGS Facing Major Funding Cuts in DC 2010 Budget

 

These cuts will result in reductions in the valuable services that the Mayor's Office of Partnerships and Grant Services (OPGS) provides for DC nonprofits. Its weekly electronic Funding Alert is a useful tool for identifying federal grants and other local funding sources that often do not show up anywhere else. The office also provides a wide range of technical assistance to faith and non-faith based community organizations and operates a Grants Information Resource Center in the Wilson Building that provides free access to the Foundation Center's database of grantmaker information, Foundation Directory Online.

OPGS is under the DC Council Committee on Government Operations and the Environment, which is chaired by Mary Cheh. Other committee members are: Kwame Brown, David Catania, Harry Thomas, Jr. and Tommy Wells. If you wish to show your support for OPGS, contact the committee members.

What services of OPGS have helped you?

Nonprofits and the Stimulus Bill

The DC-based National Council of Nonprofits recently released a series of four Special Reports about our nation’s economic recovery, including analysis of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (commonly referred to as the economic stimulus bill) that President Obama signed into law on February 17, 2009.

The National Council decided to share this information broadly, saying, "With individuals and communities suffering, Americans in all three sectors – business, government, and nonprofit – need to come together and share information. By working together, we can collectively develop better solutions for the common good."

• Nonprofit Grant Opportunities [PDF]
  This core report analyzes the $787 billion economic stimulus legislation, summarizing the major spending and tax cut provisions and identifying potential grant opportunities for nonprofits.

• Stimulus Grant Tips and Thoughts [PDF]
  This report offers grant information, tips, and considerations - including that the stimulus package offers some grant opportunities, but is not a universal remedy for everyone.

• Whether and How States Are Accepting & Distributing Federal Stimulus Funds [PDF]
  This report reviews how various Governors have indicated they will handle the federal funds.

• Sources of Information Regarding Stimulus Funds [PDF]
  This report identifies national and state sources of information about the federal stimulus funds, including official recovery websites that states have established.

These Special Reports will be revised on a periodic basis, so you may want to visit the National Council's web site to look for future updates.

Don't forget that the Obama administration has created a web site, Recovery.gov, to track the distribution of stimulus funds.