Monday, May 28, 2007

New Grant Opportunity for Snack Serving Programs

For Programs Serving USDA funded Meals
Grants will be awarded to organizations that directly sponsor USDA-reimbursed afterschool and/or summer meal programs for children. Grants will specifically support projects designed to increase participation in the organization’s USDA summer and afterschool meal programs. Grant awards will range from $5,000-$15,000.

Grants for Advocacy
Grants will be awarded to organizations that work to increase participation in USDA-reimbursed afterschool and summer meal programs through outreach and advocacy. Grants will support projects designed to increase participation in afterschool and summer meal programs through advocacy. Organizations engage in advocacy when they work with schools, community organizations, local businesses, and with a range of government officials to increase participation in summer and afterschool meal programs. Grant awards will range from $5,000-$15,000.

Friday, May 25, 2007

Brain Research and Afterschool

Greetings.

Thanks to Jane Feinberg who provided us with this information as a follow-up to her excellent presentation earlier this year. This link provides a wealth of information on the latest brain research and how important it is for those of us who work in the afterschool field to talk about the impact of our work on the "developing child".

New Sustainability Resources from The Finance Project

The Finance Project has issued three reports earlier this year - all related to the critical topics of sustainability. Here's the excerpt from their website:

Youth Programs Resource Center

Financing and Sustaining Youth Programs
The Finance Project has designed this series of tools and resources to assist practitioners, policymakers, funders and advocates to expand and sustain effective youth programs and initiatives. These publications provide information and examples of effective programs and policies from around the country and can help decision makers think strategically about financing and sustaining their work.

Resources from The Finance Project

A Guide to Successful Public-Private Partnerships for Youth Programs", by Nanette Relave and Sharon Deich, The Finance Project, January 2007.

Creating Dedicated Local and State Revenue Sources for Youth Programs", by Rachel H. Sherman, Sharon G. Deich and Barbara Hanson Langford, The Finance Project, January 2007.

Thinking Broadly: Financing Strategies for Youth Programs, by Sharon G. Deich and Cheryl D. Hayes, The Finance Project, January 2007.

On-Line Forum for Mentoring Immigrant and Refugee Youth, May 29 - June 1, 2007

Join MENTOR for an online community forum, "Mentoring Immigrant and Refugee Youth," on May 29 - June 1, 2007, which will discuss research, promising practices, and innovative programming that mentoring programs can use to better serve the growing populations of immigrant and refugee youth in our communities.

Also, on June 1st, MENTOR will have our first ever Spanish speaking online forum for bilingual program staff to network, discuss their programs, and build community around ways to strengthen services for Spanish speaking youth.

Click on the title link for additional information about the agenda for the four days including how to register.

The Massachusetts Special Commission Announces Public Hearing

Special Commission to Convene Fourth Public Hearing in Framingham, May 29, 5 PM - 8 PM

Boston, Massachusetts - May 22, 2007
The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time announces its fourth public hearing to be held at the Cameron Middle School, 215 Elm Street, in Framingham on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 from 5 PM - 8 PM in the auditorium. Prior to the public hearing, members of the Special Commission will be touring the MetroWest YMCA's High Flight Program from 3 PM - 4 PM at their Hopkinton Branch located at 45 East Street. The High Flight program is an adventure based afterschool program that promotes leadership, self-confidence and social skills for youth and teens ages 12-17.

This Special Commission was created by the Massachusetts Legislature to "study and recommend how to' define and 'better coordinate, expand, finance and improve accessible, affordable, and quality out of school time programming for school age children in all settings in Massachusetts."

Led by Senator Thomas McGee (D-Lynn), the Chair of the Senate's Labor and Workforce Development Committee and Representative Marie St. Fleur (D-Boston), the Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, the 36 member Commission has committed to holding at least nine public hearings throughout the state to gather input about the Commonwealth's afterschool system. Youth, parents, community and faith-based providers, law enforcement officials, educators, funders, business and other community leaders are expected to attend and provide testimony.

"We have a historic opportunity to gain a better understanding of the importance of afterschool programs in the lives of children, youth and families," said Senator Thomas McGee. "Since a quality workforce is a linchpin of the afterschool system, we need to identify solutions to strengthen it. We look forward to gathering information from the public hearings and site visits that will help us figure out this and other ways to better serve children and youth when they are not in school."

"Currently, Massachusetts provides afterschool programs to approximately 20% of the Commonwealth's school age population," noted Representative Marie St. Fleur. "It is well documented that the time period between 2PM and 6PM is the most hazardous, if unsupervised, for children of that age. It is clear that we need to closely examine how public/private partnerships can leverage existing resources to serve more children and youth to coordinate and strengthen a system of afterschool and expanded learning that promotes their healthy development. The public hearings and site visits will help us to hear from all stakeholders on this important matter."

The MetroWest YMCA's "High Flight" program for teens, which Special Commission members will witness in action, is "a unique and effective program using outdoor adventure challenges, group work and counseling to literally save the lives of the participants lucky enough to have the opportunity to participate," said Richard A. MacPherson, Director of Operations. "I have seen the impact first hand and have heard from parents their emotional testimonials about how this program has changed the life of their son or daughter." MacPherson further noted that, "It is our collective responsibility to work together to make the most effective use of our resources in order to support our kids and our families in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This Special Commission created by the state legislature to study the problems and to explore future strategies is both timely and essential."

1.1 Million School Aged Children and Youth in Massachusetts
There are 1.1 million school aged children and youth ages 5-18 that live in Massachusetts. Of that group, 720,000 are children ages 5-13 and 380,000 are youth ages 14-19. Current state funding serves 205,500 children and youth leaving nearly 80% without access to quality and enriching afterschool and summer opportunities.

The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time intends to study this issue more in-depth. In addition to holding the nine public hearings, it will also convene three working groups that will 1) analyze information and access issues; 2) identify quality, workforce and professional development concerns, and 3) determine how the afterschool system in the Commonwealth can be sustained. The Special Commission expects to issue a report in the fall of 2007 that will have recommendations in these areas which will strengthen the Commonwealth's afterschool system.

About The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time
The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time has been created 'to study and recommend how to' define and 'better coordinate, expand, finance and improve accessible, affordable, and quality out-of-school time programming for school age children in all settings in Massachusetts."

The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time

For More Information Contact:
Debra McLaughlin, Consultant to the Commission
dmclaughlin@kunnusta.com
617.792.3173

Visit Our:
Blog

Visit Our:
Website .

New Resources

Hi All -

I know May has been an incredibly busy time for all of you as you have been writing grants, focusing on the end of the school year as well as getting ready for the summer. In all your spare time, consider some of these on-line resources that may be of help to you.

Cheers,

Deb

The Authentic Leader
This is an 11 minute pod cast of an interview with William George who talks about being an authentic leader who lead from the heart as well as the head.

Tracking Federal Dollars
The Federal Government has created several databases that will help track federal dollars. This link describes these on-line tools in more detail so you can get a better handle of where our federal resources are invested.

U.S. Department of Education On-Line Tool to Help Students Plan for College
The U.S. Department of Education has unveiled a new online tool to help students and families financially prepare and plan for college before a student's senior year of high school. Called the FAFSA4caster, it provides students with an early estimate of their eligibility for federal financial aid, which could include a Pell grant of up to $4,310.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Help! How do I engage business partners?

How to work with corporations: Marketing vs. philanthropic dollars


The nonprofit sector is the second largest sector in the private economy, exceeded only by the manufacturing industry. In 2002, more than $750 million dollars flowed into and out of the nonprofit sector throughout the United States. Of these dollars, $240 billion came from the private sector, including individuals (76 percent), private foundations (11 percent), bequests (8 percent) and corporations (6 percent). While corporations only represent approximately 6 percent of the total private dollars, there have been dramatic changes (some would say radical) within the corporate world over the past 10 to 15 years.

According to the Internal Revenue Service, corporations may give up to 10 percent of their pre-tax income in tax-deductible donations. However, most large businesses give away only about 1 percent of their pre-tax dollars. Unless corporations have a separately endowed foundation, such as Prudential, giving is very closely tied to profits, and if a corporation does not make a profit one year, giving may drop sharply the next.

Unfortunately, the majority of nonprofits don't know how to ask corporations for money. They approach them in the same way they approach foundations and government, and this is a mistake. To raise money from a corporation, you need to think like one. Think of a corporation as having three doors for nonprofits to enter when they seek assistance.

DOOR #1: The first door is called “Membership.” This is a very small door around the side of the building where the corporation sets aside a small amount of money to join chambers of commerce, trade associations and civic groups, such as the Lions and Rotary clubs. Corporate membership contributions are generally in the $100 to $500 range. If you have a membership program or can develop a corporate category within an overall donor program, this is a good way to get on the corporate radar screen.

DOOR #2: The second door, toward the front of the building, is the “Philanthropic” entrance. This is the traditional door, used by the majority of nonprofit organizations. Corporate grants are usually in the $1,000 to $10,000 range and are given on a year-to-year basis. The corporate giving staff is frequently housed in the public relations department (a tip-off to the next level of funding), and their goal is to spread the limited philanthropic dollars over a large number of organizations. Corporations like their employees to be involved in the giving process, so a corporate person on your board or a committee can be instrumental in securing continued or long-term funding for your group.

If the corporation you’re targeting does not have a business presence in your community, chances of receiving much philanthropic support are minimal. However, even though companies in your community are always your best bet, be on the lookout for corporations that will be moving to your area or that are planning to buy out an existing company. They want some quick visibility, so this could be an excellent opportunity to get your organization’s message across before they arrive and you're facing competition with many other groups. The high tech, healthcare and banking industries are prime examples of rapidly changing business climates where companies are attempting to build a corporate identity and community acceptance as quickly as possible.

Don't forget that companies of all sizes are excellent places to obtain donated office equipment, food and supplies, volunteers and technical experts. Small local businesses are often overlooked, but when every dollar counts, explore your options for free food at board meetings, printing and copying, or flowers for your special event.

DOOR #3: The third door, right at the front of the building, is the “Marketing” entrance. Corporations spend billions of dollars every year to market their goods and services. If your nonprofit can assist the company in enhancing its image, reaching potential customers, or reinforcing existing customer relationships, they will want to work with you. And, besides, it’s good business for corporations to tax shelter their marketing dollars through your organization. This is where the greatest growth in corporate giving is appearing and will likely continue to increase dramatically in the future.


Cause-related marketing


During the past decade, the majority of corporate dollars going to nonprofit groups has come from marketing rather than philanthropic budgets. In Cause-Related Marketing (CRM), the relationship moves from “grantor-grantee” to one in which projects are set up to benefit both the company and the nonprofit. Bill Shore, director of Share our Strength and author of Revolution of the Heart: A New Strategy for Creating Wealth and Meaningful Change (DIANE Publishing Company, 1999), was one of the early people to use this technique in the 1980s with “Charge Against Hunger,” a partnership with American Express. Now we see it everywhere.

What are companies looking to gain from CRM? Usually, most companies are hoping that they will be seen as:

• A friendly and caring corporate citizen responding to critical community needs (corporations are becoming heavily involved in high-risk youth and education issues).

• A protector of the environment ("dolphin-friendly" tuna and "save the rain forest" products are overflowing from supermarket shelves).

• A company that treats its employees well (day care and elder care concerns are moving to the top of many corporate agendas).

What does it take for a nonprofit to raise money through cause-related marketing? A bit of chutzpah, a basic understanding of what the corporation and your nonprofit are looking for, some confidence, and a real desire to move the relationship into a true partnership. Put yourself inside the mind of the marketing director who is asking, “What can this organization do for me?” If you can figure out a way to help the company get in front of customers, while generating resources for your nonprofit, you have a win-win situation.

Can't figure out where to start? Pull together a group of your stakeholders for a creative session and let the ideas flow freely. Think of all the corporations in your area and all the possible projects you might work on together. Some ideas to get you started include:

• A publication or service that meets the needs of your constituents and the corporation’s customers. A traffic safety group might obtain corporate sponsorship from an insurance company.

• A needed service for the corporation’s employees. A counseling center might negotiate an Employee Assistance Program contract to provide counseling services.

• Help corporations to comply with the law. A disability group might market its “accessibility audit” services.

• Get your message across to the public in a well-traveled corporate thoroughfare. An arts group might obtain sponsorship for a display in a corporate lobby. (This works just as well for human service groups.)

• Persuade a supermarket, restaurant, or locally-owned bookstore to devote a certain percentage of its sales to your group on a given day. Then do your part to increase sales by mobilizing your supporters to shop in that store.

When you have lots of possibilities, you can begin to narrow your focus and pick one or two corporations to approach with your idea.

It’s best to start with companies with which you already have a relationship or where you already know someone who can introduce you to a senior executive. Also, your vendors are a logical first place to start, because you are already buying health insurance, office supplies, recreational equipment or banking services from them. Consider the bank where you have your account or the company at which a number of your volunteers are employed. You may even decide to consider companies where you’re planning to become a customer. If you decide to shift your bank account, use the opportunity to negotiate for a new line of credit or a reduction in service charges.

When you have identified a likely prospect, find out everything you can about it. Request a copy of the prospect’s annual report and corporate giving policies, review the information in your state’s Grants Guide, check out the corporation’s Web site (if it has one), and talk with other people in the community who have had either philanthropic or business dealings with the company.

Developing the partnership

The next step is to call up the CEO, the marketing director, or any person in the company who is accessible to you, and discuss the possibility of developing a partnership. Remember that the company is looking for visibility, credibility and new customers. For example, a bank may be interested in marketing its services to the African-American community in your neighborhood. You may have a small budget, but a lot of credibility with the people you serve. A fairly typical approach would be to ask the bank to sponsor a neighborhood fair, special event or other activity.

This is a good start, but it provides a finite sum of money for your nonprofit and only superficial exposure for the bank. Why not offer to follow up the fair by working with the bank over the next year to develop other strategies and opportunities to market their services to your constituency (their potential customers)? The difference here is the desire of the nonprofit organization to work with the bank throughout the year on a variety of approaches. This is the basis of a partnership. This is the ONLY form of fundraising that I know of that is partnership driven, NOT relationship driven. If you have a relationship with your spouse but not a partnership, what will happen to the relationship over time? My suspicion is that the relationship will not last. That is true with corporations as well. THINK PARTNERSHIP that lasts throughout the year, rather than a “one-night stand.” In this way, you can educate the company about the needs of your community, they can develop products to suit your constituents, and your nonprofit develops a regular stream of income.

Risks involved

Are there risks in this approach? Sure there are. It would be foolish to think that corporate partnerships are a “free lunch.” It is important to discuss prospective partnerships with your board of directors and other key stakeholders, particularly if you think the partnership might have any negative repercussions with your staff, immediate constituencies, or existing and future funders. Remember that the company will probably be much clearer about its self-interest than you will about yours. This is why it’s good to have a few business people on your board of directors to help you evaluate opportunities.

Most organizations, if they are going to do any significant amount of corporate fundraising, will pass a gift acceptance policy. This is a formal document that is usually developed by a staff/board committee and formally adopted by the board that talks about the ethical and value “screens” that your organization will use when considering corporate dollars. Will you take money from an energy corporation or Exxon, for example, if you are an environmental group? What about taking money from a tobacco company, beer distributor or a military contractor? Under what conditions will you take or not take money? What is your bottom line? How will this sponsorship impact your constituency? What are your limits? Remember that while it may be easy not to take funds from obvious polluters and other companies, and easy to take money from progressive companies, such as an REI, Patagonia, etc., it is the overwhelming majority of the companies that are somewhere in the “middle” that we do business with everyday. These are the banks, insurance companies, retail stores, restaurants, etc. It is extremely valuable for your organization to look carefully at these issues. When developing this policy, it is good to form a committee with a couple of business people and others who have “rock solid” organizational values.

Need not apply

This kind of corporate solicitation is not for everyone. Generally, corporations are conservative institutions that shy away from controversial organizations and start-up groups. Organizations that are involved with social justice or direct action work have a harder time positioning their organizations with corporations. However, this is not always true. When we were working on the passage of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), Wells Fargo Bank was very supportive of one of the most activist groups in the country, because they wanted to develop “positive” relations with them. If you are a neighborhood group with a relatively small constituency, it may be better to start off with neighborhood businesses, retail stores and others that cater to your constituency.

Bear in mind that corporations are one of the principal engines that drive our society. If we want to have long-term support from this funding source, we need to understand the corporate mindset and ask ourselves how they can support our mission while we help the business support theirs. In some cases, we just want to ask them to pay a membership fee; in others, we will want a straightforward donation. But for those who want to take the relationship into a partnership, the rewards (and also the risks) can be much greater.

by Rich Male of Richard Male & Associates, a team of trainers and consultants who represent more than 65 years combined experience in working with a variety of organizations. www.richardmale.com

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Upcoming AGM Meet-the-Donors Programs

Hi all,
I rec'd this notice from AGM and thought some of you might like to attend. If you're an AGM member, the fee is $40, if you're not, it is $60.
Best,
Liz O'Connor


Understanding Corporate Volunteer Programs

Monday, May 21, 2007

10:00am - 12:00pm

Location: The Great Room, Boston Private Bank & Trust Company, Ten Post Office Square, Boston, MA



Corporate volunteer programs are one aspect of corporate philanthropy and can come in a variety of forms including flagship programs, skill-based consultancies to nonprofits, and employee-driven programs. For companies, successful programs can result in greater employee morale, enhanced corporate image, and a greater connection between the company and community. For nonprofits, these programs can provide an opportunity to tap into professional expertise and additional help to accomplish their mission. In both cases, success depends highly on the relationship built between the two organizations and whether the partnership is the right match.



Join us for a panel discussion with representatives from four different corporate volunteer programs. Learn what type of programs they have; the structure and flexibility of each, what successful and challenging relationships have looked like for them, and what are the motivators and barriers to employee participation.



Panel

- Cathleen Finn, Community Relations Program Manager, IBM

- Erika Beer, Corporate Volunteer Program Manager, Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA

- Joe Morrissey, Global Outreach Program Manager, State Street Corporation

- Stephanie Lee, Regional Director of Public Affairs, Verizon Foundation



Moderator: Sonia Alleyne, Vice President, Community Relations, Sovereign Bank; Co-Chair Corporate Volunteer Council



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Funding Community of Western Massachusetts

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

8:30am - 11:00am

Location: Bay Path College , Blake Dining Hall, 588 Longmeadow Street , Longmeadow , MA 01106

Fee: $ 10(Member/Partner = $ 10)



What’s the funding landscape in Western Massachusetts like? How does your local community foundation work? What is the process for seeking funding from a small, family foundation? How can you find information on corporate giving programs? The What’s the funding landscape in Western Massachusetts like? How does your local community foundation work? What is the process for seeking funding from a small, family foundation? How can you find information on corporate giving programs? The nuances of seeking funding can sometimes seem unclear. And sorting through the different grant maker types and how they operate can make things seem cumbersome and difficult. During a panel discussion, funders will provide details on their organizations’ grant making strategies and they will also give insight into how their grant maker type works. You will then have an opportunity to meet with individual funders in a smaller group forum, allowing for a more intimate dialogue.



Participants include representatives from

- Berkshire Bank Foundation Pioneer Valley

- Capital Campaign Scheduling Committee

- Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (CFWM)

- Irene E and George A Davis Foundation

- Massachusetts Foundation for Humanities

- United Bank Foundation

- United Way of Pioneer Valley

- Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO)

- Westfield Bank

- Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts



Moderator: Ron Ancrum, President, Associated Grant Makers

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Funding Out-of-School Time and Extended Day Initiatives

Thursday, June 28, 2007

1:00pm - 3:00pm

Location: Museum of Science , Science Park , Boston MA 02114



Eighty percent of students’ waking hours are spent outside of the classroom. Some research suggests that what students do during their out-of-school time hours has as much bearing on their success as what they do during the school day.[1] As a result, many are spending time and money on new initiatives and the revamping of old ideas to best support these young people and influence positive outcomes. At this program you will have an opportunity to hear representatives from a donor collaborative, private foundation, corporate foundation, and family foundation discuss how they view this focus area.



Panel

- Lynn D'Ambrose, Senior Program Officer; Out of School Matters, Nellie Mae Education Foundation

- Kerry Sullivan, Senior Vice President of Philanthropic Management, Bank of America ; Co-Chair, Summer Fund

- Cathy Downs, Manager, The Boston Globe Foundation

- Jean Whitney, Executive Director, Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family Foundation



1. National School Board Association. (2005). Building and sustaining afterschool programs. Successful practices in school board leadership. Alexandria , VA : Author.



Meet-the-Donors allows nonprofit organizations an opportunity to go beyond the printed guidelines provided by private sector funders to develop a greater understanding of the funding process and current trends in grant making. During each program, panelists address how and why funding priorities are established, how funding decisions are made, and the process of applying for charitable support. This program is targeted towards nonprofit representatives -- development personnel, executive directors, program staff, or board members -- who are responsible for fundraising, proposal writing, and/or funding research. However, please note that Meet-the-Donors programs are not designed to be fundraising opportunities. Please review AGM’s non-solicitation policy which will be in effect for this session.