FRIDAY FIVE: MAY 19, 2017

DID YOU KNOW: The month of May is named after the Greek goddess Maia, the mother of Hermes.

Today is May Ray Day; the day that encourages everyone to enjoy a little fun in the sun. For those of you living in the Northern Hemisphere, May is the last month of spring. Temperatures begin to rise and the anticipation of summer can be felt all around, especially for those of us living in California. In the Southern Hemisphere, however, the month of May represents the end of autumn. Those living below the equator celebrate May Ray Day by soaking up a few last minute rays before winter ushers in lower temperatures. Thinking about extending your lunch break for some extra time in the sun? Go for it… it is a holiday after all! Catch up on these five nonprofit headlines before you go, and don’t forget your sunblock.

1.  Can a Machine Measure Gender Equality?

Google.org has teamed up with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, a nonprofit research organization, to develop software that can correctly measure how often women are seen and heard on TV and film. The revolutionary Geena Davis Inclusion Quotient (GD-IQ) uses machine learning to accurately identify the character’s gender, precisely how long they were speaking, and the amount of time they spent on-screen. The GD-IQ is shedding light on the gender disparity that is present in the media, and is using its data to encourage creators, executives and producers to improve the portrayal of women in TV and movies. Discover more about the GD-IQ and its findings by clicking on the link above.

2.   Is Robin Hood Alive and Well?

The Robin Hood Foundation, New York’s largest poverty-fighting organization, raised $54.4 million at its annual benefit on May 9. The “Night for NYC” brought together nonprofit innovators and philanthropists, celebrities, politicians, and business leaders to help rally NYC residents around its mission to improve the living standards for 1.8 million low-income New Yorkers. In addition to the benefit, Robin Hood hosted several other events around the City on May 9, including an opening bell ceremony, a vehicle donation, two concerts, and a pre-game ceremony at Yankee stadium. Read more about Robin Hood and its annual benefit by following the link above.

3.  No Octopus Garden, but the Next Best Thing

The Ocean Discovery Institute (ODI) is a nonprofit that provides hands-on science education programs to the underserved young people of City Heights in San Diego. In 2015, ODI partnered with San Diego Unified School District to create Living Lab, a cutting-edge facility that will provide a tuition-free, learning and research environment to more than 20,000 individuals per year. The strategic location of Living Lab will help to serve a neighborhood burdened by poverty in which many students have never ventured further than a few blocks from their homes, let alone seen the ocean. Living Lab has scheduled its Grand Opening event for September 16, 2017. Learn more about how ODI and Living Lab are addressing the crisis in science education by checking out the link above.

4. Is SPAM Diminishing Your Bottom Line?

The 2017 Nonprofit Email Deliverability Study, conducted and released by the email-marketing platform EveryAction, shows that many emails sent by nonprofits are being misclassified as spam. This results in emails that are deleted without having been opened or read, and thus going entirely unseen. A single percentage point of fundraising emails that are marked as spam has the potential to result in an annual loss of $1,308,85. The study also found that a potential 22.2 % of fundraising revenue could be gained through email simply by keeping email lists up-to-date. According to the study, spam rates soared during fundraising season, particularly on Giving Tuesday—where it peaked with an average of 36.68 %. Check out the link above to read more about how spam is affecting your nonprofit.

5.  Grateful Dead Guitar as an Instrument to Fight Hate?

Lead guitarist and singer of the Grateful dead, Jerry Garcia’s legacy lives on. The late singer’s guitar, “Wolf,” was purchased at an auction in 2002 for $789,500 and will return to the auction block with all proceeds going to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The SPLC is a nonprofit organization that combats hate, intolerance and discrimination through education and litigation. This auction is one of many ways the SPLC will continue to shed light on extremism and its shift into the mainstream. Where will “Wolf” next call home? How about your place?! Take a look at the article linked above to read more.

That concludes this week’s Friday Five. Sunscreen in hand, we’re stepping outside of the office to bask in the sunshine! See you next week!

Can’t get enough of the Friday Five? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

FRIDAY FIVE: MAY 12, 2017

We’re just two days away from Mother’s Day. A holiday that is observed across the world, and can be traced back to ancient Greeks and Romans who held festivals in honor of their mother goddesses. While in America we tend to shower our moms with flowers, cards and gifts, other countries host feasts and sing songs in multi-day celebrations to honor their mothers. In Japan, children draw pictures of their mothers and oftentimes submit them to art contests. In Serbia, children tie up their moms until they are presented with delicious treats and small gifts. The celebrations may vary, but the sentiment is the same—moms deserve a day for all they do for us. But before you dart out to call the florist, check out these five nonprofit and social enterprise headlines from the news this week.

1.  Chocolate Can Be Good for Both Body and Soul

At this very moment, slaves (many of whom are children) are working on West African cocoa farms. Teun (Tony) van de Keuken, a Dutch journalist, has been working to change that. Without even the slightest bit of experience making chocolate, but a powerful commitment to ending child slavery, Tony’s Chocolonely was created. Tony’s model is helping to address and diminish the problem of child slavery through livable wages and traceability within the supply chain. Tony’s continues its efforts to make 100% slave free chocolate the norm by creating awareness, leading by example and inspiring others to act. Who knew doing ‘good’ could taste so sweet? Listen to the complete CauseTalkRadio interview with Tony’s by clicking on the above link.

2.  San Francisco’s Tipping Point

After a $100 million pledge by Tipping Point Community, San Francisco will attempt to reduce its chronically homeless population in half over the course of five years. This chronic population, estimated to be close to 2,000 people, is comprised of those who have lived outside for a period of at least one year and suffer from mental illness, substance abuse or other difficulties. The charitable organization’s donation, the largest of its kind, will be utilized to construct permanent housing, provide aid for various causes of homelessness, and assist the city in its efforts to gain more state and federal funding. Thanks to the generosity of its donors, Tipping Point has raised $60 million of its goal in six months. Discover more about the project by following the link above.

 3.  Museum Leadership Lacks Diversity

While many museum directors and board members believe diversity and inclusivity are vital to the advancement of their missions, a new report by the American Alliance of Museums has found a severe lack of ethnic and age diversity in museum boards themselves. The study reports that 93 percent of museum directors are white, as well as 92.6 percent of board chairs and 89.3 of board members. These findings have led to a call for museum leadership to review their commitment to and strategies for deploying more gender, ethnic and age diversity within leadership roles. Learn more about the report’s findings by checking out the link above.

 4.  Queen Latifah's Movie on a Mission

When celebrities use their influence to shine light on important social issues, amazing things can happen. Queen Latifah is doing just that to bring knowledge to the masses with her newest movie project, Flint. The film, a Lifetime original, will focus on the real events surrounding the Flint water crisis, the three women who inspired a national movement for safe drinking water, and the negligence of the government officials involved. The project is currently being filmed in Toronto, and will air this coming fall. In its portrayal of “one of the great American tragedies of the century,” Flint will forsake any and all clichés to offer an accurate, informative and heart wrenching film that goes beyond pure entertainment. Click the link above to read more about the true story behind the film.

 5.  Active Kids Help the Economy

Wait! That headline doesn’t seem right. Keep reading, friends. According to a new study published in Health Affairs, increasing the physical activity of children could immensely impact the economy. Today, inactive (and consequently obese) 8- to 11-year-olds cost an estimated $3 trillion in medical expenses. If children were to live more active and productive lives, the United States has the potential to save more than $120 billion each year in healthcare and related costs. Programs like the Global Obesity Prevention Program at Johns Hopkins are conducting studies to address this very issue. By crafting research models in order to develop and implement strategies, knowledge becomes power as well as a valuable tool for policy change. Interested in reading more about this study? Take a look at the article linked above.

That’s it for this week’s Friday Five. Now we’ve got to scramble to pick up a few last-minute Mother’s Day gifts! See you next week!

Can’t get enough of the Friday Five? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

FRIDAY FIVE: APRIL 28, 2017

April may be drawing to a close, but spring is in full swing! Today marks the 145th celebration of Arbor Day, which has seen more than 250 million trees planted throughout the world. The holiday was founded with the belief that the planting of trees represents the cultivation of beauty and hope for the future. Trees themselves have been celebrated since ancient times as symbols of life, new beginnings, shelter, and strength. Don’t have a green thumb? No need to worry, you can still check out these five headlines from nonprofit news this week. They will leave you pining for more! (Pun very much intended).

1.  What if a Video Game Could Cure Cancer?

HopeLab was founded with the purpose to do just that—create a video game that would enable children to fight cancer. HopeLab’s mission is to use science, design and technology to improve the health and wellness of children and young adults. Its first game, Re-Mission, encourages kids to take their medication correctly, and facilitates more favorable outcomes of their treatment. Studies have shown that the game has resulted in positive physiological, neurological and psychological changes in the kids who have played it. Discover more about HopeLab’s various other programs, projects and partnerships by clicking on the link above.

2.  How “Good” is Your Workplace?

Nonprofits, governmental agencies and companies alike can audit workplace health through an advanced scoring rubric designed by GoodWell. This process looks beyond profitability and focuses on 11 key indicators, including: working conditions, wages and pay gaps amongst employees. The test is pass-fail, and employers must attain a positive result in each category to achieve certification. Scores are shared, giving employers a chance to see how they stack up against competitors within the same industry. Would your employer pass this audit? Check out the link above to learn more.

3.  The Nonprofit Migration

Bay Area nonprofits are scrambling to find solutions as significant increases in commercial rent are driving dozens of organizations out of downtown Oakland. Many of these nonprofits will have to relocate for a third time after already having been forced out of San Francisco due to unfeasible costs. Low-income and minority mission-based organizations, that can no longer afford to rent space downtown, are being hit the hardest by their displacement. Will these nonprofits find a home? Read more by following the above link.

4.  The Value of the Volunteer

According to volunteer data collected by Independent Sector in 2016, the value of one volunteer hour is estimated to be worth $24.14. More than 63 million Americans volunteered last year, completing approximately 8 billion hours of work. The time and talent given to religious, educational, social and community service organizations by volunteers is immensely beneficial in efforts to better our communities. Want to learn more about the value of your volunteer time? The above link provides a state-by-state breakdown.

5.  From the Lab to the Streets

This past Saturday, on Earth Day, various cities across the country (and internationally) saw tens of thousands of scientists and science supporters taking to the streets for the March for Science. This march represented efforts for recognition of science in society, and to protest threats of cuts to funding within the science community. Science and politics merged during this rally, and much like the Women’s March in January, issues of diversity and inclusion emerged. For more information, take a look at the linked article.

That’s it for this week’s Friday Five! We’re off to take a nice stroll in the sunshine. We may even hug a few trees while we’re at it. See you next week! 

Can’t get enough of the Friday Five? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

Friday Five: March 31, 2017

Happy day before April Fool’s Day! In Medieval Europe, the court fool was a multi-purpose entertainer who could sing, perform feats of illusion, or do whatever else was asked of him. Keeping the court happy was his main job, but his most important job was to speak truth to power. Only the fool could insult the king and keep his head. Try not to lose your head as you catch up on these five stories in nonprofit news.

1.  A Gift Right Now in a Galaxy Not Too Far From Our Own

Most of us know George Lucas as the man who gave us the sagas of the Skywalker family and the epic adventures of Indiana Jones, but in nonprofit circles the visionary filmmaker is equally well known for his philanthropy. When he sold his Star Wars universe to Disney, Lucas used the $4 billion in proceeds to fund education. Most recently, he continued his patronage of the USC School of Cinematic Arts by donating $10 million to support continuing diversity projects at his Alma Mater, citing the need to raise up new filmmakers of color. Find out more about Lucas' philanthropy.

2.  “The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation”

During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump frequently promised to donate the $400,000 presidential salary to charity. While the White House has yet to announce where he will donate the money at the end of the year, the internet has already weighed in. The Chronicle of Philanthropy has conducted an informal online survey of more than 21,000 people as to where the money should go. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation led the pack followed by several other disease-related organizations and a number of veterans groups.  The Chronicle of Philanthropy has already forwarded the top ten charities to the White House, but you can get all the details at the link above.

3.  But How Can a River Appear in Court?

The concept of corporate personhood is a fiercely debated subject in American politics, and the governments of India and New Zealand have further complicated the matter by declaring that bodies of water have personhood as well. In India, the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, which are sacred in the Hindu religion, have been declared to possess the legal rights of humans as part of an effort to clean and preserve the heavily polluted waters. Meanwhile, in New Zealand, the Whanganui River (also known as the Te Awa Tupua) has been endowed with legal personhood after the local Maori community won a 170 year legal battle to perserve a landmark of immense cultural importance to them.  Learn more about the legal ramifications of these rulings at Nonprofit Quarterly.

4.  Time for Some New Ideas

One of the great American heroes is the entrepreneur. Intrepid, bold geniuses who start something in their garage and sometimes succeed in changing the world. Fast Company has announced the twelve winners of their World Changing Ideas Awards, which rewards potential innovations in social entrepreneurship. From edible six-pack rings to 3D printing replacement organs, all of these outside-the-box ideas have the potential to make the world better in a big way. Read about the twelve winners (and the 192 finalists) at the Fast Company announcement.

5.  This Certainly Puts a Spin on Being Your Own Boss

A big part of any leader’s job is coaching his/her employees--guiding them through their responsibilities and helping them to reflect on their failures.  But when you’re on the top, who coaches you? You do, of course. It may seem odd to act as your own best cheerleader and best critic, but Jean Lobell, Mohan Sikka and Pavitra Menon have laid out several strategies for self-coaching so that you can, in essence, be your own boss. At least for your performance reviews. Find out how to be your own best boss at Nonprofit Quarterly.

Remember, don’t believe anything you read on the internet tomorrow. Unless it’s from us, of course. See you next week!

Can’t get enough of the Friday Five? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

Friday Five: March 24th, 2017

Here in Los Angeles an unusually wet winter has produced a bloom of wildflowers unlike any recent memory. Drive down any of our well known, if not well loved, freeways and you’ll see bright bursts of yellow, pink and purple. We know that a bright green spring is still just around the corner for some of you, but until then, keep your spirits up with five stories from this week in nonprofit news.

1. Have You Heard About Giving? Everyone’s Doing It 

GoFundMe is already six years old, but it feels like the crowdfunding website has only recently truly come into its own.  Even as it has risen in prominence as a charitable giving tool, it also finds itself competing against viral phenomenon like the ALS Association’s Ice Bucket Challenge, which swept the Internet three years ago. Ben Payter writes about this growing phenomenon at Fast Company, as well as the complexities it poses for the world of nonprofits.  Viral giving is powerful, but tends to focus on helping on an individual’s suffering as opposed to systematically attacking the root causes of the problem. It’s not all bad news; however, as Payter points out that the real strength of viral giving is in its marketing capabilities. The Ice Bucket Challenge raised $115 million for research, but the value of spreading awareness about the disease may be incalculable.

2.  An Age Old Quandary

No one gets into the nonprofit world to make a fortune. They get into it because they care about helping people, because they’re dedicated to a cause, and because they want to make the world a better place.  At the same time, nonprofit workers have to eat and keep a roof over their heads, and the realities of the nonprofit labor market are turning into a serious problem.  Writing at Nonprofit Quarterly, Martin Levine details how rising minimum wages and broken state budgets are pushing nonprofit worker dedication to the limit by using the difficulties of home health care workers as a case study.  At what point does the need to pay rent win out over dedication to one’s cause?

3.  The Clan Patriarch Laid to Rest

David Rockefeller, the oldest living member of the Rockefeller family, passed away this week at the ripe old age of 101.  Ever since John D. Rockefeller Sr. founded the Standard Oil Company, philanthropy and public service has been a major interest of the family, and David (John D. Rockefeller’s grandson) was no exception. In a tribute at The Nonprofit Times, Andy Segedin details Rockefellers contributions to arts, education, and medicine, with special focus on the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, which David founded with his four elder brothers. While most of us may not have Rockefeller’s wealth, we can all learn something from his life story of generosity.

4. Donors Race to Keep the Wheels on Meals

The recent White House budget blueprint cut funding for a large number of domestic spending programs, but few received the same media attention as the potential impact on Meals On Wheels, which provides meals for housebound seniors. But as the old saying goes, all publicity is good publicity. Meals on Wheels was shocked to discover that their Twitter followers, donors and volunteers sign-ups skyrocketed following the release of the budget blueprint. At The Nonprofit Times, Mark Hrywna runs down the numbers behind the donor race to support Meals on Wheels.

5. Companies Need Give Like They Mean It 

Charity donations and cause marketing have always been a tried and true way for corporations to put a little shine on their reputations among the general public.  However, as time has passed and baby boomers have given way to millennials, attitudes towards corporations and social responsibility have changed.  Emma Bazilian of AdWeek details the generational breakdown with a useful infographic. Millennials in particular are notably far more skeptical of brands claiming to support causes than previous generations, while at the same time actively seeking out brands that they feel are aligned with their values. Check out Bazilian’s work to learn more, as well as how boomers and millennials stack up against Generation X as well.

That’s it for this Friday! We’re going to head outside for a walk in the park and hope the pollen doesn’t kill us. See you next week!

Can’t get enough of the Friday Five? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

Friday Five: March 16, 2017

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Supposedly on this day St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland, which is less impressive when you realize that Ireland never had any snakes to begin with.  Nevertheless, it’s a day to celebrate Irish heritage and culture, including their famous gift of gab.  We must have some of the Irish in us, for we have a need to gab about these stories in nonprofit news.

1. Nonprofits Matter (in California, at Least) 

As one of the largest states in the country by almost every metric, the California legislature has a lot on its plate. It’s heartening, then, to see that they still make the time to focus on nonprofits. The California Association of Nonprofits has announced that the legislature has created an assembly select committee to focus on the nonprofit sector, helping to connect the various parts of the nonprofit universe and strengthening the state’s commitment towards nonprofits. You can learn more at the Association’s announcement.

2. You’re Always Your Own Best Advocate 

Today’s political climate has been pushing more and more nonprofits into an advocacy role, but many nonprofits find themselves with an outdated set of skills for the job, or worse, no advocacy skills at all.  Writing at Social Velocity, President and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits Tim Delaney lays out a few ideas to help get you started on the journey towards advocacy, including a reminder that you may already know more than you realize.

3. Singing in the Rain is More Fun with an Umbrella

Donations are a notoriously unreliable form of income.  People are wonderfully generous, but they aren’t always generous in a sustained, standardized way, and that makes life difficult for balance sheets. Writing at the Nonprofit Quarterly, Hilda H. Polanco and John Summers discuss the importance of building up a reserve for when times are difficult, as well as how you can start building up your rainy day fund without negatively impacting the important work you’re already doing.

4. Speaking of Rainy Days

The White House released its budget blueprint on Wednesday, and the Chronicle of Philanthropy is already hard at work combing through the details to find out how it could affect nonprofits. Initial reports indicate that numerous federal programs that fund work in poverty, education, the arts, the environment, rural development and foreign aid may be cut or in some cases completely eliminated. While the full budget proposal, complete with line items, has yet to be released, this initial blueprint serves as a useful metric for nonprofits to know what the President’s budgetary priorities are.

5. Be All That You Can Be 

Activism is important and drives much of the work we do, but there are ways to be the best activist you can be. Ruth McCambridge of the Nonprofit Quarterly discusses a recent article in Curbed New York about the best ways a new activist can get involve and be of the most help. With the new wave of civic activism in America, these suggestions are more important than ever. Read more at Nonprofit Quarterly and the original article that inspired Ruth at Curbed New York.

May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back, and may you be in Heaven half an hour before the Devil knows you’re dead. See you next week!

Can’t get enough Friday Five? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

Friday Five: February 24, 2017

It’s Carnival season in parts of the world, a time for celebration, color, dancing and revelry.  Did you know that the organizations that run the Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans are called “Krewes” and are known for their charitable work when they aren’t donning masks and dancing in the streets?  Before letting the good times roll, we invite you to check out five stories from this week in nonprofit news.

1.  IT AIN’T EZ

The IRS recently released public data on all organizations that have been approved for tax-exempt status using the new 1023-EZ form.  The Nonprofit Blogger at the Law Professor Blog Network combed through the data and discovered that some 600-plus churches received tax-exempt status with the 1023-EZ.  Churches are specifically forbidden from filing with the 1023-EZ, as clearly delineated in the 1023-EZ pre-questionnaire.  Read more about this and other concerns with independent verification of the 1023-EZ at the link.

2. FAREWELL TO JOHNSON

The Johnson Amendment, that is. The President recently promised at the National Prayer Breakfast that he would "destroy" the Johnson Amendment. Named after then-Senator Lyndon Johnson, the Johnson Amendment prevents charities from endorsing or opposing a political candidate.  While the President went on to clarify that he intended this specifically to allow faith-based organizations speak on political matters, the Johnson Amendment covers all 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.  In their blog post, Law Professor Phillip Hackney and Accounting Professor Brian Mittendorf examine the ways the Trump Administration could tweak or outright repeal the Amendment and the potential consequences.  Read more at the link.

3. NEW YEAR, NEW GOVERNANCE

We don't know if you've stopped writing the old years on your checks yet, but it's already 2017.  May Harris and Linda Rosenthal at the For Purpose Law Group think that it's the perfect time to take a look at your governance policies.  Some of them may no longer be necessary, while you may find that adding a few might be a good idea. In the end, there's nothing like a new year to engage in a little self-reflection.  Learn more, including some suggestions on how you might structure your review, at the link.

4. GREY AREAS IN CHINESE GIVING GET A LITTLE LIGHT

In 2015, the Charities Aid Foundation ranked China just above Yemen in their "World Giving Index", a distressing showing for the world's second largest economy. Writing at Alliance Magazine, Karla Simon and Holly Snape tell a different story.  A recently enacted Charity Law brings up to three million "gray area" NGOs into the official light, allowing for greater transparency and accounting of charities that had been operating in the dark the whole time. Learn more about the other ways charitable giving in China is changing at the link.

5. FROM THE SHAREHOLDERS TO THE PUBLIC

If a for-profit corporation wants to make the switch to a nonprofit entity, they have a lot of considerations to make. They might have even more considerations than they realize, and that can lead to trouble further down the line. If you’re a for profit corporation thinking about making the switch, it behooves you to make sure you know what you’re getting into. Michele Berger lays out some of the necessary changes at the Nonprofit Law Blog.

That's the Friday Five this week. Laissez les bon temps rouler, and we'll see you next week!

Can’t get enough Friday Five? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

Friday Five: February 17, 2017

Spring is in the air, and that means it’s time for change. The weather has gotten warmer (or colder, if you’re in the Northeast), plants are growing again, and we’ve decided to shake up our formatting for the Friday Five. Henceforth, you can click on the headlines to link to the articles we’ve found for you. So wherever you are, stay warm or cool with these five headlines from the past week in nonprofit news

1) LEAN ON ME, WHEN YOU’RE NOT STRONG
We all need a friend when times are tough, but we need friends when times are good, too. Mentorship isn’t just good for mentees, it’s a great opportunity for mentors as well - it develops leadership skills and builds networks and communities. Mission Box, a new social media network for nonprofits, helps to connect people in the nonprofit world to their peers.  Need help finding someone with a particular set of skills? No idea what to do? Just generally panicking? Reach out to a friend, old or new. Maybe they’ve been down in this hole before.

2) HAIL, CAESAR
Mike Ilitch, founder of Little Caesars, owner of the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Tigers, and noted Detroit philanthropist, passed away this past week at 87. While his contributions to the city were wide and varied, perhaps the sweetest story that has emerged in the past week was the report that he had personally paid the rent of Civil Rights legend Rosa Parks  from 1994 until her death in 2005. Learn more about his other projects, including Little Caesars Love Kitchen, at the article.

3) THE GIVING LIST
The Chronicle of Philanthropy released its list of the top 50 charitable donors for 2016. At the top of the Philanthropy 50? Phil and Penny Knight of Nike, giving $900 million to Stanford and the University of Oregon. Frequent Philanthropy 50 member Michael Bloomberg followed in the second spot with $600 million. Still not on the list? Warren Buffet. The Chronicle’s methodology means that his annual donations of Berkshire Hathaway stock only count the year he made the pledge. Given that his donations this year alone were valued at nearly $3 billion, it seems only fair to leave a little room for everyone else. More highlights, including the rise of Silicon Valley, at the article

 4) THINKING BIG IN SMALL SPACES
Paul Clolery of The Nonprofit Times argues that it’s time for nonprofits to start acting on the local level. If these last months have taught us anything, it’s that while working on the national scene might be flashy and glamorous, it’s working on politicians on the ground and in their districts that affects real change. No matter who is in the White House, the House of Representatives and the Senate listen to people in their individual districts, and ultimately, it is they who make the laws. Visit the article to learn more strategies on building change from the ground up.

5) WHERE’S THE SHERIFF?
Writing on the Surly Subgroup, Notre Dame law professor Lloyd Hitoshi Mayer worries about the numerous instances this past year of tax-exempt organizations violating tax laws and seemingly getting away from it. In theory, the IRS is the sheriff that enforces these laws, but recent events have people wondering if maybe the sheriff has high-tailed it out of town. Check the article to learn more about why this could be a growing problem, as well as Mayer’s proposed solutions.

That’s the Friday Five for this week. We’re heading out to take a walk in the bright, warm sun. See you next week!

Can’t get enough Friday Five? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

Friday Five: February 10, 2017

It’s Friday, February 10th . Valentine’s Day is approaching! And many, including the above frog, are looking for their valentine. You know what people rank as the number one quality they look for in a potential mate? “Being well-informed about the nonprofit world.” Seriously. So whether you already have a valentine or are looking for one, here are five headlines from nonprofit news this week:

1) IS THE JOHNSON AMENDMENT IN TROUBLE?
The current administration is contemplating repealing the Johnson Amendment, which has forbidden nonprofits from directly or indirectly participating in any political campaign for the past sixty years. While opponents of the amendment argue that there are free-speech issues, supporters include many nonprofits, including the National Council on Nonprofits. The NCN just released a statement in defense of the amendment and further argues that nonprofits could be put in a difficult position of being too closely identified with one political party or the other. Make sure you’re up to date on the situation:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/02/06/losing-johnson-amendment-destroy-unique-political-role-nonprofits/

2) FREE FUNDRAISING TOOLS FROM FACEBOOK
Facebook has added tools that can be used by nonprofits: it has now created a “Donate” button that an organization can place directly in its header. And Facebook’s new video streaming function, Facebook Live, is a great way to increase the number of people who see a mini-telethon or Q&A. There’s also Workplace by Facebook (free for nonprofits), which can be used for inter-office communication. Check out these savvy strategies on how your nonprofit can best take advantage of its Facebook page:
http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/news-articles/new-options-evolving-fundraising-via-facebook/

3) CHANGE THE WORLD FROM WITHIN
Want your corporation to do more to help nonprofits? Aspen Institute’s First Movers program can help. The program teaches  social “intrapraneurs” (corporate employees trying to enact change for the better) how to make their corporations more socially responsible. How is the Aspen Institute helping do-gooders make the world a better place? Read on:
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/fellowship_for_change

4) PARTNERING FOR CHANGE
In Boston, arts organizations are teaming up with unexpected partners to lobby and fundraise. They’re modeling their efforts on successful Minnesota and Philadelphia efforts. In the Gopher State, arts groups teamed up with hunting and fishing enthusiasts to pass a Constitutional amendment that directs funding towards arts and the environment. And in Philadelphia, the Andrew Mellon foundation made an unusual multi-year grant to ten music education organizations, all allied to increase diversity in professional classical music. Find out how Boston’s groups are faring:
 https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/02/07/arts-organizations-make-unexpected-partnerships-secure-municipal-dollars/                                                                             

5) RESPONSIBLE = INCLUSIVE
A new initiative at this year’s World Economic Forum is calling for more responsible business leadership, and businesses are increasingly partnering with nonprofits to work for a more inclusive world. Among other achievements, the Philips company worked with civil society organizations to develop 1,000 Community Life Centers in Kenya, which provide fresh water and health care services for deprived residents. The Stanford Social Innovation Review suggests that the initiative can be revised to be even more sweeping and inclusive. See what changes they’re calling for:
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/responsible_leadership_is_inclusive_leadership

That’s all for the Friday Five. We’re off to play matchmaker for any lonely amphibians out there. We’ll see you next week!

Can’t get enough Friday Five? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

Friday Five: February 3, 2017

It’s Friday, February 3rd. Yesterday was Groundhog Day. Pennsylvania’s Punxatawney Phil saw his shadow, suggesting six more weeks of winter (or “winter,” as we call it in Los Angeles). However, Phil has competition! Staten Island Chuck, a groundhog whose city claims he has an 80% success rate, says no more winter. You can learn about Staten Island Chuck here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjimLdYQkM8

Once you’ve chosen sides in the Phil vs. Chuck battle, check out these five nuggets of news from the nonprofit world:

1) THE 15% MYTH AND WHY IT NEEDS TO END
Should nonprofits restrict their spending on overhead to 15% of all expenses? Absolutely not, writes Gail Picco, author of Cap in Hand: How Charities Are Failing the People of Canada and the World.  Overhead—the costs of which include administration and effective management—may require more resources to be effective, and if nonprofits tie themselves to an arbitrary number, they could be hobbling their ability to do good. How can your nonprofit can avoid this mistake?
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/01/31/10-reasons-15-charity-overhead-myth-prevents-social-change/                                              

2) INCREASE YOUR IMPACT
Donating funds for good? Increase your impact by seeking out niche, local organizations and contributing to them: your $100 will got a lot farther than it will at a large national charity. Columnist Tivoni Devor has tracked down a site, Melissa Data (https://www.melissadata.com/lookups/np.asp) that lets you look up all nonprofit organizations in your zip code. Find out more ways to have an even bigger impact:
http://generocity.org/philly/2017/01/31/getting-good-done-tivoni-devor-nimble-networked-niche/

3) FEWER PEOPLE SERVED = BETTER?
The Chippewa Valley Free Clinic (CVFC) in Wisconsin, a nonprofit free health clinic, used to have more patients than it could handle, but the number of people using its services has gone down. Normally that’d be a bad thing, but the decrease in visitors has enabled the clinic to provide more comprehensive care to the people who do walk in. Find out what changed:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/02/01/nonprofit-free-clinic-serving-fewer-people-good-thing/

4) FOLLOW THE MONEY…IF YOU CAN
Tracking donations to charitable organizations may have just gotten more difficult. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, co-founded by philanthropist Jessica Chan and her husband, Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, has structured itself as an LLC. Unlike private foundations, LLCs are not required to report their donations on tax returns, which will make it significantly harder to find out who’s donating to and funding nonprofit LLCs. Scholar Sarah Reckhow lays out the potential difficulties:
https://histphil.org/2017/01/26/philanthropic-data-and-the-rise-of-llcs-or-what-happens-when-scholars-can-no-longer-follow-the-money/

5) FROM CLIENTS TO EMPLOYEES
Philadelphia-based nonprofit Parent-Child Home Program (PCHP) trains local educators to visit homes and help parents read to their kids over a two year period. But it’s got a savvy recruiting program: 25% of its home visitors are parents who had benefitted from the program. Using parents already familiar with the program gives them an immediate authenticity. Find out what else PCHP is doing right:
http://generocity.org/philly/2017/02/02/parent-child-home-program-clients-employees/

That’s all for the Friday Five. We’re off to spend far more time than we should comparing groundhog statistics. We’ll see you next week!

Can’t get enough Friday Five? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

Friday Five: January 27, 2017

It’s Friday, January 27th. The last Friday of January 2017! Time is moving quickly, and national events continue to churn in rather…dramatic…fashion. In times like these, it’s good to have consistency. Like the Friday Five.

Here are five items of interest from the nonprofit world this week:

1) NONPROFITS & THE WOMEN’S MARCH
This past Saturday, an estimated 2.5 million Americans marched in Washington D.C., L.A., New York, Seattle, Denver, and in cities across the nation (Los Angeles is estimated to have the largest number of marchers, with a whopping 750,000). Planned Parenthood, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sierra Club, and the NAACP, among other nonprofits, were closely involved in the planning phases of the march. What’s next for the organizations and marchers?
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/01/23/whither-resistance-worldwide-womens-march/

2) STUDENT DEBT: THE NEXT BIG CHALLENGE
Over 180,000 nonprofit employees in California carry some form of student debt, and the debt burden may be stopping many valuable potential employees from applying for nonprofit jobs (traditionally lower-paying) in the first place. There are some solutions, writes the Stanford Social Innovation Review, but many nonprofits aren’t even aware of them. In fact, the US Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is exclusively available to those who work in the nonprofit sector. Find out how to make your nonprofit a more appealing employer for those with student loan debt:
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/student_debt_an_opportunity_and_a_challenge_for_the_nonprofit_workforce

3) WHO LET THE DOGS OUT (TO SURF)?
Surf Dog Ricochet is the only service dog on the planet who provides adaptive therapy to the disabled and PTSD sufferers while surfing. She also recently broke the $500,000 milestone this past New Year’s Eve when her organization raised $7,000 for groups that help the disabled, special need children, animals with special needs, and veterans. Find out the four strategies your organization can learn from Ricochet’s success:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/01/06/fundraising-strategies-surfing-dog-raises-half-million-charitable-funds/

4) GREAT IDEAS IN ART & PHILANTHROPY
Henry Bloch, one of the co-founders of H&R Bloch, was happy to donate 29 rare paintings to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. He didn’t expect to get full-sized digital replicas of every painting back from the Museum, and he was so delighted with their craftsmanship that he hung them on his walls. Bloch’s happy. The museum’s happy. Everyone in this news story is happy:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/01/26/gifts-museum-donors-strange-effective/

5) BRIGHT SPOTS: ITALIAN NONPROFIT, AMERICAN ARTISTAmerican Artist Mark Bradford has plans—big ones. Bradford is teaming up with Rio Tera Dei Pensieri, a nonprofit based in Venice, Italy, to reintegrate former prisoners back into society by providing them with job opportunities. And he’s going to spend six years doing it. Rio Tera Dei Pernsieri and Bradford are calling the initiative “Process Collettivo.” Find out the specifics here:
https://www.artforum.com/news/id=66184                   

That’s it for the Friday Five. We’re off to find some consistency in an increasingly unsettled world. We hope you can find some, too!  

In the meantime, you can follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

Friday Five: January 20, 2017

It’s Friday, January 20. We’re more than halfway through January already. A new President is being sworn in today, and people are marching about that the following day. We’re fairly certain inauguration tickets are sold out (http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/17/politics/donald-trump-inauguration-how-to-watch/), but if you’re interested in the Saturday marches, there’s more information here: https://www.womensmarch.com/

In the meantime, we’ve got five items of interest from the nonprofit world this week:

1) FOR-PROFIT PAPER TO NONPROFIT NECESSITY  
Up in Millinocket, New Hampshire, a very small town (population 5,000) is trying to rebuild its economy. Step one: find something productive to do with the shuttered Great Northern Paper Mill. Enter nonprofit organization Our Katahdin, named for the highest peak in Maine, which is dedicated to supporting “small win” community projects. Our Katahdin thinks it can use the paper mill to revitalize the town. Find out how:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/01/18/mix-one-nonprofit-abandoned-paper-mill/?utm_content=44691948

2) HOW NOT TO FUNDRAISE, GREEN BAY EDITION
Rules for cities and organizations #47: If you ask donors for money for a pool, they’re going to want a pool. And if you veto a proposal for the pool, they’re going to want their money back. The whole story can be found here:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/01/12/bad-fundraising-strategies-mayor-works-phones-donors-want-money-back/   

3) ADVOCACY ALLOWED?
Organizations are wondering if advocating for or against Presidential cabinet nominees is acceptable. The answer, according to Don Kramer of Nonprofit Issues: it depends on the type of organization. While 501(c)(3)s are forbidden from endorsing or opposing candidates for office, there’s an IRS notice (88-76) stating that advocating for or against a Presidential nominee during Senate confirmation does not constitute participating in a political campaign. Read the whole Q&A to make sure your organization doesn’t run afoul of the IRS:
http://www.nonprofitissues.com/to-the-point/may-nonprofit-advocacy-group-supportoppose-trump%E2%80%99s-picks#.WHZEaAwAqdM.twitter

4) ADVOCATING FOR A FREE PRESS
When Meryl Streep won her Cecil B. DeMille Golden Globe last week, she urged Americans to donate to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). In this 2012 interview Joel Simon, the executive director for the CPJ, talks about the origins of the CPJ, its current focus, and the organization’s biggest challenges. Find out more:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2012/05/09/embedded-in-chaos-journalism-in-2012

5) WHAT ARE THE FIVE TRENDS OF SOCIAL ENTERPRISE?
Want to know what’s on the horizon for social enterprise this year? The Council on Foundations is hosting a discussion about trends for nonprofits in 2017. Carla Javits, President and CEO of the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund, has identified five flashpoints to keep your eye on. If you’re looking for a sense of the future, check this out:
|http://www.cof.org/blogs/re-philanthropy/2016-12-07/five-trends-social-enterprise

That’s it for the Friday Five. We’re off to go watch the inauguration and/or march.  

In the meantime, you can follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

Friday Five: January 13, 2017

January has begun its march through time! As everyone recovers from the holidays and thinks about how to keep their New Year’s resolutions, we’re gathered five articles about the nonprofit world that come with their own New Year’s resolutions and helpful tips as the year gets going:        

1) TEN NONPROFIT NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
It’s time for all nonprofits to roll up their sleeves and get to work on these resolutions. Chances are, you’ve probably done all or most of these, but it can’t hurt to review the list. Have you had your organization’s bylaws reviewed by counsel? Can your board members commit to attending a majority of the meetings this year? Can you check off all ten of these resolutions contained in the following link? (the link says five resolutions, but you get double that): http://www.nonprofitlawblog.com/5-new-year-resolutions-for-your-board/

2) NO MORE NONPROFIT STATUS FOR BIG SPORTS LEAGUES?
Many professional sports leagues are classified as 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations, which means that the NFL, NHL, and PGA do not have to pay federal or most state taxes. Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) is attempting to close this loophole. While the NFL no longer attempts to claim tax-exempt status, the NHL does, and it collects hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue per year. See the details of Chaffetz’s fix:
https://sports.vice.com/en_us/highlight/new-congressional-bill-would-strip-sports-leagues-of-nonprofit-tax-status/

3) BURNOUT: WHAT ARE THE 5 MYTHS TO AVOID?
Burnout can be a morale killer for employees and officers of nonprofit organizations. Ann-Sophie Morrissette, who’s worked in the nonprofit world for fifteen years, identifies five myths that can increase burnout. One lesson: colleagues aren’t family, so it’s vital to draw clear lines between professional and personal life. Learn about the other four myths and how to battle them: https://ssir.org/articles/entry/five_myths_that_perpetuate_burnout_across_nonprofits

4) THE CHALLENGES AHEAD
What does this year hold for nonprofits? No one has a magic eight ball, but The Nonprofit Times predicts uncertainty, funding instability, and structural changes, but also more nonprofits banding together. Find out what to watch for and how to best navigate 2017:
http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/news-articles/nonprofit-workplace-challenges-predicted-2017/

5) IS YOUR MISSION STATEMENT A MESS?
While we don’t agree with all of the recommended fixes, we do agree that making an organization’s mission statement shorter and focused can make it more effective. These tips come via consultant Erica Mills, who created a free online tool for nonprofits called The Wordifier. Test out an organization’s mission statement against her recommendations:
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/great_mission._bad_statement

That’s it for the Friday Five. We’re off to go work on keeping our New Year’s resolutions.  

In the meantime, you can follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back next week!

Friday Five: January 6, 2017

It’s 2017! A fresh new year, a fresh new start. Everything feels new and invigorating. We hope your 2017 is off to a safe and happy beginning.

For the first Friday Five of 2017, we’ve taken a tour ‘round the cosmos (“cosmos” meaning internet, in this case) and pulled together a sampler of five great reads from and about the nonprofit world. Here they are:                                     

1) NONPROFITS AND THE TECH WORLD: A ROCKY NEW MATCH:Silicon Valley has created a new young class of charitable donors, but they may be demanding results faster than the nonprofits they donate to can provide them. As Jane Sullivan, spokeswoman for the nonprofit Build says, “They want results. They’re not necessarily thinking ‘We’re going to eliminate poverty over the next several decades.’ They’re like, ‘We want to change high school right now.’” How are nonprofits handling this culture clash? The San Francisco Chronicle has the details:      
http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Nonprofits-struggle-to-adjust-as-tech-donors-take-10823591.php

2) COMPUTERS FOR A CAUSE:
In New Jersey, Ryan McFadden is making a difference, one computer at a time. His nonprofit organization, the Electronic Access Foundation, takes donated computers, wipes their hard drives, updates the software, and donates the computers to other nonprofits and charitable organizations. How does the Electronic Access Foundation find organizations and people in need?http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/outreach/caring-communities/2016/12/11/electronic-access-foundation--bridge-digital-divide/94760792/

3) HOW TO MOVE FORWARD:
What strategies can nonprofits use to defend their interests in the new political climate? They may have to be completely rethink everything and upend their past strategies, says The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Among the ideas floated is working to simplify federal contracts. Why is that so important?https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Opinion-Nonprofits-Need-to/238802

4) IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:
Does your nonprofit organization have a plan if something should happen to your CEO? Illness, resignation, alien abduction? A classic article from Nonprofit Quarterly reminds everyone that organizations should have a solid succession plan and not be dependent on a single person. Find out how to ensure your any organization’s stability here:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2014/02/11/planning-for-leadership-emergencies-in-community-nonprofits/

5) LET AMERICA BE AMERICA:
Darren Walker, the president of the Ford Foundation, has a reflection on the beginning of 2017 that takes as its jumping off point the famous Langston Hughes poem. As Walker points out, there’s a continual tension between the optimism of America and the other -isms that can generate pessimism. But Walker seems to have figured out how to navigate that tension:
https://www.fordfoundation.org/ideas/equals-change-blog/posts/let-america-be-america-again-a-new-year-s-reflection/

That’s it for the Friday Five. We’re off to enjoy the days left in the year (359. But who’s counting? We are. We’re counting).

In the meantime, you can follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll be back in next week!

Friday Five: December 30, 2016

It is December 30th. Only two days until 2016 comes to a close! It’s been a busy and news-filled year. So here, to close out 2016, are five fascinating articles from the nonprofit world.                                     

1) ROUNDUP: THE TEN MOST SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OF 2016 FOR NONPROFITS. This overview covers everything from the Presidential election to the Dakota access pipeline protest to Black Lives Matter, and more besides. Relive and analyze some of the major events of a very dramatic year:
http://www.nonprofitlawblog.com/10-significant-news-events-of-2016/

2) WHAT ARE THE FIVE BIGGEST TRENDS PHILANTHROPY TRENDS? There may be fewer resources for nonprofits, several of them have eased their restrictions to make grant-giving more flexible. In addition, foundations are emerging as substantial knowledge hubs, a shift in how they’ve viewed themselves in the past. Get the full story:
http://www.cof.org/blogs/re-philanthropy/2016-12-16/five-trends-philanthropy

3) MAJOR NEW CROWDFUNDING PLAYER:  GoFundMe just recently surpassed three billion dollars donated via its platform (through 25 million individual donors). CEO Rob Solomon wants to see GoFundMe generate forty billion in donations in the next decade, and thinks that GoFundMe can pull it off. Find out how:
https://www.fastcoexist.com/3066778/future-of-philanthropy/gofundmes-biggest-cause-yet-is-becoming-the-most-powerful-force-in-ph

4) WHAT’S COMING IN 2017: Here’s a conversation between KQED’s Marisa Lagos and Politico California Playbook Senior Writer Carla Marinucci covers new laws which go into effect in 2017 and impact nonprofit organizations:
http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2016/12/29/54073/state-of-affairs-new-ca-laws-and-politics-stories/

5) TOP TEN NONPROFIT & PHILANTHROPY STORIES FROM 2016: OF THE YEAR: You’ll find everything here from philanthropy’s impact on the presidential campaign to the growing force of Big Philanthropy and questions about its clout. In addition, NPQ features several “where do we go from here?” questions about the shifting landscape. Make sure you’re up-to-date as the year ends:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/12/29/npqs-10-big-nonprofit-philanthropic-stories-2016/

That’s all for the Friday Five for 2016! We’ll be back in one week with our first 2017 Friday Five to ring in the new year. Here’s wishing you a safe and happy New Year’s Eve.

Want to know more about nonprofits? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. We’ll see you in 2017!

Friday Five: December 16, 2016

It is December 16th. Nine days left until Christmas (for those who celebrate it). Are you excited? We are. We have done most of our Christmas shopping. Now we just need to figure out our Christmas shipping to make sure our gifts reach friends and relatives in far-flung places. And we want to make sure these five stories from today’s Friday Five reach you!                                   

1) In the month since the election, donations have skyrocketed to nonprofit media outlets, Inside Philanthropy reports. ProPublica saw its donations jump by $750,000, substantially more than its total haul in 2015. The Center for Public Integrity and individual NPR affiliates are among the other beneficiaries. The article raises some questions about what’s next for nonprofit media organizations, including how they can construct sustainable models going forward:
http://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2016/12/13/a-surprise-beneficiary-of-the-trump-election-nonprofit-news-outlets

2) Nonprofit Quarterly makes the difficult and necessary case for overhead expenses, arguing that, far from being a necessary evil, they’re not evil at all and are consistently undervalued. NPQ suggests that before leaping to cut overhead costs, they should first be viewed through the lenses of economies of scale and cost comparisons to similar organizations. Get the full deep dive:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/12/12/nonprofit-overhead-baby-bathwater-need-know-boards/

3) Inside Philanthropy has a nice article about Rotary International, reminding nonprofits that Rotary Clubs can be a good source of help for nonprofits. Both Rotary International and local Rotary districts give out tens of millions of dollars in grants. The Rotary Club of Los Angeles gets a shout-out for its work to fight homelessness in L.A. And if you’re looking for possible sources for volunteers and funding, your local Rotary Club might make a great addition to your list:
http://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2016/12/6/rotary-clubs-worth-a-second-look-as-influential-local-funders

4) With 2017 right around the corner, it can’t hurt to evaluate your website and see if it’s ready for the new year. Lacey Kruger, an information architect who works with nonprofits, posted a good checklist at NPEngage.com. Things to consider: Is your website responsive? Do you have too much nested navigation? Test your website against her list here:
http://npengage.com/nonprofit-marketing/is-your-nonprofit-website-ready-for-2017/

5)  You may have idly asked yourself the question, “Hey, can I set up a 501(c)(3) to fund renovations of my house, if my house is a historic landmark? As an early Christmas present?” The IRS’ answer to this question is a decisive “No. No, you may not,” which should not surprise anyone who knows about private inurement. Peter O’Reilly, the tax columnist at Forbes, brings us the story:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterjreilly/2016/12/12/irs-says-fixing-up-your-own-house-is-not-charity/#7cc1838f30e9

That’s all for the Friday Five. We’ll be taking Dec. 23 off, but we shall return on Dec. 30, just in time for the end of 2016. And now we’re off to figure out if the post office will accept hastily wrapped, insecurely packaged items with barely legible scrawls for addresses. Wish us luck!

Want to know more about nonprofits? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. See you on the 30th!

Friday Five: December 9, 2016

Exactly two weeks and two days until Christmas. Not that we're counting or freaking out about all the things we still need to do. Just in case you, too, are also not freaking out about everything you still need to do, we have five articles from the nonprofit world to help calm you down and keep you informed.  

1) Gene Takagi wrote a rap about nonprofits and crowdfunding in the style of the musical Hamilton’s opening number. Think of this as an early holiday gift from the Friday Five to you:

             How does a program, project,
             dream of a board and a concept, 
             popped in the middle of a popular site on the Internet
             by management, unsupported, no hollers,
             Grow a big force of supporters and dollars…

Find the total Hamilton riff here: 
http://www.nonprofitlawblog.com/crowdfunding-rap/ 

2) Americans gave a record $373 billion in charitable donations last year.  Before you cheer at how much more generous individual Americans have become, however, you should know that the driving force behind that figure is the rise of mega-donors. Here's National Public Radio's interview with the Institute of Policy Studies’ Chuck Collins to find out more about philanthropic trends for 2016:
http://www.npr.org/2016/12/04/504322032/2016-philanthropy-trends-americans-donate-record-373-billion

3) Nonprofit Quarterly’s editor-in-chief Ruth McCambridge brings us the story of donors to a donor-advised fund who were not allowed to designate where disbursements from their named fund will go, a highly unusual situation. Lisa Greer found out that the Jewish Community of Foundation of L.A. would not be making a donation from the fund to the younger Jewish group IfNotNow. The story expands from there:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/12/09/donor-advised-funds-exert-political-judgment-grants/

4) Is your organization keeping its electronic protected health information (ePHI) safe? In this age of hackers and data corruption, you can’t be too careful—especially if you’re a nonprofit organization that provides health or health-related services to your clients. Nonprofit Quarterly runs through the necessary compliance steps, the dangers and costs of not complying (including the potential loss of federal funding), and potential problems nonprofits need to look out for. Given our constantly shifting technological landscape, this is a must-read for organizations that deal in ePHI:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/12/06/nonprofits-must-especially-careful-ephi-data-security/

5) As we approach the new year, many people will naturally find themselves thinking about changes they want to make in themselves and what kind of people they want to be in 2017. Nonprofit With Balls, the outfit of writer and speaker Vu Le, brings us a timely look at the nine qualities of leaders we need in this time and place, including having “strength in uncertainty” and believing that we’re all tied to each other. Do you have the traits it takes to be a leader?
http://nonprofitwithballs.com/2016/09/9-traits-of-the-kind-of-leaders-we-need-in-this-time-and-place/

That’s all for the Friday Five. We’re off to do some holiday shopping while drinking a candy cane latte and continuing not to freak out about how few days there are until Christmas. We’ll return in a week (when there will be only one week and two days until Christmas).                             

Want to know more about nonprofits? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. See you next week!

Friday Five: December 2, 2016

It is December 2nd. Here is the Friday Five to take your mind off the fact that there are only 29 days until 2016 is over: 

1) From ABC News: The 92nd Street Y is reporting that #GivingTuesday donations this year set a new record, with participating organizations raking in $168 million for the day, up from $117 million last years. The recipients include the Humane Society of the U.S., which raised $350,000 (almost double its $200,000 goal) and the University of Michigan, which raised $5.5 million in 24 hours. The full success stories are here:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/record-charitable-donations-reported-giving-tuesday-43884388

2) The blog NonprofitWithBalls has some recommendations on ten ways nonprofits should adjust to the post-election landscape. Its first recommendation: end the Nonprofit Hunger Games—that is, have nonprofits stop competing with each other. (If there were such a thing as a nonviolent Hunger Games with competing nonprofits, that might be amazing to watch.) The blog also strongly encourages promoting civil discourse. See the whole list:
http://nonprofitwithballs.com/2016/11/10-ways-the-nonprofit-sector-must-adapt-to-the-new-reality/ 

3) Nonprofit Quarterly notes that nonprofits in New York state are pushing to raise the minimum wage for social services contractors—specifically, employees who do work for city and state governments but are contracted to do that work by private nonprofits. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a citywide wage increase for these city workers through 2020 (by which point New York’s $15/hour minimum wage will take effect), and New York-based nonprofits are attempting to mirror that success across the entire state:
 https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/12/01/ny-nonprofits-push-state-cover-costs-living-wage-workers/

4): In the wake of the election, The Stanford Social Innovation Review looks to history to help guide nonprofit organizations through the Trump era. One lesson: make sure to protect the tax-exempt status of nonprofit organizations. SSIR reminds us that in the 1960s, civil rights organizations received financial help from foundations (including the Ford foundation) to organize protests and register new voters. Find out what other lessons nonprofits can learn from the past:
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/advocating_and_giving_during_the_trump_administration_five_history_lessons

5) To commemorate the start of the holidays, the blog Make Use Of has recommendations for the top seven charities that offer Christmas help to low-income families. While the article was posted a few years ago, all seven charities are still going strong. Find out how to help everyone enjoy the holidays:
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/7-top-charities-that-offer-online-christmas-help-for-low-income-families/

That’s it for the Friday Five. We’re off to construct a holiday display and get an early start on our seasonal cards while trying to avoid listening to “Winter Wonderland” for the 54th time. We wish you success in attempting the same.

Want to know more about nonprofits? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and send your questions about the nonprofit world to info@b-alaw.com. See you next week!

Friday Five: November 25, 2016

It is the day after Thanksgiving. We have had turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and stuffing. We are stuffed. But we’re not so stuffed that we can’t bring you five mentally nutritious and stimulating articles to lift you from your possible food coma. Here they are:                                                                

1) To follow Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Tuesday, November 29 is #GivingTuesday. Giving Tuesday was created five years ago by the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact and the 92nd Street Y(a cultural center in New York City) to encourage volunteering and charitable donations as a kickoff to the holiday season. The Giving Tuesday site has a directory to help you find charities near to you so you can donate to them or volunteer with them. Get involved:
https://www.givingtuesday.org/about

2) The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette raises some excellent points in “Lax board members hurt nonprofits.” Flagging a study from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, the Post-Gazette notes that 27 percent of nonprofit directors do not have a clear understanding of their organization’s mission and, even more alarming, that 42 percent do not have an audit committee. Find out what else might be going wrong:
http://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2016/11/22/Lax-board-members-hurt-nonprofits/stories/201611220005

3) What’s wrong with large anonymous donations? A lot, says Inside Philanthropy. Several factors—the increasing entwining of philanthropy with politics, the ease with which disclosure rules can be skirted, the rise of donor-advised funds—are intersecting to create the potential for a lack of accountability and transparency. Find out more: 
http://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2016/11/17/the-price-of-privacy-four-problems-with-anonymous-givingand-the-case-for-reform

4) Nonprofit Quarterly explores an event in which the cast of Hamilton delivered a short speech to Vice President-Elect Mike Pence after he attended the Broadway musical. Following a series of tweets from Donald Trump, one of which read: “The Theater must always be a safe and special place. The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!” NPQ asks: should theatre be a safe space? And, if so, for whom? The essay expands from there:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/11/21/role-art-social-movement-theater-safe-space/

5) Many people on both sides of the political aisle found this past election discouraging and dispiriting. NonprofitWithBalls has an important reminder: “Our eyes ‘reach but little ways.’ We cannot see into the future. So we forget, especially during times like these, the amazing things people are doing each day to make the world better. People like you. You are making the world better every day through your work. That arc of the moral universe does not bend itself; everything we do helps to bend it.” Also, apparently, we’re sexy Jedi unicorns, but you’ve got to read the entry to find out why:
http://nonprofitwithballs.com/2016/11/hey-you-amazing-unicorns-were-going-to-be-ok

And that seems like an excellent place to end this Friday Five. Here’s another reminder to visit http://GivingTuesday.org and donate or volunteer, if you’re able.                            

As always, if you want more nonprofit information, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook. Questions about the nonprofit world? You can reach us at info@b-alaw.com. See you next week!

Friday Five: November 18, 2016

We’re just six days away from Thanksgiving, so we’re pondering all the reasons we have to be thankful (one of which is turkey).   Have you picked out your turkey or tofurkey yet? We have! Here are five reads from the world of nonprofits that will have you counting your blessings:                                                                    

1) We can be thankful for allies and the work we do together. The New York Times brings us some thoughts on how charities can decide whether or not to merge. Among the questions asked: is a merger the best way for a smaller family foundation to preserve its future? How can an organization avoid acquiring the liabilities of the organization it’s merging with? What’s a good way to encourage board members to be flexible? Get the big picture:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/05/your-money/when-should-charities-throw-in-together.html

2) Something else to be grateful for? Robert Grimm, Jr. and Nathan Dietz report that volunteering among the oldest Americans (age 65 and up) and youngest Americans (ages 16-19) has increased dramatically. As researchers at the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), Grimm and Dietz have been tracking volunteering data for more than a decade.  Nonprofit Quarterly has the details:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/11/17/good-young-old-forty-years-american-volunteering/ 

3) While one can predict the future, the Chronicle of Philanthropy has a non-paywalled article about nonprofits’ financial world post-election. Turns out there are still things to be thankful for: while proposed budget cuts in health and education could lead to significantly greater pressure on nonprofits, some nonprofits have seen a spike in donations since the election. Find out more here:
https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Nonprofits-Worry-About/238355

4) We can also be thankful for throwdowns: Darren Walker, the president of the Ford Foundation, posed a challenge about privilege. Transformation, the blog of Open Democracy, reports on Walker’s inspiring untangling of privilege and its complexities in “The Privilege of Being Privileged.” Interested in what the Ford Foundation’s leader has to say?
https://www.opendemocracy.net/transformation/michael-edwards/privilege-of-being-privileged?platform=hootsuite

5) Although uncertainty can be challenging, dramatic changes can be a good opportunity for nonprofits to take stock and reassess their activities and outreach. Ruth McCambridge, editor-in-chief of NPQ, generated a list of ten important questions for boards to ponder. One that jumped out: “Do you have strategic connections with local and state networks so your organization is first in line to receive critical information and get an audience for advocacy?” Learn what all ten are:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/11/16/turbulence-ahead-10-questions-nonprofit-boards-urgently-ask-answer/

That’s it for the Friday Five. Aside from turkey, we’re grateful for the wonderful clients we have the opportunity to represent every day. Here’s hoping this Thanksgiving finds you with many reasons to be thankful!

As always, if you want more nonprofit information, follow us on Twitter and like our Facebook page. Send us your nonprofit questions at info@b-alaw.com, and see you next week!