Clearing the Cost Allocation Fog 

By Kay Sohl of Kay Sohl Consulting

Part 4 in the Indirect Costs Series

Last month, we asked whether your nonprofit is starving--failing to make adequate investment in infrastructure in a futile attempt to navigate the paradox of funders who demand effective management but are reluctant to fund the cost of providing it.

Before nonprofits and our funders can find a way out of the resulting destructive starvation cycle, we'll have to clear the cost allocation fog that blankets our sector. We can't have a meaningful discussion about how much is too much to spend on management or fundraising or other components of infrastructure without clearing out the enormous confusion of terminology that makes most comparisons among nonprofits meaningless.

Read the full article 

NAO Responds to Proposed 2011-2013 State Budget

At the end of March, the co-chairs of the Joint Ways and Means Committee released their budget proposal for 2011-2013. The budget anticipates that reimbursement rates for services performed by other public and private entities will be reduced. NAO issued a statement to co-chairs stressing our concern that nonprofits are already struggling to ensure the social safety net without further reductions in revenue. Read the full letter 

Are You Having Contracting Issues?

We have heard from some nonprofit members that they are experiencing contracting issues from some government funders. We are interested in learning more about these challenges. Please let us know if you are dealing with late payments, under-reimbursement, or withholding of funds from local, state, or federal contractors by dropping us a quick email. 

National Council of Nonprofits Announces
Public Policy Agenda

NCN has adopted a 2011 Public Policy Agenda that blends guiding principles for nonprofits at both the federal and state policy levels. Structured in six broad categories through which to educate policymakers and others about the work and impact of nonprofits, the agenda fits specific policy goals into a consistent broader context. The NAO Board of Directors adopted this agenda at their April 2011 meeting.  

Promote Voter Registration

Nonprofit VOTE has an extensive collection of registration, education, and get-out-the-vote materials. Just in time for the 2012 election cycle, they have a FREE "Register to Vote" poster available in both English and Spanish. Order yours today!

Learn simple and effective ways to conduct voter registration by downloading a copy of "A Nonprofit's Guide to Voter Registration," available in both Spanish and English. Find them here, and learn more about registering to vote and voting in your state by visiting their 50 state map. 

How to Accept Donations by Credit Card at Special Event

We have teamed up with Bluewater Nonprofit Solutions to offer our 501(c)(3) nonprofit members a service that will significantly lower the fees paid to process credit card transactions. Bluewater's credit card processing service was designed for the special needs of nonprofit organizations, and makes it easy for nonprofits to process credit card donations and payments through a website, at special events, over the phone, through the mail, and even through third party sites such as Convio.

In this article, Bluewater walks you through the process of accepting credit card donations at your organization's special event.

NAO members receive special rates. For the discount code, please send an email to membership@nonprofitoregon.org.

Learn more about NAO member benefits  

2011 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For--Survey
Open Through June 10

Oregon Business magazine announces a new survey and new rules for participation in this year's 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon survey. The survey is open to any 501(c)-type organization. At least ten workers (including volunteers, which is new this year) and 10% of paid Oregon employees must respond to the new survey. Participating organizations must also complete an employer questionnaire. More information, and a link to the survey, is available here.

Registration is free, and your nonprofit will receive a summary of the data on your organization--an invaluable tool for assessing the strengths of your HR program and identifying areas for improvement.

Executive Searches

Our Executive Transition Services team is currently conducting executive director searches for Columbia Empire Volleyball Association and Saturday Academy. More information and job descriptions are available here.

Get Your Work Profiled! 

We invite our Nonprofit Members to submit photos to be included on the Home Page of our website in the Member Photo Gallery. Our aim is to feature some of the good works nonprofits do in our communities every day. We are looking for photos that demonstrate your mission in action. For instructions on how to submit photos, contact abeddow@nonprofitoregon.org.

We also feature the good works of our Nonprofit Members by linking to news stories in our online News Room. If your organization was recently featured in the media and you would like to share the news story with fellow members and others who visit our website, please send the article to dsteinkopf@nonprofitoregon.org.

Get Connected!

We regularly post links to the latest nonprofit news and helpful resources on our LinkedIn group, and encourage others in our group to do so too. You can also post discussion questions to get a conversation started about an issue that matters to you. Get linked! 

We post information about funding opportunities and nonprofit events on our Facebook page, and encourage others to do so too. So...check them out! Be our friend!

What Science Can Teach You About Fundraising, Marketing & Making Social Change 

Scientific principles matter more than you might think. Nonprofit marketers, fundraisers, and social change makers: take note. In their newest eBook Katya Andresen, Alia McKee Scott, and Mark Rovner build on the behavioral economics framework and expand it to include other applicable scientific frames of thought, including cultural cognition and psychology, that we believe are most relevant to the nonprofit space. FREE download available here.    

New Online Resource Center for Good
Governance & Ethical Practice 

On April 28, the Independent Sector launched the new online Resource Center for Good Governance and Ethical Practice, a comprehensive collection of tools for nonprofit and philanthropic organizations to enhance the accountability and transparency of their operations and ensure they operate in ethical ways.  

2011 Governor's Volunteer Awards Nomination
Forms Now Available

Do you know a volunteer or organization that deserves to be recognized for their outstanding work? Nominate them for a Governor's Volunteer Award! The Volunteer Awards recognize individuals, duos, programs, and organizations for their dedication, commitment, and determination in promoting and supporting volunteerism in Oregon. Awards are given in both statewide and regional categories. Nominations must be postmarked by June 13. Learn more and download the form 

Kaiser Permanente Northwest Request for Proposal 

Kaiser Permanente Northwest is seeking proposals from community-based organizations and government agencies for their Healthy Food Access initiative. Seven to nine grants of $30,000-60,000 will be awarded annually over a three-year period for activities and interventions that increase access to healthful food policy and/or environmental change strategies in the following Oregon counties: Clackamas, Columbia, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington, Yamhill, and parts of Columbia, Hood River, Linn, and Benton. Learn more about this RFP 

PSU's Center for Public Service Offers Seminar for Nonprofit & Public Managers

In these challenging times, it's relatively easy to toss around phrases like outcomes-based budgeting, performance measurement, lean management, and government transformation. But how do we ensure that people truly understand the subtle but often powerful differences between core concepts and how can managers become more savvy about them?

On June 13-15, the Center for Public Service at PSU's Hatfield School of Government is offering a 3-day seminar exploring these and related topics, featuring a wide range of regional and nationally-recognized experts. Learn more 

Institute for Nonprofit Management Summer Info Session

Learn about INPM programs including noncredit and grad certificate programs, MPA programs, summer classes, and more. June 2, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Urban Center, 506 SW Mill Street in Portland, 2nd Floor Gallery. RSVP to INPM@pdx.edu.