Nonprofit Association of Oregon
February eNews

An Open Invitation to Nonprofits 

Our ongoing Town Halls offer a special opportunity for nonprofit leaders to join a statewide conversation about our unique strengths and challenges as a sector. This year we are inviting elected officials to join us in the conversation. Each session will be followed by a funders panel to help you get more connected to grantmakers in your area. Town Halls are free events open to nonprofit leaders, staff members, Board members, volunteers, and community stakeholders.  

We are kicking off our 2012 Town Hall series with a session in Albany on March 2 at the Albany Public Library from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. You can register here.  

Additional Town Hall sessions are planned for:  

Coos Bay on April 18  

Prineville on June 12  

Baker City on June 13 

Public Policy News  

President's Budget Proposal    

Last week President Obama unveiled his nonbinding federal budget request to Congress for fiscal year 2013. The $3.8 trillion budget plan includes a mixture of revenue increases and spending cuts, as well as investments in education, job creation, and infrastructure. With few exceptions the plan proposed no drastic cuts to social programs. However, the budget posted few big increases either, despite what many nonprofit leaders see as a growing need for services to help people recover from the economic downturn.

Some of the highlights:  

  • President Obama proposed flat budgets for Community Development Block Grants (about $3 billion) and the HOME Investments Partnership Program ($1 billion).
  • The Corporation for National and Community Service is budgeted for a 1.3 percent increase in the President's proposal.
  • The Promise Neighborhoods Program is slated for $100 million in 2013, a significant increase over its current budget of $60 million but still short of the President's original goal for this program.  
  • The President is proposing slight increases for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.  
  • Community health centers, Head Start and Early Head Start, and some housing and energy assistance programs are slated for slight increases too.  

For a detailed analysis, check out this summary from Independent Sector and this article from the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Charitable Deduction Update

Though it appeared earlier that the administration had backed off on capping charitable deductions, the President's FY2013 budget request again includes a provision to cap at 28 percent the value of itemized deductions, including the deduction for charitable donations, for families earning over $250,000 per year. You will be hearing more about this issue in the months ahead as budget negotiations unfold.

Congress Passes Extension of Payroll
Tax Cut & Jobless Benefits

With members of both parties voicing concerns about some of the particulars, Congress on February 17 voted to extend payroll tax cuts and unemployment benefits. President Obama promised he would sign a bill as soon as Congress passed it. This decision avoids an abrupt increase in payroll taxes that would have taken effect on March 1, returning them to the level of 2010. Read more in this report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and this New York Times article.

Public Policy & Advocacy Series 

Speak Up! Effective Media Outreach   

By Deborah Steinkopf
Part 5 in the Public Policy & Advocacy Series
 

Advocacy, lobbying, and media relations all come down to a couple of very basic, yet critically important skills--communication and relationship-building. Effective communication is essential to persuading policy makers and other opinion leaders to support your issue. Likewise, effective communication is fundamental in earning positive media coverage. This month's edition of the Public Policy & Advocacy Series will focus on effective media relations and outreach.

Read the full article

Nonprofit Association of Oregon Updates

We Want to Hear from You

Please Take Our Annual SurveyEach year we ask our members and clients to give us feedback about how we're doing, and for ideas on how we can serve you better. Our 2012 survey is open through March 14.

To show our appreciation, we are giving away one voucher for an NAO training event or network season pass (up to $150 value!). You can enter the drawing at the end of the survey, which should take about ten minutes to complete. Take the survey now

660 and growing strong! 

A big welcome to the 60 new members and the 63 members that renewed during November 2011 through January 2012. View the full list of new and renewing members here.  

Member Benefits Highlight 

Discounts on Training Keep You Informed at an Affordable Price

These are challenging times for nonprofits. The environment in which we work is undergoing rapid changes as a result of reduced government funding, shifts in charitable giving, and growing public scrutiny of our operations and practices. Now more than ever, it's important for nonprofits and those who run them to stay informed and stay connected.

Membership in NAO grants you discounts on our well-known nonprofit networks and other professional development opportunities. We offer you a variety of affordable learning opportunities and ways for meaningfully connecting with your peers. We partner with experts in nonprofit management and development to offer you timely information, resources, and tools.

Learn about our eight nonprofit networks 

Learn about our many half- and full-day workshops 

Learn about online learning opportunities 

NAO members also receive valuable discounts on training events sponsored by our partners. On April 4, Capital Pacific Bank will present a 3-hour workshop with Penelope Burk, one of the most sought after nonprofit trainers and author of  Donor-Centered Fundraising. The morning workshop will be held at the Multnomah Athletic Club, and the event is $35. NAO members can register for $30. To be placed on the invitation list, contact [email protected].

Announcements

OMEN Announces RFP for 2012/13 VISTA
Host Sites

Oregon Microenterprise Network is seeking applications from organizations throughout Oregon interested in becoming a VISTA host site. Approved sites will recruit a full-time VISTA volunteer who will serve at their site for twelve months beginning August 18. Applications must be received at the OMEN office by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 24. More info, including application, here.

On-the-Job Training Resource

The Back to Work Oregon Program is an innovative approach developed by Oregon Workforce Partnership that integrates workforce development with job creation. Funds are made available to help local businesses, including nonprofits, train new hires in need of additional skills to perform their jobs. For more info on how your nonprofit can benefit, check out their website.

Looking for Nonprofit Tenant

Community Partners for Affordable Housing in SW Portland has commercial space available for rent at their offices. Find more info here, or send inquiries to [email protected].

Funding Opportunity

Cultural Grants Now Open 

Applications for Oregon Cultural Trust grants are currently open and close May 15. Grant guidelines and link to online submission process at Grants Online (GO!) can be found here.

Free Cultural Grant Workshops

From March 6 through March 22, the Oregon Cultural Trust and partners will present free workshops in ten communities across the state to build the grant writing skills of cultural groups. Register for one of the free workshops here.

In This Issue 

Public Policy News
Public Policy & Advocacy Series
NAO Updates
Member Benefits Highlight: Training Discounts
Announcements
Funding Opportunity

Check Out an NAO Training Near You! 

Governance Check-up for Your Nonprofit  

Feb 23 in Portland

Dashboard Reporting: Track & Measure Organizational Effectiveness

Mar 7 in Portland

Making a Compelling Case: Crafting a Can't Miss Issue Statement

Mar 9 Online  

Governing an Ethical & Transparent Organization

Mar 13 in Portland

Connecting Money to Mission with the Annual Budget 

Mar 14 in Medford

Effective Supervision

Mar 21 in Portland

Calculating the ROI of Your Fundraising Activities 

Mar 22 in Portland

Attract & Retain Your Greatest Asset 

Mar 28 in Bend  

Other Professional Development Opportunities  

Penelope Burk Comes to Portland! 

Join Capital Pacific Bank the morning of April 4 for an engaging workshop featuring Penelope Burk, author of Donor-Centered Fundraising. Registration is $30 for NAO members; $35 for nonmembers. To add your name to the invitation list, contact [email protected].

Proposal Writing & Proposal Budgeting Basics

Designed for those new to proposal writing, this class will cover the key components of a grant proposal, including how to prepare and present a budget. This free three-hour training will be March 28 in Portland. More info 

Summer Institute for Intercultural Communication

The Intercultural Communication Institute proudly presents its 36th annual Summer Institute for Intercultural Communication July 11-27, with over 40 in-depth workshops. In an increasingly complex, globalized world, the Institute is committed to developing intercultural competence for teaching, training, and managing across cultures.
More info 

2-Day Project Management Workshop

Learn how to manage a project from beginning to successful completion with experienced nonprofit trainer, Jeff Oltman of Synergy Professional Services. The workshop will be April 26-27 in Portland. Cost is $775 per student. More info 

Discovery Leadership Institute Offers eLearning

"The Leader's Journey: Leading from the Front Lines" is a ten-week online supervision course for those committed to enhancing their management and leadership capacity in the nonprofit and public sectors. Cost is $499. More info 

Looking for a Job?

Bookmark NAO's Nonprofit Job Board to keep an eye on the latest nonprofit job openings.  

Office Space Available for Sublease  

NAO seeks a nonprofit tenant to sublease office space. The office is in the RiverSide Centre, located at 5100 SW Macadam Avenue, Suite 360; Portland, Oregon 97239 (in the Johns Landing neighborhood).
View map
   

THE DETAILS: 

Two bright, sunny adjacent offices (11'3" x 10'5" and 15'1" x 16'4");

Approximately 419 rentable square feet;

$636.66/mo lease rate ($7639.87 annually), plus additional to be negotiated for copier, reception, coffee, etc.;

Need to have own phone and internet service, but cable is complete;

Rent increases 3% annually September 1; 

Prefer at least a two to three year commitment.

Contact Alice Forbes, Operations Director 

Connect with Us   

Like us on Facebook  View our profile on LinkedIn  View our videos on YouTube  View our photos on flickr

The mission of the Nonprofit Association of Oregon is to strengthen the collective voice, leadership, and capacity of nonprofits to enrich the lives of all Oregonians.

To be a strong and effective voice for the nonprofit sector, we need your voice as a member!

Learn about membership