FINANCIAL MATTERS
Nonprofits: IRS Foreign Reporting Requirements May Apply to Youby Karen Gries & Matt Stowell
When nonprofits operate and do their work on the global stage, tax compliance issues have a way of entering the picture. Not paying attention to these issues can have costly consequences, as pointed out in a new white paper from CliftonLarsonAllen, IRS Foreign Reporting Requirements for Nonprofit Organizations. While originally intended to curb offshore tax avoidance by U.S. residents and multinational companies, some IRS foreign reporting requirements are increasingly being felt by nonprofit organizations. The penalties for failure to file can be significant, ranging from $10,000 per filing per tax year to $100,000 or more in cases of willful failure to file. Continue reading here.
| |
AGENCY HIGHLIGHTS
JFCS Minneapolis Volunteer Resources Earns Service Enterprise Certification
Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis has been certified by Points of Light as a Service Enterprise. A Service Enterprise is an organization that fundamentally leverages volunteers and their skills throughout their organization to successfully deliver on its social mission. Less than 15 % of organizations nationwide can be characterized as Service Enterprises. Learn more here.
For more information on Service Enterprise certification contact Jennie and/or join AJFCA for Service Enterprise: How to Integrate Volunteer Engagement into Your Agency's Strategic Plan & Use Service to Better Deliver on Your Social Mission at AJFCA's Annual Conference in San Diego this May.
| |
International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Your Community
International Holocaust Remembrance Day is recognized by AJFCA member agencies each year. On January 27th we will remember the brave victims of the Holocaust and the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp, by Soviet troops, in 1945. What will you be sharing with your community about this international day of remembrance. Did a member of your agency write a blog or organize a program? Please share your work with the network by emailing Megan.
| |
Hadassh and NCJW Partner on Jewish Day of Action to #EndHuman Trafficking
The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) and Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc., are joining forces for the second year in a row to raise visibility during January - Human Trafficking Awareness Month. This effort is designed to unify a collective Jewish voice, online and on-the-ground in communities nationwide, to energize grassroots involvement and spur community action to #EndJHumanTrafficking.
Learn more about AJFCA's participation here.
| |
2016 Winter Board & Annual Conference Leadership Meetings
|
| |
Jackson Square, historic park in French Quarter
|
On Sunday, January 17th and Monday, January 18th the 2016 AJFCA Board of Directors and Annual Conference Committee Leadership met at the Pere Marquette in New Orleans, LA.
Both meetings were productive. Everyone is excited to continue the planning of another fantastic Conference with new forms of technology and information sharing. View pictures of New Orleans and the meeting functions on AJFCA's Facebook page.
| |
|
|
|
The Voice and Vision for Stronger Communities
|
D'Var Torah
Lee I. Sherman
President/CEO
Here in Baltimore, there is a great mix of excitement and trepidation as we await the predicted blizzard. Snow accumulations could surpass two feet with winds exceeding fifty miles per hour, making for a dangerous, even life threatening, situation. Events are already postponed or cancelled, including Shabbat services at many congregations. But, at this point as we anticipate, most people are staying positive, even looking forward to a change in the routine and spending more quiet time with their families. It could be a different story once we are enmeshed in the difficulties such a storm can bring.
In this week's parashah, B'shallah, the Israelites have escaped Egypt and begun their journey to their new home in the Promised Land. One can imagine the excitement of the people, as well as their concerns about the unknown future that awaits. And then, they immediately come up against the sea impeding their progress. But God instructs Moses to hold out his arm and the waters will part for safe passage. A second raising of the arm by Moses engulfs the Egyptians who are in hot pursuit. The Children of Israel are undoubtedly awestruck, both in the power of God and the leadership of Moses. Yet, they still have doubts. Complaints of lack of water and food are upcoming in the next few days and weeks.
We may wonder why the Israelites are not totally thankful and content to be out of the shackles of slavery. But, we need to remember the sudden changes that have enveloped them. Additionally, they are moving into an unknown, which as they face with a mix of excitement and trepidation is at times unsettling. Stay safe in the storm.
Shabbat Shalom
|
|
AmeriCorps VISTAs Volunteer on MLK Day of Service
AJFCA VISTA members both led and engaged in volunteer activities on MLK Day. Two VISTAs worked to support projects aimed at impacting food insecurity for community members living in poverty.
|
| |
VISTA member Liz Uretsky, UJA-Federation led a Brooklyn volunteer event as part of the Feeding our Neighbors interfaith initiative. Two hundred and twenty volunteers attended the event and packed 1,000 meals for Brooklyn residents. As part of the event, a speaker discussed social injustice, why MLK day has become a day for service, and how New York's living holocaust survivors not only tie into, but embody that important message.
|
|
| |
VISTA member Lauren Fedewa, JSSA took part in a Meals on Wheels volunteer event in Montgomery County, , making 500 snow day boxes in cases of snow emergencies. Lauren personally helped to create 70 Kosher meal boxes and delivered them to JSSA, which will distribute them to clients in need.
|
|
Jewish Disability Awareness & Inclusion Month &
Jewish Disability Awareness Day February 2016 
Learn more about Jewish Disability Awareness & Inclusion Month (JDAIM), which takes place in February and Jewish Disability Awareness Day (JDAD), held on February 10th here. Contact Liz Woodward regarding JDAIM and Elizabeth Leibowitz regarding JDAD.
Upcoming webinars of interest can be found on AJFCA's Calendar.
|
NEWS & TRENDS in AGENCY PROGRAMMING
|
Taking Professional Development Outside of the Conference Room 
Over the last ten years, experiential Jewish education has gained increasing clarity both in nomenclature and as a field of practice. A growing literature, combined with practitioner experimentation and accompanying field research, has taught us that though there is still much to be done to canonize experiential Jewish education pedagogically, there are some agreed truisms that have helped to introduce significant change in our practice. Read the entire article here. |
Engaging the Empty Nesters 
[Written with synagogues in mind; applicable for all.]
In 2016, Jewish organizations need to focus on reaching the many different demographics found within their communities. As you continue to strengthen connections among young adults, begin to consider how you can engage with another crucial demographic: the Empty Nesters. Read the entire article here. |
The Countercultural Discipline of Data 
In an environment where we are often judged by our most recent blog post or our next big idea, the process of collecting, analyzing, and sharing information about our work allows us to slow down and take stock of what we are actually accomplishing. Learn more here.
|
|
AJFCA MEMBER NEWS & BENEFITS
|
2016 AJFCA Annual Conference Awards
AJFCA's 2016 Awards' Guidelines are now available. All award submissions are due on Friday, February 12th.
- KOVOD Award
- Agency Video
- Replicable Programming in the area of:
- Disabilities Services
- Behavioral Health Services
- Holocaust Survivor Support Services
- Leadership Award
- Distinguished Service Award
- Joseph S. Kaplan Memorial Scholarship
Click here to learn more about the 2016 Annual Conference. Contact Megan with questions.
|
|
Upcoming Calls & Webinars
|
|
Board Service: What Does it Mean? 
What is the role of the board? What are the responsibilities and legal duties of individual board members? How are we as a nonprofit sector performing on these challenges? This infographic answers these questions for new board members, and serves as a reminder for seasoned nonprofit leaders. |
Boards Must Play Big Role in Finances, Fundraising 
Nonprofits can best drive social change by having a strong board that contributes significantly to fundraising, writes Nell Edgington, president of Social Velocity and former AJFCA Annual Conference speaker. Nonprofits should raise at least 10% of the organization's annual budget, and should consider the financial impact of goals before setting them, she advises. Read the entire article here. |
4 Steps to Improve New Donor Retention 
4 Steps to Improve New Donor Retention, January 14, 2016, Network for Good, by Nancy SchwartzYou and your colleagues do a good-to-great job of bringing new donors in the door. You're thrilled to welcome new supporters until you never hear from them again. The 2015 Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) report highlights that 81% of first-time donors never give again. You can change this gloomy scenario. In fact, a 10% rise in donor retention leads to a significant giving gain in the long term. Learn more here. |
Genocide Survivors: Contributors not Victims 
Holocaust survivors are ordinary people who have lived extraordinary lives. They have experienced the dark side of humanity and have much to teach us about adaptation, resilience and recovery. Using a strengths-based approach, Myra Giberovitch explains how we can change our perception of survivors from traumatized victims to contributing members of society in this video. |
|
VOLUNTEER/YOUNG ADULT ENGAGEMENT
|
Building a Teen Movement to Repair the World - On MLK Weekend and Throughout the Year 
What's the difference between an 'organization' and a 'movement'? The collaboration between BBYO and Repair the World that took place over MLK Weekend illustrated how two organizations are using a movement model to engage teens and change lives. Learn more here. |
Volunteer Screen Trends & Best Practices Report 
"As a sector that focuses on delivering quality service to vulnerable populations, screening is one of our priorities. The129 member agencies of the Association of Jewish Family & Children's Agencies are always looking for relevant and
up-to-date data on volunteer screening - and this report from Verified Volunteers provides best practices and terrific insights."
|
|
|
