FINANCIAL MATTERS
Revenue Recognition Overhaul Applies to Nonprofits, Too
by Cathy Clarke
New accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in May 2014 have completely rewritten the rules for revenue recognition for nonprofits. A new framework will now be applied in determining when and how an entity recognizes revenue in its customer contracts.
Although no further formal guidance is expected soon, the AICPA Revenue Recognition Implementation Committee is studying specific issues unique to nonprofit subindustries. An implementation guide is expected to be the final product, but no timeline has been given for its completion.
For nonprofits, the current effective date for these new rules (which has been pushed back one year due to implementation issues) is for years beginning after December 15, 2017 (conduit debt users) or December 15, 2018. Continue reading here.
CliftonLarsonAllen is a valued AJFCA partner and sponsor of the 2016 AJFCA Annual Conference.
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AGENCY HIGHLIGHTS
Getting Food Should Be a Snap For Seniors
Arizona Jewish Life, January 21, 2016
In response to the escalating number of seniors struggling to put food on the table, Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger has launched the second year of its Solutions to Senior Hunger in partnership with the Association of Jewish Family & Children's Agencies. The initiative is designed to help low-income, food-insecure seniors get the nutrition assistance they need. Jewish Family & Children's Service in the greater Phoenix area is participating to help local seniors.  Solutions to Senior Hunger, which is generously funded by the Walmart Foundation, is designed to reduce the barriers that keep vulnerable seniors from enrolling in the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Learn more here.
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Support Your Network by Joining the Senior Resource Connect Incentive Program!

20% of the AJFCA network that have already become "Friends" of Senior Resource Connect! Join them!
Already a Friend? Add three more posts to Facebook to become an Ally. Send us a story about utilizing the site to help a client to join the Partner Circle!
SRC supporters will be recognized on the AJFCA conference mobile app, have a special thank you package waiting for them at conference registration, are invited to a special reception at the annual conference (Allies and Partner Circlie only), and will be featured in social media and online. Get the details here. ------------------- Senior Resource Connect aims to leverage the expertise of Jewish family services agencies assisting older adults in the community, increase referrals to member agency programs, streamline referrals between agencies, and act as an information hub on all matters of senior services.
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Share this great news with your community.
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Stay on top of today's ever-changing economic landscape with Mutual of America's Economic Perspective, written by Thomas J. Dillman, President of Mutual of America Capital Management LLC. Learn more.
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Mutual of America is a valued AJFCA partner and sponsor of the 2016 AJFCA Annual Conference.
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The Voice and Vision for Stronger Communities
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D'Var Torah
Lee I. Sherman
President/CEO
One of my favorite places in Israel is the Old City of Tzfat. I love the winding streets, the sudden views of distant mountains, and the many artists in the shops and galleries. As the birthplace and center of much of Jewish mysticism, there is a sense about Tzfat that connects you to the beliefs and practices of Jews across the centuries. Visits to the many old synagogues of Tzfat inspire those connections. From the ornate to the simple, they share much which makes them familiar even at the first impression.
Perhaps more than anything else, I always look for the Ner Tamid when I enter a sanctuary for the first time. It is always there. It is always lit. And, it casts its light on the ark beneath it, which contains the sacred Torah scrolls. In this week's parashah, Tezaveh, we read the commandment that launches our tradition of the Ner Tamid, the eternal light. We learn of its connection to the original tabernacle and how it is the one element of that tabernacle, the Mishkan, that has been consistent through the ages and is so essential to our sanctuaries today.
There have been many times in Jewish history when the Ner Tamid has faced being extinguished, but in the words of Matisyahu the flame stands strong:
exposed menorah glowing in the shadows of destruction
trailblazing through affliction
brushing off the branches golden
standing strong flames
dancing like a lion roaring rising out of nothing (Aish Tamid)
There are lessons for all of us in the strength of the eternal light and the Torah with which it shares its light.
Have a bright Shabbat.
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White House Convening on Inclusion of Americans with Disabilities
AJFCA's Director of Older Adult & Disabilities Services, Liz Woodward, was honored to be among the more than 100 attendees at the White House Convening on Inclusion of Americans with Disabilities in the Jewish Community. The meeting included speeches from Matt Nosanchuk, Associate Director & Liaison to the Jewish Community, Maria Town, Associate Director & Liaison to the Disability Community, both at the White House Office of Public Engagement, and Judith Heumann, Special Advisor for International Disability Rights at the U.S. Department of State who discussed how far disability rights have come and how far we have yet to go both in the Jewish and general community. Opening remarks were followed by a panel discussion on the state of accessibility and inclusion with leaders from JFNA, Hillel International, Anachnu, and the Jewish Association for Developmental Disabilities with additional input from members of the audience. A major theme throughout the convening was the importance of listening to and partnering with those with expertise and experience in facing and overcoming barriers to access the Jewish community. By working together to take on the responsibility of being inclusive and sharing the expense of resources that make our communities more accessible, all members of the community benefit.
If your agency has an inclusion committee or coordinator please share details with Liz.
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President's Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2017 Released on Feb 9
On February 9, the Administration released The President's Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017. The Budget contains a number of increases in programs of vital importance to the AJFCA community, including an
increase of over $28.4 million over the FY2016 enacted levels for the Administration for Community Living (ACL). ACL's programs serve older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers. To learn more,
click here and here. Of particular note, the President's Budget includes $2.5 million for Holocaust Survivors. If you have specific questions regarding the Budget, please email AJFCA's Director of Government Affairs, Liz Leibowitz.
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2016 JFNA Health and Long-Term Care Kick-off Call
Join The Jewish Federations of North America's for their annual Health and Long-Term Care call to discuss the recent launch of JFNA's Strategic Health Resource Center, the Center's goals and priorities for 2016, and key legislative, regulatory and policy developments in the health and long-term care areas with federations and their partner agencies throughout the country.
Participants will hear from David Butler, Chair of JFNA's Domestic Policy & Government Affairs Council, Keith Libman and Julie Kass, co-chairs of JFNA's Health & Long-Term Care Committee, William Daroff, Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Director of the Washington Office, as well as the Center's health policy staff about how the health services and long-term care fields are undergoing dramatic changes that could impact many of our partner agencies.
To participate on the call, please dial the appropriate number listed below and have the conference ID number ready for the operator who will connect you to the call: 
Tuesday, February 23rd - 4pm ET Participant Toll Free Dial-In Number: USA/Canada: 1-877-559-2802
Conference ID: 29658435
In preparation for the call, the draft 2016 Health and Long-Term Care Strategic Memorandum can be accessed via the link below for your review.
To RSVP, please click here by close of business on February 19th. If you would like to review the document, please click here. Please be in touch with Allison Redisch if you have any questions about the RSVP form or document.
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AJFCA MEMBER NEWS & BENEFITS
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2016 AJFCA Annual Conference
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Join AJFCA for a dynamic and informative conference full of networking opportunities and engaging speakers in sunny San Diego.
View the tentative schedule, workshop content and networking lunches here. Discuss trending topics with colleagues at this year's Annual Conference.
Click here to learn more about the 2016 Annual Conference. Contact Megan with questions.
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Disabilities Services Discussion Call: Working with Schools and SynagoguesJoin members of our network in this one-hour discussion on working with schools and synagogues to promote inclusion of youth with disabilities. Cindy Land, Community Inclusion Coordinator at JF&CS of Jacksonville, will discuss her agency's work with Jewish day schools to enable students with disabilities and their families to access educational supports and to train school staff on working with students with additional needs. Participants will discuss programs involving schools and synagogues that aim to educate the community about the inclusion of individuals of all abilities
Working with Schools and Synagogues
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How Effective Is Your Online Marketing Strategy?
The importance of an effective online presence is increasingly essential for success. It is often heard that that organizations have a website to promote services, but when asked about an overarching marketing strategy, the consumer experience, or performance metrics, most organizations have is an "electronic brochure" as a web page - but not really an online marketing program. Learn more here. |
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