ACE March 2012 Newsletter

March 2012

IN THIS EDITION

3 Greetings from ACE

4–6 Upcoming

Trainings & Events

7 Member Spotlight-

AR Single Parent

Scholarship Fund

8 Federal and State

Policy Updates

9 Financial Corner

10-11 Resources &

Other Links

12 Contact Us

2

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence: Helping

Nonprofits Help Arkansas

We are proud to work with you to achieve ACE’s

mission and vision together:

Mission: Strengthen Arkansas Nonprofits

Vision: A strong, vibrant, united and effective

nonprofit sector that is well positioned to

meet the diverse needs of all Arkansans.

Our Core Values: Best Practices; Inclusive;

Unity in Diversity; Connecting & Equipping;

Statewide Vision & Regional Approach

Cover Photo: Arkansas Capitol

Happy Spring!

3

GREETINGS FROM ACE

Dear ACE Members and Friends,

The Arkansas Coalition for Excellence (ACE) is excited to kickoff

spring with a workshop series designed to give you a checkup on

your organization’s efficiency. This workshop series is based on a

foundation of nonprofit best practices called the Arkansas Diamond Standards™ and is

designed to give you a set of guidelines to make sure your organization is running at its

“best.”

According to Wikipedia, a best practice is a method or technique that has consistently

shown results superior to those achieved with other means, and that is used as a

benchmark. In addition, a "best" practice can evolve to become better as improvements are

discovered. Best practice is considered by some as a business (or nonprofit) buzzword,

used to describe the process of developing and following a standard way of doing things

that multiple organizations can use.

With the leadership of Jim Harris and other founding ACE board members, the Arkansas

Diamond Standards™ were created so that Arkansas nonprofits could use these principles

and practices to guide their organizations to excellence in four areas: Mission, Money,

Management and Governance. All nonprofits have access to the Arkansas Diamond

Standards™ Workbook, Assessment Tools and a Basic Infrastructure Checklist on our

website at www.acenonprofit.org.

This spring, ACE will focus on these four areas separately in four regions of the state. We

hope you will take the time to check up on your organization and make sure you are

running at your best! Click here to access the Arkansas Diamond Standards™ tools and

look for more information about our workshop series in the Upcoming Trainings, Events &

Programs section of our newsletter. If you have questions about the Arkansas Diamond

Standards™ or other ACE benefits, please email me at [email protected] or call

501.375.1223.

Thank you for your continued engagement with ACE. We look forward to seeing you this

spring!

Sincerely,

Emily

Emily C. Ingram

UPCOMING TRAININGS, EVENTS & PROGRAMS

4

It’s Time for Your Checkup! Arkansas Diamond Standards™ Workshop Series:

Mission, Money, Management and Governance

In this series of workshops, use the Arkansas Diamond Standards ™ (nonprofit best practices) to

evaluate your organization’s programs, audit preparation, management practices and board

leadership in order to ensure your nonprofit is running at its most efficient.

Evaluating Your Impact (Mission) Springdale

Many people don't hold evaluation in much regard. In fact, most people only think of evaluation

as taking a snapshot of outcomes at the end of a program to prove to a funder that the program

worked. However,

evaluation can, and should, be used as an ongoing management and learning tool to improve an

organization's effectiveness. In this workshop, you will learn successful strategies for effective

program evaluation from an experienced group of nonprofit leaders.

Workshop led by: Maxie Carpenter, Director of Operations,

Samaritan Community Center; Candace Carey, CEO, American

Red Cross of Greater Arkansas; and Mike Gilbert, COO, The

Jones Center

Friday, April 13

9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

The Jones Center

922 East Emma Avenue , Springdale

Click here for directions.

Evaluating Your Impact (Mission) Little Rock

Many people don’t hold evaluation in much regard. In fact, most

people only think of evaluation as taking a snapshot of

outcomes at the end of a program to prove to a funder that the

program worked. However, evaluation can, and should, be used

as an ongoing management and learning tool to improve an

organization’s effectiveness. In this workshop, you will hear

from a funder and nonprofit executive about the importance of effective program evaluation.

Workshop led by: Laura Duty, Program Officer, Carl B. and

Florence E. King Foundation and Diane LaFollette, COO,

Museum of Discovery

Tuesday, May 1

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Arkansas Studies Institute

401 President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock

Click here for directions.

5

Preparing for Your Audit (Money) Little Rock

Audits are not fun, plain and simple. But with the right preparation you can relieve stress for both you and your

accountant. In this workshop, you will hear from a professional accountant on what it takes to make your audit

as painless as possible and some helpful tips from a nonprofit executive director who has mastered the audit

process.

Workshop led by: Jacob Wells, JPMS Cox, PLLC and Jamie Collins, Executive Director, Mission Outreach of

Northeast Arkansas

Tuesday, May 8

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Arkansas Studies Institute

401 President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock

Click here for directions.

Does Your Board Measure Up? (Governance) Hot Springs

Is your board on track to help your organization fulfill its mission? In this workshop, you will learn a step-by-step

method to evaluate your board’s strengths and weaknesses, and how to guide your board (and nonprofit) to

success. You will also hear from a panel of local funders and experienced board members on the roles and

responsibilities of nonprofit board members - and the importance of board leadership when it comes to carrying

out an organization’s strategic plan and creating overall sustainability for the organization.

Workshop led by: Cynthia VanWinkle, Circle Communications Network, LLC

Panel includes: Dorthy Morris- Morris Foundation

Melanie Masino Martin- Jane Howard Foundation

Ann Carrithers- Hot Springs Area Community Foundation

Thursday, May 10

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Hot Springs Transportation Depot

100 Broadway Terrace, Hot Springs

Click here for directions.

Successful Management: Keeping It Legal (Management) Jonesboro

Learning human resource law can be one of the most complicated aspects of running a nonprofit. In this

workshop, you will hear a general overview of issues employers need to be aware of and an update regarding

recent changes in employment law.

Workshop led by: Daniel L. Herrington, Friday, Eldredge & Clark LLP

Friday, May 11

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

ASU Delta Studies Center

ASU Campus, International Building, Jonesboro

Click here for directions

All Workshops $35 ACE Members / $60 Nonmembers

Bring a board member or volunteer for FREE (one per paid registration)

Click here to reserve your seat online and mail your check to: Arkansas Coalition for Excellence, 200 River

Market Avenue, Suite 100, Little Rock, AR 72201

The Arkansas Diamond Standards Workshop Series™ is supported by:

Morris Foundation

Thank you to all of our new

and renewing members!

Youth Strategies, Springdale

4Sight Development, Hot

Springs

Senior Citizens Activities Today,

Inc., Little Rock

Cross County Historical Society,

Wynne

Williams and Anderson PLC,

Little Rock

American Foundation for Sui-

cide Prevention, Arkansas Chap-

ter, Little Rock NEW

CASA of Clark County, Arkadel-

phia

Youth Partners of Pine Bluff/

Jefferson County, Pine Bluff

Pat Lile, Little Rock (extended

membership to 2014)!

Family Service Agency, Little

Rock

PACES, Inc., Jonesboro

Sustainable Business Network

of Central Arkansas, Little Rock

Center on the Square, Searcy

Crittenden Regional Hospital

Foundation, West Memphis

Interested in becoming

an ACE Member? Call

or e-mail us at

501-375-1224 or [email protected]

to find out how ACE

can help strengthen

your organization.

The Summit: Where Volunteer, Philanthropy & Nonprofit

Leaders Meet

Thursday, April 26th and Friday, April 27th

Hosted by. the Arkansas Department of Human

Services- Division of Community and Nonprofit Support

In partnership with the Arkansas Coalition for Excellence and

the Arkansas Community Foundation

For more information click here

Making the Most of Social Networking Sites

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

ACE-Idealware Trainings

Presented by. Andrea Berry

How do social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn work? And how do you make

the most of the medium? We’ll talk through what these sites are, why they might be useful for your

organization, what’s worth doing, and how other organizations are using social networking sites.

By the end of the seminar, you will understand: • What social networking sites are, and how they

work • How these sites can help with typical nonprofit goals • At a high level, how you might use

Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn • What’s required – in terms of time, effort, and skill – to suc-

ceed with social networking sites • Best practices that can help you make the most of the sites •

Whether or not these sites are likely to make sense for you

Conducted by Andrea Berry, Idealware's Director of Partnerships and Learning, oversees Ideal-

ware's fundraising and training activities including the Field Guide to Nonprofit Software, sponsor-

ship,

corporate and individual giving, grants management and online seminars.

Time: 10:00a.m.-11:30a.m.

Location: Webinar accessible online and by phone Cost: $30.00

Click here to register

MEETING SPACE

Know of a great and affordable meeting location? ACE is always looking for

space to host our workshops and would love any suggestions you might have.

Please e-mail Emily at [email protected].

Thank you!

6

MEMBERSHIP

ACE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:

Single Parent Scholarship of Arkansas

Thank you to all of our new

and renewing members!

Youth Strategies, Springdale

4Sight Development, Hot

Springs

Senior Citizens Activities Today,

Inc., Little Rock

Cross County Historical Society,

Wynne

Williams and Anderson PLC,

Little Rock

American Foundation for Sui-

cide Prevention, Arkansas Chap-

ter, Little Rock NEW

CASA of Clark County, Arkadel-

phia

Youth Partners of Pine Bluff/

Jefferson County, Pine Bluff

Pat Lile, Little Rock (extended

membership to 2014)!

Family Service Agency, Little

Rock

PACES, Inc., Jonesboro

Sustainable Business Network

of Central Arkansas, Little Rock

Center on the Square, Searcy

Crittenden Regional Hospital

Foundation, West Memphis

Interested in becoming

an ACE Member? Call

or e-mail us at

501-375-1224 or [email protected]

to find out how ACE

can help strengthen

your organization.

7

Twenty eight years ago this May, the first trickle of awards began to flow into a growing stream

of community scholarships aimed at helping single parents earn a college degree. In 1984,

Single Parent Scholarships were offered only in Benton and Washington Counties. The

amounts were modest, the people helped were a deserving and grateful few, but the planted

seeds of these scholarships would eventually sprout to envelop the entire state in what has

become a strong network of county-based Single Parent Scholarship Funds. In the year just

passed, 2,868 awards worth $1.8 million were distributed in all 75 counties and in Bowie

County, Texas (Texarkana area). The 2010 retention and graduation rate among awardees was

a remarkable 92%.

Vanessa Dolphin of Little Rock is a prime example of a single mother who set her sights on

entering a profession and was able to do so with the help of these scholarships. After

separating from the father of her baby boy, she began taking courses at UALR and working

part-time. Along with valuable scholarship help, Vanessa received a lot of strong emotional

backing and encouragement from the Board of Directors and staff of the Single Parent

Scholarship Fund of Pulaski County. She credits them with helping her to keep her eyes on the

prize of a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance, which she earned in 1990. She

passed her CPA licensing examination in 2009 and is

now seasonal senior tax consultant with Frost

Accountants LLC and Windstream.

The Director of Arkansas Tech’s Continuing Education

Program is Lisa Cochran, who received Single Parent

Scholarships in Pope County from 1999 to 2001.

Initially interested in health information

management, she began working in the Continuing

Education Division as an administrative assistant and advanced to her current position in

August of 2007. She earned a Bachelor of Science at Arkansas Tech in Health Information

Management in 2001 and went on to earn a Master’s in College Student Personnel in 2011.

Lisa credits the Board of Directors of the Pope/Yell Counties’ Single Parent Scholarship Fund for

believing in her and infusing within her a sense of worth which she will now pass on to other

single parents through her approaching chairmanship of that very Board.

Vanessa and Lisa are but two of thousands of single mothers and fathers who have overcome

great odds to earn college diplomas and enter the job market as well- educated professionals.

In a state where only 37.6% of our public college and university undergraduates earn their

degrees, the remarkable success achieved by so many single parents in completing college is

worth examining. What are the factors at play here? A key element is the role of the

community in offering encouragement and support beyond financial aid. Each Single Parent

Scholarships Fund is operated by a volunteer board of directors dedicated to assisting its

awardees through friendship, mentoring relationships, resource information and the intangible

respect and recognition that accompany scholarship assistance. Many scholarship awardees

are quick to mention the importance of a team of cheerleaders who care deeply about them

and offer strong shoulders to lean on when times are tough. Having someone believe in them is

crucial.

Another reason why single mothers and fathers are able to earn their degrees is sheer

willpower. They are generally older, returning students who value this one good opportunity to

move from a life of poverty toward self-sufficiency and prosperity. They well know their children

are depending on them to carry through on the promise of creating a better life for their

families. The path to that life through higher education is a tough, demanding route, but well

worth it.

For more information about Single Parent Scholarships, visit the website of the Arkansas Single

Parent Scholarship Fund at www.aspsf.org or call (479) 927-1402.

PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY

8

House Budget Would Cut Spending, Reform Taxes

The House Budget Committee approved a budget that would cut spending more than previously agreed

by Congress and protect defense from scheduled cuts – actions that could shift burdens onto

nonprofits. Viewed largely as an election-year political statement by the Republican majority, the House

FY 2013 budget resolution is not expected to be approved by the full Congress due to strong

opposition from the Democratically-controlled Senate, which is expected to insist on spending caps

established in the Budget Control Act enacted last August. The House budget would reduce spending

by $5 trillion over ten years through spending cuts and entitlement reforms, including a modified

voluntary voucher program for Medicare-eligible seniors. The House measure also calls for simplifying

the tax code by decreasing the number of tax brackets to two, a 15 percent rate and 25 percent rate,

and repealing the adjusted minimum tax (AMT). The budget proposes spending more on defense than

sought by President Obama, and it ignores the $55 billion in automatic defense cuts required to occur

in January 2013 as part of the Budget Control Act.

OMB Hears Nonprofit Concerns on Federal Grantmaking Rules

The White House Office of Management and Budget is seeking

feedback from nonprofits on its Advance Notice of Proposed

Guidance that explores ways to reduce burdens on grant r

ecipients and government agencies and better coordinate and

streamline reporting requirements. On a call for nonprofit

organizations conducted March 16, the Office of Management

and Budget explained its proposals for reducing audit burdens,

modifying cost-reimbursement rules (including consideration of a

flat rate for indirect costs), and reforming administrative

requirements for federal grants. Concerns were raised during the

call about lack of corrective action in response to a

2010 Government Accountability Office report that highlighted the

confusion surrounding indirect cost recovery and the

practice by the states of keeping for themselves some of the

federal funds allocated for indirect costs. The National Council of

Nonprofits seeks input from nonprofit organizations about their

experiences in negotiating indirect cost rates and their indirect

cost recovery from governments at all levels. The deadline for

filing comments on the OMB recommendations has been

extended to April 30.

Senate to Consider Postal Reform

The Senate is scheduled to take up postal reform legislation that would close an $11 billion budget

deficit of the Postal Service, but would not alter nonprofit postal bulk rates as proposed in a House bill.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and other Senators are expected to try to delay consideration of the bill

out of concerns over post office closures and other potential changes. Congress is under pressure to

pass an overhaul bill before a moratorium on closing postal facilities expires on May 15.

Supreme Court Considers Health Care Reform Law

For the first time since 1966 in Miranda v. Arizona, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral argument

over three days this week when it considers the constitutionality of the individual mandate among

other issues in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Published reports indicate that

nonprofits (especially 501(c)(4)s and (c)(6)s), as well as businesses, the states, and political parties,

will be lining up on both sides of this politically-charged issue before the Court rules this summer to

ensure that it is at the center of the presidential and congressional elections in November.

TAX UPDATES

Tax season is here! Make sure you stay informed of all tax laws,

and other IRS news.

Check out these recent updates

Tax Year 2011 990 Series Returns Now Available

Register for Upcoming Workshops for Small and

Medium-sized 501(c)(3)s

Payroll Tax Cut Extended: Revised Payroll Tax Form Now Avail-

able

EO's 2012 Summer Internship Application Deadline

Extended

Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2012

Disaster Relief Resources for Charities and Contributors

9

Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Foundation Grants

Each year the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Foundation sponsors a special

grant program in partnership with Arkansas Community Foundation to

support programs that serve African-Americans and other minority

communities in Arkansas.

Projects must focus on:

Education,

Health and wellness,

Youth development,

Small business development/economic development

Who Can Apply? 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, hospitals, schools, government agencies and other

organizations with a clear charitable purpose are eligible to apply. All geographic areas of the state are

eligible.

Where Can I Get More Info? Check out the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Foundation Grants page on the ARCF

website for details about this program. You'll be able to download and complete the PDF

application form between February 17 and April 15, 2012

Grants for Women’s Shelters in 50 States

The Mary Kay Foundation: Shelter Grant Program

The Mary Kay Foundation is committed to ending the epidemic of domestic violence by providing grants to

women's shelters throughout the United States. Each year, the Foundation’s Shelter Grant Program awards

grants of $20,000 to at least one domestic violence shelter in every state; remaining funds are distributed

based on state population. Applying organizations must offer immediate overnight housing to women and

children affected by domestic violence. The grants provided by the Foundation may be used for the

operating budget of the shelter, with the exception of staff travel. The application deadline is April 30,

2012. Visit the Foundation’s website to review the funding guidelines and download the application forms.

FINANCIAL CORNER

RESOURCES AND OTHER LINKS

NONPROFIT RISK MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE MONTH

Soft Power and Quiet Persistence

By Melanie Lockwood Herman

During a short trip to the University of Notre Dame this week I had an opportunity to visit the

impressive campus bookstore and pick up a copy of Susan Cain’s book, “Quiet: The Power of

Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking.” I’ve been buried in the text ever since.

One of Cain’s premises is that where we fall on the introvert-extrovert

spectrum “influences our choice of friends and mates, and how we

make conversation, resolve differences, and show love.” She explains

that introversion is regarded by many in the business world as “a sec-

ond-class personality trait, somewhere between a disappointment

and a pathology,” and notes that fast-talking extroverts are generally

regarded as “more competent and likeable” than their slow-talking,

reflective counterparts.

In her chapter titled “Soft Power” Cain writes about “quiet persis-

tence” and “sustained attention”—qualities achieved by “restraining

one’s reactions to external stimuli.” While reading Cain’s book, I tried

to recall nonprofit leaders who exemplify “soft power” and the callings

cards of introversion. When I think about my experiences in the board room, one familiar

scenario comes to mind—the board meeting with a handful of talkative, dominant and

sometimes brilliant members. I enjoy being in the presence of charismatic leaders who are

eager to share their views on the subject at hand. I truly look forward to the give and take of a

lively board meeting.

But at a recent board meeting I noticed that a colleague across the table was unusually (or so

it seemed!) quiet during our deliberations. At the very end of the meeting, she very gently

proposed an approach to the issue we had been discussing that was nearly opposite to the

options that had previously been suggested. It made wonderful sense to the room full of

extroverts and it did not take us long to rally around her proposal. Now that I’ve learned a bit

more about introverts I can see that “soft power” and “quiet persistence” can be invaluable in

nonprofit governance. Although many board development committees focus on

finding dynamic recruits whose outgoing personalities will shine in the boardroom, perhaps

we should pay equal attention to the need for thoughtful, reflective, and yes, quiet, introverted

leaders, whose instincts, reserve and persistence will help our missions shine.

Melanie Lockwood Herman is Executive Director of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center.

She welcomes your ideas about any risk management topic, feedback on this article and

questions about the Center’s resources at [email protected] or (202) 785-3891.

The Center provides risk management tools and resources atwww.nonprofitrisk.org and

offers consulting assistance to organizations unwilling to leave their missions to chance.

10

IDEALWARE TIP OF THE MONTH

JOBS CENTER

Part Time Instructor, Red Cross

Traveling Sales and Maintenance Technician, Museum of Discovery

Field Director, Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance

Executive Director, Arkansas Coalition for Excellence

Create a JOBTARGET account on our site to post your organization’s

open positions.

For a complete list of jobs click here.

11

You already know the value a good email campaign can bring to your nonprofit, whether it’s an eNewsletter,

action email or fundraising appeal, but how can you tell if your electronic communications are actually

having the impact you hoped for? Is the work you’re putting in worth the effort? Email metrics can help you

determine the effectiveness of your communications and fine tune them to improve their efficiency.

What data should you gather to help you track the success of your emails? Start with the core information

about the emails themselves, such as:

· Messages Sent. The number of outbound emails sent as part of a particular mailing.

· Messages Delivered. The number of sent emails actually delivered to recipients’ inboxes. If they’re not

delivered, that means they’ve “bounced.”

· Hard and Soft Bounces. A hard bounce is a permanently undeliverable email—for example, one sent

to an invalid email address ([email protected]) or an address that no longer exists. A soft bounce is an

email that’s only temporarily undeliverable—for example, to a recipient whose mailbox is full. Ideally, you

should track both.

· Unsubscribes. The number of individuals who unsubscribe from your list in response to each mailing

sent.

· Messages Opened. The number of recipients who open your email to read it. Due to the way open

rates are tracked and the rise of image-blocking software, this number will never be accurate, but can still

be useful.

· Click-Throughs. The number of times any recipient clicks on any trackable link within the email.

Ideally, each link should be counted only once, even if it is clicked multiple times.

What to know more?

Thank you for reading this month’s edition of our

newsletter. Questions or Comments? Contact us.

Emily Ingram,

Interim Director

[email protected]

Rebecca Zimmermann

Membership & Communications

Coordinator, AmeriCorps VISTA

[email protected]

Located within the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation Offices

200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100

Little Rock, AR 72201

(501) 375-1223

www.acenonprofit.org