Issue 21
December 17, 2003

Please Note: Nonprofit Enterprise at Work offices will be closed December 24 through January 4, 2004. We look forward to serving you in the NEW Year!

NEWSNOTES is a monthly email newsletter published by Nonprofit Enterprise at Work. It includes items of interest to the nonprofit community in Washtenaw County and the surrounding areas, as well as resources available at NEW. Encourage your friends and colleagues to join over 280 other NEWSNOTES subscribers!

NEW would like to recognize the generous support of its partners:

IN THIS ISSUE

FEATURED ITEMS

Board Builders Changes Program Name

NEW announced December 11 that effective from that date, the Board Builders program will be called “BoardConnect™.” The program provides training and matching services for prospective and current board members and nonprofit organizations.

Program elements for BoardConnect™ will be unchanged, and NEW will continue its affiliation with boardnetUSA, a national online database that connects board candidates and seeking organizations via the internet. As always, NEW’s staff remains committed to the development of nonprofit boards of directors through matching and training services. In addition, NEW is currently pursuing trademark status for BoardConnect™, an option not available with the previous name.

For more information about NEW’s board matching and training services, please contact Andrew Steck, Leadership Program Associate, (734) 998-0160. More information about matching and training services can be found online.

MCACA Minigrant Deadline February 2, 2004

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) offers minigrants of up to $4,000 to Michigan nonprofit organizations for locally developed, high-quality arts and cultural projects that increase public access to art and culture. NEW administers the MCACA Minigrant program for Washtenaw, Livingston and Monroe counties. Minigrant applications and guidelines are available on the NEW Web site.

NEW will host free grant assistance workshops in preparation for the next application deadline of FEBRUARY 2 (for projects taking place between May 1, 2004 and September 30, 2004). Register for a workshop online or call (734) 998-0160. Workshop dates and times are as follows:

Note: Organizations in counties other than Livingston, Washtenaw and Monroe may visit MCACA’s Mini-Grant Regional Regranters County List to find the name of the regranting agency in their region.

For more information, contact Andrew Steck, (734-998-0160).

"Raising More Money" Information Session Offered Free of Charge

Did you know that 84% of all charitable contributions come from individuals? How can your organization tap into this tremendous resource and become less dependent on grants and special events? The Raising More Money: Building Lifelong Donors™ Introductory Session introduces you to a systematic model for building lifelong donors. Take advantage of a free 2-hour intro class on Thursday, December 18, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at St.Augustine/St. Monica Parrish, 4151 Seminole, Detroit, MI, 48214. Register online. Questions? Contact Dennis Haynes (206)709-9400 ext 131.

If you are unable to attend this session, you may be interested in seeing an online pre-recorded 60-minute session presented by Terry Axelrod.

Michigan Nonprofit Compensation and Benefit Survey - We Need Your Input!

The 2003 Michigan Nonprofit Compensation and Benefit Survey is underway and your help is needed. Sponsors across the state (including NEW) seek to increase the number of responses so that the report can be a comprehensive representation of salaries and benefits for the nonprofit sector in Michigan. Nonprofit organizations with paid employees are urged to participate.

If you have already returned a survey, thank you for your time. If you have not completed a survey, there is still time; completed surveys will be accepted into the new year. Please contact Pat Nanzer (616) 331-7593 to request a copy of the survey.

The results will provide an accurate combined picture of salary information for over 40 nonprofit job titles, a comparative analysis of nonprofit benefit packages, and a current look at executive compensation. Participating organizations will receive a free digital copy of the results via e-mail in April, 2004. For those unable to participate, or with no paid staff, the report will cost $35. Don’t miss your chance to participate in this study!

Pfizer Community Grants Program

Pfizer Global Research & Development, Ann Arbor Laboratories is committed to "supporting agencies that enhance the quality of life, provide critical health services to people in need, and foster and inspire future scientists." To this end, they focus grantmaking efforts on programs dealing with arts and culture, healthcare, and science education. Applications are accepted twice a year and must be postmarked by January 30 or June 30. Contact the Pfizer Community Grants Program (734) 622-1107 to request guidelines and an application form.

Seminar on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Hosted by UM

The public is invited to a presentation and discussion at the University of Michigan School of Social Work on Wednesday, January 14 at 4:00 pm, entitled “Keeping Martin Luther King’s Vision Alive: The Role of Nonprofit Organizations”. Featured speaker is Deborah Brittain, President of the Association of Junior Leagues International. The presentation is in the Educational Conference Center (Rm. 1840), School of Social Work Building.

Washtenaw County Small Business Health Plan

Washtenaw Health Plan (WHP) offers access to a basic set of health care services for uninsured, lower-wage employees of small businesses, including nonprofits. Individuals are eligible for various health benefit programs based on annual income. A family of two with income at or below $22,524 per year may receive free health benefit coverage.

A prescription program is available to any resident of Washtenaw County who does not currently have other prescription coverage, or who has exhausted or limited coverage. There are no age or income restrictions.

WHP eligibility can be determined by contacting Health Services Access, 555 Towner, Ypsilanti (734) 544-3050 or 1-800-440-7548.

IU Fundraising School Class Offered Locally

The Indiana University Fund Raising School provides premier training in development and offers a widely-recognized Certificate in Fund Raising Management upon completion of four core courses, including this one being held at Laurel Manor, Livonia, MI. Building Relationships with Donors and Potential Donors is offered March 2 and 3, 2004, 8:30 – 5:00 daily. The class, presented by highly-experienced fundraisers on the IU faculty, offers tools to build life-long relationships.

Registration: $425 for Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) members, $475 for not-yet-members (IUFRS published tuition $580). Continental breakfast, lunches, snacks, materials and parking included. Register online; contact Mike Corbin at MNA (517) 492-2412 with questions.

The Women's Conference

The Women’s Conference is billed as a “power-packed day of workshops and sessions designed to energize and invigorate you – giving you new ideas and strategies to achieve and succeed according to your goals and standards.” Nationally-known speakers and workshop leaders offer guidance in communication, management, and negotiation skills. Choose from four different locations:

February 11, 2004 in Toledo
February 12, 2004 in Ypsilanti
February 25, 2004 in Lansing
February 27, 2004 in Troy

Find out more at the Career Track Web site or call (800) 556-3009.

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