January, 2006 

Currents Newsletter is a project of Commonweal Consulting LLC., which provides consulting, training and technical assistance to non-profit organizations, communities and universities on public health, management, fundraising and organizational development.   If this newsletter was forwarded to you and you would like to receive your own copy, please email to info@commonweal.net.

Attend a Grant-Writing/Fundraising Workshop for Free

Interested in enhancing your grant-writing and fundraising skills, but don't have a very big training budget? Well, Commonweal Consulting may have the solution. We are looking for organizations to host a Commonweal Consulting grant-writing and fundraising workshop in their area. The host will be responsible for securing a location and helping with promotion. Two individuals from the hosting organization will be able to attend the workshop for free.  Workshops require a minimum of twelve paid participants. Interested? Please contact Sheena Rice, administrative assistant for Commonweal Consulting, at 406-587-7774 or email sheenarice@commonweal.net.

Non-Profit News Currents: Donor Intent

You've just taken over as Executive Director of Widgets for the World.  Your bookkeeper, Sally, comes to you and wants to know how to spend the income from the Sylvester Sillybottom Endowment Fund.  "Let's send widgets to the poor children in Montanastan!" you say.  "Not so fast," says Sally.  "We promised the Sillybottoms we'd only spend the money for Widget research." "But our widgets are perfect," you reply.   We don't need any more research.  Send those widgets on their way."

Not so fast, say the folks at Zogby.  People care about donor intent.  And their poll, commissioned on behalf of a real family that donated to Princeton University but feel their money was not being spent correctly, shows just how strongly donors care.

Zogby researchers asked a series of 10 questions on charitable giving from a representative cross-section of voting age adults. Within the margin of error, the responses can be extrapolated to the public at large. Among the highlights of the Zogby survey were the following:

1. A near-unanimous 97 percent of the respondents said they consider it a "very" or "somewhat" serious matter if charities are spending money donated to them on unauthorized projects, while 78.7 percent said they would "definitely" or "probably" stop giving to any nonprofit organization that accepts contributions for one purpose and uses the money for another.
2.  A near-equal number (72.4 percent) said that when a nonprofit organization uses money "for a purpose other than the one for which it was given," the managers of the recipient organization "should be held legally or criminally liable for acting in a fraudulent manner."  Additionally, 97.4 percent of respondents said that respecting a donor's wishes was "very" or "somewhat" important to the "ethical governance" of a nonprofit.
3. Approximately eight out of 10 Americans donate money to charitable organizations frequently (45.8 percent) or occasionally (36.7 percent.)
4. While more than a third of the respondents (34.5 percent) said they typically donate between $100 and $500 per year, 14 percent said they donate $501 to $1,000 annually, and nearly 21 percent said they donate over $1,000 a year.
5. A large majority (57.2 percent) of Americans typically contribute money to charitable organizations with no conditions attached, but four out of 10 Americans (40.7 percent) have at one time or another specified that their contribution be used for a specific purpose, such as disaster relief or medical research.
6. More than three-fourths of the respondents (78.7 percent) said they would "definitely stop giving" (53 percent) or "probably stop giving" (25.7 percent) to any charitable organization that they asked to use their donation for a specific purpose and they found that the organization ignored that request. In sharp contrast, just 4.6 percent of the public said they "definitely" would continue to support such an organization.
7. The public was more divided on the question of what should happen when a charitable organization "intentionally" ignores the donor's intent, with 59.3 percent of the respondents saying the recipient organization should "definitely" (36.4 percent) or "probably (22.9 percent) return the full donation, 14.7 percent saying the recipient organization "definitely" should keep the money, and 19.7 percent saying the organization "probably" should keep it.
8. When asked if nonprofit managers "used your money for a purpose other than the one for which it was given, do you think the managers of the recipient organization should be held legally or criminally liable for acting in a fraudulent manner," the public's reaction was far-less forgiving, with 46.6 percent of the public saying nonprofit managers who do this should be held "legally and criminally liable," 23.8 percent saying they should be held "legally liable" only, and 18.3 percent indicating they would ignore the misuse of funds.
9. In a related question, 93.7 percent of the respondents said they would "definitely" or "probably" remove the managers of a nonprofit organization that "secretly" change the organization's purpose "to focus on something completely different" than the founder intended.

 Above information was from a non profit blog, http://www.pnnonline.org/article.php?sid=6414&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0.  More information on the poll is also available at http://washingtontimes.com/national/20051213-111244-7770r.htm and http://philanthropy.com/free/update/2005/12/2005121601.htm

Funding Opportunities  

Champions for Healthy Kids

This national grant program was created to encourage healthy eating choices and active lifestyles in young people. The program is a partnership of the General Mills Foundation, the American Dietetic Association Foundation, and the President's Challenge. Since 2002, Champions for Healthy Kids has invested more than $6 million in youth nutrition and fitness programs that have served more than 100,000 children across the United States. Deadline: February 1, 2006.  http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/commitment/champions.aspx

Parenting Capacities and Health Outcomes in Youths and Adolescents Grant

This program announcement solicits research applications aimed at increasing the parenting skills and capacities of parents and caregivers to improve the health outcomes of their young and adolescent children. http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/HHS/NIH/NIH/PA-06-098/listing.html

Aetna Foundation Regional Community Health Grants Program

Grant requests ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 that address one of the following areas of health disparities among racial and ethnic populations will be considered:

 - Cultural Competency. Training and education for health care professionals, including culturally appropriate End-Of-Life care training.

 - Disease prevention, awareness and delivery of culturally sensitive care and services related to Children's Oral Health, diabetes, or depression.

http://www.aetna.com/foundation/communitygrants/2004_rfp.htm

Alzheimer's Foundation of America Grants

AFA provides grants to its nonprofit member organizations so that they can develop or enhance educational and support services in their communities. These grants are a critical funding source for these grassroots organizations, which play a pivotal role in their communities as hands-on providers of care and services for individuals with Alzheimer's and related illnesses, and their families. http://www.alzfdn.org/services/grants.shtml

Calvert Foundation Loan Program

The Calvert Foundation makes loans to community development organizations that focus on affordable housing, small business, micro credit and other community development. Calvert Foundation lends to community development financial institutions (CDFI), and other organizations, including community development corporations, community loan funds, community banks and credit unions, social enterprises and micro finance institutions. For more information contact: Eliza Mahony, Investment Officer, at 301.961.4774, or by e-mail at eliza.mahony@calvert.com

Programs for the Prevention of Fire-Related Injuries

The purpose of the program is to reduce the number of residential fire-related injuries and fatalities in high risk communities. Letters of intent are due November 25, 2005; Applications are due January 3, 2006.  http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/CE06-601.htm.

Utilizing Family Traditions and Oral History for Health Promotion

The purpose of the program is to (1) utilize family traditions and oral history for health promotion, and (2) disseminate and validate a family health history tool and educational materials. Applications are due January 13, 2006. http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/HHS/HRSA/GAC/HRSA-06-051/listing.html.

Robert Wood Johnson Fndn Initiative to Promote Healthy Childhood Eating

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has launched Healthy Eating Research, a five-year, $16 million program to evaluate changes in policies and environments that can promote healthy eating among children. Preference will be given to applicants who are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are not private foundations as defined under Section 509(a). Applicant organizations must be based in the U.S. or U.S. Territories. For the complete Healthy Eating Research Call for Proposals, see the RWJF Web site.

Gelman Foundation Seed Grant Program for Breast Cancer Projects

The Nancy R. Gelman Foundation, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with breast cancer, is accepting applications for its 2006 Seed Grant Program. The program will award grants of up to $2,000 to fund projects aimed at improving outcomes for women with breast cancer.  Complete program guidelines and application materials are available at the foundation's Web site.

Social Justice Grants

AED Announces Next Competition for 12 Grant Awards to Support Nonprofits and Promising New Leaders Committed to Social Justice. Sponsored fields of work include: Human Rights, Women's Rights, Reproductive Rights, HIV/AIDS, Racial Justice, Migrant and Refugee Rights. The deadline is February 13, 2006. http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/5002445/aed/newvoices

Learn and Serve America School-Based Grants

Learn and Serve America School-based Grants support service learning programs linked to academic studies. The funder is the Corporation for National and Community Service, Learn and Serve America.  Eligibility: State education agencies, grant-making agencies, Indian tribes, and US territories. Deadlines: 2/2/06 for school-based formula grants; 2/28/06 for higher education grants; and 3/7/06 for school-based competitive grants, and for community-based, tribal and territory grants. http://www.learnandserve.gov/pdf/05_1020_LSA_NOFO_SB.pdf

Role of Technology in Improving Parenting Programs and Outcomes

NCIPC is soliciting research applications that will help advance our knowledge of the role of technology in improving parenting programs and outcomes. The funding announcement for Using Technology to Augment the Effectiveness of Parenting Programs in the Prevention of Child Maltreatment (CE06-006) is at http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/CE06-006.htm  One to three awards will be funded up to a total of $1.2 million in FY 2006,subject to the availability of funds.  Funding levels will average $400,000 (including both direct and indirect costs) per year. Applicants may request a project period extending up to four years. The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement. Key Dates: Letter of Intent Receipt Date: 02/19/2006 Application Receipt Date: 03/19/2006 Anticipated Start Date: September 2006

Community-Responsive Interventions to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk in American Indians and Alaska Natives.

National Institute of Health grant to conduct research in American Indian/Alaskan Native communities to test the effectiveness of behavioral interventions to promote the adoption of healthy lifestyles and/or improve behaviors related to cardiovascular risk, such as weight reduction, regular physical activity, and smoking cessation.  A total of $8.8 million will be awarded for three cooperative agreements to conduct five-year studies. Letters of intent are due February 10, 2006, and applications are due March 10, 2006. The request for applications is at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HL-06-002.html.

SAMHSA Knowledge Dissemination Conference Grants.

Faith-based and other organizations may apply  to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for support of direct costs for conferences that disseminate knowledge about practices within the mental health services and substance abuse prevention and treatment fields.  The maximum individual award amount is $50,000. Each of SAMHSA's centers -- Center for Mental Health Services, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, and Center for Substance Abuse Treatment -- will award two to three grants. Applications for the next cycle of funding are due January 31, 2006. The program announcement is at: http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/2006/RFA/PA_06_001_Conference.pdf.

Tips of the Trade

Start the New Year Right:  Give your Board a Boost

adapted from the Compassion Capital Fund National Resource Center e-newsletter, http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/LandingPage.aspx?id=39569&lm=2876211&q=9978336&qz=f0d8fef11757b0ada774c0db79701913, Good Enough . . . Isn't Enough, by Alan Weiss. Amacom, 1999.

Nonprofits have organizational missions, and their boards have fiduciary responsibilities to contributors, employees, customers, members, and the environment in which they operate. The most egregiously overlooked problem with nonprofit organizations is that their boards don't seem to realize that the organization exists for a reason that lies outside of the board meeting room. Here are some common board problems that can hamper an organization's effectiveness:

• Poor Choices for Board Membership
  An organization needs to understand what the role of their board is; this depends on how mature the organization is, in terms of professional staff, financial stability, etc.  If there is a large professional staff, one prime question for potential board members is: can they raise money? But fund-raising and governance are two separate requirements.  It is especially important for smaller non-profits that board members should represent experience and expertise across many areas such as business management, public relations, finances, law, human resources, volunteerism, and nonprofit experience.
• Ignorance of Governance
  The board is too often a tool for the executive director, rather than a governor and overseer. Nonprofit boards should do three basic things: establish the mission of the organization; ensure that measures will be taken to produce success in that mission;     Select, evaluate, and develop officers and senior managers.
• Ignoring the Need for Board Renewal
  Internal upheaval and external pressure often cause turnover in board membership at for-profits. Nonprofits (hopefully!) experience less of these phenomena than for-profits, so often individuals end up as "board members for life."  This can cause non-profits to stagnate, both in terms of programs and fundraising. Boards need to establish - and stick to - term limits for board members to bring fresh faces to the boardroom.
• Lack of Interim Actions and Poor Committee Work
  No one can provide governance by working only once a month, much less once a quarter. Committees and subcommittees need to be active in the interim.
• Insufficient Distance From the Organization Leadership
  Too often the executive director is a close friend of the board chair and/or key board members. Sometimes this coziness grows to the extent that the board chair and CEO often change places, or one is seen as a stepping-stone to the other.
• Ignorance of the Bylaws
  Bylaws should be required reading for all new members, need to be taken up in review form at least annually by the full board, and should be updated and revised as current conditions warrant. The best boards assign a person as the watchdog (parliamentarian) to make sure these requirements are met. The worst can't even find their bylaws.
• Micromanagement
  Nonprofit boards act, most of the time, as if they were the senior management team. Board members should not be involved in daily operations, unless it is as a volunteer; in that case, they are acting as a volunteer under the direction of the staff. As board members, their job is to set long-term goals and evaluate progress toward those goals.
• Inability to "Stay the Course."
  Just because a board chair may change every year, the entire direction of an organization shouldn't radically veer every twelve months.  Constant theme changes can easily disrupt long-term strategy, making a mockery of any attempts to achieve longitudinal objectives. Changes in direction should be dictated by strategic need or environmental events, after careful analysis of the situation.
• Misunderstanding the Value of Volunteers
  The most waste to be found in any nonprofit is in the squandering of volunteer resources. Boards tend to look at volunteers as so much cannon fodder, not comprehending the tremendous asset they represent, the fact that the resource is not nonrenewable, and the financial fact that there is a return on investment equation that applies to volunteers.

If your organization faces any of the above problems, it may be time to build some board training into your 2006 plans.  Board training can mean a retreat over a weekend, or it could be a half-hour presentation (or series of presentations) at the monthly board meeting.  An executive director cannot be expected to implement board training unilaterally; the chair, or another key board member, needs to be involved to give the effort legitimacy.

Many non-profit organizations find that an outside facilitator/trainer can make a tremendous difference.  First, they can transcend the argument that "our board is different;" they have worked with numerous boards and non-profits, and can dispel many myths.  Also, being outside the personal dynamics of the organization, they can use a wider lens to spot trouble areas and give specific action steps to make corrections.

If you believe your organization would benefit from board trainings, contact Commonweal Consulting.  Your first phone consultation is free of charge, and we can lay out a board development plan customized to your organization.

Helping you do good - better

Commonweal Consulting is a Bozeman-based firm whose mission is to help organizations reach their potential.  Commonweal means "for the common good", and it reflects the commitment of the company and its owners, Tracy Velazquez and Dennis Alexander, to increase the capacity of the non-profit sector to improve the health and welfare of the community. Through our commitment, experience, and expertise, Commonweal Consulting has established a reputation in Montana and nationwide for helping organizations meet their mission goals.

Commonweal Consulting are available to provide board of directors' trainings and orientations, and one-on-one consulting and coaching to staff and board members.  Call 406-587-7774 or email info@commonweal.net to set up an appointment, evaluation or training.

Commonweal Consulting

P.O. Box 6272

Bozeman, MT  59771

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