Nonprofit center

FLORENCE, Alabama – A Shoals organization in an effort to amplify the impact of nonprofits is asking the community to give back generously this coming Tuesday.

The Shoals Nonprofit Center is hosting its first “Shoals Giving Day” on Tuesday August 17th.

It’s similar to Giving Tuesday, however, on Shoals Giving Day, the community is encouraged to choose a nonprofit organization in Lauderdale, Colbert, or Franklin counties and donate their time by volunteering or volunteering. money to help fund the efforts.

“A lot of nonprofit work is done face to face and so with that, this is going to allow some of our organizations to make up for some of the losses that they have suffered over the last year, but also, as we go. ‘they make a difference. back to social distancing or wearing masks, or they are unable to interact with people face to face, that will help make up for some of that loss, ”said Sarah Ann, co-founder of the Shoals Nonprofit Center, says Evans.

For more information on Shoals Giving Day and how to get involved, click here.

The Berkshire Nonprofit Awards took place last Tuesday, and in addition to honoring the most diverse cohort in the ceremony’s four-year history, the event was also a programmatic and financial success for the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires ( NPC).

Founded in April 2016 by Liana Toscanini, a longtime nonprofit worker and former Director of Development and Marketing at Community Access to the Arts, NPC supports the sprawling nonprofit industry in Berkshire County, an area that ranks 27th in the country in terms of nonprofit employment rate.

In five years, Toscanini has increased NPC’s operating budget by over 200% to $ 185,000, hired a full-time employee, and implemented over 20 programs for the Berkshire non-profit community. While these steps may seem modest, it’s the kind of growth that, at one point, seemed unattainable for Toscanini.

“I really came from an entrepreneurial point of view,” she said of starting the organization from scratch after recognizing the need for a resource and advocacy organization to non-profit organizations. “Now, after five years, we are legitimate. “

This year’s Berkshire Nonprofit Awards was a fitting way to celebrate not only Toscanini’s success, but also the success of all of the Berkshire nonprofits that have struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eight individual awards were presented in advance, and the prerecorded award presentations, performances and interviews of the winners were brought together into a beautifully produced video that was released online. But many event speakers place particular emphasis on recognizing the sector as a whole.

“Twenty-five percent of our workforce here in the Berkshires work in the nonprofit sector,” said State Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli, host of the event. “Not just to say it’s the third largest industry in Massachusetts, I would say with anyone that it’s the economic engine of Berkshire County.”

“Indeed, one of the main strengths of Berkshire County is the depth of its non-profit community,” said Peter Taylor, presenter of the Board of Directors Leadership Award, Chairman of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. “The volunteer leaders on nonprofit boards of directors work tirelessly with a dedicated staff to guide organizations through these extraordinary times. “

According to the results of the Berkshire nonprofit healthcare sector survey released in December 2020 by the NPC, 60% of organizations surveyed had to dip into their reserve funds last year, around 45% did so. to budget cuts, 23% reduced working hours and 87% lost a certain amount. of income.

“People were in panic mode,” Toscanini said. “Suddenly we focused on the hub and fundraising. Like any infrastructure organization, [our members] we were looking for information because it was so fast and furious and hard for people to catch up with.

NPC has been able to respond to demand. The organization created a COVID resources webpage, hosted a legislative assembly on COVID relief programs, and offered 14 webinars in 2020, half of which focused on fundraising and sustainability. In January, NPC hosted a strategic planning workshop that was the busiest workshop ever, Toscanini said, followed in March by a remote roundtable on in-person / hybrid fundraising events. Virtual and 21st Century Grant Writing Workshop in May.

As the membership of the NPC increased in the months following the onset of the pandemic, the organization faced its own financial challenges. Free webinars offered by national and national resource organizations such as Nonprofit Hub, Massachusetts Nonprofit Network and Philanthropy Massachusetts have made it difficult for Toscanini to justify paid workshops, even if “we have to earn income or we will be bankrupt,” she said.

The revenues of other nonprofit organizations represent 50 percent of NPC’s revenues. Of that half, 18 percent came from memberships last year, with nonprofit participation in programs and services accounting for 32 percent. The remaining 50 percent is contributed income, including grants and individual contributions.

Toscanini is sensitive to the possibility that, as a non-profit organization itself, NPC may compete with its members for funding. “In Berkshire County there is enough money for everyone,” she said, “but we are always looking for other sources of income.”

New programs can provide additional income while meeting an ever-changing set of needs for the nonprofit community.

“Everyone wants us to create back office services” to share, such as human resources, accounting and social media, she said, reflecting a growing trend towards outsourcing of staff. . In response, NPC is piloting a new fundraising service that will help nonprofits with development planning, grant writing, grant verification, and event orientation for an amount of $ 250 per month.

“We are not replacing development departments,” she said. “We teach you, automate things for you, and connect you to resources. We know it works; we just don’t know what kind of demand there is.

The NPC’s tax sponsorship program, on the other hand, has already found some traction. The organization works with fledgling nonprofits to develop a budget, board, statutes, financial reports, and other legal necessities while enabling them to accept grants and deductible donations from tax. NPC keeps seven percent of the startup’s revenue, which Toscanini says is lower than what other tax sponsors charge. (Fractured Atlas retains eight percent while the New York Foundation for the Arts’ fee schedule ranges from eight percent to four percent depending on the size of the budget.)

She started the program a year ago with the Youth, Education & Sport (YES) initiative and has expanded to serve Berkshire Busk! and Latinas 413. “If someone has an idea and the will to implement it, starting a nonprofit is a bit expensive,” she said. “Fiscal sponsorship can also be a vector of equity, by making BIPOC organizations take off. “

Equally important to Toscanini is financial fairness within the non-profit sector, and she is committed to developing a pay survey to make pay imbalances more transparent. The Change Berkshire Culture Instagram account has in recent months revealed a few instances of wage inequality at Berkshire cultural institutions, although these accounts are individually and anonymously reported.

“Change Berkshire Culture has been successful in bringing attention to the issue,” she said. “People need to know what people are doing to [executives and board members] can make smart decisions and take action. But they only echo a sentiment that has already been expressed.

Between the development of new sector surveys and programs that support Berkshire County’s 1,160 nonprofits, Toscanini continues to receive many calls. Can you set up a gala schedule? What is the increase in the cost of living? Where can I post a job offer? And make plenty of consultant recommendations for nonprofit workers. She’s just happy with NPC’s proof of concept.

“There is a lot of momentum and also a lot of needs,” she said. “I’m really happy with the success of NPC and how the nonprofits feel supported, that was the whole point. “

– Follow business reporter Don Sergent on Twitter @BGDNbusiness or visit bgdailynews.com.

LAFAYETTE – United Way of Acadiana (UWA) announces a grant of $ 10,000 from the Truist Foundation. The grant will support the launch of the UWA nonprofit center.

The nonprofit Center formalizes many current United Way of Acadiana programs and activities under one roof. The Non-Profit Center positions itself as a hub for fostering connections and communications for non-profit organizations in the region to help improve the Acadian community. Focused on connectivity, partnership and collaboration, the goal of the nonprofit Center is to increase the impact of the mission among organizations by increasing communication and access to support services for business leaders. non-profit organizations.

“At United Way of Acadiana, we know the community is stronger when the nonprofit sector is strengthened,” said Carlee Alm-LaBar, President and CEO. “For us, the launch of the non-profit Center is a way for us to bring together the work already active within the Centraide family and connect it to create greater impact for the community. “

Under the aegis of the Nonprofit Center, UWA will continue to host its bi-monthly nonprofit meetings, provide training opportunities for nonprofits, organize free community events at UWA facilities, promote coordination by funders and organizations and will connect nonprofits on shared software platforms, including Get Connected – The UWA Volunteer Center platform (powered by Parish Proud). Learn more by visiting UnitedWayofAcadiana.org.

“On behalf of the Truist Foundation, we are delighted to support the launch of United Way of Acadiana from its nonprofit center,” said André Comeaux, commercial insurance broker at McGriff Insurance, a subsidiary of Truist, and former chairman of the board of directors of United Way of Acadienne. “The nonprofit center will serve as an important hub for collaboration to help drive the growth and sustainability of the great work that nonprofits do to strengthen our community. “

Debbie Souza-Pappas has dedicated her life to caring for sick, orphaned and injured wildlife as the Founder and Executive Director of Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation at Price. Souza-Pappas and another full-time volunteer looked after beavers, porcupines, mink, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and birds.

“Most of our work is about birds – raptors, songbirds,” Souza-Pappas said.

Trained as a medical laboratory technician, Souza-Pappas began her apprenticeship in Salt Lake City with another wildlife rehabilitator in 1994. She then obtained permits and a license to open her own wildlife rehabilitation center in nonprofit at Price.

The rehabilitation site was built thanks to “a generous donor who wanted us to be here forever,” said Souza-Pappas.

Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation cares for approximately 450 patients per year and is funded by donations.

“My biggest donors are in Moab,” she said. “This is where my people are.

Souza-Pappas receives animals from 15 counties in Utah, the majority from Carbon, Emery, San Juan and Grand counties.

“We cover the largest geographic area of ​​all rehabilitations,” including Salt Lake City, she said.

The most difficult problem, she said, is figuring out how to transport patients to the center. A volunteer collects many animals.

State and Federal agencies, as well as the general public, call the SCWR regarding injured wildlife. Police dispatchers, state highway patrol, sheriff’s offices and the US Forest Service are also calling to report injured animals. Motor vehicles are the most common cause of injury, although animals are also injured by bullets, poisoning, and illegal entrapment.

Marion Eason and her husband Nick, members of the Moab Bird Club, have known Souza-Pappas for fifteen years. They often helped transport injured wild animals to Souza-Pappas.

“We brought everything from hummingbirds to golden eagles,” Eason said. “If anyone found a bird, they would call us and we would transport them to Debbie,” where they ended up about halfway through Green River.

“Debbie is a very dedicated person,” added Eason. “She gave herself body and soul to save animals and she is to be congratulated for it.”

Spring and summer are the busiest seasons in the center when babies sometimes fall from their nests, Souza-Pappas said.

While she doesn’t believe climate change has affected the number of injured wildlife she has seen over the years, she does say she has witnessed “strange behavior” regarding the nesting habits that she has seen. it “adapts to climate change”.

The center is run entirely by volunteers and donations. Souza-Pappas said supporters typically hold fundraisers five or six times a year through the Second Chance Facebook page.

It is stressful not knowing how much money the organization will have from year to year, she said.

There was a two week period last year when SCWR had to stop taking new patients. The hospital was full and there was no money for additional medicine or vet visits.

“All of our patients take pain medication and antibiotics for a period of time – and it’s not free,” she said. “Many are in need of surgery.”

Food expenses also add up. For example, it costs between $ 1,500 and $ 2,000 per month to feed its raptor patients. This cost varies depending on the time of year, she said.

Raptors eat rodents such as mice and rats, as well as quails and pheasants – animals bred specifically for the rehabilitation of raptors.

Last year, the cost of raptor food increased to $ 4,500 per month over a period of approximately three months. She said other rehabilitators were reporting similar numbers. They determined that this was due to the greater number of people working from home and therefore the discovery of more animals. At the same time, donations were down – likely due to COVID-19.

For more information, visit: Wildliferehabprice.wixsite.com/2ndchance, or www.facebook.com/debbie.souzapappas.

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FLORENCE, Alabama – Many nonprofits are founded with the goal of helping people and making the world a better place, but sometimes the job of running an organization can be overwhelming.

In The Shoals, Bethany Green and Sarah Ann Evans started the Shoals Nonprofit Center to provide nonprofit management assistance.

“Our main focus is nonprofit professionals, so we want to make sure they’re equipped to do the job they’re supposed to do,” Green said. “What we’re trying to do is really support these people, mainly so that they can get the job done and their organizations can be successful.”

Things were going well for the two until the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing them to find different ways to operate.

“We realized very quickly that we had to move everything virtually, so we moved all of our workshops to Zoom,” Evans said. “We partnered up with the Shoals Chamber of Commerce and United Way and had roundtables that were kind of open discussion forums where we could talk about what was going on.

Part of the discussion centered around United Way’s COVID-19 Relief Fund and how organizations could tap into some of that funding.

Despite the challenges this year, Green said being a resource nonprofits can turn to for support helps them continue their mission.

“It was really, I think, kind of a blessing in disguise,” Green said. She added that they could focus less on themselves and more on the organizations they were trying to help.

“As a new organization, we didn’t really have expectations of what to do or what to be and I think that opened the door for us to really tell our story and say what we were doing. wanted to do, ”Evans said.

Now that the Shoals Nonprofit Center has that visibility, Evans said she and Green can continue to build on this to help nonprofits across the region help others during these difficult times.

To learn more about the Shoals Nonprofit Center and the organizations it serves, click here.

The Center for Financial Empowerment (CFE), the nonprofit organization founded by SCE Credit Union, is launching a free virtual information series for teens and young adults that will guide and help participants navigate through many ” firsts ”of life. The live launch event will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18 and will demystify the university application process to help students and parents feel more confident.

The college application process can be daunting with multiple lists of requirements, considerations, procedures, and deadlines. While this is difficult for any adult to deal with, it can be absolutely overwhelming for a 17-18 year old trying to navigate the complexities. CFE has partnered with several community organizations to form a guest panel, ranging from college admissions to financial aid experts, to explain the college process and answer any questions.

Panelists include: Eboni Hodge, M.Ed. of higher education, LLC; Rhea Watson, Ph.D. Scholarship Solutions; Diane Angulo of Fulfillment Fund; Charles Mason of Loyola Marymount University; and Maria Alvarez from UNITE LA

“Teens today understand that they need higher education for the next stage in their lives, but the process of getting there can be complicated and at times overwhelming,” said Abby Ulm, director of the Center for Financial Empowerment. “As a community resource, our goal with these virtual series is to provide insider tips, positive solutions and tools for young adults to walk away feeling more confident in their life journey. The series will include a wide range of topics important to inform and steer young adults in a positive direction. “

To register for the free live streaming event on August 18, click here.

About the Financial Empowerment Center
The Center is a 501c3 non-profit organization committed to empowering young adults through financial education. It was founded by SCE Credit Union in 2005 when Credit Union felt compelled to provide a practical solution to the lack of personal finance training available to residents of the community. SCE Credit Union remains the Center’s closest partner and continues to invest generously in its mission of equipping young people in underserved communities with money management skills that allow them to be financially stable as they enter. adult life. More information can be found at www.center4fe.org.

About SCE FCU (www.scefcu.org)

SCE Credit Union was founded in 1952 and has over 60,000 members, $ 825 million in assets, four branches in Southern Nevada, six branches in Southern California, thousands of shared branches across states United and nearly 30,000 ATMs at no additional cost available for members. SCE FCU serves Southern Nevada and Southern California, with membership open to individuals and businesses, and is a non-profit entity committed to improving the financial well-being of the communities it serves, especially the people underserved by traditional financial institutions. With a strong commitment to volunteerism, team members donate hundreds of hours to local community causes each year. Additionally, the establishment of the Center for Financial Empowerment (www.center4fe.org) provides much needed financial education to high school and underserved schools in Southern Nevada and Southern California.

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STEAMBOAT SPRINGS – Work has just started on the new non-profit center at 433 Oak St. in downtown Steamboat Springs, and Millie Beall, chair of the integrated community board, can already see the potential.

“When we bought this building in 2015, we stood on the property with the people who were donors and said, ‘look at this – this is land in a big city, and the potential is huge for us to may we grow someday, ”Beall said. “But we never, ever, in our wildest dreams, thought we would do this just five years later.”

Last week, construction crews officially began work on the 433 Oak Nonprofit Center, which will be shared by Integrated Community and Routt County United Way. Construction is expected to be completed in March 2021.

The original section of the 114-year-old building will be connected to the new 2,166 square foot addition by a covered walkway, which will include a staircase and a new reception area. The first floor of the building will include more office space, and the upper floor will include a conference room, kitchen and restroom. An elevator will bring the building into Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, and the additional space will increase guest privacy.

“We’re going to practically double the size,” Beall said. “When we moved into the building, we had three, four and then five employees. We now have nine full-time employees, plus interns, plus clients and volunteers. The space has gotten smaller and smaller over the years.

United Way chief executive Kate Nowak said her organization was also happy to have more space. Centraide supports more than 25 other local agencies and more than 40 programs. The two organizations have shared the building since 2015.

“We’ve been planning this for over a year,” Nowak said of the expansion. “All the work that has been done so far has been really huge and so seeing it happen was really great.”

Nowak said there would only be small modifications to the original house, which was built in 1906 by George and Archibald Wither and later belonged to Routt County Judge Charles Morning and then to the Dr Fredrick Willett.

The developers have taken steps to ensure that the historic value of the house is protected with the expansion. The new section will be built in a location where a small garage has been demolished, and a small basement will be added to create storage space. Beall said about $ 861,000, or about 90% of the $ 970,000 needed for the addition, had been raised, of which 81% came from private donors.

“We were hoping to close with our state foundations, but that didn’t happen,” Beall said.

She still hopes to raise the remaining $ 109,000 through grants, but admits that many organizations that provide money for capital improvements have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m still writing grants, and we’re doing relatively well with our grants,” Beall said. “We received funding from the El Pomar Foundation and also from the Gates Foundation – probably a third of what we were originally told we could receive.”

She said the 443 Oak Nonprofit Center has been asked to write grants for the Boettcher and Buell foundations, and she remains optimistic that the overall fundraising goal will be met.

To reach John F. Russell, call 970-871-4209, email [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @ Framp1966.

To reach John F. Russell, call 970-871-4209, email [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @ Framp1966.