LANO Chief Ann S. Williamson to Address Streamlining Commission

BATON ROUGE — LANO President and CEO Ann S. Williamson will address the State Commission on Streamlining Government in an upcoming October meeting.

Williamson will testify before the Commission’s Outsourcing, Privatization and Risk-Management Advisory Group, chaired by Alexandria business executive Roy O. Martin III.

Williamson’s testimony will include an overview of the nonprofit sector’s role in providing efficient, effective human services to Louisiana citizens, and how the Commission’s recommendations might impact nonprofits’ continued viability.

Specifically, she will:

• Describe ongoing successful partnerships between state government and Louisiana nonprofit organizations
  
• Explain unique sector efficiencies, values and infrastructure that allow nonprofits to conduct important services at low cost


• Detail LANO’s role in administering the Standards for Excellence certification and how this nationwide program promotes sector accountability


• Relate how other states achieve maximum return on investment by partnering with the nonprofit sector


• Describe the growing role nonprofits serve for citizens at risk of falling through cracks in medical, housing, employment and human services assistance


• Suggest practical, common-sense improvements to current government and nonprofit relations that will improve services and reduce costs

Commission Overview

The Commission on Streamlining Government was launched by Executive Order on April 24, 2009. The order passed into law during the 2009 Regular Legislative Session with
Senate Bill 261 (Act 491). The ultimate goal of the streamlining commission is to make Louisiana state government more efficient and cost-effective.

Specifically, the commission’s charge is to “examine each governmental agency's constitutional and statutory activities, functions, programs, services, powers, duties, and responsibilities to determine which of these can be eliminated, streamlined, consolidated, privatized, or outsourced in an effort to reduce the size of state government.”

The Commission will make recommendations to reduce the cost of state government and improve the delivery of services to citizens. It must submit an initial report to the Governor and the Legislature by December 15, 2009, and its final recommendations to the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee and the House and Governmental Affairs Committee by January 4, 2010.

The 10-member, cross-sectoral commission includes representatives from the Louisiana State Legislature, the Division of Administration, the State Treasurer’s Office and private enterprise. Five advisory committees have been established: Efficiency and Benchmarking; Outsourcing, Privatization and Risk Management; Information Technology Integration; Elimination of Duplicative and Non-Essential Services; Civil Service and Employee Benefits.

Commission on the Road

Transparency and citizen participation are critical components in the streamlining effort. To aid public awareness and input, the Commission has announced a statewide Listening Tour, September 28 – October 1, 2009. Dates, times and locations are as follows:

1. Monday, September 28th 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Monroe


2. Tuesday, September 29th 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. Shreveport


3. Tuesday, September 29th 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Alexandria


4. Wednesday, September 30th 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Lake Charles


5. Thursday, October 1st 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. Jefferson Parish (Eastbank)

All Listening Tour meetings will be held in respective City Council chambers, with the Jefferson Parish meeting to be held at the Eastbank location.

LANO encourages all member organizations and interested individuals to attend the nearest meetings and to engage Commission members with examples of successful public-private ventures, particularly those from the nonprofit sector. LANO suggests its members submit results-oriented and data-based descriptions of how their organization can contribute positively to the State’s streamlining effort.

To learn more about the Louisiana Commission on Streamlining Government, and to submit your comments, visit the Commission website at http://senate.legis.state.la.us/streamline/.

LANO Fall Membership Meetings

A Six City Tour
Featuring the Louisiana Nonprofit Fiscal Health Survey,
Expert Panels and Nonprofit Success Strategies

How does the economic climate affect Louisiana’s nonprofit sector? See the results of a new survey by LANO and Capital One Bank that charts the impact of the economic downturn on state nonprofits and gauges trends for the coming year.

Discuss with LANO leadership, local policymakers and funding representatives how organizations like yours can make the most of available resources, and why collaboration is key to growth in tough financial times.

Hear and help shape LANO’s goals for the nonprofit sector with President and CEO Ann Silverberg Williamson.

SCHEDULE OF TOUR VENUES:

Baton Rouge: Tuesday, September 29: 9 am – 12 pm at the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency, 2415 Quail Drive

Lafayette: Wednesday, September 30: 9 am – 12 pm at the Woman’s Foundation, 4630 Ambassador Caffery Parkway

New Orleans: Tuesday, October 6: 9 am – 12 pm at the Ashe Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha C Haley Blvd

Shreveport: Wednesday, October 7: 1 pm – 4 pm at LANO North, 2924 Knight Street, Suite 406

Monroe: Thursday, October 8: 1 pm – 4 pm at the Children’s Coalition of Northeast Louisiana, 1363 Louisville Avenue

Alexandria: Friday, October 9: 9 am – 12 pm at the Arts Council of Central Louisiana, 1101 4th Street, Classroom D

Join us! Tell a friend! Please call or email with your intent to attend.

Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations

8281 Goodwood Blvd, Suite A Baton Rouge, LA, 70806

p: (225) 929-LANO (929-5266)

contact: matthewmullenix@lano.org

Nonprofit Leaders and Funders’ Group Hold Profitable Meeting

BATON ROUGE — A one-day conference held August 24, 2009, brought together nearly 80 nonprofit leaders and foundation representatives to brainstorm better methods of cooperation in challenging economic times.

The conference, titled “The Collaborative Spirit: Making the Most of Working Together,” was hosted by the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations (LANO) and a consortium of local funding agencies known as the Greater Baton Rouge Funders’ Circle. The conference took place in the Lyceum Dean Ballroom on 124 Third Street.

Opening remarks by LANO President and CEO Ann Silverberg Williamson, and Gerri Hobdy, Director of Partnership Relations for the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, confirmed the value of strategic collaboration between nonprofits and agencies that provide financial support to the sector.

According to Williamson, accountability is a key consideration for both parties. She stressed that evidence-based research and high standards should guide nonprofits’ action to ensure the greatest possible return on investment.

Both speakers agreed that cooperation between organizations of compatible mission or client population can make good financial sense. Williamson noted the nonprofit sector has extensive and valuable experience with collaborations of all kinds.

Participants heard remarks from Lori Bertman, Mary Durusau, and Ann Ruble, representing influential funding agencies the Irene W. and C. B. Pennington Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Cox Communications of Louisiana, respectively. The representatives reported their agencies seek nonprofits that cooperate effectively and creatively to address complex, community-wide concerns.

Durusau cited as one example the “Community Renaissance Model,” in which resources are focused on one issue or place in order to solve a particular problem: “At the end of the day, we want to be able to point to our successes,” she said.

Specific strategies for nonprofit collaboration were provided by Sandy Jacobsen, Principal Consultant for the Fieldstone Alliance, a nationally recognized nonprofit support agency based in Minnesota. Jacobsen’s lecture and guided activities drew from Fieldstone’s 26 years of training, research and demonstration projects designed to help nonprofits and their supporters achieve greater impact through cooperation.

According to Jacobsen, today’s nonprofits face “needs so pervasive and changes so dramatic, they must be prepared to partner with any and all sectors to address community issues.”

LANO is a statewide network of nonprofits, foundations, corporations and individuals dedicated to supporting Louisiana nonprofits.

The Greater Baton Rouge Funders Circle includes the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Louisiana Foundation, Capital Area United Way, Capital One Bank, Chase Bank, Cox Communications of Louisiana, Huey and Angela Wilson Foundation, Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation, Junior League of Baton Rouge, and Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation.

View photos from the event.

For more information on the Collaborate Spirit conference and its results, contact:

Kellie Chavez Greene, Vice President of Programs
Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations (LANO)
(225) 929-LANO (929-5266) ext 212
kelliegreene@lano.org

RAND Education Forum

The RAND Gulf States Policy Institute is gathering a diverse group of education experts and advocates for a spirited discussion about important issues in education reform on Monday, September 21st.

This policy forum will address a variety of topics and questions including:

• What works to improve outcomes for kids?


• How can schools raise the level of teacher quality? Does "pay for performance" work?
  
• How do we achieve equal opportunity education among children with varying levels of school readiness?


• What role should the arts play in education?

The discussion will begin with RAND researchers Catherine Augustine and Jennifer Steele giving an overview of their work. Catherine and Jennifer have in-depth expertise in reform issues including education leadership, testing and accountability, teacher quality, and data-driven decision making in schools. Following their presentation, will be a panel discussion featuring a diversity of New Orleans voices.

Date: Monday, September 21, 2009

Time: 5:30 PM-7:30 PM (Reception from 5:30-6:00 PM)

Place: Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, 938 Lafayette Street, Suite 300, New Orleans, LA 70113

RSVP: Stacy Fitzsimmons at stacyg@rand.org

About RAND: The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit research organization providing objective analysis and effective solutions that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors around the world. RAND created the RAND Gulf States Policy Institute in 2005 to support hurricane recovery and long-term economic development in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

National Conference on Replicating the Harlem Children’s Zone® Model

by Janie Martin, Coordinator of Community Solutions

LANO is committed to educating, strengthening and empowering Louisiana’s nonprofit sector to develop and sustain programs that work to end poverty.

Specifically, LANO supports the implementation and replication of innovative strategies and evidenced-based programs that are proven to break the cycle of poverty. The Harlem Children’s Zone is one such model that is breaking the vicious cycle of inter-generational poverty for children and families in Central Harlem.

LANO is excited to welcome Geoffrey Canada, President and CEO of Harlem Children’s Zone to our annual conference as a Keynote Speaker, October 21, 2009.

An additional opportunity is available that we wanted to bring to your attention. The Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) and PolicyLink have joined forces to host a two-day conference for leaders from nonprofit, community, government and philanthropic organizations who want to learn more about replicating the HCZ model in their own communities and receive up-to-date information on the status of President Obama’s Promise Neighborhoods initiative.

HCZ's mission is to improve the lives of poor children in America's most devastated communities. The HCZ model focuses primarily and intensively on the social, health, and educational development of children from pre-birth through college and beyond. To help support that development, the HCZ model also provides wrap-around programs that improve the children’s family and neighborhood.

Their aim is to develop healthy children and healthy communities at the same time.

The President’s Promise Neighborhoods initiative, which is modeled after HCZ, supports innovative and effective strategies that improve academic achievement and life outcomes in high-poverty communities. The 2010 Budget includes funding, through the U.S. Department of Education’s “Innovation Fund,” for one-year planning grants to nonprofit, community-based organizations to develop comprehensive neighborhood programs designed to combat the effects of poverty and improve child and family well-being.

The conference, Changing the Odds: Learning from the Harlem Children’s Zone® Model, is being held November 9 & 10, 2009 at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers in New York City. See above link for information on costs and registration.

The purpose of the conference is to teach community leaders how to replicate the award-winning HCZ model and transform their communities. The conference will focus on strategic planning, developing pipelines of programs for children, creating a successful agency culture, fundraising and evaluating programs.

Community leaders will also have the opportunity to network with others from across the country who are interested in implementing comprehensive neighborhood programs.

Several prominent keynote speakers, including Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, Angela Glover Blackwell, CEO of PolicyLink and Geoffrey Canada, President and CEO of HCZ, are scheduled to present at the event. Just as the HCZ model requires collaboration, participants must also collaborate with each other and register in groups. To ensure a successful outcome from the experience, participant groups should include representatives from non-profit, community-based, government and philanthropic organizations.

For more information and to register for the event, please contact:

Michael at Hospitality Group, Inc. at (914) 761-7111

Reminder Regarding Capital Outlay Requests for FY 2010-2011

Nonprofits can get funding to buy land, buildings, equipment, etc. through the state Capital Outlay process.

The November 1st deadline for Capital Outlay Requests to be submitted for consideration in next year’s budget is about 7 weeks away. If you are interested in submitting a request, you should be working on it now, especially if you need to contact a consultant for assistance in preparing your request.

Nonprofits submitting Capital Outlay Requests are required to also submit a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Supplemental Information/Disclosure form.


For more information, download our PDF on Capital Outlay, how to apply for funding, and Capital Outlay Reform.

LANO has contracted with James Pupera to keep our members and future members informed on Capital Outlay Reform initiatives, the proposed changes to the Capital Outlay process and understanding how those changes will impact your interests. Mr. Purpera has extensive experience in the State Capital Outlay process having worked for the Division of Administration (Facility Planning & Control) as a Budget Analyst and Budget Manager in the Capital Outlay program, and then having worked for the Legislature as a Budget Analyst for the Ways and Means Committee and the Appropriations Committee.

New Training Opportunity - Nonprofits and the 2010 Census: Nuts and Bolts

LANO has partnered with the Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network (NVEN) to increase awareness of how nonprofit organizations can help the U.S. Census Bureau achieve a complete count of hard to count populations.

Please join NVEN and special guest Terri Ann Lowenthal (Member of President Obama's Transition Team for the Census, Former Director of the House Census Oversight Subcommittee, and author of the Census Project's popular Census News Brief) to discuss the latest developments in the Census affecting your nonprofit and community.

The fourth webinar of this summer series will examine:

• Why the 2010 Census is important to your mission - Money, Politics and Policy!
  
• Why nonprofits will play such an important and role in ensuring a complete and accurate count
  
• Easy ways your nonprofit can get involved
  
• How the Nonprofits Count! 2010 campaign can help your nonprofit

Thursday, September 17th at 1:30pm Central

Sign Up Now!

The Greater New Orleans Foundation Announces Launch of Community IMPACT Program

Last week The Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) announced the launch of the Community IMPACT Program. The Community IMPACT Program will award $1 million in grants to nonprofit organizations serving the Greater New Orleans region.

Grants will be awarded in the following six categories: Arts & Culture, Children & Youth, Civic Engagement & Nonprofit Support, Education, Health Human & Social Services. The $1 million from the Community IMPACT Program represents earnings from field of interest funds established by generous donors within the community.

The ultimate goal of the Community IMPACT Program is to create a resilient, sustainable, vibrant, and equitable region in which individuals and families flourish and in which the special character of the New Orleans region and its people is preserved, celebrated, and given the means to develop.

Who can apply? Nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations that serve the Greater New Orleans region are eligible to apply. Organizations that are not tax-exempt but have a fiscal agent relationship with a 501 (c)(3) organization are also eligible.

How to apply? There is a simple two-step process:

1. Submit a two- to three-page Letter of Intent by September 22, 2009. To review what is needed in the Letter of Intent, please visit the foundation website.

Hard copies can also be picked up at the Greater New Orleans Foundation offices, 1055 St. Charles Avenue, Suite 100. The Greater New Orleans Foundation will review all Letters of Intent and decide which organizations will be invited to complete a full application for funding. Organizations will be notified of this decision by October 12, 2009.2. Those invited to submit a full application will be asked to submit their proposals by November 2, 2009. Awards will be announced by December 11, 2009.

Questions? Please contact Martha Landrum at 504-598-4663 or martha@gnof.org.

Section 3 Economic Opportunity Training

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is hosting a training on Thursday, September 17th to talk about residents' rights and responsibilities under Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act.

Section 3 is a provision of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Act of 1968 that helps foster local economic development, neighborhood economic improvement, and individual self-sufficiency. The Section 3 program requires that recipients of certain HUD financial assistance, to the greatest extent feasible, provide job training, employment, and contracting opportunities for low- or very-low income residents in connection with projects and activities in their neighborhoods.

The following topics will be covered in the training:

Who are Section 3 residents?

What is a Section 3 business?

What economic opportunities are available?

Who must provide economic opportunities?

Who is entitled to receive economic opportunities?

Who must comply with Section 3?

What are the consequences of non-compliance?

Training details:

Date: Thursday, September 17th

Time: Session 1: 9:00 am until 12:00 pm
Session 2: 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm

Location: Hilton Riverside, 2 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA

To register: Contact Yolanda Victorian at 504-671-3739

This event is free and open to the public. You must register to attend.

Goodwill Industries Auction Site Named Best on Web

LANO member Goodwill Industries manages a public online auction tool that TIME recently ranked among the fifty best websites of 2009.

The site, called shopgoodwill.com, allows Goodwill locations across the country to sell their merchandise online. TIME executive Catherine Sharick noted that this Goodwill auction tool offers great deals and thinks customers will appreciate knowing their purchases support job training and other services for people with disabilities.

According to the Goodwill site’s entry at TIME.com, “On eBay you always find what you're looking for, but so does everyone else — and that drives prices up. The solution is to fish in a less crowded pool, and one of the largest charities in the world, Goodwill Industries, has a little-known auction site filled with treasures.”