Last Day to Ensure You Are Included in 2010 Census

Telephone Assistance Line Closes July 30

The U.S. Census Bureau reminded the nation today that on Friday, July 30, it will shut down its toll-free telephone assistance line. More than 130,000 interviews have been completed via the toll free line. Friday is the last day for callers who feel they may have been overlooked in the census to complete their 2010 questionnaire quickly over the phone.

“I urge residents that believe they did not receive a form, who did not mail it back or have not been contacted by a census enumerator to call 1-866-872-6868 to ensure they are included in the 2010 Census, making this the best count of the American population to date,” said U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert M. Groves.

For more than three months, individuals who believed they weren't included in the census were invited to call the toll-free assistance lines (open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Russian) to provide their information.

July 30 is the last day to take an interview over the toll free line to leave enough time for Census Bureau professionals to process the data and ensure that residents are counted in the right place and prepare the state population counts by the statutory deadline of Dec. 31, 2010.

NCN Praises LA, MS and AL State Associations

The National Council of Nonprofits has recognized LANO and its counterpart associations in Mississippi and Alabama for their early surveys charting oil spill affects on state nonprofits and local residents, and for making this information available to federal officials.

"Beginning in June, the Alabama Association of Nonprofits, the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations, and the Mississippi Center for Nonprofits have been surveying their members to craft state-specific Nonprofit Needs Assessments. Last week, leaders of the three State Associations briefed congressional staff about these findings regarding the work of nonprofits in the Gulf region, and provided valuable insights that will inform the hearing and the response of Congress in the coming weeks. Not only does hard work and a reputation for integrity pay off in terms of community impact and membership retention, it also establishes State Associations as the go-to organizations when Congress comes calling."

To view initial survey results from the three state associations and to receive updated briefs on ongoing work related to the oil spill in Louisiana, visit: www.lano.org/oilspill.

Louisiana Budget Project in the News

The Baton Rouge Advocate featured the latest Louisiana Budget Project report (Home to Roost: Income Tax Cuts Costing State Millions Needed for Services) in its July 27 “Our Views” opinion column.

Running under the headline, “Stelly repeal hurt the state,” the recent Advocate editorial marks the third month in a row the newspaper has highlighted and supported LBP’s fiscal analysis.

In pointed terms, the Advocate criticized “bipartisan mistakes” made by state lawmakers and both present and past gubernatorial administrations to repeal parts of the 2002 Stelly tax reform plan in successive legislative efforts.

According to the Advocate, “both repeal bills were doubly ignorant, as everyone with an ounce of sense saw that Louisiana’s post-hurricane boom in state revenue, as well as a year of record oil prices, would not fuel state spending forever.”

The Louisiana Budget Project is a LANO initiative that monitors and reports on state government spending and its effects on Louisiana’s low- to moderate-income families. For more on the Stelly plan rollbacks and analysis of other important state fiscal issues, visit labudget.org.

New Orleans Nonprofits Eligible for $100k Humana Grant

Application Deadline Extended

Health benefits company Humana Inc today extended its application deadline for a one-time, $100,000 grant in the Humana Communities Benefit-New Orleans charitable giving program. The new deadline for applications is August 27, 2010.

The Humana Communities Benefit program will award the grant to a qualifying nonprofit organization based in Greater New Orleans and focused on improving health experiences or building healthy communities in the areas of: childhood health and education; family wellness and active lifestyles; or health literacy for diverse populations and seniors.

New Orleans-based nonprofit groups should visit the Humana Communities Benefit website to download a copy of the grant application, including organization criteria and complete instructions.

Grant applicants should state how they would use the grant “to transform their organization; detail their financial health and examples of successful projects they’ve implemented; and describe how their organization benefits the people of New Orleans.”

A panel of local judges comprised of community leaders, public officials and business representatives will work with Humana to select this year’s grant recipient.

2010 LANO Annual Conference Sessions Released

See Tracks & Sessions at a Glance

Every year at the LANO Annual Conference you can expect to find dozens of informative breakout sessions. This year, choose from over 45 presentations and panel discussions across eight information-filled tracks, led by more than 55 noted nonprofit and civic leaders, top scholars and industry experts.

Click here for a handy listing of scheduled tracks, sessions and presenters!

LANO 2010 Annual Conference
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 - Friday, August 27, 2010
Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel
739 Canal Street
New Orleans, Louisiana
United States

REGISTER TODAY!

Human Service & Disaster Virtual Leadership Training

On July 28, 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families will host a day-long online training session to provide information about delivering human services during disasters. The ACF National Human Service & Disaster Virtual Leadership Training is free, and registration is now open.

This is a unique opportunity for emergency management and human services leaders to discuss the delivery of human services during disasters; to identify challenges, strategies and innovative approaches to address emerging issues. This virtual event promotes communication between governmental human services agencies, non-profit community based organizations, and the emergency management communities for effective responses during crisis events across the nation.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Leadership officials from HHS and ACF, ACF grantees, state/tribal/local emergency management, state/tribal/local human services agencies, voluntary agencies, faith-based and community organizations, FEMA regional and headquarters program staff and other stakeholders.

Participants need to pre-register for this no-cost event and will be provided a link to view the live event. Registration closes on July 26, 2010.

AGENDA, TOPICS, & SPEAKERS

The ACF National Human Service & Disaster Virtual Leadership Training will begin at 10:00 am and end at 4:45 pm

Topics to be discussed include: Strengthening Human Services Preparedness through Collaboration, children’s issues during disasters, human services and special needs, and faith-based and community partnerships.

For a full agenda, topic and speakers, click here.

Funding Opportunities from The Gulf Coast Fund

The Gulf Coast Fund for Community Renewal and Ecological health has announced two grant application deadlines in August. This information was shared by the Equity and Inclusion Campaign.

Full details are the following:

Summer Grant Cycle Applications Due August 16th, 2010

The Gulf Coast Fund will be conducting their Summer Grant Cycle with a deadline of Monday August 16th.

The Request for Proposal and application materials are attached and can be found on our website www.gulfcoastfund.org. Grant decisions will be announced in October 2010. Applicants can apply for up to$40,000 but grant awards are expected to be in the $5,000 to $20,000 range. Full information can be found in the attached RFP and at: http://gulfcoastfund.org/apply-for-a-grant/rfp-a-guidelines.html

Next Round of BP Emergency Grant Applications Due August 2nd, 2010

The Gulf Coast Fund continues to offer ongoing Emergency Grants in response to the BP Oil Drilling Disaster. The next deadline for Emergency Grant applications is Monday August 2nd.

Emergency grants are intended for community-led projects with immediate and short-term timelines. Decisions will be announced by August 10th. Applicants can apply for up to$7000. Details can be found in the attached Emergency Grant Application or on our website:http://gulfcoastfund.org/apply-for-a-grant/emergency-grants.html

IMPORTANT, PLEASE NOTE:

Organizations who have previously received a BP Disaster Emergency Grant from the Gulf Coast Fund are now eligible to reapply for emergency funds.

Please submit a new application, including a brief report on what your organization has accomplished with emergency funds received to date (Full details are included in the updated Emergency Grant application).

All past grantee organizations (emergency and regular grant cycles) are eligible to apply for the Summer Grant Cycle, with the exception of organizations who received a grant in our Winter 2010 Grant Cycle (list can be found at www.gulfcoastfund.org)

Organizations may submit applications for both the Emergency Grant and the Summer Grant Cycle, as long as each application is focused on a different project, and each project fits the criteria for the type of grant being requested.

Announcing The Pam Dashiell Fund: Healthy and Sustainable Communities for All

In December 2009 the Gulf Coast Fund created the Pam Dashiell Fund with an initial $50,000 contribution in honor of founding Advisory Group member and tireless community leader Pam Dashiell. A long-time resident of New Orleans Lower 9th Ward, Pam founded the Center for Sustained Engagement and Development and participated in countless initiatives and coalitions to support justice and sustainability. Pam was an unparalleled bridge-builder linking communities and issues, and this Fund will be used to administer special awards to applications that best embody the principles to which Pam dedicated her life's work.

In the upcoming Summer Grant Cycle, applications that best demonstrate the convergence of justice, sustainability, environmental health and wellness for all will be selected to receive Special Awards from the Pam Dashiell Fund.

Awards will be announced in October 2010. No special application materials are required--award recipients will be selected from applications received.

LANO Deepwater Horizon Incident Briefs

A new section of the LANO Oil Spill Resources webpage will feature LANO Briefs, updated oil spill related content for nonprofits, available in PDF for ease of printing and sharing.

LANO Briefs will include periodic memoranda, meeting notes, policy overviews and shared agency resources.  Other categories may be added.  Each brief will be listed by date and title, with most recent post at top.

For more information about LANO Briefs or other oil spill related information at the LANO website, please contact Matthew Mullenix at (225) 929-5266 or by email matthewmullenix@lano.org

Patrick Corvington to Speak at LANO 2010 Conference

LANO is pleased to announce that The Honorable Patrick Corvington, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, will address our Annual Conference on Friday, August 27.

Appointed by the President in February, 2010, Mr. Corvington leads the CNCS in its mission to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. CNCS is the nation's largest grantmaker in support of volunteer efforts. Through its flagship AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America programs, the Corporation provides opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to address critical community needs.

Patrick Corvington is a recognized expert on nonprofit sector leadership and capacity issues, new and emerging philanthropy, and volunteerism. Prior to joining the Corporation, he served at the Annie E. Casey Foundation as a Senior Associate responsible for guiding the foundation's grantees on issues related to leadership development, next generation leadership, and capacity building.

Don't miss Patrick Corvington's critical contribution to Louisiana's premier nonprofit gathering!

"Patrick's years on the frontline of the service movement give him a unique understanding of the obstacles facing communities and the transformative power of service…"
- Stephen Goldsmith, Chair of the CNCS's Board of Directors

"Mr. Corvington's expertise in nonprofit leadership and capacity-building, evaluation and performance measurement, and systems reform will be helpful to a field poised for major growth with high expectations for results. His extensive background in the nonprofit community will bring many new partners to national service and expand service and innovation as solutions to community needs."
- Voices for National Service

Download their Fact Sheet to learn more about the CNCS.

House Hearing Tomorrow on Charitable Assistance in the Gulf Coast

Tomorrow, July 20th, at 10 am EST/9 am CST the House Oversight Subcommittee will conduct a hearing entitled “The Immediate Need for Charitable Assistance in the Gulf Coast Region”.

The hearing will focus on the escalating demand for charitable assistance to help residents and wildlife in the Gulf Coast region and examine how donations contributed to charities for the region are being used. The hearing witnesses will be from Catholic Charities USA and the National Wildlife Federation.

In preparation for the hearing, LANO provided our nonprofit needs assessment survey data to the Subcommittee and will submit written testimony about the role of nonprofits in the oil spill disaster.

To learn more about the hearing and watch a live webcast of it please go to: http://waysandmeans.house.gov/Hearings/hearingDetails.aspx?NewsID=11263

Grant Opportunity from March of Dimes

LANO member March of Dimes announces its 2010 Chapter Community Grants program.

The MOD will award 1 or 2 grants for a total amount of $25,000 for projects or programs related to the March of Dimes mission.

The application deadline is August 16, 2010.  Full details about the program and an application packet can be found at: http://www.marchofdimes.com/files/chapterFiles/2010_July_Grant_Package.pdf.

For more information, contact:
Knesha Rose, MPH
State Director of Program Services
(225) 295-0655

Nonprofit Fund Development for Louisiana Arts Organizations

Last spring, LANO published the "Louisiana Nonprofits Fiscal Health Report," detailing the impact of recession on our nonprofit sector. We reported on the catch-22 effect of shrinking pools of state and private funding, decreasing charitable giving and a significantly increasing demand for nonprofit services. In the face of these challenges, Louisiana nonprofit organizations are demonstrating their tenacity, resilience and innovation.

Tana Stevenson, then a graduate student at the University of New Orleans, used LANO's report and survey data and dug deeper into the impact of the recession, focusing on arts and culture nonprofits and how they are responding.  Her graduate project, "Nonprofit Fund Development in Louisiana Arts Organizations: Responding to Tough Economic Times," explores the unique funding challenges and opportunities for arts organizations, seeking to develop a baseline for discussions regarding fund development in this sector.  

She has agreed for her work to be published here so that arts and culture organizations can compare their fiscal situation and funding strategies to the results of her study, to inform their own development process.  Download the full report: "Nonprofit Fund Development in Louisiana Arts Organizations: Responding to Tough Economic Times." 

Congratulations on your MPA, Tana!

Focusing on Fund Development Success at the LANO Conference

The LANO Conference features top-quality professional and organizational development for nonprofits, vital networking opportunities, powerful keynote speakers.  Featured below are five conference sessions that focus on fund development success for your organization.

This year's conference will be in New Orleans from August 25-27.  Visit the conference site to learn more about the exciting sessions offered, and register before July 30 to save $75 on your registration!

Demystifying Corporate Giving
Before seeking funds from the corporate community, it is essential to understand what motivates corporate grant makers and how to forge long-lasting partnerships that go beyond dollars. Hear directly from corporate funders as they demystify corporate giving; provide you with tips on getting in the door, and suggest best practices for maximizing your relationship with a corporate funder.

Grant Writing 101
Whether you're an aspiring grant writer or just looking for a refresher, this session will help you understand the fundamentals of a good grant proposal. Explore the basics of developing a polished proposal, with emphasis on shaping measurable objectives, inclusion of overhead costs, and succinct writing to improve your funding awards.  

Measuring Impact: The Funder's Perspective
Rather than simply counting the output of programs or the number of clients served, funders are requiring nonprofits to report outcomes and impacts of programs.  Take this opportunity to hear from leaders in the funding community and learn how they are supporting nonprofit organizations' efforts to measure impact.

Fundraise Using Social Media and Web Tools
The noise created by the proliferation of Web-based promotional tools is so loud that many nonprofits can't hear themselves think - much less determine their online fundraising strategy and tactics. Even free tools require an investment in training, plus program development and maintenance. Find out: 

• How to get your Website found more often;
• How to build more successful email campaigns; 
• What social media is and how to engage cost-effectively;
• What criteria to determine which web tools to leverage;
• How to use Facebook and Twitter.

ROI for Nonprofits: The New Key to Sustainability
Explore immediately useful concepts about Return on Investment (ROI) that will enhance your fundraising and help you capitalize on the motivations of those who are likely to invest in your organization. 

Learn about the Investment-Driven Model in this interactive, hands-on session, and discover a proven alternative to emotionally based fundraising.  Want to quantify the difference made by every dollar? Join us and find out how.

Stay tuned in the coming days for details about conference sessions focused on nonprofit trends and innovations, communications, public policy and advocacy, leadership and more!  Visit the conference site to learn more about the exciting sessions offered, and register before July 30 to save $75 on your registration!

Revenue Shortfalls Pegged to Stelly Rollbacks

Report finds late changes to innovative tax plan leave Louisiana in cash crisis

BATON ROUGE – A new report by the independent Louisiana Budget Project (LBP) finds back-to-back legislative efforts in 2007 and 2008 to rescind parts of the 2002 Stelly tax plan have contributed to Louisiana’s current fiscal crisis.

In Home to Roost: Income Tax Cuts Costing State Millions Needed for Services, LBP shows how this year’s painful state budget cuts to higher education and healthcare, as well as expected future cuts, might have been avoided had the Foster-era tax formula remained intact.

The Stelly Plan, a constitutional amendment sponsored in 2002 by Rep. Vic Stelly (R, Lake Charles), cut sales taxes on food, utilities and medications while recouping revenues through adjusted income tax brackets for the state’s higher-income filers. The plan was designed as revenue-neutral, resulting in no net tax increase on Louisiana citizens. Legislative changes endorsed by separate administrations in 2007 and 2008 repealed the tax bracket adjustments but left popular sales tax cuts untouched.

“During those two years, Louisiana enacted the largest income tax cuts in the state’s history,” according to the LBP report. While neither the Blanco nor Jindal administrations sought to alter Stelly’s sales tax exemptions, a repeal of Stelly tax bracket adjustments meant “the state was giving up money it needed to maintain the same level of services,” says LBP.

The 2008 rollback cost the state an estimated $300 million in annual revenues according to the June 4, 2008 Times-Picayune. LBP’s new report cites an estimate by the non-partisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) that sets a projected three-year cost at $1.8 billion.

According to LBP, the state’s financial situation will only get worse: “By Fiscal Year 2012, the cumulative shortfall in projected state general fund revenues is $2.4 billion. If the 2010-2012 budget shortfall is not addressed with either increases in recurring revenues or reductions in recurring expenses, the projected shortfall for Fiscal Years 2013 and 2014 is similarly large.”

LBP notes several possible remedies to current and pending shortfalls. It mentions Rep. Michael Jackson’s (Independent, Baton Rouge) resolution, calling for a review of various tax exemptions and credits, including tax breaks for those who itemize deductions. The report also cites ITEP data suggesting that an additional $58 million could be raised in 2011 through a 1% increase in income tax for filers earning more than $250,000 per year and a 2% increase for those making over half a million.

During weak economic times, says LBP, “increasing revenue from the wealthiest taxpayers rather than cutting government programs may be more beneficial to the economy.” As they have in previous publications, LBP analysts warn that a cuts-only strategy can ultimately cost jobs and hold back economic growth.

The Louisiana Budget Project monitors and reports on state government spending and how it affects Louisiana’s low- to moderate-income families. For more reports and information from LBP see: http://www.labudget.org/