Alliance for Nonprofit Management › Publications › PULSE! September 2005 - Special Edition

September 23, 2005

Volume 9, Number 4

This Special Edition of PULSE! is devoted to Hurricane resources, with a special focus on nonprofits and philanthropy in the South.

PULSE! SPECIAL EDITION

1. Alliance Hurricane Resource Page for Capacity Builders
2. Reflection Memorandum/Hurricane Katrina: Looking Ahead
3. The Nonprofit Sector and the Federal Budget
4. Fact Sheets on the Demographics and Effects of Katrina
5. Fundraising in Times of Crisis
6. Disaster Grantmaking: A Practical Guide for Foundations and Corporations
7. Four New Reports on Rural Philanthropy and Governance
8. Where Hope and History Rhyme: Reflections and Findings from the Mid South Commission to Build Philanthropy
9. Options for Limited-English-Proficient Individuals, Immigrants, and Their Families
10. TECH TEMPO: Southern Network for Community Philanthropy Website Now Open for Dialogue
11. TOOLS OF THE TRADE: The Southern Community Index: Tool for Creating Stronger Communities

1. Alliance Hurricane Resource Page for Capacity Builders

Alliance for Nonprofit Management members, capacity builders and the nonprofit sector are all affected by and responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The Alliance is collecting and posting hurricane-related resources, including links to grassroots, people of color-led groups in the region, online at www.allianceonline.org/katrina.page. And with lively public dialogue about race and poverty as key factors, also worth seeing are cultural competency resources at www.allianceonline.org/about/cc_resources.page.

2. Reflection Memorandum/Hurricane Katrina: Looking Ahead

Foundation for the Mid South published a hurricane-related report after a September 15 meeting with 90 representatives of nonprofits, intermediaries and funders from across the region affected by Hurricane Katrina. Reflection Memorandum/Hurricane Katrina: Looking Ahead identifies 17 principles that should be honored in order to coordinate their efforts in moving forward to rebuild communities. They include using philanthropy's influence and resources to make government both responsive and responsible while supporting and working with grassroots and faith-based organizations engaged in immediate and long-term relief and recovery efforts. The group also analyzed challenges and weakness in the field's communication efforts and recommends use of the Southern Network for Community Philanthropy's website (www.cpreas.org) to provide information and create a place for discussion on solutions about how to recover and rebuild the Mid South after Hurricane Katrina. For a copy of the memorandum, visit www.fndmidsouth.org.

3. The Nonprofit Sector and the Federal Budget

In the wake of criticism surrounding the US Government's response to Hurricane Katrina, federal lawmakers will soon be making budget decisions that are likely to negatively affect the nation's charitable "infrastructure" for years to come, according to a new report published by the Aspen Institute's Nonprofit Sector Research Fund, The Nonprofit Sector and the Federal Budget: Fiscal Year 2006 and Beyond. Federal budget experts Alan J. Abramson and Lester M. Salamon found that fiscal year 2006 federal budget proposals reflect a trend of shifting financial responsibility for a number of social programs away from the federal government and toward the charitable sector. While the proposed reductions would almost certainly increase demand for nonprofit services, they would simultaneously reduce the funding many nonprofits have available to meet even previous demands. These shortfalls will leave many community groups scrambling to serve those in greatest need, particularly in times of crisis. For a copy of the report, visit www.nonprofitresearch.org/federalbudget.

4. Fact Sheets on the Demographics and Effects of Katrina

Urban Institute has fact sheets on the demographics and effects of Katrina in Louisiana, receiving communities, and the nonprofit sector. The Aftermath of Katrina: State of the Nonprofit Sector in Louisiana, provides a portrait of the New Orleans and Louisiana nonprofit sector. Data on expenditures by type of nonprofits, comparison with other metropolitan areas of similar size, and information on nonprofit capacity in receiving communities are highlighted. For a copy of the fact sheet, visit www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID=900879. Katrina: Demographics of a Disaster, compares racial composition and poverty rates of New Orleans, the US, and receiving cities. For a copy of the fact sheet, visit www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID=900835.

5. Fundraising in Times of Crisis

Fundraising in Times of Crisis written by Kim Klein and published by Jossey-Bass helps nonprofits that find themselves grappling with the continued downturn in the economy, an unexpected crisis, the ongoing war on terrorism, or government's cutbacks in social services and are straining to keep up with the increased demand for their services while struggling to generate funding. The book shows troubled groups how to identify what is really going on and how to assess the damage. No matter what your particular crisis--the sudden loss of an executive director, a public scandal, a major donor attrition, or a daunting increase in the demand for services--this book can show you how to survive and thrive in tough times. For more information or to purchase a copy of the book, visit www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ tg/detail/-/0787969176?v=glance.

6. Disaster Grantmaking: A Practical Guide for Foundations and Corporations

The report Disaster Grantmaking: A Practical Guide for Foundations and Corporations, published jointly by the Council on Foundations and the European Foundation Centre, lists eight guiding principles grantmakers can follow to be more effective and strategic in addressing disasters, including: first, do no harm - your grant should contribute to the solution and not the problem; don't act in isolation; think beyond the immediate crisis to the long-term; and communicate your work widely to educate internal and external audiences about the disaster process. For a copy of the report, visit www.cof.org/Content/General/Display.cfm?contentID=2230.

7. Four New Reports on Rural Philanthropy and Governance

While only 20 percent of the nation's population lives in rural areas, in the Southern region 34 percent of the population lives in rural areas. Four recent reports addressing Rural Philanthropy and Governance can better help capacity builders understand the values, challenges, and concerns faced in rural communities.

The Power of Rural Philanthropy, published by New Ventures in Philanthropy and developed by the Southern Rural Development Initiative, looks at recent trends in rural philanthropy-building and examines the inclusive and innovative ways that rural communities are taking philanthropy into their own hands. Their goal is simple: to generate resources from within their rural communities to affect community change, now and into the future. For a copy of the report, visit www.givingforum.org/rural/.

Growing Local Philanthropy: The Role and Reach of Community Foundations, a Community Foundation Field Survey conducted by the Aspen Institute's Community Strategies Group, addresses the growth of community foundations and community foundation endowments that are focused on rural areas and issues. The survey documents the emergence of geographic component funds (funds within "lead" community foundations that are dedicated to serving specific geographic areas or communities, and that typically include local decision making and/or operating structures) and assessing how these funds influence the culture of philanthropy in their communities. For a copy of the report, visit www.aspencsg.org/rdp/resources/surveys/survey2b.php.

The New Architecture of Rural Prosperity by Southern Growth Policies Board includes recommendations for closing the gap in economic performance between the rural South and the nation by managing economic development activities along regional lines, without regard to traditional or state boundaries; and viewing economic development as an integrated enterprise of both traditional business expansion and recruitment, and the community capacity building activities that enhance both the ability to perform economically and the quality of life in communities. For more information or to purchase a copy of the report, visit www.southern.org.

Effective Rural Governance: What Is It? Does It Matter? by the Rural Policy Research Institute's Rural Governance Initiative is a framing paper that defines effective governance, explains why governance is suddenly in the spotlight, details and illustrates key principles of effective rural governance, and poses questions that ground the Rural Governance Initiative in order to explain governance to community leaders, practitioners, and policymakers in understandable and actionable terms. Eight key principles of effective governance are grouped under three major themes: collaboration, sustained citizen engagement, and leveraging regional resources. For a copy of the report, visit www.rupri.org/ruralPolicy/publications/RGI_in_pdf.pdf.

8. Where Hope and History Rhyme: Reflections and Findings from the Mid South Commission to Build Philanthropy

Foundation for the Mid South, with funding from the Ford Foundation, released a new report Where Hope and History Rhyme: Reflections and Findings from the Mid South Commission to Build Philanthropy. The report documents the Commission's journey from developing a vision for a "New Mid South" to the findings on how philanthropy and its leaders can be a more effective force in correcting racial, social and economic inequity, which still exists in America's Mid South region of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The report outlines five strategies for promoting equity and recommendations for a short- and long-term community strategy on leadership, resource mobilization, giving, and investment. For a copy of the report, visit www.fndmidsouth.org/publications.htm.

9. Options for Limited-English-Proficient Individuals, Immigrants, and Their Families

The National Council of La Raza has developed Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Resources: Options for Limited-English-Proficient Individuals, Immigrants, and Their Families, provides a basic overview of the assistance and services that can be accessed during this crucial time and the rights of individuals seeking services. With an estimated 100,000 Latinos who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina, community organizations in receiving cities are seeing an increase in Latinos not seeking emergency assistance or are reluctant to ask for help due to language barriers and fear. The White House, which has consistently suspended enforcement activities in past relief efforts, is urging people to come forward, while the Department of Homeland Security has refused to refrain from detaining them. For a copy of the resource, visit www.nclr.org/content/publications/detail/33752/. For more information on the growing number of Latinos in the South, view the Pew Hispanic Center report, The New Latino South: The Context and Consequences of Rapid Population Growth at www.pewhispanic.org/reports/report.php?ReportID=50.

10. TECH TEMPO: Southern Network for Community Philanthropy Website Now Open for Dialogue

The Southern Network for Community Philanthropy, a Ford Foundation initiative to promote social and racial equality in the American South, launched its new website - www.cpreas.org. The website features a discussion forum and community tools, resources and other features designed to foster an interactive, collaborative network where members can actively engage in dialog online and off. The network's first pressing issue for discussion focuses on ways to support Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. In general, the collaborative will work to find ways to increase the pool of philanthropic assets in the South and on how to use those assets for creating racially and socially equitable communities. Anyone with a commitment to addressing community philanthropy, racial, economic or social equity is welcome to join this learning community. For more information, visit www.cpreas.org.

11. TOOLS OF THE TRADE: The Southern Community Index: Tool for Creating Stronger Communities

Southern Growth Policies Board, a regional public policy think tank, released The Southern Community Index: Tool for Creating Stronger Communities at the Southern Governor's Association meeting on August 30th. The Index is a working plan to track the Southern states' progress in building healthy and vibrant communities as part of an integrated economic development strategy for the Southern region. The Index includes 15 quality of life measures considered to be the building blocks of vibrant communities - from access to healthcare, homeownership rates, crime rates and employment rates to levels of civic engagement and leadership diversity. The Index includes state-by-state data and summaries of community development initiatives in the Southern Growth states. For a copy of the report, visit www.southern.org/pubs/communityindex/Community Index.pdf.

PULSE! ADDITIONAL ITEMS

1. Terry McAdam Book Award Winner and Call for Nominations
2. Public Relations Society of America International Conference in Miami

1. Terry McAdam Book Award Winner and Call for Nominations

Alliance for Nonprofit Management announced this year's winner of the Terry McAdam Book Award for the best new nonprofit book release of 2004-2005: Begging for Change: The Dollars and Sense of Making Nonprofits Responsive, Efficient, and Rewarding for All, by Robert Egger, published by HarperCollins Publishers. Two books received Honorable Mentions: The Best of the Board Café: Hands-on Solutions for Nonprofit Boards, by Jan Masaoka, published by Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, and Fundraising in Times of Crisis, by Kim Klein, published by Jossey-Bass.

The McAdam Book Award Committee invites nominations for its 2006 award. To submit a nomination, send an email, including book title and author, to info@allianceonline.org by October 5, 2005. For more information, visit www.allianceonline.org/publications/0405_mca.page.

2. Public Relations Society of America International Conference in Miami

The Public Relations Society of America's 2005 International Conference will be held on October 22-25, 2005 at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. National best practices for nonprofit and corporate leaders, keynoters such as Anna Quindlen, and networking with national colleagues will provide CEOs, public relations and development officers an opportunity to learn from the field's most respected practitioners. Association/Nonprofit Tuesday is devoted to nonprofit/association management with dozens of breakouts along with keynoters Ted Turner, John Graham, Emmett Carson, Ed Wasserman, and Jonathan Tisch. Register by September 23, 2005 to get the early bird rate. For more information, visit www.prsa.org.