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TANO
Voice of the Texas Nonprofit Sector.
Breaking News -
Public Policy Alert!
Calendar Events August 15 - August 30
News From The Nonprofit World
Membership
Has Its Benefits
Job Bank
Risk Tip Of The Month
TANO
c/o Austin Community College
5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, Texas 78752
(512) 223-7075
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(972) 839-9960
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TANOgram
August 15, 2008 Vol I. Issue 4
Connecting, Strengthening and Supporting
the Texas Nonprofit Community for the Public Good
Welcome to TANOgram - a compilation of information and resources to serve you and your nonprofit organization. You are receiving this with our compliments. To log into the TANO website for more resources and details, go to http://www.tano.org/en/ and enter your Username and Password. If your information has already been entered into the system by an administrator or if you forgot your password, click here to request an e-mail with your login information.
BREAKING NEWS - Public Policy Alert!
| TANO Joins in Public Support of The Giving Incentives to Volunteers Everywhere Act of 2008 (GIVE Act) |
| The Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations (TANO) joined dozens of its fellow State Associations, and the National Council of Nonprofit Associations (NCNA), in a letter to Senators Charles Schumer and John Ensign, endorsing their bi-partisan leadership in introducing the GIVE Act to correct unfair tax policy and support charitable nonprofits and our volunteers.
As expressed by Tim Delaney, NCNA President & CEO, the letter to the Senators read, "By meeting with nonprofits, you have heard how discriminatory tax policy and high gas prices have combined to diminish the pool of volunteers who can use their own vehicles to transport meals to the homebound, drive the elderly and ill to doctors’ appointments, deliver governance oversight, and provide other needed services. The bill you have introduced respects the value of volunteers and eliminates the disincentives that prevent charitable volunteers from doing what they really want to do, which is to help the needy in their communities."
TANO, its state association colleagues, and NCNA supports the following elements of the GIVE Act as introduced: 1) raising the charitable mileage deduction from 14 cents to almost 41 cents; 2) eliminating the need for nonprofits to seek new legislation every year by setting the charitable volunteer rate at 70% of the standard business mileage rate as adjusted by the IRS; and 3) excluding from any income tax consequence actual mileage reimbursements made to volunteers. These features not only address economic pain being felt in America’s communities, but also recognize the vital role the nonprofit sector plays in coordinating volunteer efforts to meet human needs. More Info
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Let Your Voice Be Heard!
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Share how the increased gas prices have impacted your agency and your comments will be included in TANO alerts to our legislatures and the media. Go to GIVE Act |
Calendar Events for August 15 to 30, 2008
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News From The Nonprofit World
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| Most Nonprofits Devote Little Resources to Advocacy
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A recent survey of lobbying and advocacy activity by nonprofits shows that while many organizations are involved in policy advocacy, relatively little time, attention or resources are spent on the activity, hindering deeper policy involvement. Overall, 73 percent of organizations reported engaging in some type of lobbying or advocacy in the past year, and three in five of these engaged in public policy efforts at least once a month. Yet, according to the Johns Hopkins University survey, 90... [More Info]
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| Convio On IPO: Not Just Yet
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Citing unfavorable market conditions, Convio Inc. is withdrawing its bid to go public. The Austin provider of software and Web services for nonprofits filed its IPO request with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Aug. 30, 2007. The company said at the time it hoped to raise $86 million through the offering. But yesterday Convio asked the SEC to withdraw its registration statement. CEO Gene Austin says going public is still in Convios future, but he says its a matter of timing. We... [More Info]
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| Nonprofits See Challenge In Getting Message Out
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The biggest hurdle facing nonprofits is building awareness, a new study says. The study, by Lipman Hearne and the American Marketing Association, says the top marketing priorities among nonprofits, regardless of size, are gaining visibility, generating revenue, branding, and acquiring and retaining members and customers. Being mentioned in the media is priceless, because it gains nonprofit organizations attention as well as third-party endorsement of their work, says Rodney Ferguson,... [More Info]
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| Nonprofits Face Constraints on Public Policy Involvement, Report Finds
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Although U.S. nonprofits are widely involved in efforts to influence public policies that affect them and the people they serve, they are often constrained by tight budgets, limited staff resources, and confusing legal restrictions, a new report from the Johns Hopkins University Nonprofit Listening Post Project finds. Based on a survey conducted by the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest and the universitys Center for Civil Society Studies, the report, Nonprofit America: A Force for... [More Info]
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| IRS Offers Preview of Revisions for New Form 990 Instructions |
| The Internal Revenue Service has offered a glimpse of some of the changes being made to the draft instructions for the new Form 990 — and... [More Info] |
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TANO Membership Has Its Benefits
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| Grant Station Insider Offered Free To TANO Members
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Free Philanthropy Newsletter Offered To TANO Members Grant awards are an integral part of a strong fundraising strategy. Help your organization build capacity and sustainability by staying abreast of upcoming private and federal grant deadlines, conferences, and trainings, and grant maker updates with GrantStation’s free weekly e-Newsletter. View a sample issue and sign up for a free subscription with your TANO membership . GrantStation also provides helpful grantseeking information on its... [More Info]
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| Job Bank |
| Intake Coordinator --new |
| Company: Caritas of Austin |
| Intake Coordinator needed at Caritas of Austin. Duties include staff supervision, program coordination, direct client services and... [More Info] |
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| Social Woker --new |
| Company: Casey Family Programs |
| Social Worker, Casey Family Programs Austin, Texas Casey Family Programs, an Equal Opportunity Employer, is a national operating... [More Info] |
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| Gift Receipting Clerk --new |
| Company: Children At Heart Foundation |
| This full-time position processes contributions and provides support for special projects. Must be a positive Christian Role model and... [More Info] |
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| Development Associate --new |
| Company: Family Eldercare |
| Seeking a full time detail-oriented administrative professional to provide support to the Development Team. Specific duties include but... [More Info] |
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| Operations Manager --new |
| Company: Susan G. Komen for the Cure Austin Affiliate |
| The Operations Manager of the Austin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will be responsible for comprehensive office management and... [More Info] |
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| Director of the Community Tax Centers Program --new |
| Company: Foundation Communities |
| Foundation Communities (FC) is a nationally-recognized nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing and the tools low- and... [More Info] |
Risk Tip Of The Month
| Volunteer Background Checks
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Q: We conduct background checks on our volunteers, some of whom have been with us a long time. Do you advise re-doing background checks every once in a while, and if so, how frequently?
A: Some organizations require background checks every 3-5 years However, there is a need to balance safety considerations with organizational resources. Background checks should be used in conjunction with other measures designed to create obstacles to abuse of vulnerable individuals--they should never be used... [More Info]
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The TANO website and TANOgram E-Newsletter are for YOU! What have you found helpful? What is not? What would you like to see? We want your ideas! Email mbharrington@tano.org with your feedback on these sections: Calendar, Job Bank, Breaking News, TANO News, News From The Nonprofit World, Membership Has Its Benefits (information on TANO member benefits), Where On The Website? (information found on TANO website), Tech Tip Of The Month (technology reviews by Idealware), Risk Tip Of The Month (risk... [More Info]
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Share Your Ideas
We hope you find this information of use and will encourage others you know to become TANO Site Registrants or TANO Members. Go to www.tano.org for more details and links. E-mail us your thoughts on ways the Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations can assist you, your nonprofit organization, and your area's nonprofit community.
Marianne Ehrlich Barry Silverberg
Chair, Board of Directors
Source: Mary Beth Harrington
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