The Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC) has released a report detailing the results of its Growing Opportunities, Assets, and Leaders (GOALs) Initiative. According to the report, CDC activities have generated $2.7 billion of economic activity in and for their communities in the past decade.

The GOALs initiative was originally envisioned in 2003 as a two-year project, but has since grown into an annual effort to promote greater accountability and effectiveness among Community Development Corporations across the state.

The report highlights the achievements of MACDC members in 2012 alone, including:

• building or preserving 1,511 homes
• creating or preserving 4,141 job opportunities
• providing energy efficiency improvements to 723 homes
• helping local entrepreneurs secure $12.9 million in financing

Since the start of the GOALs initiative in 2003, MACDC members have served 288,688 families and secured 22,215 jobs for their communities. Projects in the next decade will embrace real estate development as a part of overall neighborhood composition, where transportation, businesses, and services are considered as part of the value of communities.

View the full MACDC GOALs report.

The post A Decade of Impact for Community Development Corporations appeared first on Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.

The Award will be presented as part of the 2013 MNN Conference & Expo in Framingham. The  Conference Committee is seeking suggestions for this year’s Lifetime Achievement honoree. Candidates should be longstanding members of the nonprofit community and exemplify a lifetime of excellence in the sector.

If you would like to recommend a potential honoree, please provide a brief description of his or her achievements using the form below.

The post Seeking Recommendations for 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award appeared first on Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.

In celebration of its 125^th Anniversary, Wheelock College will host a first-of-its-kind international conference, Global Challenges and Opportunities Facing Children, Youth and Families, at the Boston Wheelock campus June 19-22, 2013.

The four-day conference will convene global thought leaders with an emphasis on health and human rights, and child and family education. Keynote speakers and expert panelists include Emiliana Vegas, Chief, Education Division Inter-American Development Bank; Ögmundur Jónasson, Minister of the Interior of Iceland; and Deogratias Niyizonkiza, founder and CEO, Village Health Works, and the subject of award-winning author Tracy Kidder’s book, “Strength in What Remains.”

“For the past 125 years, Wheelock College has remained unwavering in its commitment to the education and well-being of children and families. Today, more than ever, Wheelock is positioned to lead conversations designed to transform the lives of children, families and communities across the globe,” said Jackie Jenkins-Scott, President of Wheelock College.

Kicking off the conference will be a cultural festival to include international music, dance, food and storytelling.  An awards celebration will be held at the John F. Kennedy Library to recognize leaders spearheading education and human rights initiatives around the world and thought-provoking international films will be presented.

The College’s 2013 International Conference will address three strands of importance to the global community: education, health and human rights. An example of the Education strand will include Access, Opportunity and Success: Innovative Programs from Africa and the Middle East. This strand will examine trends, challenges, and cutting-edge programs that meet the educational needs of children around the world. The Health strand, to include a panel discussion on: Violence and Mental Health: A Growing, Untreated Crisis and What We Can Do About it, will raise awareness of health promotion and prevention through the exploration of mental health, disease control and prevention and nutrition. The Human Rights strand, to include Impact of Public Policy on Drug and Human Trafficking, will address children and youth issues in light of their vulnerability to exploitation.

For more information about the keynote speakers, panel discussions, the cultural festival, international films and awards ceremony, visit http://wheelock.edu/conference.

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By David Kerrigan, Director of Business Development, Health Connector

The Massachusetts Health Connector now has almost 100 high-quality, affordable health plan available for small businesses from the state’s leading health insurance carriers.

Through the Health Connector’s Business Express program, businesses with 50 or fewer employees are eligible to shop online and view plans in an easy-to-understand,side-by-side format. To get a price quote, brokers and business owners just enter some basic data about their workforce and an array of plans and premiums will display within seconds. Every plan has been awarded the Massachusetts Health Connector Seal of Approval. There are no membership or monthly fees required.

Participating health insurance carriers include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan, CeltiCare Health Plan, Fallon Community Health Plan, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Health New England, Neighborhood Health Plan, Tufts Health Plan, and new entrant Network Health.

The Health Connector’s product portfolio provides brokers and business owners with more choices than ever before and features a variety of benefits and provider networks from which to choose. In addition, the Health Connector offers a free wellness program, Wellness Track, to small businesses with up to 25 covered employees. Small businesses who participate in Wellness Track may qualify for a wellness rebate of up to 15% on their group’s premium contribution for coverage purchased through the Health Connector. Wellness Track’s online portal provides small businesses and their employees with a suite of tools, such as exercise and nutrition trackers and interactive toolkits focused on several key areas of health and wellness, to promote a healthier work environment and increase productivity.

Moreover, small businesses with fewer than 25 employees earning average annual wages below $50,000 may be eligible for federal tax credits of up to 35% when they purchase health insurance. Combined with savings of up to 15% through Wellness Track, the Health Connector makes shopping for health insurance easy and affordable.

For more information, contact the Health Connector’s Director of Business Development David Kerrigan at 617.933.3040 or David.J.Kerrigan@state.ma.us or contact your broker.

The post Nonprofit 411: Health Connector Offers Nonprofits Choices and Savings appeared first on Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.

Massachusetts operates in a deregulated electricity market, giving consumers the opportunity to choose their own electricity supplier or to simply remain on utility-supplied “Basic Service.” Those looking at competitive retail supply options can negotiate for price and terms and conditions, with the opportunity for savings and other benefits. But the competitive market also brings risk. Suppliers’ proposals can be very complex and difficult to decipher, especially for people not directly working or knowledgeable in the energy industry. For companies with sophisticated energy technology and dedicated staff, it is a no-brainer—the competitive market represents opportunity. For other companies, there can be real bottom-line consequence to making an uninformed decision.

In 1998, the Massachusetts Legislature restructured the electricity market, taking power generation away from the utilities and making them into transmission companies that operate the wires that deliver the electricity. These are the same utilities you have known for decades. Power coming to you through these restructured companies would be supplied by energy marketers who would compete for your business.

In the simplest of terms, that is how the new open market was supposed to operate, and 15 years since competition began, it is working that way for many consumers. Still others are not participating in the market because they do not have the size or usage that attracts suppliers or because it is easier to maintain the status quo—the status quo being Basic Service which is electricity supplied by the utility, mandated by the legislature as a backstop to the competitive market.

Basic Service was originally designed as a temporary supply option while consumers chose a competitive supplier. The law requires that it be a short-term price, so it changes monthly. Therefore it is a highly volatile price that exposes customers to fluctuations in the market. But it is easy for customers because they do not need to do anything to be on Basic Service, it is the default price—which is what it was originally called.

The alternative to Basic Service is competitive supply. It allows customers to tailor their electricity supply to match their usage and needs. Customers can lock in a price or chose a pricing option which reflects their company’s usage and risk tolerance. Having competitive supply can offer predictability for the contract term—prices will not change monthly as with Basic Service, helping customers manage their exposure to the market – as well as lower costs.

While competitive supply has clear benefits, it can sometimes be difficult to obtain a competitive supply arrangement. It can be difficult to identify a reputable supplier. Even if you find out who the suppliers are, many do not want to serve small-to-medium size customers, who typically are not on interval, hourly usage meters. It creates an administrative burden for the supplier, and from their perspective it is hard to predict usage. It exposes the supplier to risk, and the risk is reflected in the contract price and terms.

If you are successful at getting an offer from a competitive supplier, you must now evaluate the proposal to determine if it is beneficial for your company. This can be challenging because it is not just about price. The supplier may have rights to pass through costs that may come from law changes or policy issues, and you want that limited.

Brokers and consultants can be helpful, but be sure that you are dealing with an objective and accredited advisor. In Massachusetts, brokers must be licensed to ensure that they have knowledge of the workings of the market. Even so, many suppliers have relationships, i.e. finder fee agreements, with advisors or brokers that need to be fully understood when interpreting the information presented. Many of these agreements limit your ability to shop their offer against other options, and this should be a warning sign to seek another consultant. Don’t ever sign an agreement with a broker that takes away your rights to compare offers from other suppliers.

The Consortium based model offers customers a viable and safe way to benefit from the competitive electricity market. Consortiums, or buying groups, leverage the buying power of an entire group to get supply arrangements which benefit all in the group. Because of the economy of scale, a consortium can undertake a rigorous competitive procurement, employing top experts who will look out for your—and every member of the consortium’s interests. It is a model that has proven successful for many customers, often providing these customers with further guidance and insight into the energy markets.

While there is risk in acquiring competitively supplied electricity, you can mitigate it by being informed and seeking qualified, objective guidance. The benefits of the market are open to all, even smaller companies, by connecting to a like-minded group.

About PowerOptions

PowerOptions® is the largest energy buying consortium in Massachusetts, serving more than 500 nonprofit organizations and governmental entities with combined annual energy purchases of $175 million. With supply programs for electricity, natural gas and solar power, PowerOptions provides its members budget certainty and savings, as well as best-in-industry consumer protections not available anywhere else. For more information, go to www.poweroptions.org.

The post Nonprofit 411: Energy Buying 101: Securing Beneficial Electricity Supply Arrangements appeared first on Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.

Please find the complete RFP available for download here, and feel free to contact Hillary Kovash with any questions.

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On April 10, 2013, President Obama released his 2014 budget plan to Congress. In this $3.77 trillion proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, the President includes a mix of spending reductions and revenue increases with the goal of trimming $1.8 trillion off the deficit over the next ten years. Highlights in the President’s proposal include:

-    Capping the total benefits of certain deductions and exclusions—including charitable donations—of the wealthiest individuals to 28% from the current 33%, 35%, and 39.6% brackets. (This means that an individual in the highest income bracket, who currently receives $396 in tax deductions for a $1,000 donation, would receive only $280 in tax deductions if the President’s plan were to be approved.)
-    Imposing the “Buffett Rule” to ensure that individuals with over $1 million in annual income pay an effective tax rate of at least 30%.
-    Returning the estate tax to 2009 levels with an individual exemption up to $3.5 million and a 40% top tax rate.
-    Increasing revenue through hundreds of billions in health-related savings from the Affordable Care Act, program spending cuts, other discretionary cuts, imposition of the chained CPI, and reduced interest payments.

The President’s budget has generated much debate in the nonprofit community. The nonprofit sector has found the capping of charitable deductions to be especially controversial. The Charitable Giving Coalition, a group of large foundations and charities that includes the Salvation Army and United Way Worldwide, has sent a letter to the White House asking President Obama to reconsider the deductions cap. According to the coalition: “The charitable deduction is not a loophole, it’s a lifeline. It serves an invaluable economic purpose, supporting worthy causes and the nonprofit sector, which employs more than 13.5 million people, or 10 percent of America’s workforce and generates hundreds of billions of dollars in economic activity.”

On the other hand, nonprofit leaders have also praised President Obama for including important investments in public services and infrastructure in his proposal. In particular, the President’s plan includes funds to:

-    Help nonprofits recruit and train volunteers
-    Increase access to early education through grants for expanding preschool and Early Head Start programs
-    Support community health centers by increasing discretionary funds for the Health and Human Services Department
-    Invest in the Pay for Success Incentive Fund to scale innovative programs in the social sector

As Congress considers the President’s budget, the nonprofit sector’s input is critical in ensuring that community organizations have adequate resources to serve those in need.

The post Nonprofits React to President’s 2014 Budget Plan appeared first on Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.

The Legislature remains  divided on the issue of revenue reform for transportation. A new version of the House proposal for transportation was passed by the Senate on Saturday, that analysts are calling a compromise between the Governor’s proposal and the House proposal in terms of revenue raised for transportation. Speaker DeLeo believes that his more fiscally conservative House plan, raising $500 million, is more mindful of the burden of raising taxes. However, with many votes against the House proposal for fear that it did not raise enough revenue to make an impact, the Senate calls for an $800 million bill without extra tax increases.

The Senate bill plans to raise this additional revenue by diverting funds from other sources, such as “a little-known gas tax fund for underground storage tanks,” requiring a request for proposals to license naming rights to subway, bus, and commuter rail stations, and mandatory contracts between utility companies and the Transportation Department that will raise investment. It was passed in the Senate with an overwhelming 30-5 majority, and will move to the House for further approval before reaching Governor Patrick.

All three proposals – from the House, Senate, and the Governor – focus quite narrowly on revenue reform for transportation. This directly contradicts the vision of the Campaign for Our Communities, that advocates for reform that is spent in a variety of ways. There is also public concern with tax increases, with protestors disrupting the Senate on Saturday.

Beyond the transportation bill, there are bigger budgetary issues for the nonprofit community to mobilize on. The House Ways and Means committee budget passed last Wednesday put a priority on funding for the UMass system and local aid for cities and towns, but made cuts to many human service programs and services. These cuts include programs providing civil legal aid to low-income families, early education and care, the Cultural Council, volunteer and service, and also the salary reserve for human service providers. The House budget will move to the Senate for approval. This is the time to act on the issues that affect your community.

The post State Legislature Remains Divided on Revenue Refom appeared first on Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.

On April 9, 2013, more than 600 members of The Caring Force attended a lively rally at the State House advocating for fair funding for essential human service programs and workers that protect the state’s most vulnerable residents and a modest wage increase for direct care workers.

The Caring Force is a grassroots advocacy organization for human services in Massachusetts, whose members are direct care staff, service recipients, nonprofit employees, volunteers, and community members. The Caring Force seeks to develop a stronger human services system, to create an infrastructure that protects the state’s most vulnerable populations, and to strengthen the economy by providing workers with fair compensation and recognition.

At The Caring Force State House Rally, human service workers and service recipients talked about the value of human services in local communities and discussed the challenges faced by workers in a sector that is constrained by decreasing resources and inadequate wages.

Advocates at the Rally were joined by legislative supporters, including Senate President Therese Murray, Senator Karen Spilka, Representative David Linsky, and Representative Ruth Balser. After  the rally, Caring Force members visited the offices of their state representatives and senators to advocate for a $16.6 million Salary Reserve and $140 million in new funding for improved rates.

For more information on The Caring Force, please visit http://thecaringforce.org/.

The post The Caring Force Rallies For Fair Funding at State House appeared first on Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.

No lament is more familiar at nonprofits facing reduced funding support and soaring demands for services than the one that begins, “If only we had money we could hire someone who …”

The encore movement, fueled by a surging number of aging baby boomers rejecting traditional retirement in favor of seeking jobs in which they can make a difference, has the potential to change that. And a growing continuum of organizations in Massachusetts would like nothing better than to help.

Consider ReServe, the latest program trying to help older professionals to find meaningful work at nonprofits and government agencies. Since its launch in Boston three months ago,  ReServe — sponsored by nonprofit JVS locally and thriving in six other U.S. cities  — has been swamped by some 300 eager older professionals looking for meaningful opportunities. Of those 120 with advanced experience in marketing, communications, IT and development and more have been accepted into the program.

There is, however, an obstacle to the encore enthusiasm: finding enough positions at nonprofits. “We can’t keep up with the demand. That is now the challenge,” says Carol Greenfield, ReServe program director.

Hiring Reservists, as they are called, seems like a no-brainer. They are paid $10 an hour plus another $5 an hour to help defray the program’s administrative costs. In turn, they bring knowledge and experience that nonprofits could not otherwise afford — talent that can leverage a modest investment to far greater value. “If nonprofits have a short-term need to get something done and are short on money, this is the way to bring in talent,” says Greenfield.

Operation A.B.L.E.’s Midternships program offers a different model. It helps jobseekers who are underemployed, unemployed trying to re-enter former fields or transition to new ones with a four-week unpaid internship. In exchange for the chance to transfer or refresh skills and test out jobs, employers get the support of potential employees as they try them out without cost or risk.

Two other programs, The Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center and the Mature Worker Program, of Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, serve minority communities. They train unemployed  participants, 55 or over, with in-demand skills. They place them in a variety of community service assignments with a goal that the participants will eventually move to jobs that pay more than minimum wage.

On the purely volunteer side of the spectrum, two venerable programs, SOAR 55 and ESC New England, provide high-level volunteer consulting teams with specialized skills to help nonprofit clients succeed. ESCs volunteer consultants give consulting help each year to some 100 organizations, from start-ups with budgets under $50,000 to established organizations with budgets exceeding $15 million.

SOAR 55, part of a national network of volunteer organizations and locally sponsored by Newton Community Service Center, mobilizes, trains, places and supports people 55 and over to strengthen the capacity of local nonprofit and public organizations. Because its volunteers go through an intensive 62-hour training course, it only accepts individuals who are not looking for full-time paid work.

“These are amazing resources for nonprofits when work needs to get done. Grabbing talented individuals … at no or below-market wages is a real boost for nonprofits,” says Doug Dickson, president of Discovering What’s Next, a nonprofit that provides support for new ways of thinking about life and work after 50.

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Related Organizations and Contacts:

ESC New England, Bethany Kendall, 617-357-5550 info@escne.orgt. 617-357-5550, info@escne.org
Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center, Kun Chang, Tel: 617-357-0226 or 1-800-410-5288, email: info@gbcgac.org
Operation A.B.L.E.  Volunteers and Midternship, Mark Gyurina,617-542-4180, ext. 128
Mature Worker Program, Urban League of Eastern Massachusets, JancQuie Cairo-Williams, 617-442-4519, djcairowilliams@ulem.org
ReServe, Carol Greenfield, ReServe Greater Boston, 617-795-1943, Cgreenfield@jvs-boston.org
Retirementjobs.com, http://www.retirementjobs.com/employers/ – A website linking plus-55 job seekers with age friendly employers.
SOAR 55, Jan Latorre-Stiller, 617-969-5906, ext. 120, jlatorre-stiller@ncscweb.org

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