APRIL–JUNE 2007 COURSE CATALOG NONPROFITS BUILD STRONG COMMUNITIES... WE BUILD STRONG NONPROFITS. THE BAYER CENTER FOR NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT AT ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The newspaper headline read, “Nonprofits Less Effective … Spending More on Overhead, Less on Mission.” And you could hear a collective shudder go through the populace and checkbooks snapping shut! Charity Navigator had spoken – Pittsburgh’s nonprofit organizations are less effective than those in 25 other cities. In using the 990 form for its analysis, Charity Navigator is passing judgment on the nation’s nonprofits – and urging donors to make giving decisions based on their formula. But is the 990 a true record of expenses in nonprofits? When the Bayer Center released its Wage and Benefit Survey in January, we hosted a session with Kennard Wing, a consultant who worked on a national project examining overhead costs of nonprofits. Ken’s groups looked at 228,000 990 forms to see how various groups in all stages of development, with all budget sizes and all types of causes, reported their use of dollars from all revenue sources. This well-respected study showed that in many cases, nonprofits showed little to no management and general or fundraising expenses at all. Those agencies must have looked particularly appealing to Charity Navigator! There is currently no standard for reporting nonprofit management and fundraising expenses. Individual groups and their auditors have to make their own decisions about how best to allocate their expenses. And for agencies that lack detailed time sheets, the true picture of overhead versus program/mission-related activities remains quite elusive. I would argue, unlike the headline cited above, that the divide is not between overhead and mission. In many agencies, the problem is not that too much is spent on overhead – it’s that too little is invested in the health of the organization. Agencies are spending too little on salaries and benefits to assure that those who give their lives to the community can live with dignity and retire with security. Agencies are not investing in appropriate technology, and they lack marketing dollars to attract clients and donors. In nonprofits, we are always spending someone else’s money. And our investors have a right to expect a fair return on investment. But focusing a suspicious eye on overhead costs, as if to say nonprofits are cheating the public by treating themselves too well, is simply wrong- headed. Nonprofits sign up on a daily basis to right the wrongs of society. It is legitimate to assess progress on mission, but it is foolish to focus on keeping nonprofits poverty-stricken and then expect great things from fragile organizations. It is time for us to discuss the inherent contradiction in these two ideas. Let’s begin a conversation that is not suspicious, but that grows from shared values of community health. One that has respect for the enormity of the tasks undertaken, but is filled with vibrant hopes for a brighter future. Let’s be bold in our aspirations, but realistic in our assessment of capacity – and vow that it is everyone’s job to build stronger nonprofits who will help create a more just and equable community! Peggy Morrison Outon Executive Director Nonprofits build strong communities … We build strong nonprofits 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS SUPERvisorESC PRESENTS Series: Teams and Dealing With Conflict . 3 Bring Your Own Budget . 3 HR Clinic . 3 FinanceFINANCE as a Second Language . 3 AskLAWLINKS an Attorney Clinic . 4 Risky Business: Managing Risk and Uncertainty in Nonprofit Organizations . 4 ExecutiveLEADERSHIP Breakfasts . 4 It’s Not Who You Know: It’s Finding Value in Your Networks . 4 MediaMARKETING Relations Basics . 5 Marketing Affinity Group . 5 Master Class With Gary Stern . 5 AccessTECHNOLOGY Queries A to Z . 5 Now What? A Clinic on Inherited Access Databases . 5 Dreamweaver Clinic . 6 Crunch the Numbers in Half the Time . 6 Windows Administration Basics . 6 Conducting Hardware and Software Inventory . 6 Website Planning for Everyone . 6 Beginning Web Design With Microsoft FrontPage . 7 Managing Your Volunteer Information With Microsoft Access . 7 Access Reports: Beyond the Wizard . 7 E-Strategy for Nonprofits . 7 One-on-One Computer Clinic . 8 Creating Effective Presentations With Microsoft PowerPoint . 8 Outlook Camp . 8 Access Camp: Managing Client Information With Microsoft Access . 8 IsWELLNESS Your “Give” Gone? Building Resiliency . 8 BagelsADDITIONAL and Bytes . PROGRAMS. 9 First Fridays . 9 Build Your Organization’s Capacity With Interns! . 9 ExecutiveONGOING Service ACTIVITIESCorps . 9 LawLinks . 9 Master of Science in Nonprofit Management . 9 Technology Initiative . 9 INSTRUCTORS . 10 REGISTRATION INFORMATION . 12 REGISTRATION FORM . 13 Register today! www.rmu.edu/bcnm, fax 412-397-4097 or phone 412-397-6814 2 THE BAYER CENTER FOR NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT Since our establishment in 1999, the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University has TheFUNDERS Bayer Center acknowledges with gratitude strived to provide the guidance, tools and information the catalytic support received from: necessary for nonprofit organizations to effectively fulfill their missions. The Bayer Center offers consulting Richard King Mellon Foundation services and non-credit classes in areas such as: The Bayer Foundation The Alcoa Foundation Board Governance The Buhl Foundation Business Planning The Forbes Funds of The Pittsburgh Foundation Collaborations and Mergers The Grable Foundation Database Development and Enhancement The Heinz Endowments Facilities Planning Horovitz, Rudoy & Roteman Financial Management Jewish Healthcare Foundation Fund Development The Laurel Foundation Human Resources Legal Issues and our generous individual supporters and the Organizational Effectiveness invaluable nonprofit organizations whom we serve Strategic Planning as clients and students! Technology Planning In partnership with the Robert Morris University School BOARD OF DIRECTORS of Business, the Bayer Center offers a master’s degree William S. Stein, Chair in nonprofit management. We also conduct research Doreen E. Boyce Buhl Foundation and provide information and referral to a broad range Gregory G. Dell’Omo Robert Morris University of resources. Carolyn Duronio Reed Smith LLP Judie Donaldson Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania IfREQUESTING you are interested in learning SERVICES more about the Bayer Robert S. Foltz Goodwill Industries of Pittsburgh Center’s consulting services, please call 412-397-6814. (Retired) We’ll be happy to arrange for an initial conversation to Ronald R. Hoffman Alcoa (Retired) discuss how we might be of service. Scott Izzo Richard King Mellon Foundation Kathleen Kartsonas Hunter Associates Elaine Krasik Highmark Inc. PeggyBAYER Morrison OutonCENTER STAFFExecutive Director Mark Lewis POISE Foundation Cindy Bahn ESC Program Director Peter Lucas Maya Design Group Carrie Bennett Financial Analyst Rebecca Lucore The Bayer Foundation Marcia Clark Consultant William J. Meyer United Way of Allegheny County Michele Cole Director of Nonprofit Mildred E. Morrison Allegheny County Department of Master’s Program Human Services – Aging Michelle David Marketing, Education Edward A. Nicholson Robert Morris University and Outreach Fellow Jack Owen Polito & Smock, P.C. Jeff Forster Director of Technology Services James A. Rudolph McKnight Development Company Jarrett Lambright Consulting and Robert J. Schuler Blue Cross of Western PA (Retired) Education Assistant Walter Smith Family Resources Scott Leff Director of Consulting Bonnie Westbrook VanKirk Media Networks/ Cindy Leonard Technology Services Analyst Time Inc. (Retired) Pamela Macklin NOVA Chemicals Fellow Michael Watson Richard King Mellon Foundation Abby Sandel Consultant Karen Farmer White WQED Multimedia Juliana Shayne NOVA Chemicals Fellow Laura Zinski Mon Valley Initiative Ivana Spehar Office Coordinator Yvonne Van Haitsma Consultant It is the policy of Robert Morris University to provide equal opportunity in all educational programs and activities, admission of students and conditions of employment for all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, sex, religion, age, disability, national origin and/or sexual preference. Nonprofits build strong communities … We build strong nonprofits 3 HR Clinic SUPERvisorESC PRESENTS Series: Wednesday, June 27 • 90-minute sessions Teams and Dealing With Conflict by appointment Wednesdays, April 18, May 16 • 1–4:30 p.m. Thinking about making some changes to your Learn the tools necessary to manage and motivate employee evaluation process? Have a few job a staff. descriptions to update? Concerned that your Teams (April 18) maternity leave policy is out-of-date – and three In this session, you’ll learn to: of your staff are expecting? Make an appointment for the HR Clinic and discuss issues such as: • Understand the stages of team development • Updating HR policies • Identify the factors that lead to a team’s success • Structuring compensation and benefits • Develop successful team strategies • Designing meaningful performance appraisals • Managing employee relations Dealing With Conflict (May 16) In this session, you’ll: Clinics are open to any staff person charged with • Assess their personal approach to conflict HR duties at a nonprofit. Please bring the relevant materials – employee handbook, performance • Review factors that influence conflict appraisal forms, etc. – to your appointment. resolution • Learn an approach for managing conflict Instructor: Ray Frankoski, ESC Volunteer Location: Fourth floor conference room, • Discuss ways to apply the new approach Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management, Instructor: Juliana Shayne, Bayer Center 718 Fifth Avenue, downtown Pittsburgh Location: Room 308, RMU’s Center for Adult Fee: $25 and Continuing Education, 600 Fifth Avenue, downtown Pittsburgh FINANCE Fee: $50 per class Finance as a Second Language Wednesdays, May 9, 23 • 9 a.m.–noon Bring Your Own Budget In an era of increased scrutiny, understanding Tuesday, April 24 • 90-minute sessions your financial statements is vital. But there is.