On May 12th, nearly 200 community leaders, donors, volunteers, staff members and other special guests gathered to celebrate a milestone event in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s history — the first groundbreaking on a new building on the campus in more than 25 years. The event celebrated the first step in the construction of a new building that will house a relocated and … [More]
On The Board and In The Spotlight: Shelley Cohn
How long have you served on these boards? Fortunately for me, I have the honor of serving as the board chair of the Arizona Community Foundation and the board president of the Desert Botanical Garden simultaneously. I have also served as a board member for both of these organizations for more than ten years. What drew you to this organization? I am passionate about both the … [More]
“Who Has the Time” and Other Questions on Nonprofit Advocacy
Recently, a prominent nonprofit leader told an audience of people from public charities and private foundations: “Nonprofits have a duty to advocate on behalf of the people who have no voice, to demand social justice.” Many nodded in agreement while others waited for him to get onto something they hadn’t heard before. One audience member was heard muttering, “Yeah, but who has … [More]
The Nonprofit/For-Profit Connection: ICAN and Intel
The City of Chandler is known as a high-tech industrial city and a great place to live. What you might not know is that in the Downtown Chandler area, many families struggle to provide for their children and keep them safe from local gangs. For the last 25 years, ICAN: Positive Programs for Youth, a nonprofit established by Henry Salinas, has helped Chandler youth and their … [More]
Working With Nonprofits
There are many ways for a business to contribute to our great nonprofit enterprises. Some of the simplest ones are writing a check or gifting goods and services. One way we help nonprofits is by working with them and taking the time to guide them in the world of risk management. In most cases, the revenue we earn handling their insurance isn’t enough to cover our costs, but it … [More]
Impact of Minimum Wage Law
The impact of the new minimum wage law continues to unfold. The average of wages prior to Prop 206 was $9.25, 15 percent over the previous minimum wage. We will incur another 5 percent increase in 2018, 4.8 percent in 2019 and 9.1 percent in 2020 to get to the full $12 rate. Small increases to our contracted rates this year narrowed the gap between cost of service and rates … [More]
Is Your Business on Board?
One of our strategic initiatives at the Alliance is to strengthen the connection, collaboration and coalescence of the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Having previously served the small-business community in my role at the Arizona Small Business Association, I understand the importance of these connections in so many aspects. We have begun to expand our programs and outreach … [More]
Onboarding Leadership Volunteers for Success
I am a nonprofit fundraising consultant, and I am also a board member. If you are, too, then you, like me, probably want to succeed and be a “good board member.” But what exactly does that mean? In our professional practice, we often hear leadership bemoan, “Our board isn’t doing anything.” To which we respond, “Well, what have you asked them to do?” The response is often … [More]
The Nonpartisanship of Nonprofits
It has been 50 years since John van Hengel encountered a woman with her children in line at a soup kitchen in Phoenix. Heartbroken by the sight, he struck up a conversation with her and learned she had resorted to “dumpster-diving” behind grocery stores to put food on her table. It was that conversation that spurred an idea, and St. Mary’s Food Bank and the concept of … [More]
The Nonprofit/For-Profit Connection
Crescent Crown Distributing and Mesa Arts Center (MAC) may seem like unlikely partners at first, but when you think about it, events and entertainment almost always include an option of enjoying beer, and the making of beer is an art form in itself. From year to year, our partnership changes, but always with an eye toward mutual benefit for Crescent Crown, MAC and the … [More]
At Your Service
America’s greatness comes from the extraordinary acts of ordinary citizens. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) makes America great by empowering citizens to solve local problems, expanding economic opportunity, encouraging personal responsibility and strengthening civil society. Based on principles of local control, competition and public-private … [More]
Arizona Gives Day 2017 Results Are In
Arizona Gives Day is a grassroots, statewide day of giving that invited Arizonans to donate to their favorite causes during a 24-hour period on April 4, 2017. This year’s Gives Day raised over $2.5 million for nonprofits across our state. And the total is still being tallied to include matching grants and other offline donations. Hosted by The Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits … [More]
Working With Nonprofits
Alan Langston, 24th Street Conference Center A family member has been the COO of a local nonprofit for 20 years, so I have a very personal understanding of the financial challenges many nonprofits face. The 24th St. Conference Center helps nonprofits needing space for training, classes or board meetings through reduced rates, as well as the ability to bring their own food, … [More]
Aha Moments about the Economic Power of Nonprofits
Those moments when you suddenly see something familiar in a new light — those aha moments — have been plentiful across the state since the “Arizona Nonprofits: Economic Power, Positive Impact” report was released just over a year ago, in March 2016. In more than 18 presentations and 38 articles about the Seidman Institute’s research, nonprofit, government, business and … [More]
Don’t Put Charitable Giving on Your New Year’s Resolution List
Gasp … Did I really just tell you to not put giving on your list of resolutions? Yes, indeed, I did. But why? New Year’s resolutions are a great way to inspire, nay force, yourself to do something good to improve yourself or those around you. Lose ten pounds, complain less, read a book a month, save more … give more. And yet, many of us find ourselves back to our same old … [More]
Fundraising Goes Hand in Hand with Nonprofit Board Membership
Fundraising is an essential part of a nonprofit board member’s work. Yet for many, the very thought of asking others for money makes them want to run for the hills! Meanwhile, most nonprofit CEOs say that what they need most from their board is help in expanding the number of individual donors, connections in the community, corporate ties and foundation relationships — … [More]
On The Board and In The Spotlight
Name: Suzanne Walden-Wells Company: DMB Job Title: Director of Community Life – Eastmark Board: Arizona Citizens for the Arts Board Title: Finance Committee Chair How long have you served on this board? I am in my third year. What drew you to this organization? My interest in and passion for the arts was certainly a motivating factor, but just as important was the … [More]
Unintended Consequences of Minimum Wage Increase on Arizona’s Nonprofit Sector
While the phrase “unintended consequences” is often used to describe unwanted legislative outcomes, the recent enactment of Prop. 206, relating to increasing the Arizona minimum wage, was a self-inflicted wound by an unsuspecting electorate. Briefly, beginning on January 1, 2017, Prop. 206 will increase the statewide minimum wage from $8.05 per hour to an hourly wage of … [More]
