First Nonprofit Member Newsletter September 2017

MEMBER NEWSLETTER

AmTrust & First Nonprofit Group Are Helping Those Affected By Hurricanes Harvey and Irma

AmTrust and your team at First Nonprofit Group (FNG) are committed to providing our clients, insureds and agents affected by hurricanes Harvey and Irma with the support and service they need to get back on their feet as soon as possible. We also want to provide aid to those that may need help.

Our parent company, AmTrust Financial Services, Inc., made an announcement in early September committing a $100,000 corporate donation to First Nonprofit Foundation which will identify and donate to nonprofits in the areas affected by Hurricane Harvey to aid them in long-term rebuilding efforts. On September 19, 2017, AmTrust announced another $100,000 commitment to help with the rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Irma.

In addition, AmTrust will match employee donations made by the FNG team and all employees in the AmTrust family of companies through September 30, 2017 to First Nonprofit Foundation, up to an additional $100,000 for each hurricane, providing up to another $400,000 to aid the Harvey and Irma recovery efforts. As of 10:00 am Central on Sept, 19, 2017, employee donations totaled $60,492.

First Nonprofit Foundation is a certified 501c3 private grant-making organization that focuses on bolstering the nonprofit sector in the United States. AmTrust has been a long-time supporter.

Our hope is that the individuals, businesses and nonprofits affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma will soon be back on their feet and thriving once again.

New Association Partner: Massachusetts Nonprofit Network

First Nonprofit Group is proud to announce our new partnership

with the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network (MNN). It is MNN's mission to strengthen the nonprofit community through advocacy, public awareness, and capacity building. MNN has more than 650 nonprofit members from every region of the Commonwealth.

We look forward to helping our newest partner and its members save money on their State Unemployment Insurance costs and free up funding that can be used in other areas of operation to help individuals and families throughout Massachusetts.

To learn more about the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, please visit their website: http://massnonprofitnet.org/

Meet Your Director: Doug Sauer

Doug Sauer, Chief Executive Officer of New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. (NYCON), joined the Unemployment Savings Program Board of Directors in 2013. Sauer has provided leadership for NYCON since 1980, in addition to occupying many other leadership roles in the nonprofit sector. He is the co-founder and Board Chair of Council Services Plus, a for-profit license insurance brokerage social enterprise of NYCON. He also co-founded Innovative Charitable Initiatives, a nonprofit employment administration of NYCON.

Under Sauer's leadership, NYCON has emerged as a nationally recognized leader in unifying and building the capacity of nonprofit organizations. He is an expert in technical assistance, restructuring, strategic planning, financial management and board governance. Ms. Sauer's service includes the National Council of Nonprofits, the Center for Women in Government and The Albany Community Development Credit Union. From 1969 to 1972, Sauer served in Southeast Asia as a medic with the United States Air Force.

Doug Sauer talks about NYCON and First Nonprofit's partnership in the video link provided below:

Schemes to Swindle State Unemployment Agencies on the Rise

Internet fraud is a significant threat everywhere. Concurrently, the proliferation of intricate fraud schemes against state unemployment agencies by organized crime is also on the rise. Nationwide, since 2012, the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL/OIG), Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations reports conducting over 750 major unemployment compensation (UC) investigations that resulted in "1,200 criminal convictions that created over $67.5 million in improper UC... continue reading

Employer Unemployment Self Service Systems

While online wage report submissions are becoming a requirement for employers in several states across the country, some state unemployment insurance agencies have made the move to complete online employer self service systems. In addition to wage reporting, these states allow employers to respond to claims online, make contact information updates and much more. 100% of our Minnesota and Wisconsin members are currently enrolled in their respective self service online systems, and we are nearing 100% participation of our Pennsylvania members.

Some states, including Pennsylvania, require benefit charge payments to be made online. Earlier this month, Iowa announced an electronic payment requirement. Florida's recently launched CONNECT system is also pushing an online payment requirement. If you are a member in Pennsylvania, Iowa or Florida and do not know if you have setup First Nonprofit as a remitter of charge payment, please contact Jenna Marvin.

We expect these self service systems to launch in many more states in the future. We, along with your claims administrator, will keep you updated on these launches as well as changes to compliance.

Drug Tests May Determine Some Unemployment Eligibility

On the last day of March 2017, President Donald Trump signed legislation that will grant states more leeway to drug test unemployment insurance applicants for benefit eligibility and job readiness. Historically, states haven't drug tested people seeking unemployment benefits because the Social Security Act (SSA) hasn't allowed agencies...continue reading

Member Spotlight: Blue Water Developmental Housing

We are pleased to spotlight First Nonprofit Unemployment Savings Program member, Blue Water Developmental Housing (BWDH)! BWDH provides a variety of housing and support services through CARF*-accredited residential and community based programs in Marysville, Michigan for people with special needs and those involved in their lives.

Since its founding in 1976, BWDH has empowered, educated and supported individuals... continue reading

Service Reminders


WebView Sign up for online access to your real-time reserve balance, invoices, unemployment claims administrator contact information and much more. Email us to sign up!	Paperless Billing Receive your invoice via email rather than in a printed, paper format. Have multiple email address assigned to receive a copy! Complete and return this form !	Discounted Background Services First Nonprofit Background Checks offer exclusive discount pricing to nonprofit organizations, starting as low as $9.94! Click here to sign up!

Meet Our New Staff!

Click on their picture to read a short bio!

Angelica Cruz Accounts Payable Clerk	Edgardo Jimenez Admin. & Service Clerk
Jaepil Choi Operations Assistant	Yesenia Peyret Underwriting Assistant

Benefit Highlight: Cyber Monitoring

First Nonprofit Group offers AmTrust Cyber Monitoring at no charge to all clients. AmTrust Cyber Monitoring scans the Dark Web and will alert you if we find your business credentials are bought or sold. But you need to sign up first.

Click here to enroll.