IN THIS ISSUE:

  • New Commonwealth Insights: A Blueprint for Nonprofits and Government to Avoid the Pain of Shutdown
  • Policy Update: Government Proposal to Raise Overtime Threshold
  • Save the Date: June 3 is Nonprofit Awareness Day: A Celebration of Nonprofit Excellence
  • Next Up On 2019 Regional Meeting Tour: Central and Greater Boston Regions
  • Nonprofit 411: Securing Growth Capital in Challenging Times
  • Free Webinars
  • Jobs and Resources
New Commonwealth Insights : A Blueprint for Nonprofits and Government to Avoid the Pain of Shutdowns

The first 2019 edition of MNN's Commonwealth Insights , " After the Shutdown: Next Steps to Strengthen Nonprofit and Government Partnerships ," gives nonprofits and government partners a blueprint to build solid relationships and avoid the type of pain that was caused by the 35-day federal government shutdown.

The report calls on the nonprofit and government sectors to become better aligned and support one another in the future.

Key points include:

  • Government and nonprofits are inter-connected partners in service delivery. The shutdown illuminated the extent of the sectors’ interconnectivity and highlighted areas for improved alignment.
  • Nonprofits can adopt budgeting strategies to protect against shortfalls, maintain healthy reserves, and communicate their experience with government funding streams through advocacy.
  • Governments can bring nonprofits to the table, implement funding mechanisms that ensure the continuity of service, and enact laws to prevent future shutdowns.

Click the button below to download the report.
Policy Update: Government Proposal to Raise Overtime Threshold
On March 7, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor released its  proposed rule updating the overtime salary threshold  under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Under the proposed rule, the salary threshold for the white-collar exemption from overtime pay would rise from its current level of $23,660 per year to $35,308 per year. The newly proposed regulations would also raise the salary threshold for highly compensated employees who are exempt from overtime pay requirements from $100,000 per year to $147,414 per year.

Nonprofits are encouraged to review the proposed regulations and consider whether and how the draft rules will affect them. Contact Danielle Fleury to share views, experiences, or with any questions.
Save the Date: June 3 is Nonprofit Awareness Day: A Celebration of Nonprofit Excellence

Save the date  for MNN's annual public awareness event recognizing the impact and contributions of the Massachusetts nonprofit sector:  Monday, June 3 at the Massachusetts State House. During the day, Nonprofit Excellence Awards will be presented to organizations and professionals that exemplify excellence in nonprofit work. The Presenting Sponsor of Nonprofit Awareness Day: A Celebration of Nonprofit Excellence is  Citizens Bank .
Next Up On 2019 Regional Meeting Tour: Central and Greater Boston Regions

The 2019 Regional Meeting tour will continue next week in the Central and Greater Boston regions. The meetings are free and open to all nonprofits and will cover important policy updates including the 2020 Census, information on MNN membership, and more.

Click the meeting names below to register.

Central Regional Meeting : Tuesday, March 19 , from 11:30 am-1:00 pm in Worcester, MA. This Regional Meeting is hosted in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/MetroWest .

Greater Boston Regional Meeting : Friday, March 22 , from 9:00-11:00 am in Boston, MA. This Regional Meeting is hosted in partnership with The Boston Foundation .

The Berkshires, Central, Greater Boston, and Metrowest Meetings are sponsored by the Massachusetts CORE Plan .

Regional Meetings for the other four regions of Massachusetts that MNN serves (Pioneer Valley, Metrowest, Southeast, and Cape & Islands) will take place later in the year.


New and Returning Affiliate Members
*discount to MNN members
You can see a full listing of affiliates in our online Business Directory . Many affiliates offer discounts to our members!

Ann Donner works with organizations to maximize organizational effectiveness in management and strategy advising, strategic planning, program design and evaluation, and more.
*10% discount to MNN members.

Hurwit & Associates serves tax-exempt organizations, foundation, and charitable donors throughout the U.S. in all aspects of nonprofit law, governance, regulation, and charitable giving.

Krokidas & Bluestein provides legal services to nonprofit, for-profit, and public clients in the areas of health and human services, civil litigation, education, labor and employment, real estate development and finance, nonprofit law, and commercial property management.

Mintz Levin focuses on what matters to their clients: whether it's overcoming a legal challenge, taking their business to the next level, or having trusted partners for ongoing legal advice.

Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP, advises and represents its nonprofit clients in all areas of law with an emphasis on labor, employment & employee benefits law as well as matters regarding dealings with state, municipal and governmental entities.
NextStep Nonprofit helps nonprofit organizations of all sizes build their development and marketing capacity, or better align their development systems.
* 10% discount on services.

Non Profit Capital Management provides outsourced day-to-day bookkeeping, financial consulting, accounting systems implementation, grant management and reporting, and internal control development services.

Nonprofit Solutions Associates provides consultation, training, and speaking for nonprofits, foundations, coalitions, networks, and public organizations focused on social change.
*Fees are based on a sliding scale based on budget for MNN members.

Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster is a full-service law firm providing corporate, tax, employment, real estate, litigation, and trusts and estates services to businesses and nonprofits.

South Coast Improvement is a full-service construction and renovation firm that specializes in occupied space renovations.

Tech Networks of Boston helps mission-based organizations in Greater Boston strategically plan and collaborate between technology and leadership to help nonprofits meet their mission. 

The Moody Street Group, LLC, a general agency of the companies of OneAmerica, offers a variety of insurance and financial products and services for individuals, executives, professionals and nonprofit organizations.
NONPROFIT 411
Securing Growth Capital in Challenging Times
by Bruce Figueroa, People's United Bank

Nonprofit organizations looking to issue bonds for capital projects or to refinance existing debt face one of the toughest financing environments in years due to rising interest rates and recent changes in tax laws. Careful, expert analysis and advanced planning are critical for all organizations today to be able to structure the most efficient long-term financing vehicles to help fund new projects.
FREE WEBINARS
To say culture is “how we do things around here” isn’t very helpful, and an organization merely stating its values doesn’t achieve much. Culture is an idea that is often referred to but rarely applied methodically as a tool. This webinar will break down the nebulous concept of culture and offer a variety of ideas for how to “operationalize” it, leveraging culture as a key component of strategy in support of a nonprofit's mission. This webinar will be presented by the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network and MNN affiliate member  Charity Shaman .  Register here .
Saving for retirement just got a little easier for nonprofits in Massachusetts. Last year, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts launched a new 401(k) plan, the CORE Plan, designed specifically for smaller nonprofits in Massachusetts. The CORE Plan is a big solution for smaller nonprofits. The basic eligibility requirements are that enrolled organization cannot have more than 20 employees at the time they adopt the CORE Plan, and they must use a third party payroll provider. Register for the free webinar on March 27, 2019, from 10:00-10:30 AM to learn more about the CORE Plan. This webinar is hosted by the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network and presented by the  Massachusetts CORE Plan .   Register here .
On Tuesday, May 14, MNN will hold its quarterly nonprofit member benefits webinar. This webinar is ideal for both members interested in taking advantage of all of the benefits of their membership and nonprofits considering membership with MNN. MNN will cover a range of benefits including advocacy, events, programming, and cost-saving resources. MNN will also have some time to answer questions about MNN and membership. The webinar will begin at 10:00 am and last 30 minutes.  Register here .
JOBS and RESOURCES
Job Opportunities

Executive Director , Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative
MENTOR2.0 Program Coordinator , Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay
Executive Assistant , The Institute for Nonprofit Practice
Office Manager , Middlesex Human Service Agency
Program Manager , Citizens' Housing and Planning Association
Organizer , Indivisible
Executive Director , Educare
Fundraising Manager , United Personnel Services
Spanish-Speaking Enrollment and Matching Specialist , Big Sister Association of Greater Boston
President , Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts
Project Coordinator , Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy
Executive Director , Community Catalyst
Digital Engagement Organizer , Corporate Accountability
Child Welfare Program Director , Judge Baker Children's Center
Development Manager , Charles River Watershed Association
Office and Administrative Coordinator , Hyde Square Task Force
Adventure and Challenge Course Manager , Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts
Development Director , North Shore Community Health
Executive Director , First Literacy
Development and Communications Manager , Somerville Community Corporation
Regional Technician - Hampshire County , United States Census Bureau
Area Manager - Essex and Middlesex County , United States Census Bureau
School Outreach Coordinator- Massachusetts at Large , Sandy Hook Promise Foundation
Case Specialist, Community Services , International Institute of New England
Resources
The Massachusetts Service Alliance and researchers at Boston College are inviting nonprofits to submit responses to the Massachusetts Volunteer Sector Survey. Data from the survey will be used to inform recommendations to grow volunteerism in Massachusetts. Survey responses are due by Friday, March 29. Click here to take the survey.

New England Blacks in Philanthropy (NEBiP) is seeking respondents to its Giving Boston Survey on affinity and philanthropic giving in Greater Boston. The Giving Boston Research Initiative's goal is to better understand the ways in which philanthropy is changing in the region. Click here to take the 20-minute survey.

The Harvard Business School Association of Boston is hosting, "The Board Summit: Being a Member of a High Impact Nonprofit Board" on Monday, March 25 from 2:30-7:30 pm at the Federal Reserve Building in Boston. The event is a half-day mini-conference for nonprofit board members interested in learning about the issues that effective boards are addressing, networking with other nonprofit board members, and increasing their impact on the organizations they support. Click here to register.

The Boston Bar Association is hosting, "Charitable Board Service," an event aimed at promoting nonprofit board service on Wednesday, April 24 from 4:00-6:00 pm followed by a networking hour from 6:00-7:00 pm. The event organizers encourage employees of nonprofit organizations who are seeking of board members to attend. The event is free and open to all. Nonprofits can register here .

The  Miller Innovation Fund  is supporting efforts to re-imagine service networks for the most vulnerable. It invites new ideas that help those affected by homelessness, domestic violence, refugee status, addiction and mental illness, former incarceration, old age, or discrimination. The Fund is also seeking new or untried ways to develop or improve community economic systems and create pathways out of poverty. The Fund awards grants of $50,000 for up to three years for bold approaches that problem-solve, experiment, and test new ideas that can lead to breakthroughs in serving populations in need. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, April 10. Click  here  for more information.

Educational Development Group in Boston's South End neighborhood has meeting space that is available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays and in early afternoons and evenings on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays for a reasonable fee. Contact Frances Laroche if interested.

The Appalachian Mountain Club is seeking nonprofit tenants for a unique co-working space located at 10 City Square in Charlestown, MA. The space features seating for up to 50 people, a flexible lease term, and up to 10 parking spaces. The cost is $350 per desk per month. Contact Boston Realty Advisors if interested.

Chestnut Hill Realty is offering free meeting space for nonprofit organizations located in the communities where their properties are located. Properties are located in Brookline, Chestnut Hill, Framingham, Norwood, Plainville, and Providence, RI. The locations feature conference rooms, function halls, catering kitchens, movie theaters, athletic facilities, and more. Contact Josh Chisholm if interested.
New and Returning MNN Nonprofit Members
Acadia Center - AIDS Project Worcester - Bay State Performing Arts, Inc. dba Boston Gay Men's Chorus - Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) - Berkshire Natural Resources Council - Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center - Bread & Roses, Inc. - Center Makor - CitySprouts - Community Foundation for Nantucket - Engaging Schools - Exceptional Lives - Firehouse Center for the Arts - First Literacy, Inc. - For Kids Only Afterschool - Friends of Cutillo Park, Inc. - Friends of the Public Garden - Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts - Girls Incorporated of Worcester - Grassroots International - Haverhill Community Television (HC Media) - Healing Heart Hospitality House - Inner Explorer, Inc. - Institute for Nonprofit Practice - Lawrence CommunityWorks, Inc. - Marie Strain International Peace Foundation, Inc. - Marlborough Community Development Corporation - Martha's Vineyard Film Society - Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center - Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers - Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition - Mediation Services of North Central Massachusetts, Inc. - Meghan's Light, Inc. - Middlesex Human Services Agency (MHSA) - Sandy Hook Promise Foundation - Somerville Community Corporation - South End Community Center, Inc. - The Carroll Center for the Blind - The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. - United Nations Association of Greater Boston - Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue - Youth Villages
MNN's work is made possible by our members and supporters including the Barr Foundation, The Boston Foundation, and the Highland Street Foundation. If you'd like to share a story or information that is important to Massachusetts nonprofits, contact fmartinez@massnonprofitnet.org .