IN THIS ISSUE:

  • Policy Updates: Congress Passes UI Payment Improvement; New Bills Expand Above-the-Line Charitable Deduction
  • 2020 Conference is Going Virtual and Workshop Proposals Due 7/31
  • MNN Launches Guide of Racial Justice and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources for Nonprofits
  • Our Shared Sector: How Nonprofits Can Address Stress and Trauma in the Workplace
  • Pioneer Valley and Cape & Islands Regional Meetings
  • Nonprofit 411: Raising Your 501(c)(3)'s Voice in an Election Year without Risking its Exempt Status
  • Webinars
  • Jobs and Resources
Policy Updates

Congress Passes Improvement to UI Payments

Last week, the House passed the  Protecting Nonprofits from Catastrophic Cash Flow Strain Act  (S.4209) . The Act provides a significant improvement in how the CARES Act forgiveness will be provided to employers that self-insure for unemployment insurance. Specifically, the bill corrects the  Labor Department’s interpretation  that self-insured employers must pay their states 100 percent of unemployment claims upfront and then wait to get reimbursed 50 percent at a later date. Once signed into law, this bill will direct state agencies to simply charge reimbursing nonprofits for 50 percent of their owed claims, instead of issuing a full charge and partial reimbursement. The bill had passed the Senate on July 2nd, and the President is expected to sign it into law.

MNN continues to work with a coalition of nonprofit organizations to advocate for   additional federal relief for nonprofits' unemployment insurance related costs.

New Bills Expand Above-the-Line Deduction

New bills aimed at promoting increased charitable giving have been introduced in the Senate and House. The  Universal Giving Pandemic Response Act  ( S. 4032 / H.R. 7324 ) would make available for tax years 2019 and 2020 an above-the-line deduction for charitable giving on federal income taxes valued at up to one-third of the standard deduction (around $4,000 for an individual filer and $8,000 for married joint filers). The  Senate bill  was introduced by Senators Lankford (R-OK) and Coons (D-DE). The  House bill 's sponsors are Representatives Pappas (D-NH) and Walker (R-NC). Expanding the above-the-line deduction in the CARES Act is a major policy priority of MNN and the national nonprofit community, as explained in the  Nonprofit Community Letter  signed by more than 3,800 organizations.
2020 Conference is Going Virtual and Workshop Proposals Due 7/31

MNN's annual conference, one of the largest nonprofit conferences in the state, will be a virtual event this year. As in previous years, the conference will include the benefits hundreds of nonprofit professionals have come to expect, including great speakers, first-rate workshops, and opportunities to connect with friends both new and old. And it will be available to everyone in the nonprofit sector, without the constraints of room size or travel.

MNN is seeking proposals for 20-30 conference workshops. Workshop proposals are being solicited in nine categories, with two new categories ( Racial Justice & Dismantling Racism  and  Technology ) this year. Please read  this RFP document  thoroughly for important information and instructions on what to include in workshop proposals.  Proposals are due by Friday, July 31.  Click the button below to submit a workshop proposal.
MNN Launches Online Guide with Racial Justice and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources for Nonprofits
MNN is committed to racial justice and increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Massachusetts nonprofit sector. A new online guide hosted on MNN's website provides resources for nonprofits seeking to address racial equity and inclusion within their organizations.

The guide contains the Boston Foundation's Racial Equity Capacity Builders Directory , a listing of all Our Shared Sector articles, and other resources.

MNN will update this guide periodically, and welcomes feedback on the listing. Click the button below on the left to explore the resource page. Click the button below on the right to suggest a resource for inclusion in the guide.
" Our Shared Sector ," a partnership between MNN and YW Boston, explores the intersection of nonprofit work and efforts across the sector to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. Reach out here with any feedback or suggestions for Our Shared Sector.
How Nonprofits Can Address Stress and Trauma in the Workplace
The average full-time employee in the United States works 47 hours per week according to a 2014 Gallup poll. What’s more, technology has increasingly blurred the lines between our work and personal life, especially as more workplaces implement remote work in response to COVID-19. Yet in many workplaces, leaving your personal life behind remains a core expectation of professionalism. In a  recent webinar , YW Boston explored how unreasonable this expectation is given that stress and trauma experienced by employees are part of their life and consequently can impact them at work. If your nonprofit is planning a company-wide conversation, here are some things to consider.
Pioneer Valley and Cape & Islands Regional Meetings
Given the immense impacts of COVID-19 on nonprofits and the communities that they serve, providing for the health and wellness of all is a top priority. Regional Meetings—which will be held virtually—will cover important policy updates on COVID-19 recovery and relief efforts and will review new and expanded MNN services and programs. The meetings will also feature a presentation from the Massachusetts Health Connector on tools, tips, and best practices for nonprofit employers to determine which health insurance plan is best for their organizations. Regional Meetings are free and open to all nonprofits. Register below.
Pioneer Valley Regional Meeting
Wednesday, July 15 from 10:00-11:00 am
Presented with the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
Cape & Islands Regional Meeting
Tuesday, July 21 from 10:00-11:00 am
Sponsored by the Massachusetts CORE Plan and presented with the Cotuit Center for the Arts



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!

Brown Dog Consulting educates and inspires board of directors to govern effectively on behalf of their communities and key stakeholders. *20% discount off of all board EXCELerator courses, 10% discount off all workshops and coaching.

Charles River CFO offers part-time and interim CFO, accounting, and tax services primarily to start-up life sciences, high technology, and non-profit companies.
IPM Advancement is a full-service nonprofit fundraising agency that offers analytics, consulting and deployment products and services. *Free 30-minute consulting session, 15% off your final pricing your first analytics.

Johnson O'Connor supports local nonprofit organizations through our assurance, tax, and consulting services.

New Leadership Group guides nonprofit organizations through successful leadership transitions. *10% discount.

NextStep Nonprofit helps start-up to mid-sized nonprofits raise philanthropic revenue more efficiently and effectively. *10% discount.

Positively Partners helps nonprofits achieve exceptional performance from their employees.




Saltonstall Consulting provides the full spectrum of advancement services to nonprofits and leadership in transition. *Free hour-long consultation.

Workwonder builds fundraising programs, activates leadership, engages donors and manages strategic execution for nonprofits. *Free hour-long consultation.

Zevin Asset Management helps nonprofits advance their missions by achieving impact beyond investment performance.
NONPROFIT 411
Raising Your 501(c)(3)'s Voice in an Election Year without Risking its Exempt Status
by Dylan O'Sullivan and Eleanor Evans, Esq., Hemenway & Barnes

Nonprofits play an indispensable role in our nation’s civic discourse, engaging policymakers and the public on issues of moral, social, and economic concern. For 501(c)(3) organizations, however, this role becomes more complicated during election season due to rules prohibiting them from supporting or opposing candidates for public office.
WEBINARS
Nonprofit leaders and staff are feeling overwhelmed and disoriented by the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the shock to the economy and the impact on your colleagues, clients, communities many organizations are facing financial crisis and an uncertain future. This webinar, presented by the Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF), will help organizations navigate amid a ‘new normal’ and identify key considerations that are necessary for near-term and long-term financial health amidst revenue loss, programmatic change and overall uncertainty. This webinar is co-presented by Philanthropy Massachusetts and Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.  Register here .
Learn more about how to make GrantStation work for your organization. This overview tour of GrantStation is a great resource for Members to ensure that they are getting the most out of their Membership, and for potential Members to see GrantStation in action! Plus, see the new feature, Your GS Dashboard: Prepare, Save, Organize, and Re-Search with GrantStation. Sample searches will use real examples based on the mission of the first few organizations to register!  Register here.
In this webinar, learn from two experienced nonprofit leaders on how to build and diversify organization revenue via corporation partnerships. In this uncertain, ever-changing world, some nonprofits are using this opportunity to accelerate their revenue diversification and growth strategies with corporate partners. Consider this – a company cannot support your organization, fund your program, or sponsor your gala if they don’t know your mission exists or what impact you create. Use this time to build up your corporate pipeline and diversity revenue strategies now and for the future. Presented by MNN and Charles River CFO. The presenters are Laura Goodman of Donkey Bridge Consulting and Clay Dunn of VOW to End Child Marriage.  Register here .
JOBS and RESOURCES
Job Opportunities

Executive Director , Health Information Alliance, Inc.
Director of Development , Wellesley Free Library Foundation
Director of Marketing & Communications , Jewish Family & Children's Service
Database Manager , Samaritans Inc.
Research Manager , Chaplaincy Innovation Lab
Part-Time Executive Director , Project Giving Kids
Research Fellow - Boston Indicators , The Boston Foundation
Staff Accountant , Just-A-Start
Commonwealth Corps Program Assistant , Massachusetts Service Alliance
Clinician , Making Opportunity Count Inc.
Program Coordinator (Lowell) , The Phoenix - Sober Active Community
Grant and Evaluation Coordinator , Girls Inc. of Worcester
Environmental Policy Analyst , Work for Progress
Financial Coach , Compass Working Capital
Executive Director , Newport Music Festival
Russian Bilingual Case Manager , Jewish Family & Children's Service
Working Cities Challenge Project Manager , Federal Reserve Bank of Boston - Working Cities Challenge
Director of Community Education , Newton Public Schools
Executive Director , Jeremiah Program
Credentialing and Compensation Administrator , Unitarian Universalist Association
Facility Maintenance Mechanic , Community Teamwork
Director of Human Resources , International Institute of New England
Communications Associate , Beacon Academy
Facilities Assistant , Making Opportunity Count
AmeriCorps Ambassadors of Mentoring , Mass Mentoring Partnership
VP People and Operations , Project Bread
Executive Director, Woman's Friend Society
Direct Support Professional/CNA , Cape Abilities, Inc.
Fundraising Consultant for Strategic Development Plan , New England Foundation for the Arts
Chief Financial Officer , TSNE MissionWorks
Resources
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 401(k) CORE Plan –a 401(k) built for nonprofits–recognizes that unprecedented times call for unprecedented support. We also recognize your employees are the heart of your organization, and the CORE Plan wants to help you support them as much as possible. That’s why the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 401(k) CORE Plan is offering a start-up discount to join. If your organization currently has 20 or fewer W-2 employees and you’d like to learn more, contact the local CORE Plan representative, Lisa Cardinal at  lisa.cardinal@empower-retirement.com  or 617-510-4036. More information about the CORE Plan can be found at  www.ma-employer-core.com . 

The  Social Innovation Forum  is accepting applications for the 2020-2021 Social Innovator Accelerator, a 24 month capacity-building program for nonprofits. Organizations with budgets ranging from $100,000 - $2M are invited to apply. Once selected each Social Innovator organization receives access to cash and in-kind benefits valued at $150,000. Please visit  the website  for more information. The deadline to apply is June 20.

The Commonwealth Institute’s Nonprofit Forum II for ED's and CEO’s has openings for a few new members. The forums meet on a monthly basis, provide a safe and confidential environment for members to discuss challenges and explore topics with a trusted peer group, and are professionally facilitated. This forum will begin its new year late July. Due to the pandemic the forum is meeting virtually and TCI is offering both a discounted rate and a deferred payment plan. Please contact Ann Lindsey at  annlindsey@comcast.net  for more information about TCI's forums and membership.

The  COVID-19 Behavioral Health Information Hub  includes up-to-date information and resources for support during COVID-19 related to adult and child mental health, substance use, and social services–like housing, food security, financial security, and transportation. The COVID-19 Behavioral Health Information Hub is a part of  Network of Care Massachusetts– an online directory of more than 5,000 behavioral health and related social services agencies across Massachusetts helps connect individuals and care coordinators with support in their area.
New and Returning MNN Nonprofit Members
AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, Inc. - Ascentria Care Alliance - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/MetroWest - Boston After School & Beyond - Boston Area Gleaners, Inc. - Brain Aneurysm Foundation - Breakthrough Greater Boston - Bryce's Journey, Inc. - Center for New Americans - Christina's House, Incorporated - Class Action Network, Inc. - Community Art Center, Inc. - Creative Education Foundation - Dartmouth Cultural Center - Gifts that Matter, Inc. - Girls on the Run Greater Boston - Headliners in Education - Homes For Families - Institute for Community Health - Inversant - JBC PANS & PANDAS Foundation - Laurel Hill Association of Stockbridge - Life Needs Coop, Inc. - Mass Music & Arts Society (MMAS) - Massachusetts Association of Councils on Agin g - MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center - Metaphysical Lighthouse - MetroWest Free Medical Program - MetroWest Nonprofit Network - Newmarket Community Partners, Inc. - Reach Out and Read - Second Chances, Inc. - Tenacity, Inc. - The Alignment Initiative - The Concord Conservatory of Music - The Joy of Consent - Those Who Can, For Those In Need, Inc. - Tower Hill Botanic Garden / Worcester County Horticultural Society - Western MA Network to End Homelessness - YWCA Boston
MNN's work is made possible by our members and supporters including the Barr Foundation, The Boston Foundation, and the Highland Street Foundation.