June 8, 2023

Hello Nonprofit Leaders and Supporters,

I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather and getting a chance to get outside and take care of their mental health. We nonprofit people all-to-often are serving others but neglecting ourselves. Take a moment to enjoy all that Oregon has to offer in whatever ways you most enjoy them. 


The Oregon legislative session is quickly coming towards its close. While scheduled to close by the end of June, the legislature has not passed any bills for weeks now. Senate Republicans have denied a quorum in protest of specific bills they oppose. The Republicans have said they will grant a quorum only for voting on budget bills. With the Republican Senate walk-out, there is a real threat that all bills that were not already voted on and approved will die in this session. It is extremely unfortunate that the two parties cannot work through a compromise to keep our government functioning and work together for the best interests of all Oregonians. We call on the Senate Republicans and Democratic leadership to re-open discussions to find a solution to this impasse and get our legislative process back on track. The alternative is that hundreds of critical bills that both parties support die. Additionally, there will be a need for a rushed “Special Session” of the legislature (probably in August) in which the most important funding bills will need to be passed. No one wins when the legislative process is rushed. 


I want to take this opportunity to wish all the Black leaders in our community a Happy Juneteenth holiday. We all have a focused opportunity to learn more about the Black contributions and struggles in our society (many carried out through Black-led nonprofits). I encourage you to take time this Juneteenth to reflect on the ways in which you can support our Black colleagues!


I also want to wish a Happy Pride month to all nonprofit leaders identifying as and/or supporting the LGBTQ+ community. As we celebrate PRIDE month, it is important to remember that you don’t have to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community to think and care about the issues facing LGBTQ+ people. We can all commit to creating safe spaces to live, learning more about these community members, and supporting them with PRIDE.

Stay healthy and be safe,


Jim White

NAO Executive Director

Nonprofit News

KP Gives – Volunteer Donation Program (Open for Proposals)

We are excited to share that our friends at Kaiser Permanente Northwest are now accepting 2023 KP Gives – Volunteer Donation Program proposals!

 

Community engagement plays a crucial role in the work of community-based organizations in the Northwest. The KP Gives Volunteer Donation Program provides limited funding to select nonprofits based on employee engagement with the organization.

 

KP Gives Volunteer Donations are guided by Community Health priorities and strategies. For more information around eligibility and details, visit the KP Gives website. To access the application portal enter NW!@DON1 as the access code when prompted to do so. 

 

Proposals are reviewed once a year. The 2023 submission deadline is July 15.


Rural Advocacy Cohort 

Advocacy is important to the mission of all nonprofits. Advocacy can bring new resources to a nonprofit and change policies that improve outcomes for nonprofit constituencies. Every nonprofit based in urban or rural settings has the right to pursue advocacy to advance its mission. We have seen many great investments in urban nonprofits' capacity to advocate, but not as much for rural nonprofits. NAO is currently recruiting for a rural advocacy cohort of learners that will promote relationships and a support system among themselves and political leaders while enhancing skills, knowledge bases, and successes in advocacy. If your organization is interested in learning more, contact us, and we’ll schedule a call to discuss the program.

At the State Level

The Oregon Nonprofit Modernization Act (SB 606) is inching along in the final days of the Oregon Legislative session. Big thanks to those of you that responded to NAO’s action alert and contacted legislators asking for a hearing on SB 606 in the Joint Ways & Means Committee. Due to the support and advocacy from these nonprofit organizations, SB 606 was approved by a subcommittee. However, the subcommittee only approved the creation of a nonprofit task force to revamp contracting and grantmaking, not the bill’s other provisions. The full Joint Ways & Means Committee is expected to approve the bill tomorrow. From there, it will be sent to the Senate floor for a vote. However, it is unclear if there will be a quorum of the Senate membership. If there is no quorum by June 25, SB 606 will likely die for the session, as with hundreds of other bills.


NAO is also closely watching SB 619, which is a bill that would create data privacy requirements for both for-profit and non-profit entities that have the personal information of over 100,000 individuals in their databases. Several states have passed laws to protect personal data from being shared involuntarily. A handful of those states have exempted nonprofits because of the hardship it would create administratively and financially to comply with these requirements. Oregon’s bill would not exempt nonprofits from these requirements. This bill’s passage is also vulnerable to the Senate’s lack of quorum. 

At the Federal Level

Non-Itemizer Giving Data, 2021

On Tuesday, the Internal Revenue Service released preliminary data for individual tax returns filed in Tax Year 2021. The annual report shows that 47.7 million households claimed the non-itemizer deduction in 2021. This is the deduction that could be claimed by taxpayers taking the standard deduction; in 2021, individuals could claim an additional $300 in charitable deductions, and couples could claim $600. These non-itemizers generated $17.8 billion in charitable giving, an increase of 63.8% over the previous tax year. Nearly one-fifth (21.3%) of those donations came from taxpayers with adjusted gross income of less than $30,000. NAO team members will be in Washington D.C. next week, along with dozens of our colleagues from across the U.S. to lobby Congress to expand the ability of every-day Americans to take the charitable deduction. Preliminary Individual Income Tax Returns – Tax Year 2021, Internal Revenue Service, Jun. 6, 2023.

NAO's Upcoming Learning and Convening Opportunities

NAO Regional Network (In-person)

What We're Getting Wrong About DEI: Critical Mistakes that Block Belonging (Eugene)

June 13, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. | Presenter: Erica Briggs, NAO

Although diversity initiatives have been around for decades, the effectiveness of impact is less than ideal. With the recent awakening of social justice issues, a renewed focus has poured into organizational efforts. Still, this renewal risks falling into the same traps of previous actions, which may do more harm than good in some cases. This is illustrated in current studies that reflect the experience of historically marginalized communities; despite organizational efforts, daily realities such as dealing with microaggressions inhibit a sense of belonging in the workplace. This session will review current research on best practices for this work and highlight the "good intentions" that further marginalize and implode DEI initiatives. More details and registration information here.

Learning Opportunities for Rural Nonprofits (In-person)


Grant Writing: Keys to a Successful Foundation Proposal (Prineville)

June 21 and 28, 12 – 4:30 p.m. | Facilitator: Sarah Spangler, NAO

Join us for this two-day grant writing workshop tailored to foundation grants. This series will offer hands-on learning activities, peer networking, expert knowledge on grant readiness, grant research, proposal writing, and grant management. This series is a perfect introduction to foundation proposal writing for small and rural nonprofits and those new to grant writing. Through this course, participants will gain tangible tools and strategies to bring back and implement in their nonprofit organizations. More details and registration here.

NAO Webinars


Fundraising Through Charitable Gaming

June 13, 10 – 11 a.m. | Presenters: Susan Bower and Laurie Conforth, Oregon Department of Justice

Raffles, bingo, and Monte Carlo events are popular ways to fundraise for nonprofits. Because they are considered gambling, these events are regulated by the Oregon Department of Justice (“DOJ”). DOJ representatives will outline the rules for holding such events and answer your questions to help ensure your events are successful. More details and registration information here.


OR Nonprofit Modernization Act: Monthly Legislative Coalition Meetings

June 15, 12 – 1 p.m. | Presenter: Phillip Kennedy-Wong, NAO

Join the coalition to pass the most consequential piece of legislation, Senate Bill 606, the Oregon Nonprofit Modernization Act, in decades to the nonprofit sector. You’ll get the latest legislative information on Senate Bill 606, ideas on things that your nonprofit do to help pass the bill, and an opportunity to learn about how legislative campaigns are organized by being an active participant! This session is free, registration is required. More details and registration information here.


Board Bright: Governance Roles & Responsibilities

July 11, 3 – 4:30 p.m. | Presenter: Jenn Clemo, NAO

In this 90-minute webinar, participants will learn about the fundamentals of nonprofit governance and gain an understanding of the board’s role in the management of the organization. This webinar is part of NAO’s Board Bright Series – a quarterly board training designed for emerging and seasoned board members alike, and anyone else looking for a governance refresh. Free to NAO members! More details and registration information here


Understanding Membership in Nonprofits

July 18, 10 – 11 a.m. | Presenter: Susan Bower, Oregon Department of Justice

This session will provide an overview of the differences in membership vs. nonmembership nonprofits and discuss the rights and remedies available to members. Understanding the rights and roles of members not only facilitates organizations’ compliance with legal requirements, but also helps organizations avoid unnecessary conflict and maintain community engagement and support. More details and registration information here.

 

Board Bright: Finance Fundamentals

August 15, 3 – 4:30 p.m. | Presenter: Jenn Clemo, NAO

Join us for an overview of basic financial principles including board member responsibilities, understanding restrictions, reviewing your statements for key financial indicators, and internal controls. Please note that this webinar provides fundamentals-level overview that is most appropriate for new board members, emerging nonprofit leaders, or those looking for a refresh of the basics. Free to NAO members! More details and registration information here.


Avoiding Nonprofit Fraud & Embezzlement

August 22, 10 – 11 a.m. | Presenter: Susan Bower and Lottie Zorn, Oregon Department of Justice

Susan and Lottie will provide an overview of DOJ’s oversight of charitable entities and fiduciaries and discuss one of the most common and troubling issues DOJ sees – embezzlement. Discussion points will include: Uncharitable headlines: tales from the trenches and why nonprofits are ripe for fraud; Prevention: how to reduce the risk of embezzlement; Detection: what to look for and how to root out embezzlement; and Recovery: what to do when embezzlement occurs. More details and registration information here.


Board Bright: Engaging Your Board in Fundraising

September 12, 3 – 4:30 p.m. | Presenter: Jenn Clemo, NAO

A well-prepared and passionate board is essential to successful fundraising. This 90-minute addition to the Board Bright series will provide strategies for setting your board up for fundraising success. Learn how to create fundraising expectations from the get-go, increase your board’s understanding of the organization’s revenue needs, find ways for everyone to play a role, and build board ambassadors for your cause. Free to NAO members! More details and registration information here.

If you have any questions or difficulties registering, contact NAO's Training team at training@nonprofitoregon.org.
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