Community Health Foundation Implements Health Insurance Survey

The Buffalo News reported that when 1,700 Western New Yorkers were questioned by local health care reformers, their top concerns centered around how they are treated by medical professionals and how to get broader access to care.

In Washington, the top concern is how to pay for changes in a system that consumes an astounding 17 percent of gross domestic product—far more than any competitor nation—without covering everyone and with no commensurate benefit for the extra money.

That disconnect underlines the health care crisis of 2009, where patients worry about quality, politicians worry about costs, and conservatives try to use both concerns to kill reform—again.
That’s why it’s noteworthy that controlling costs was not among the top five concerns that came out of 114 community meetings to hear what Western New Yorkers want.

That may be because many on public programs or who have good employer coverage don’t feel costs very directly, said Ann F. Monroe, president of the Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York, one of the organizers of this unprecedented project. Read more here.

Erie County SPCA gets $5 million "no kill" grant

The Buffalo News reported that the Erie County SPCA and its partners — public and private shelters countywide—have been awarded a $5 million grant that will be used to help pets and pet owners, making all shelters no-kill facilities within five years.

“We should be proud of this,“ said Carr. “Maybe we can’t get the Stanley Cup or win the big football games, but we have a community that’s going to make sure all healthy and treatable animals have a home.”

“I never thought, that in my professional lifetime, that I would be able to make an announcement like this,” said Carr, the SPCA’s executive director. “The grant is a tremendous testament to our fabulous community.”

Special programs will be developed to deal with the feral cat and pit bull terrier populations.
Already, the SPCA is well on its way to the no-kill goal.

At the Tuesday afternoon news conference where the grant was announced, Carr said: “We picked this day for this news conference . . . because today marks one year at the SPCA where no healthy animal has been euthanized.”

Maddie’s Fund, the Pet Rescue Foundation, was created in 1999 in memory of Dave and Cheryl Duffield’s miniature schnauzer, with the goal of creating a “no-kill nation” for all healthy shelter dogs and cats.

The grant to the SPCA is only the 10th community collaborative award since the fund was established.

Partnering with the SPCA are Buffalo Humane, City of Buffalo Animal Shelter, HEART, Operation PETS: The Spay/Neuter Clinic of Western New York, Second Chance Sheltering Network and Ten Lives Club. Read more here.

NYSERDA Grant Opportunity for NYS Nonprofits

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announces a new grant opportunity through the Energy Conservation Study ARRA Assistance Program. This opportunity provides funding to complete Energy Conservation Studies, which can be used to support applications to upcoming project implementation funding opportunities through NYSERDA's administration of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. All New York State non-profits [501(c)3] will be eligible participants. The studies can address the following topics: energy efficiency; renewable energy; and alternative fuel vehicles. Under this program, each applicant will be eligible to receive funding of 100% of the study cost up to $30,000. The completed study can then be used as supplemental material for future ARRA grant applications.

For the full PON description and application, visit the website here: http://www.nyserda.org/funding/0004pon.pdf

Getting started with the New York State Cultural Data Project

Dear Arts and Cultural Colleagues,

Since the June 1, 2009 launch of the New York State Cultural Data Project (New York State CDP), more than 375 organizations statewide have started using the CDP! This powerful management tool will, at no cost, allow arts managers and artistic leaders to understand and analyze their organization’s financial performance through easy-to-run reports. By participating in the New York State CDP, you will be part of a successful and growing project that will allow researchers and the arts community as a whole to better articulate and provide evidence for the sector’s assets and needs, as well as its contributions to the state and the country. By completing the online form annually, you will also be able to generate reports to be submitted to grantmakers with the click of a button.

Learn more about the New York State CDP at www.nysculturaldata.org. We hope you will join us for a demonstration and discussion and learn about how the CDP can provide valuable tools for your organization. Please review the schedule below and register for one of the upcoming sessions in your area.

Feel free to contact the New York State CDP Help Desk at help@nysculturaldata.org or 1-888-NYSCDP-1 (1-888-697-2371).

Get the most from the New York State CDP.
Attend a free demonstration and discussion.

In these 90-minute demonstration and discussion sessions we will give you an overview of the New York State CDP and everything you need to get started using it. Refreshments will be served.
July 20 - 23, 2009, Western New York

• Olean July 20, 9:30 am, St. Bonaventure University,William F. Walsh Science Center
• Ellicottville July 20, 2:00 pm, Holiday Valley Resort, Creekside Lodge
• Buffalo July 21, 9:30 am, Canisius Amherst Conference Center SOLD OUT
• Geneseo July 22, 2:00 pm, Wadsworth Library
• Rochester July 23, 2:00 pm, Brighton Town Hall

August 17, 2009, Western New York

• Buffalo, August 17, 2:00 pm, Canisius Amherst Conference Center

August 18 - 21, 2009, Central New York & the Southern Tier

• Ithaca, August 18, 9:30 am Location to be announced
• Binghamton, August 19, 9:30 am, Broome County Public Library
• Utica, August 20, 2:00 pm Location to be announced
• Syracuse, August 21, 9:30 am, Le Moyne College, Coyne Center for the Performing Arts

Upcoming Demonstrations and Discussions
September 23, 2009
NYS ARTS Summit 2009, Schenectady

September 24 - 25, 2009
Mid-Hudson Region

October, 2009
New York City

November, 2009
Adirondack Region

NYCON Launches Interim ED Program

Are You Looking for an Exciting Opportunity to Lead a Nonprofit Organization?
Consider becoming an Interim Executive Director!

What is the Interim Executive Director Leadership (IEL) Program? The Interim Executive Director Leadership (IEL) Program is designed to help meet the needs of nonprofit agencies as significant numbers of nonprofit executives are expected to retire over the next 5 years. The Interim Executive Director Leadership (IEL) Program is a comprehensive training, placement and support initiative designed for qualified, experienced nonprofit professionals in transitional nonprofit Executive Director/CEO positions in New York State. Interim Executive Directors trained through our program will provide effective transitional leadership to nonprofits in order to strengthen organizational health and effectiveness during a time of transition.

Consider Becoming an Interim Executive Director if you are a:
Current and/or former executive director with successful experience in nonprofit executive management;
Nonprofit professional who is currently or have already served as an Interim Executive Leader who would like to be involved with this initiative and receive specialized training to augment and build upon their current skills;
Nonprofit Professional or consultant who clearly demonstrates executive leadership knowledge, abilities, maturity and effectiveness.

Program Dates & Locations: Please note that space in the training sessions listed below is limited. Registrants must complete an application process that includes submission of a writing sample and at least one reference. Candidates who successfully complete the training and secondary evaluation process may be placed into Interim Executive Director positions through this program.

Dates:
August 18th, 2009 - Albany, NY NYCON Main Office, 272 Broadway, Albany, NYTime: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Cost: $150, Training Materials & Lunch Provided

August 20th, 2009 - Rochester, NY United Way of Greater Rochester, 75 College Avenue, Rochester, NY Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Cost: $150, Training Materials & Lunch Provided

For more information click here or please contact: Jennifer Lockwood, Program Director jlockwood@nycon.org(845) 454-5062 x. 102

Cattaraugus County Arts Council takes a stand by making artistic seats

The Buffalo News reported about an Arts Council's response to the widespread state budget cuts that have impacted nonprofits everywhere. As the article relates:

Arts programs run through the Cattaraugus County Arts Council at the Allegany State Park received massive cutbacks, putting in jeopardy many of the classes, workshops and exhibits that are made available each year to enthusiasts of all ages.

For Heidi Tschopp and Anne Conroy Baiter, that wasn’t acceptable.

Tschopp, a park and recreation aide, and Baiter, executive director of the arts council, both jumped at an idea Tschopp had seen in Lake Placid—a fundraiser that involves auctioning off specifically designed Adirondack chairs that could be displayed in the park.

The exhibit, “Art and the Adirondack Chair,” features 18 chairs that can be found at nine locations, starting at the administration building in the Quaker rental office. The three styles of chairs (adult, children’s and a new “throne-ish” style called “breakdown” that was built without nails or screws) can be seen at the 65,000-acre state park through Aug. 18. Read more here.

Chairs can viewed at www.myartscouncil.net. How is your nonprofit responding to funding cuts or donation decreases? Share your thoughts here.