Upcoming Webinars & Events

Budgeting Process Best Practices for the Small Nonprofit [Lunch & Learn Webinar]  Presented by Michelle Jarvais, CFO and Elizabeth Mathews, Sr. Accountant, NYCON February 21st, 2014    11:00am to 12:30pm EST Free for NYCON Members Only; $50 for Non-Members Register A good budgeting process engages everyone who is responsible for that budget and implementing its priorities. Even in a small nonprofit this process can get complicated. As budgeting decisions are, of course, driven both by mission and by financial need, both fiscal; and senior program staff participation is a necessity. The process should include enough time for review of the strategic priorities and goals of the organization and also allow for review, feedback, revisions, etc. Managing this process is a serious responsibility across different "teams" within your organization - or for a small nonprofit - may include everyone on staff!  Then - once a budget is in place - how do you manage this "living, breathing" document? Because as we all know, things change frequently in the world of a nonprofit. Participants in this workshop will learn practical tips to start, manage and stay on task during this critical process and throughout the year. "Get to Know Us": NYCON Membership Benefits Orientation [Webinar]  Presented by Valerie Venezia, VP of Membership & Marketing, NYCON  February 21st 10:00am - 11:00am  Free & Open to All  Register Today  In our "Get to Know Us" Sessions, NYCON staff will tell you a lot more about our membership benefits - and answer all the questions you have regarding our process, costs and what you get for FREE.     We will be talking about these benefits... Nonprofit Training, Education and Professional Assistance NYCON empowers our members with the best practices, policies, and procedures as well as information on ever-changing regulations, funding, accountability and more.  Cost Savings Solutions for Nonprofits NYCON leverages the purchasing power of thousands of nonprofits to bring you economies of scale on everything from Office Supplies to Fundraising Software. The Nonprofit Voice in New York State NYCON represents our members on the local, state and national level, giving voice to small and medium sized nonprofits everywhere. Find out how NYCON Membership will benefit you by attending this 1-hour session. Complying with the Nonprofit Revitalization Act:  Practical Webinars for New York NonprofitsPresented by David Watson, Esq, Sr. VP of Legal Accountability Services, NYCON and Michael West, Esq., Legal Advisor, NYCON  Various Dates: February 2014 - June 2014 .Webinars are held from 11am to 12:30pm.   Register Today The Nonprofit Revitalization Act is a landmark change in the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York and will usher in a modern era for the operation and governance of nonprofit corporations starting July 1, 2014. As always, here at the New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. (NYCON) your one-stop tool box and soap box we eagerly anticipated the updated statutes and have prepared a practical webinar series to address your immediate needs in the updating of your bylaws and governance materials. We encourage all of our Members to take advantage of these webinars. Part 1: New York Nonprofit Revitalization Act Part- Steps To Compliance - An Overview A comprehensive overview of the Act to take place with a plenary Q/A portion to be held in February, April & June. This offering will provide you with an overview and a practical set of actions to take to amend your bylaws to meet the new standards of the Act. Dates: February 27th, April 24th, June 26th Part 2:  New York Nonprofit Revitalization Act: Implementing YourCompliance Checklist - Whistleblower, Conflict of Interest, Committees & Executive Compensation: These webinars will be held In March and May will be a more detailed and focused on the various topics included in the Act that are new and have implications on Board governance in general and your operations specifically. Click here to register. Dates: March 25th and May 20th    Cost: FREE for current NYCON Nonprofit Members; $79 for Non-Members. All webinars are from 11:00am to 12:30pm.   Your Spring "Check Up": Conducting a Governance Self-Assessment [Lunch & Learn Webinar] Presented by Susan Weinrich, Vice President of Organizational Development Services, NYCON March 28th, 2014   11:00am to 12:30pm EST Register  Organizational assessments, in general, provide an overview of a nonprofit's status and capabilities with respect to successfully meeting current obligations and potential to more effectively and efficiently accomplish its mission. It is an evaluation of a nonprofit's condition or situation within a multi-faceted and continually evolving context. Assessments can identify areas and provide recommendations where corrective actions, improvements or other changes are necessary and/or will yield the greatest benefit to the health and success of the nonprofit. In this NYCON webinar our presenter will be focusing specifically on how to assess your organization's Governance structure and process to ensure compliance and to ensure that these mechanisms are delivering the maximum return on your staff and board members' investment of time and resources -- and ultimately making the most impact on your nonprofit's mission.

Upcoming Events & Trainings

The Five "I's" of Fundraising [Lunch & Learn Webinar] November 14th, 2013 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Presented by Susan Weinrich, VP of Organizational Development & Capacity Building Services, NYCON Free for NYCON Members Only  Register Geared towards the Board members, participants will learn how fund development fits within their overall board responsibilities and how to organize themselves to help address this challenging area. This session covers a range of strategies for generating revenue with an emphasis on fundraising. Topics include: Creating a development plan Organizing a fund development committee Fundraising strategies for success Staff & board roles in fund development Most importantly, it will help Board Members overcome their fear of fundraising and recognize that their involvement is critical to the success and sustainability of the organization. NYS Grants Gateway Info Session: Best Practices for Nonprofit Governance & Policy Creation [Vestal]  Friday, November 15, 2013 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Presented by Michael West, Esq., Legal Advisor, NYCON  REGISTER  Are you in the process of becoming 'prequalified' with New York State in order to receive funding for a contract currently in place or for future funding for which you'd like to be considered?  Your prequalification status may be delayed for multiple reasons. If your application is being held (or if you haven't been able to complete it) due to questions about any of the following reasons this workshop will be a great resource for you. Operational documents (charitable determination letter from the IRS, audit, IRS Form 990, Organizational chart, etc.) Governance Policies & Practices (internal controls, separation of duties, nepotism and other clauses in your bylaws and personnel policies) Other Documents or Governance Policies that you don't have and aren't sure how to create. In this session we will be focusing on best practices for nonprofit governance and policy creation as they relate to the Grants Gateway portal, the prequalification questionnaire and the online Document Vault. We will also be discussing the options and process for NYCON assistance available to you as a member.    Striving for Self-Sufficiency: Earned Revenue & Entrepreneurial Strategies [Utica]  November 21, 2013 from 9:00AM - 11:30AM Presented by Doug Sauer, CEO, NYCON   Cost is $10 (At the Door)  A Program of the Mohawk Valley Nonprofit Leadership Group  Register  There was a time where the most stable and viable nonprofits were those that relied on the traditional business model of contributions and government grants. Dependency on the "market" forces of philanthropic and taxpayer support is increasingly being viewed a limitation regarding sustainability as often they are outside of the influence and control of the nonprofit. Achieving self-sufficiency involves a third leg to the revenue stool - earned revenue, where there is a direct exchange of a product, service or privilege for monetary value. Participants in this workshop will have an opportunity to discuss and learn about earned revenue and entrepreneurial strategies - the pros, cons, and preparation and cultural shifts necessary to proceed down the entrepreneurial path.   This presentation is being funded by the Cororate Partners of The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties.   We appreciate their support.Please visit their website for more information, www.foundationhoc.org    How Changes in New York's Unemployment Program Affect Your Nonprofit [Lunch & Learn Webinar]  November 22, 2013 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Presented by Cecilia Piazza, Director, Unemployment Program, First Nonprofit Companies  REGISTER  This webinar will discuss, in detail, the various unemployment insurance  coverage options currently available to nonprofit organizations, and specifically how unemployment compensation rates are assigned, the upcoming tax cost increases in New York State and various federal and state unemployment insurance benefit programs for claimants.  Did You Know? Nonprofits Have Options Nonprofits typically have fewer unemployment claims than the private sector; therefore, they often subsidize the state unemployment fund by paying more than necessary. Federal and state laws allow 501(c)(3) organizations to reimburse the state unemployment fund, rather than pay the UI tax in advance of having actual claims. FNC's unemployment programs may well reduce your unemployment costs if you currently participate in the state tax system, and can provide you with a safety net if you have already chosen the reimbursable option. Participation in FNC programs provides: Unemployment insurance savings of as much as 60% No pooling or shared risk Fixed annual cost Fully insured option to eliminate risk or Stop Loss Insurance with customized attachment points to minimize your exposure Professional representation in unemployment hearings and claim amount auditing included Access to training and services that can decrease the number of invalid claims If your nonprofit employs 10 or more people, this is an option worth learning about and exploring. FNC covers over 1,500 nonprofit employers across the country. They want to help even more organizations save money and avoid risk - starting right here in New York. Beyond Collaboration: Exploring & Navigating Corporate Affiliations [Hudson]  December 11, 2013 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM   A Workshop Provided by the New York Council of Nonprofits with Support from The Dyson Foundation Presented by Doug Sauer, CEO and Dave Watson, Senior VP of Legal Accountability and Compliance Services & General Counsel  Register Today      FREE Perhaps now more than ever, community-based nonprofits are seeking ways to do businessdifferently and are exploring whether affili  ation may be a path to sustainability and growth.  Join NYCON's highly experienced staff experts in learning about the various forms, processes, potential benefits and risks associated with corporate affiliations,including merger, acquisitions, subsidiary relationships and shared service arrangements. This initiative is available to help nonprofit organizations, libraries or units of government based in the Mid-Hudson Valley (Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, and Ulster counties) move from the exploring the feasibility of strategic restructuring, to planning the restructuring and implementing the plan, to enhancing the restructured entity. Funding is available for additional technical assistance, consulting, training or meeting facilitation and more. If, after this session, your organization is contemplating a serious merger or restructuring, then we encourage you to take advantage of this valuable resource through The Dyson Foundation. The "Beyond Collaboration" Workshops are provided as a part of The Dyson Foundation Nonprofit Strategic Restructuring Initiative. New Tools for Creating a Vibrant, Engaged and Energized Board in the 21st Century [Lunch & Learn Webinar] December 13, 2013 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM (EST) Presented by Andrew Marietta, Regional Manager, NYCON Central New York Office and Valerie Venezia, VP of Membership & Marketing Free for NYCON Members; $50 for Non-Members While we still have to recognize the traditional factors that motivate our Boards of Directors, we also need to acknowledge the fact that the most successful ways to connect with these individuals may have completely changed. Models of board meetings & board communication have not caught up with the current ways we engage in our "everyday" communication. This session will help identify motivating factors (both old & new), identify and discuss new ways of recruiting & engaging board members and how new online tools can help make the best use of everyone´s time and accomplish more with less. For those of you who attended this workshop at Camp Finance, on this webinar we will be able to spend more time on areas of concern like: managing & directing cultural change within your organization and additional specifics on tools you can use to make your (and your board members) life easier. Free for NYCON Members; $50 for Non-Members

Announcement: Upcoming NYCON Events & Trainings

Compliance Check: Revising Your By-Laws  [Free Lunch & Learn Webinar for NYCON Members] July 11th, 2013 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (EDT) Presented by Dave Watson, VP of Legal Accountability & Compliance Services (LACS), NYCON and Michael West, Esq. Legal Advisor, New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. Register Now Though many nonprofit staff and board members may think that bylaws are just something you have to do have to start your organization - oftentimes drafted, reviewed, approved and promptly shelved away -what some don't realize is that your organization is governed by that document and, as such, bylaws spell out what you can and can't do by way of good board governance. Our webinar is designed to help you understand key bylaw clauses, how they affect your organization and how the new developments in New York regarding nonprofits may impact your bylaws. Large structural changes to the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York will be discussed briefly, and detailed questions will be referred to the August and September during the two 'Revising You By-Laws to Comply with New York's Nonprofit Revitalization Act'.  Any Package Bylaw-Personnel Policy Reviews throughout the remainder of this year will include free updates of language and bylaw clauses when NYCON's team of attorney's develops them to meet these new obligations  Register Now  [Benefit Spotlight] The Budget and Cash Flow  Toolkits for NYCON Members... Tuesday, July 16th, 2013 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM Presented by Michelle Jarvais, CFO of NYCON and Beth Mathews, Senior Accountant at NYCON Register Now If you missed our previous "Budget and Cashflow Toolkit Webinars" don't worry because there's another one coming up in July! Just in time for budget and cash flow planning, we've developed a new benefit for our members that will truly be the "best friend" of every fiscal person who uses it! Designed with the needs and resources of the smaller to medium sized nonprofit in mind, NYCON's CFO and her staff have designed a "foolproof" tool for developing a streamlined, compliant and easy to understand budget.  The features of the Budget Toolkit include: Built in instructions on "Getting Started" and "How to Develop Your Budget" Built in formulas and linked spreadsheets Definitions & Glossary on types of budgets, frequently used budgeting terms & more Helpful notes that 'pop up' as you create your budget spreadsheet  Quick and easy allocations (for shared costs like space and supplies, etc.) Templates that your organization can utilize to customize for your own organization's budget and salary and fringe expenditures. And more!  On our webinar we will also show you an example of the new "Cash Flow Toolkit" which, just like the Budget Toolkit, will be a great addition to any nonprofit fiscal office.   With funding being tight and payments from state contracts and other funders becoming less timely and reliable, it is essential for a nonprofit to attempt to monitor its own cash flow. This toolkit, like our Budget Toolkit, takes the mystery out of forecasting and helps to guide you step-by-step through the process. See how these tools can help your nonprofit. Register Now    Get to know your NYCON Benefits NYCON Membership Benefits OrientationNew Dates Added in July, August & September 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (EDT) Presented by Valerie Venezia, VP of Membership and Marketing and Amber Vanderwarker, Membership & Marketing Associate Register Now In our "Get to Know Us" Sessions, NYCON staff will tell you a lot more about our membership benefits - and answer all the questions you have regarding our process, costs and what you get for FREE.  We will be talking about these benefits...    Nonprofit Training, Education and Professional Assistance NYCON empowers our members with the best practices, policies, and procedures as well as information on ever-changing regulations, funding, accountability and more.    Cost Savings Solutions for Nonprofits NYCON leverages the purchasing power of thousands of nonprofits to bring you economies of scale on everything from Office Supplies to Fundraising Software.    The Nonprofit Voice in New York State NYCON represents our members on the local, state and national level, giving voice to small and medium sized nonprofits everywhere. Find out how NYCON Membership will benefit you by attending this 1-hour session  Register Now    Camp Finance 2013: Rethink, Retool & Reboot!  Preparing for Better Days Ahead October 10th & 11th, 2013    New Paltz, NY  With Special Keynote Speaker Dan Pallotta Register Now Camp Finance is an unparalleled opportunity for your staff and board members to retreat, learn, network and make lasting connections with peer and nonprofit experts. Here's just some of  what some of last year's attendees said about Camp Finance: "Knowledgeable speakers and real life experiences." "Gave me take away tools I can use." "It was a great time to step away and reflect on some critical issues for our organization in the context of a great group of professionals. I had some important questions answered and discovered some new questions I needed to be asking." "The speakers were very approachable and helpful as were all NYCON staff. Of course the setting and food served were very WOW." Camp Finance has always been a source of information, encouragement and support for nonprofits in New York State - especially through our most challenging times.   It's a chance to engage with leading nonprofit experts, your nonprofit peers, and take back useful knowledge and tools to your nonprofit. We hope to see you there!  Register Today!            Check Out Our Recorded Webinars! Thanks to the support of CS Plus,NYCON's popular Lunch & Learn Webinars are now being recorded and will be available for members for up to six months!  NEW: Workers Comp Issues for Nonprofit Arts Organizations [Webinar for NYSCA Grantees]  Social Media Myth Busting: If You Build it Will They Come? Beyond Collaboration: A Special Session with Doug Sauer NYCON Policy New and Updates: Campaign to End "The Overhead Myth NYS Grants Portal Opens: A "One- Stop Shop" Schneiderman implements additional disclosure rules for nonprofits Audit Guide for Charitable Nonprofits Other Events & Webinars of Interest to NYCON Members: FROM IDEALWARE Getting Started with Social Media Fundraising June 27, 1:00 pm -2:30 pm Eastern.$40.00 Nonprofits are using social media, but how do they use it for fundraising? Yes, social media can be used for fundraising, and organizations are already doing so. In this new session, developed specifically for the Day of Giving Toolkit, we outline the how social media can integrate with fundraising efforts and be an effort on their own. register > Donor Management Systems Toolkit  July 9, 1:00 pm -2:30 pm Eastern.$225.00   Most nonprofits care a lot about their donors. But do you have the right donor management system to help you keep track of them? Navigating the choices you have when choosing a donor management system can be daunting. That's why Idealware has created the online course, "The Donor Management Systems Toolkit", to help you navigate the choices. Telling Your Story Through Blogs, Photos, and Videos  July 9, 1:00 pm -2:30 pm Eastern.$40.00 Idealware will cover the principles of good storytelling, look at examples and research about what's working for nonprofits, and then discuss the tools that can help you put them online.

Upcoming Events & Training

From Audit to Redesign: The Complete Nonprofit Website Toolkit   Five, Live, 90-Minute Sessions. June 4th - July 2nd, 2013  NYCON Members: $140; Non-Members: $200 Members can use code "NYCON2013" to get the discount. Membership will be verified. Non-members will be charged $200 for this webinar series.]  Register Now    Can you remember when your organization's website was designed? Can  your supporters and constituents navigate and find the information they need? Can your staff members easily create or update content on your website? If you answered no to any of those questions, it might be time to bring that website into the 21st Century.  Over five Tuesdays in June and July, join Idealware as they walk you through Website 101, review best practices for accessibility, mobile-optimized sites, and reinforcing your organization's online brand. They'll also take a look at the content management systems (CMS) that can give even your least tech-savvy staff members the tools to update website content themselves. Finally, they'll talk about how your website content works alongside your email, direct mail, and social media efforts to create your organization's communications mix. Takeaways from the course: Define goals for how your website will serve your audience Learn best practices for designing an accessible, usable, and polished website Compare your content management system (CMS) options How to make sure your website shows up well on search engines  Create your organization's website action plan with next steps and action items for an improvement process Brought to you through a partnership between the New York Council of Nonprofits and Idealware. Five, Live, 90-Minute Sessions. June 4th - July 2nd, 2013  NYCON Members: $140; Non-Members: $200 Members can use code "NYCON2013" to get the discount. Membership will be verified. Non-members will be charged $200 for this webinar series.] Register Now Social Media Myth Busting: If You Build It,  Will They Come?  [Lunch & Learn Webinar] June 14th, 2013 11:00am to 12:30pm Presented by Andrew Marietta, Regional Manager, Central NY Office, NYCON and Valerie Venezia, Vice President, Membership & Marketing, NYCON Free for NYCON Members Only Register Sometimes it seems like there's a new hot social media tool launched every day of the week. Figuring out what these tools do, how our nonprofit should use them, and frankly, if you need to use these tools can boggle anyone's mind. As busy nonprofit staff and board members we need to know what specific tool do we use for our specific goals? How do we measure success? This webinar will help cut through the clutter of social media mayhem and help you simplify, refocus, and target social media tools based on organizational needs and a focused message (and maybe even some actual metrics!)  Register  Workers Comp Issues for Nonprofit Arts Organizations [Webinar for NYSCA Grantees]  Friday, June 21, 2013 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (EDT) Presented by Frederic J. Buse, Managing Director, Schwartz Heslin Group, Former Director of Unemployment Insurance, NYS; Department of Labor and Michael West, Esq. Legal Advisor, New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. Register Now Virtually all employers in New York State - including nonprofit employers - must provide workers' compensation coverage for their employees. For many nonprofit arts organizations specifically the world of workers comp gets, well, more complicated. Many organizations have seasonal, time delimited or specialized artistic talent working on projects, shows, performances or exhibits. Determining who should and shouldn't be covered is a priority for arts organizations and can save time, money and legal wrangling down the line. This webinar will cover the details of workers comp as it applies to the special needs of nonprofit arts groups, how to determine "employee" status and risks of not properly defining employment status. We will also be discussing recent trends in New York State in regard to workers comp. Register Now  Camp Finance 2013: Rethink, Retool & Reboot! Preparing for Better Days Ahead October 10th & 11th, 2013    New Paltz, NY Register Now with Memorial Day Discount Codes We're kicking off the summer with savings! From now until May 31st take $40 off your CAMP FINANCE single occupancy registration with codeMEMDAY1. Or take $20  off your double occupancy registration with code MEMDAY2. Click here for more information on what CAMP FINANCE will be offering this year, including details on our newly announced Keynote Speaker Dan Pollatta, author of   Dan Pallotta, Author,  Camp Finance Keynote Speaker "Uncharitable" and "Charity Case. "Dan's Keynote, titled after his first book "Uncharitable," challenges the way we've always been taught to think about charity and change. If we changed the way we think about charity, Dan argues, charity could change the world. This is a keynote you do not want to miss.  Take advantage of the savings now. And remember you can use the code for each staff or board member you register. If you do, you'll be celebrating again when October rolls around and you're packing your bags to join us at CAMP FINANCE. To take advantage of this offer please CLICK HERE and enter code MEMDAY1 (for a single occupancy registration) or MEMDAY2 (for a double occupancy registration) before 5pm on Friday, May 31st. Other Upcoming Trainings of Interest to NYCON Members Webinars from IDEALWARE NYCON Members Receive 20% off with code NYCON2013When Registering. Membership will be verified and non-members will be charged $40. Measuring Your Mission: Using Data to Track Organizational Health and Success May 30, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Eastern. $40.00 Getting Started with Online Conferencing and Seminar Tools  June 6, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Eastern. $40.00 Thursday, June 6th, 1:00 - 2:30 EST Getting Started with Social Media Fundraising June 27, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Eastern. $40.00 Free Fundraising, Marketing & Social Media Webinars from NETWORK FOR GOOD June 4 1 p.m. EST           Nonprofit 911:   Free Marketing Resources for Your Nonprofit REGISTER   MIss a Recent Webinar? Check Out Some of Our Recordings Free Educational & Member Benefits Spotlights For All Members of NYCON: NYCON Membership Benefits - Overview  [Benefits Spotlight] Budget & Cash Flow Tool Kits Webinar  [Benefits Spotlight] Employee Benefits Packages - Overview  [Lunch & Learn] The Art & Science of Board Decision Making: Document!  Free Educational Webinars Designed for Members Funded by NYSCA:  How to be a Fiscally Compliant Arts Organization  Governance Vs. Management: A Webinar for Nonprofit Arts Organizations  Managing Cash Flow for Arts Organizations  Strategic Planning for Arts Organizations  Employees vs. Independent Contractors: Roles, Rules & Risks