Newsletter - November 2006 UPDATE

Creating a State Association for Wisconsin’s Nonprofits continues in earnest. Always before us is our planning is the purpose: to collectively strengthen Wisconsin’s nonprofit sector and in turn help individual nonprofits to reach their fullest capacity and better serve their constituencies. WNA will be a sector-wide and statewide association providing services for nonprofits. The association will enhance capacity building, provide increased access to knowledge and resources, give a state and national voice to nonprofits and collaborate to leverage resources for all nonprofits in Wisconsin.

Help Us Spread The Word
Invite others to learn more about this effort to build a statewide, sector-wide, association of Wisconsin’s nonprofits. Add their names and contact information to the expanding database of interested nonprofit leaders, organizations and businesses. Tell us why you support this effort to start a state association of nonprofits. We’d like to share your thoughts with others and display some of these testimonials on our soon-to-be released website. Send your thoughts and comments to JoAnn Stormer, joann@wisconsinnonprofits.org .

Our Progress & Accomplishments continue to expand including:

• Recruitment and formation of founding board members – soon to be announced Organizational logo in the works
• Supporters continue to join in sponsoring this effort
• The Wisconsin Nonprofit Sector Report research has been gathered and the report is being prepared for publication
• Representation at the National Council of Nonprofit Associations Annual Conference in Washington, DC
• Two Representatives attended the Nonprofit Congress in Washington, DC , October 16 & 17
• Planning for a special charter membership opportunity for full and associate members
• Meetings held with various vendors to negotiate services for members
• Awarded an intensive technical assistance session with the National Council Of Nonprofit Associations
• Ongoing meetings with interested individuals, organizations & businesses
• Applying for and securing funding for the planning of and the establishment of the association;
• Continued work on the business plan
• Membership for Wisconsin in the National Council of Nonprofit Associations as an “emerging” state association
• Draft work on a Name, Mission, Vision and Values statements
• Founding Board of Directors work including criteria, letter of interest, board member agreement and application form
• A database of interested, supportive people continues to expand as word of this effort grows
• Development of the opening website
• Town Hall meetings for the National Nonprofit Congress held in Janesville and Milwaukee in Sept
• Draft work on organizational bylaws, Articles of Incorporation, and 501c3 application

Nonprofit Sector News

• From the Nonprofit Congress held in Washington, D.C., October 16 & 17, 2006400 delegates, 47 states, 3 priorities.Delegates including two from Wisconsin voted and the three top priorities for national action were decided upon. They are:
  • Priority 1. Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness: Ensure that the sector has the resources it needs to serve communities and is effectively and efficiently managed. The key focuses of this priority are:
    • Accountability and Best Practices - The nonprofit sector is accountable, responsive, and operates efficiently and is accountable to its clients and donors.
    • Leadership - The nonprofit sector has effective and strong leadership with a focus on mission.
  • Priority 2. Advocacy and Grassroots Community Activities: Advocate for the sector at large and engage our constituents to solve problems at the grassroots level.
  • Priority 3. Public Awareness and Support of the Sector: Increase public understanding and support so that nonprofits can continue to do their best work. To learn more view a video of the Nonprofit Congress go to: www.nonprofitcongress.org/video.htm
• Alliance for Nonprofit Management is now accepting proposals for workshops and invites its members, sponsors and the nonprofit community to submit proposals for the 2007 Annual Conference, to be held July 18-20 in Atlanta, GA, at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel. Deadline: 12/15/06. For more information, www.allianceonline.org

Did you know?
As of the latest research –

• There were a total of 837,027 charitable nonprofits in the United States, excluding foundations and religious congregations.
• 288,150 charitable nonprofits had gross receipts of over $25,000 in 2003 and filed IRS Form 990. These organizations are often referred to as “reporting” nonprofits.
• Total assets of all reporting nonprofits were $1.76 trillion. The majority of charitable nonprofits are small to mid-size organizations with 77 percent having assets of less than $1 million.
• Total expenditures of all reporting nonprofits were $945 billion.

Continuing Financial Support
We recently received grants from the Otto Bremer Foundation and the Faye McBeath Foundation for this current planning stage. They join the Helen Bader Foundation, Nonprofit Management Fund, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation and the Nonprofit Management Fund of Waukesha as believers in this vision. Thanks to our gracious and generous supporters.