Philanthropy Front and Center-Cleveland

Allstate Foundation Awards Grants for Domestic Violence

In the face of today's economic crisis and skyrocketing jobless rates, The Allstate Foundation announced (November 20, 2009) efforts to ease the financial burdens of domestic violence survivors with $625,000 in new economic empowerment grants for statewide coalitions against domestic violence in eleven states. The grants will be used to support a variety of local programs focused on developing strategies to move survivors of abuse toward financial independence. The grantees' work will center on financial literacy, Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) and job readiness activities. In Ohio, a $50,000 economic empowerment grant was awarded to Ohio Domestic Violence Network.

This Week at the Foundation Center-Cleveland (November 23-27)

November 24:
Electronic Resources for Finding Funders, 1:00-3:00pm.
Discover resources at the Foundation Center's web site while gaining hands-on instruction in how to use Foundation Directory Online Professional to identify funders for your organization's programs. We'll also look at resources for researching individual donors.

Library Hours:
Monday: 12:00-4:30pm
Tuesday: 9:30am-4:30pm
Wednesday: 9:30am-1:00pm. Special hours and early closing.
Thursday: Closed for Thanksgiving.
Friday: Closed for Thanksgiving.

Back by Popular Demand! Turning Economic Crisis Into Opportunity: How Nonprofits Can Survive and Emerge Stronger

With more than one year of economic recession behind us, now is the time for your organization to take the necessary steps to strengthen its financial health and operate outside of "crisis mode." Our new, four-part webinar training series can help, Turning Economic Crisis into Opportunity: How Nonprofits Can Survive and Emerge Stronger.

By understanding and strengthening your current financial health, you'll be prepared to make the most of economic recovery and secure your long-term sustainability. In addition, you'll develop skills for adapting to any economic climate.

Click any title to get details and register.

Assessing Your Nonprofit's Financial Health, Tuesday, December 1

Survival Strategies for Your Nonprofit, Thursday, December 3

Strengthening Your Nonprofit's Income Portfolio, Tuesday, December 8

Beyond the Recession: Building Sustainability, Thursday, December 10

Registration fee: $45 for each session.

Special offer!
Register by November 30 for the complete four-part series for only $135.
YOU SAVE $45! Get four webinars for the price of three.

Live Q & A! Are There Alternatives to Starting a Nonprofit?

Acting on your ideas for charitable programs requires careful planning, hard work, and financial resources. Where will those resources come from? Is a nonprofit organization a necessity for accomplishing your charitable goals? What are the alternatives?

Join us here on January 20, 2010, 2:00-3:00pm Eastern Time, for a live, text-based Q & A session with attorney and Nonprofit Law Blog publisher Gene Takagi who will share information and answer your questions about alternatives to starting a nonprofit organization. Register here>>

How it Works
This live, text-based Q&A session will take place right here at our blog. Through the viewer window (below), you can easily submit questions and comments, interact with the presenter, and follow the conversation as it happens. Don't miss it!

You may also want to register for and attend our free webinar Before You Seek a Grant: A Checklist for New Nonprofits taking place immediately beforehand from 1:00-2:00pm Eastern Time.

About the Presenter
Gene Takagi is a California nonprofit and exempt organizations attorney and the principal writer and publisher of the Nonprofit Law Blog. Prior to opening his independent practice in 2005, Gene practiced corporate law at Sheppard Mullin, during which time he was awarded Outstanding Barrister of the Year by the Bar Association of San Francisco. Gene has a graduate degree in nonprofit administration and over 15 years of management experience in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. He speaks and writes regularly on nonprofit legal issues for local and national audiences.

Cleveland Considers Annual Fees for Nonprofits

The Plain Dealer reported (November 15, 2009) that consultants hired by the City of Cleveland have proposed that nonprofit organizations pay an annual fee in lieu of property taxes in an effort to boost the city's revenue. Institutions like The Cleveland Clinic, The Cleveland Museum of Art and Case Western Reserve University would be among some of the major regional stakeholders affected by the proposal, which has been carried out in one form or another in the cities of Boston, Pittsburgh and Madison, Wisconsin.

Property taxation, or alternatively, fees for municipal services to tax-exempt organizations, is not a new concept; a 2006 report by the Chronicle of Philanthropy stated that property-tax exemption in 23 of the 30 largest U.S. cities (by population size) was costing those cities $1.5 billion annually. 

Earlier this year Minnesota legislators amended their state law regarding charitable property-tax exemptions, implementing a 6-point system for determining eligibility for property-tax exemption status. The bill, along with the 6 criteria, can be read here.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Add your comments below.