Nonprofits and Charitable Giving

How to Make the Most of Your Company’s Community Involvement and Outreach Efforts

Another way to ensure that your corporate giving has a direct and positive effect in the community is to allow employees to direct donations. Employee-directed giving allows employees to support those charities that they are passionate about. It is advisable that the employer establish the parameters. For example, the directed donation must go to a registered 501(c)3 that it provides services directly to the local community.

Giving back to the community in which your business is located not only makes for good corporate citizenship but can be fulfilling on a personal level both for you as a business owner and for your employees. Donating time or money helps engage your workforce and creates building blocks for a positive corporate culture.

There are many charitable options available for a business to choose from. That can make it difficult for a small to midsize business to easily pick from among the worthy choices. Unlike large companies that give a consequential gift to a number of charities, small to mid-sized businesses may choose only one or two organizations to focus their donations each year. Therefore, choosing where to donate time and money can be a critical decision for a company and its employees.

Why Donate?

Philanthropy increases your company’s community visibility and provides a platform to share company values and culture with the community and prospective employees. Additionally, your employees can connect and engage in team building while serving their community.

A successful charitable giving campaign is one that has the support of a majority of your company’s employees. A charity that aligns with your company’s stated mission and goals or one that has deeply rooted connections to the community is likely to be well received by your employees. Local charities may already be known to you and your employees. The effects of the work, time or money donated to local charities may be immediate. Donating locally also provides a level of assurance that gifts are being used as intended.

Identifying what is needed locally is usually not a complicated process, in fact, it is not uncommon for a local media company to advertise what is needed in the community. However, if you are unable to identify a local charity that aligns closely with your company’s mission and goals, websites such as GuideStar, and the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance provide information about nonprofits.

Although there is no set amount of money a small business is required to give back to its community, a general guideline is about 6 percent of profits, according to the article “Small Business Guide to Charitable Giving and Tax Deductions” by BusinessNewsDaily.com

However, smaller companies may make a greater impact by giving time rather than money, such as volunteering for a local sports team or at a local food bank. A small business should consult with their tax advisor before initiating a companysponsored charitable giving event.

Lastly, the cold hard truth is that scammers abound and small businesses are common targets. Be vigilant and vet all prospective recipients. Red flags include unsolicited requests for donations from an unknown charity, high-pressure or urgent requests, unsolicited emails, requests for cash, gift cards, Venmo transfers and the like. Scammers may use well-designed websites and deceptive names. It is advisable to confirm any request with a phone call, but do not use any contact information or links contained in the unsolicited email and instead call your local chapter directly.

For further information on the subject, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has a webpage dedicated to scams and a specific tab for charity-related scams at https://consumer.ftc.gov/all-scams/ charity-scams

For more information, contact Janine McClintic at MacDonald Illig Attorneys at jmcclintic@mijb.com or 814/870-7715

Erie Federal Credit Union Earns Community Development Certification

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund recently certified Erie Federal Credit Union (Erie FCU) as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). This designation is available only to organizations that have proven they provide financial services and products in communities that historically have lacked access to traditional banking services. CDFI Certification is granted with the purpose of generating economic growth and opportunity in some of our nation’s most distressed communities.

“Erie FCU is proud and excited to have completed this process as the entire team worked very hard to achieve this certification over the past year”, Erie FCU CEO Brian Waugaman said. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to expand our outreach with CDFI resources and will continue to provide needed new programs, educational opportunities, and affordable lending in our communities.”

The CDFI Fund was established in 1994 to boost lending and community development through certified CDFI lenders, allowing them to expand their reach into in economically distressed areas and underserved communities. CDFI Certification opens opportunities for institutions to access CDFI Fund grants, which must be used to support financially vulnerable residents and communities.

Erie FCU received assistance in their CDFI application from CU Strategic Planning, the largest credit union consultancy focused on CDFI certification and grant fund applications, as well as strategic planning, financial empowerment and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives. “Most credit unions are already doing the work of CDFIs, and we encourage more credit unions to explore certification to expand their influence and serve even more people who are relying on high-priced, often unscrupulous lenders that hold them back from financial stability,” CU Strategic Planning CEO/Co-Owner Stacy Augustine said. “Through CDFI certification, credit unions like Erie Federal Credit Union gain access to resources they can leverage many times over.”

Erie FCU will begin the execution of its CDFI plan in the coming months.

Since its inception in 1936, Erie Federal Credit Union, has grown its membership to over 73,000 with assets of more than $800 million. As a fullservice, federally insured credit union, anyone that lives, works, worships, or attends school in Erie or Crawford County is eligible to join. For more information, visit eriefcu.org

2023 Erie Gives Set For August 8

A project of The Erie Community Foundation and community partners, Erie Gives will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. August 8.

Erie Gives is an inspiring day of giving when thousands of donors from across the country — and globe — give to hundreds of local nonprofits on one monumental day. The Foundation introduced the giving day in 2011 to support the nonprofit sector through both donations and the chance to build relationships with donors. In 2022, over 467 nonprofits received a record-breaking $8.1 million. In 2021, just over $7 million was raised. To participate, nonprofits must be a 501(c)(3), serve Erie County, and either be a member of The Nonprofit Partnership or have an Agency Endowment with The Erie Community Foundation to participate in Erie Gives.

Anyone may donate. Donations through the Erie Gives online portal to charitable nonprofit organizations are tax-deductible.

For more information, visit eriegives.org.

ERIE INSURANCE GRANTS $824K TO 22 EDUCATION NONPROFITS

Erie Insurance (ERIE) awarded 22 education nonprofits more than $824,000 in funding for 2023 to help extend educational programs to prekindergarten through 12th grade students as part of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.

Erie Insurance has donated more than $10 million through the program since it began in 2001 and has invested in education in the City of Erie and throughout Northwest Pennsylvania for decades.

“We continue to support and recognize the many nonprofits that help expand access to education for all while creating a more inclusive, vibrant and sustainable community for this and future generations,” said Brian Wilking, senior community outreach specialist. “Erie Insurance takes our responsibility to give where we live to heart, and we are pleased to leverage Pennsylvania’s EITC program to contribute in this way.”

The EITC program is a business tax credit program run by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development that encourages Pennsylvania businesses to support eligible nonprofit organizations.

This year, ERIE’s EITC recipients will provide school readiness and after-school programs, enhance literacy and introduce youth to STEM, finance, business, government, environment and the arts.

Early Connections is one of the local nonprofits receiving funds from ERIE in 2023. The grant will support Erie’s Future Fund scholarships, which allow underserved children from low-income families access to a high-quality early childhood education or preschool program for up to two years.

“Since 2012, Erie Insurance has helped serve over 1,600 Erie’s Future Fund Scholars attend high-quality preschools throughout Erie County, including many YMCA locations, The Learning Ladder and Erie First, to name a few. Scholar data is gathered to track performance and ensure consistent attendance,” said Michelle Harkins, Early Connections executive director. “We are very thankful for Erie Insurance’s dedication to our community’s children and future workforce.”

Another recipient, Penn State Behrend’s LEADS (Learn, Explore, Advance, Discover, Succeed) program, will use its grant to help reduce barriers for high school students attending a collegecredit course at Penn State Behrend this summer. The funding will be used for books and supplies, transportation and meals for LEADS students. Student development and STEM career exploration are also part of the experience.

Other organizations receiving EITC grants from ERIE in 2023 include: Americans for the Competitive Enterprise System (ACES), Asbury Woods, Boys & Girls Club, City Mission, Community Country Day School, Erie Art Museum, Erie Philharmonic, Erie Playhouse, Erie Zoo, expERIEnce Children’s Museum, Foundation For Free Enterprise Education, Gannon University, Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania, Greater Erie Community Action Committee, Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania, National Liberty Museum, Neighborhood Art House, Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center, Young Artist Debut Orchestra and WQLN.

14 KNOX LAW ATTORNEYS SELECTED FOR 2023 PA SUPER LAWYERS, RISING STARS LISTS

Bryan Baumann, Mark Claypool, Neal Devlin, Guy Fustine and Tom Tupitza, shareholders at Knox Law in Erie, have all been selected for inclusion on the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® list for 2023.

Additionally, nine attorneys have been selected for inclusion on the 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® Rising Stars list: Alex Cox, Aurora Hardin, Bill Helbling, Julia Herzing, Matt Lasher, Ashley Mulryan, Mike Musone, Philip Seaver-Hall and Bob Zaruta.

According to their website, Super Lawyers® “recognizes the top attorneys nationwide, across a variety of practice areas and firm sizes, using a patented process of independent research and peer input.”

“Rising Stars” candidates must be 40 years old or younger, or have practiced law for 10 years or less. No more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state are named to this list.

Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C. is a full-service law firm that has provided practical solutions to businesses, families, public entities, and nonprofit organizations for 65 years.

Bernatowicz Joins Generational Wealth Management

John Bongiovanni, CFP®, Adam Jack, ChFC®, Lucas Slezak, CFP®, and Generational Wealth Management, affiliated with one of the nation’s leading financial services companies — Northwestern Mutual, recently welcomed John (Jay) Bernatowicz to their team as director of Financial Planning.

Bernatowicz holds the Certified Financial Planner™ and CDFA® (Certified Divorce Financial Analyst) designations, along with his FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses. He is a lifelong resident of Erie and a graduate of Mercyhurst University.

The Generational Wealth Management team of nine with offices in Erie and Bradford, PA, provides clients with financial planning and investment advisory services.

Bongiovanni, Jack and Slezak use Generational Wealth Management as a marketing name for doing business as representatives of Northwestern Mutual. Generational Wealth Management is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, insurance agency or federal savings bank. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (NM) and its subsidiaries.

Bongiovanni, Jack, Bernatowicz and Slezak provide investment advisory services as Advisors of Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company ® (NMWMC), Milwaukee, WI, a subsidiary of NM and federal savings bank, and investment brokerage services as Registered Representatives of Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS), a subsidiary of NM, registered investment adviser, broker-dealer and member FINRA (finra.org) and SIPC (sipc.org).Bongiovanni, Jack, Bernatowicz, and Slezak are Insurance Agents of NM

Walker Filtration Names Spaeder Group Marketing Manager

Walker Filtration Inc. recently appointed Molly Spaeder as Group Marketing manager. This position will lead the Global Marketing team with locations in Newcastle, England and Erie, Pennsylvania.

Spaeder has worked at Walker Filtration’s North American headquarters in Erie for over 10 years. She previously led the business development and marketing efforts for North America, Mexico, Central and South America and played a key role in developing the brand and supporting business growth. In her new global role, she will continue to build the global brand and develop market focused strategies to support business goals in both the Erie and Newcastle locations.

An Erie native, Spaeder attended John Carroll University in Cleveland for her undergraduate studies in marketing before returning to Erie to earn her MBA at Gannon University.

Walker Filtration Inc. has been located in Erie for over 20 years and is an industry leader in compressed air and gas products and technology in the United States, Mexico, Central and South America.