Volume 1, Issue 4
Winter 2010
The New
Homeless Competition, lack of affordable housing intensify homelessness in spite of healthy N.D. economy
Ending Long-Term Homelessness
Effective Corporate Giving
Special feature by Michael Carbone, Executive Director, N.D Coalition for Homeless People
Q & A with Matthew Mohr
also‌ Hunting for a New Organization | Fundraising strategies | Domestic Violence Prevention
1407 1st Avenue North, Fargo, ND, 58102 phone 701.364.4001 | fax 701.365.8118 www.todaysgiving.com
Publisher
Illustration & Cartoons
Editors In Chief
Advertising Account Executive
Managing Editor
Printing
Today’s Giving Shannon Schweigert, Founder Lisa Jackson, Founder
Kate Henne
Staff
Karla Tetreault
Graphic Design
Mike Biewer, Creative Director Jamie Farmen, Production Design Dan Nisbet, Production Design
Steve Stark
Volume 1, Issue 4
Lynn Hanson, Lead Sales Lisa Jackson
Winter 2010
Thank you to our grocery distributors Hugo’s Hornbacher’s Central Market Dan’s Supermarket
Letters Send letters to the editor to info@todaysgiving.com. Distribution Information Today’s Giving is available free by pick up at multiple distribution
points throughout North Dakota, western Minnesota, and northeastern South Dakota. For a list of outlets that provide Today’s Giving, visit www.todaysgiving.com. If you need more information about availability in your region or wish to request an issue copy, contact info@todaysgiving.com.
Subscription Services In addition to free pickup of Today’s Giving, you can receive
your personal copy by ordering an annual subscription for $19.95 for four issues delivered to directly your home, business or agency. Contact subscriptions@todaysgiving.com or visit todaysgiving.com.
Advertising Contact lynn@todaysgiving.com or Lynn Hanson at 701.730.4570.
Article Proposals Send article proposals to info@todaysgiving.com.
“Faces of Giving” This section of each issue will recognize those who give in unique ways. Send recommendations to info@todaysgiving.com.
The mission of Today’s Giving is to provide insight, inspiration, and knowledgeable guidance that will help individuals, businesses, and agencies maximize their time and contributions to meet their unique giving goals. Today’s Giving is an independent organization owned by GivingPoint™ and is not affiliated with specific nonprofits. ©2010 All articles and content in this publication are under copyright and rights are reserved. Any use or reproduction of the content is prohibited without written permission from GivingPoint™. To request reprint permission, contact info@todaysgiving.com. Some articles in this magazine are submitted by independent authors and industry specialists. Therefore, their views may vary and may not be those of the publishers, Today’s Giving™ or GivingPoint™. “Abstract Cloudy Stock Background Texture”, available under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. 2009, Backgroundsetc.
2 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
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United Printing, Bismarck, ND
Today’s Giving cover was a collaboration between local artists, organizations and businesses to visually show the transition of homelessness into a bright future. Photography is by Ockhardt Photography, the construction photo is provided by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, the model is Tucker Lewis and design was achieve by Biewer Media LLC. Ockhardt Photography 108 Front Street Barnesville, MN 218.779.9021 www. ockhardtphoto.com LAHFH PO Box 1022 210 N 11th Street Moorhead, MN 56561-1022 218.284.5253 www.lakeagassizhabitat.org Biewer Media LLC. www.mikebiewer.com
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From Our Readers
5
From the Founders
6
North Dakota Promotes Philanthropy Through Legislation
10
Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA)
Special feature by Brianna J. McAleer
14
Ending Long-Term Homelessness Special feature by Michael Carbone
16
Effective Corporate Giving
Q & A With Matthew Mohr
20
Domestic Violence Prevention
24
The New Homeless
Effective Corporate Giving Q & A with Matthew Mohr
16 Domestic Violence Prevention Success
Competition, lack of affordable housing intensify homelessness in spite of healthy N.D. economy
34
Hunting For A Better Organization
38
Social Media: Following the Rules of Engagement
42
Fundraising Strategies For A New Year
44
Calendar of Events
46
NEW! Industry Buzz
47
Faces of Giving
20 Hunting for a Better Organization
34 Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 3
From Our Readers
From the Founders
HOPE LODGE – A HOME AWAY FROM HOME FOR CANCER PATIENTS While being treated for renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) at the University of Minnesota – Fairview Hospital, I became aware of a wonderful facility sponsored by the American Cancer Society. This facility is called the Richard M. Schulze Family – American Cancer Society Hope Lodge®. Richard M. Schulze is the founder and chairman of Best Buy stores. I’m writing this letter to Today’s Giving in hopes of spreading the word about this wonderful resource available to cancer patients from our region who may also be receiving treatment through the University of Minnesota Medical Centers. Hope Lodge is a beautiful apartment-style, non-medical facility, located about a mile away from the medical center. It offers a sense of community and comfort to cancer patients who must travel to the Twin Cities for treatments which typically are not found in their local communities. It provides over 40 private guest rooms, “free of charge” to cancer patients and their caregiver who reside at least 40 miles from Hope Lodge and are undergoing active cancer treatment. Guests have their own room which has a private bath, is handicap accessible and has a wonderful kitchen area. We have met many people who use this facility from northwestern Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Some of these people are there for long periods of time having treatments such as stem cell transplants, which generally require a stay of at least 100 days near the treatment facility. Many of these patients cannot afford the motel costs for this length of time. The Richard M. Schulze Family American Cancer Society Hope Lodge® will save patients an estimated $2 million in hotel expenses in 2010. Construction of the Hope Lodge was a community effort with a $5 million challenge grant from the Richard M. Schulze Fam-
ily Foundation. This was matched with another $5 million from individual donations. The land was provided by the University of Minnesota through the Minnesota Medical Foundation and the University’s Cancer Center. Dealing with cancer is often a long and emotional process. At Hope Lodge, patients and their caregivers receive support from professionals, families, friends, and other cancer patients and caregivers to help build and strengthen their hope. This process is a fundamental piece of the cancer journey. Hats off to the Richard M. Schulze Family for making Hope Lodge a reality!
Darold D. Rath Fargo, ND
Darold Rath is the former CEO of accounting firm EideBailly, LLP. His positive outlook throughout his on-going cancer battle is well-known and an inspiration to many. Throughout his treatment, he has continued to focus on helping others through volunteerism at Hope Lutheran Church and Wellspring for the World. For more information about Hope Lodge: Website: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/subsite/hopelodge/ index.asp The Richard M. Schulze Family ACS Hope Lodge Minneapolis, MN Phone: 612.238.7603 Sandra J. Schulze ACS Hope Lodge Rochester, MN Phone: 507.529.HOPE
We welcome your letters or e-mail on any topic regarding the act of and need for giving, whether or not Today’s Giving has covered it directly in our quarterly magazine or on our web site online. Please send your feedback and comments to info@todaysgiving.com or mail them to: Today’s Giving 1407 1st Ave North Fargo, ND 58104 Our editors will select from the letters and messages that are received, and publish those that are most representative of the needs and opinions of our readers. We look forward to hearing from you!
4 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
Deadlines and Commitments By Shannon Schweigert, Co-Founder, Today’s Giving
I
t seems like we’re always up against something urgent that needs doing before we can find time to do it. And there’s no time like the holiday season and the onset of a new year that makes us conscious of what’s left undone, and how it’s important to prioritize and make improvements in ourselves. This is a special time of the year only if we take time to enjoy what it is meant to represent. No matter your particular faith, the season represents hope, salvation, simple miracles, and another chance to make personal improvements we’ve been putting off. Take the time to enjoy what this time of the year really means and direct this year’s change in you towards the improvement of the lives of those in need. This issue, we take an in-depth look at critical issues facing our communities as we explore transformative success and on-going challenges in the battle against homelessness and domestic violence. Learn how sportsmen and women are passing along the heritage and values of the hunt to the next generation. We share with you philanthropy tips from Fargo businessman Matthew Mohr, bring you the latest on legislative issues and their impact on philanthropy and as always provide tools for you to use every day. The Today’s Giving family is celebrating a milestone with this issue marking our first year of publication. Creating each issue has been a learning experience.
We’ve endured deadlines, set priorities and have come through it all with many lessons learned. We’ve been honored to partner with experts in the philanthropic field who have shared their knowledge in our pages and we’ve enjoyed bringing you news of tremendous work being done in the nonprofit industry by some very special people. We continue to work on always improving our product so that is best serves our readers and this region. Thank you to our advertisers, subscribers, distribution partners, and our many pick-up readers for supporting us in our first year. We look forward to continuing to count you as a member of the family for years to come. In order to continue our mission and provide this publication to you, we ask that you consider supporting its production by becoming an advertiser, purchasing a subscription, or listing your nonprofit or business in our Industry Buzz section. Make it part of your New Year’s resolution, or consider it as a gift for family, friends, or the members of your nonprofit board. At just $19.95 for four issues, it’s the perfect affordable roadmap to becoming a better you. Learn more about getting involved through effective volunteering, board membership, or giving. Stay informed on how the nonprofit community improves our region’s quality of life, who’s making a positive difference in our communities and how you can help.
Shannon Schweigert Co-Founder,Today’s Giving
We continually hear from our readership on how a feature or tip in our magazine was the deciding factor in their taking action and getting involved and solving an issue. We attract engaged, innovative readers. Our distribution points offer high traffic and visibility, yet we still take the time to distribute in niche market places frequented by highlyengaged individuals. Our readers are your customers, donors, volunteers and organization’s leaders. From everyone at Today’s Giving, happy holidays. May the season be all you wish it to be. Shannon Schweigert, Co-Editor in Chief
Shannon Schweigert is a founding principal of GivingPoint (a fundraising consulting firm founded in 2007) and founder/ co-editor in chief of Today’s Giving. He has 20 years experience as a fundraiser and financial advisor for organizations including: Jamestown College, Foster Klima & Co., EideBailly, LLP, and Impact Foundation. In addition to his professional work, Shannon serves on the board of directors for Wellspring for the World, a Fargo nonprofit that drills freshwater wells in Africa. He and his wife Holly have two children: Andrew, a freshman at the University of North Dakota, and Alison, a freshman at Fargo Shanley High School. Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 5
North Dakota Promotes Philanthropy Through Legislation By Shannon Schweigert, Today’s Giving
N
orth Dakotans can take advantage of state income tax credits that few others in the United States can. Since 2005, state residents have been able to participate in income tax credits for planned gifts. In 2007 the state’s business donors were given the opportunity to qualify for tax credits based upon gifts to qualified endowment funds. Both opportunities are believed to exist in only a handful of other states including Montana, Iowa, and Kentucky, and are the result of legislation intending to promote greater giving to North Dakota’s nonprofit entities. (See, ND Century Code 57-38-01.21)
Tax Credits for Planned Gifts A planned giving tax credit, originally enacted in 2005 and enhanced in 2007, allows individual tax filers to claim up to a $10,000 credit and joint tax filers up to a $20,000 credit for planned gifts made to qualifying North Dakota nonprofit organizations. The amount of the credit is computed at 40% of the federal deduction created by the gift. The credit may be claimed in the year of the gift, plus a carry-forward period of three years. Eligible planned gifts include: various types of charitable trusts, current and deferred charitable gift annuities, certain paid-up life insurance policies, pooled income fund trusts, and charitable life estate agreements.
Endowment Credit Aimed at North Dakota “Business Entities,” Estates and Trusts In an effort to encourage greater giving to endowment funds held by North Dakota nonprofits, in 2007 the state legislature enacted a new credit for business gifts to qualifying endowment funds. The law allows eligible entities to qualify for a 40% state income tax credit up to $10,000 annually. Thus, eligible gifts up to $25,000 will bring about the maximum credit. Eligible entities under the law 6 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
include C corporations and pass-through entities such as S corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies (LLCs). Trusts and estates filing an income tax return are also eligible. Currently, banks are not eligible for this credit since they are taxed under a separate section of the North Dakota Century Code.
Multiple Gift Opportunity The $10,000 annual maximum tax credit for endowment gifts is determined at the entity level, therefore an individual owning an interest in multiple “pass-through” entities may exceed the $10,000 limit on their individual return. For example, an owner of four eligible entities may make four separate $25,000 endowment gifts (one from each entity) for total gifts of $100,000, deriving a total North Dakota income tax credit of $40,000 which is available in the year of the gift plus three (3) carry forward years. As can be seen in this example, the law allows for some very significant gift and tax planning considerations.
Readying Nonprofits to Accept Qualifying Endowment Gifts
tance of defining the fund as a true endowment, adding, “be certain that your fund is a ‘true endowment’ rather than a ‘quasi-endowment’ fund. Clarifying the true nature of your fund will avoid instances of disqualified contributions. It protects your donor’s interests which is critical in any donor/beneficiary relationship.” A true endowment is one that allows only the endowment’s earnings to be spent and does not allow for invasion of principal; except in extreme situations.
Enhancements Proposed for Endowment Credit There is a movement underway to amend the endowment credit law to expand participation to include financial institutions and individuals. The issue will be taken up during the 2011 legislative session. Financial institutions—which are not eligible under the current law though historically have been incredibly socially conscious and philanthropic leaders of their respective communities— are taxed under a separate provision of the N.D. Century Code and were therefore originally excluded. Changes being proposed for legislative consideration would extend to
Though many nonprofit organizations operate quite well without the presence of an endowment fund, the The more nonprofits are prepared to accept gifts formation of a “qualifying” endowment by definition under the North qualifying for the planned gift and endowment Dakota tax credit for endowments credit, the more their donors will benefit. may give an organization’s support– Craig Johnson, CFRE; CPA of Fargo ers access to the tax incentives that may ultimately encourage them towards greater and more frequent giving. Craig Johnson, CFRE; CPA financial institutions the same provisions as other eligible of Fargo, was directly involved in drafting and promoting business entities, though it would be addressed specificalboth the planned-giving tax credit legislation in 2005 and ly in the Code pertaining to bank taxation. Provisions that the endowment credit bill in 2007. He and Fargo attorwould allow individuals to partake of the endowment tax ney Richard Anderson have prepared model documents credit are still being finalized, however would most liketo assist their clients in establishing a qualifying endowly include a minimum annual aggregate contribution to ment. Johnson advises nonprofits to work with profesclaim the credit. For instance, an individual who contribsional counsel so that the fund’s governing documents utes a minimum of $5,000 to one nonprofit’s qualifying allow it to qualify as a “permanent, irrevocable fund” as endowment fund would be eligible for the 40% ($2,000) required by this law. Anderson further stresses the imporWinter 2010 Today’s Giving 7
NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota Endowment Credit Stats C Corporation Income Tax Returns1 TAX YEAR
No. OF RETURNS
TOTAL CREDITS
2007
8
$23,920
2008
7
$22,968
A C corporation may only claim the endowment fund income tax credit. These figures do not necessarily reflect new contributions, but may reflect carryovers of unused credits from one year to another by the same taxpayer.
North Dakota Endowment Gift Income Tax Credit Usage1 TAX YEAR
No. OF RETURNS
TOTAL CREDITS
2007
45
$110,189
2008
39
$57,493
These figures represent a cursory review and do not reflect the number of contributions made. For example, a partnership may have made one contribution that earned a credit of $20,000, of which $2,000 was passed through to each of ten partners.
North Dakota Planned Giving Credit Usage 240k
62
200k
$
160k 120k
51
80k 40k 0k
20 15 2005
Number of Returns
2006
2007
2008
These annual figures represent a cursory review of the history of usage and do not necessarily reflect only new contributions, but may reflect carryovers of unused credits from one year to another by the same taxpayer.
8 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
credit. The gifts could be made in increments, ($1,000 x 5) as long as the aggregate equals or exceeds $5,000. The annual maximum credit for individual tax filers would likely be $10,000, making the optimal aggregate gift $25,000 which is the same for the business entity credit.
Experts Weigh In Johnson is not discouraged by the statistics reflecting a slow, steady upswing in use of the credits, but believes it will take time until these opportunities become part of the culture of North Dakota giving. “I believe steps are being taken to promote the benefits of the income tax credits through articles and seminars,” states Johnson. “the more nonprofits are prepared to accept gifts qualifying for the planned gift and endowment credit, the more their donors will benefit.” Dana Schaar, Executive Director of the North Dakota Association of Nonprofit Organizations (NDANO) echoes Johnson’s sentiments saying, “Expanded educational efforts to increase knowledge of the endowment credit are vital, particularly for nonprofits and financial planners. NDANO is committed to helping nonprofits learn more about these tax credits and how they can use the incentives to increase planned and endowment gifts to provide longterm support for their work.” Both agree that the discussion must begin through informed nonprofits and advise nonprofit executives to routinely meet with their donors and the
BUSINESS REPORT
professional advisor community about the benefits of any new or existing charitable tax laws. Gordon Binek of Bismarck ISSUE 8 - DECEMBER 2009 State College Foundation believes the enhancements to the endowment credit law will Date ________________________ help attract more use. “It will create a greater awareness of Approved _____________________ endowment funds operated by charities. North Dakotans are very practical people when we have the opportunity to reduce our cost of a gift to a favorite charity we’re going to take advantage of the benefit,” declares Binek, who is supportive of the effort to include individual donors in the endowment credit. Allowing individual donors to participate has concerned some nonprofits who believe it will force their donors to make a choice between a gift to the annual fund for immediate needs, and a gift to the endowment where the greatest tax benefit lies. They have suggested higher minimum contributions to qualify for the credit so as to not affect annual gifts. Binek weighs in on the concern advising, “Some [donors] may alternate their annual support of charities to take advantage of the credit. Charities will need to recognize that they may not receive another gift from that donor for two or three years. Eventually, the endowment fund will grow enough to generate annual distributions which help support the charity.” More discussion on the enhancements will likely ensue as the bill winds its way through the legislative process. The issues surrounding the unique taxation of financial institutions will undoubtedly be discussed, as will the aggregate minimum contribution from individuals. Regardless of the specifics in the final draft, North Dakota will continue to be a national leader in creating incentives for charitable giving. The state’s donors, nonprofits, and those benefitting from their generosity and mission can be grateful for the insight shown by our legislators. To track the progress of the bill, visit the North Dakota Legislature website: www.legis.nd.gov or the NDANO website: www.ndano.org.
Quarter Page Center for Innovation
Resources Statistics courtesy of the North Dakota State Tax Department
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Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 9
Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) Special feature by Brianna J. McAleer, University of North Dakota law student
I
n April 2009, North Dakota adopted the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) to provide guidance and authority to charitable organizations on the management and investment of funds, as well as to impose additional duties on those who manage and invest charitable funds. These duties provide additional protection for charities and help ensure that contributions are used wisely. To help readers better understand the Act, this article outlines three main parts of the act: investment, spending, and modification of funds.
1.
Brianna McAleer is a Moorhead, MN native who has successful work, education and volunteer experience in the nonprofit sector. She received her B.A. in Economics from The Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO and is currently attending the University of North Dakota, School of Law. She is serving as a member and president of the Public Interest Law Student Association, co-chair to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and Associate Editor of the North Dakota Law Review. During the summer of 2009, Brianna received a Public Interest Grant from the State Bar Association of North Dakota to research legislation involving the development of non-profit law.
10 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
Investment Previous acts held directors of nonprofits to nominal investment
standards but recognized that the organizations were charities and not for-profit businesses. Under UPMIFA, directors, board members, and managers will be held to the higher standard of “reasonable care,” which calls for more skill and caution in handling investments. The Act lists several guidance factors which charities must follow in investment decisions and investment tracking in order to comply with the Act. Charities should consider a written investment policy to outline processes by which investments are chosen, diversified or changed. To curb liability, corporations may outsource investment services, so long as they regularly review the investment strategy and portfolio, and do not pay excessive fees for the service. UPMIFA makes certain duties mandatory, including investment “care” by directors, board members, and managers of the institution. Under this concept, donor intent expressed in a written gift must be followed when investing those funds. For example, if a gift is received with donor instructions that 50% of the funds be held in an account not to exceed a risk ratio of a specific rate, then the investment of those funds must follow the specifications. The duty of care implies acting in good faith. It requires that investment
Funds Act and UPMIFA is that UPMIFA disregards the decisions be made, “with the care an ordinarily prudent historic dollar value (HDV) provision of UMIFA. UMIFA person in a like position would exercise under similar cirpermitted expenditure of appreciation and income, rather cumstances.” A manager should ask, for example, “Would than income only, but did not permit institutions to spend society measure this choice as a legally and morally corendowment funds below HDV. However, this often berect investment given this set of circumstances that incomes impractical or arguably imprudent, because HDV cludes the mission of my organization?” Another examfixes valuation at an arbitrary point in time. HDV may beple: Consider a board member who is a lawyer and sees a come meaningless over time and may therefore become an legal issue involving an investment strategy. That lawyer inadequate protection for the fund if organizations have has the duty to beneficiaries of the corporation to bring any incentive to maximize allowable spending. Additionthat issue to light. ally, if the value of an endowment fund drops below HDV, In choosing whether to acquire or retain an asset, an there is no clear answer in UMIFA on how to deal with an institution should consider its mission, current program“underwater fund.” UPMIFA allows for “prudent” expenming, and desire to cultivate additional donations, in additures even on underwater funds, because an institution dition to factors that are more directly related to an ascan spend or accumulate as much of an endowment fund set’s potential as an investment. This leads to the final duty as the institution determines is prudent for the “uses, beneworth mentioning: disposal of unsuitable assets. The Act fits, purposes, and duration for which the endowment fund includes a duty to review the suitability of retaining propis established.” erty contributed to the institution within a reasonable The prudence standard under spending outlines sevperiod of time after the institution receives the property. eral factors that board members, trustees, directors and However, this merely requires a decision, not a specific managers should consider in making decisions on expenoutcome, such as sale. ditures. These factors emphasize the importance of donor Institutions are encouraged to question whether retainintent, as expressed in a gift instrument. Consideration of ing an unsuitable asset will help engage a donor to give the factors requires attention to the purposes of the inagain when making these decisions. What might be constitution and the endowment fund, economic conditions, sidered prudent spending or investment practices for a for-profit corporation is not always prudent for a nonprofit corporation. All the duties and provisions of the A manager should ask, for example, “Would society Act apply to all funds held by an inmeasure this choice as a legally and morally correct stitution, “regardless of whether the investment given this set of circumstances that institution obtained the funds by gift or otherwise and regardless of includes the mission of my organization?” whether the funds are restricted.” The remaining sections of the Act and present and reasonably anticipated resources of the only apply to endowed funds that are restricted through a institution. A donor may provide specific instructions as gift, which makes this provision applicable to all charities in North Dakota—even the smallest who typically do not have to the appropriate uses for contributed assets. Fiduciaries addressed in the section on investment have the same endowment funds. mandatory duties for protecting donor intent in regards Spending to spending of endowed assets. It is again recommended The clearest difference between spending under that an institution design a written spending policy. AdUMIFA Uniform management of Institutional ditionally, it is recommended that institutions design writ-
2.
Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 11
ten gift acceptance policies to inform donors about how their contribution will be invested and spent. North Dakota chose to adopt the rebuttable presumption of imprudence clause. This clause allows the attorney general to investigate or make claims of imprudence
The first way of modifying an endowment fund is through donor release. Donor release permits the release of a restriction on a gift if the donor consents. Release cannot change the beneficiary of the fund and a donor cannot direct the property to another use by the charity because the donor has not retained an interest in the fund. For tax and all other intensive purposes, this section does The three main provisions of UPMIFA are not create a power in the donor. investment, spending, and modification of funds. Another way of modifying an endowment fund is through deviation. In many ways the Act allows nonprofit institutions Deviation may become necessary to “think big” or rather, encourages understanding where unanticipated circumstances about what the organization really needs and arise because of a restriction includthinking about the best way to get there. ed in the original donation or when a restriction impairs the management or investment of the fund. Modificaagainst any organization that spends more than seven pertion of the restriction usually helps and permits the incent of the fair market value of the fund. While it may be stitution to carry out the donor’s purposes in a more efprudent to spend more than 7%, this provision eliminates fective manner. Typically, a court will modify restrictions concern about excessive expenditure. Prudent spending based on the way an institution manages or administers a and investment are two areas of UPMIFA that have been fund in a manner that furthers the purposes of the fund. updated to include special duties and liabilities of direcThis process implements donor intent. The purpose of the tors, managers, board members, and trustees of nonprofit gift is upheld, but deviation changes the process by which institutions. This is simply permitting release of a restrica donor had intended that to happen. tion on an endowment fund, if a donor is able and willing Another means of modifying an endowment fund is by to consent. Consent needs to be in writing. This situation Cy Pres. This tool authorizes a court to modify the purmight arise when the original idea for the fund hasn’t repose of the institutional fund, but is only applicable if the ally caught on and its having a hard time getting to a minirestriction in question has become unlawful, impracticamum investment amount (for example, $10,000 for an enble, impossible to achieve, or wasteful. One of these terms dowed, named scholarship). Another pertinent portion of must be proven because this is such a broad power that the Act is on modification of endowment funds. allows courts to release, change the restriction, or permit the fund to be paid out to another institution. When Modification considering Cy Pres, an institution should remember the While an institution can pool endowment costs of attorney and court fees and the fact that courts funds for purposes of modification, they must will not change donor intent without sufficient facts to all be maintained and questioned separately. There are typsupport that the restrictions are ‘wasteful’ and must have ically three ways to modify an endowment fund, and one some evidence of what the donor intended. UPMIFA new way for institutions to modify certain types of funds makes this a little easier for judges because it hints that without going through the expense of Cypres or deviation. wasteful funds are undesirable for institutions and do not It is in all of the citations Brianna makes of it below) in the provide for beneficiaries, which is subjectively what every courts system. donor intends.
A final way for an institution to release or modify a restriction is according to Cy Pres principals but without court approval if the amount of the institutional fund is small and has been in existence for a long time. These funds must have been in existence for more than twenty years and have a total value of less than $25,000. The purpose of this provision is to balance the needs of an institution to serve its charitable purposes efficiently with the policy of enforcing donor intent. A nonprofit must change the restriction in a manner that is in keeping with the intent of the donor and purpose of the fund. The institution must notify the attorney general of the planned modification and wait 60 days before proceeding. The attorney general has this time to take action if the proposal seems inappropriate.
The three main provisions of UPMIFA are investment, spending, and modification of funds. In many ways the Act allows nonprofit institutions to “think big” or rather, encourages understanding about what the organization really needs and thinking about the best way to get there. In many ways it is also requiring more sophistication from nonprofits by providing a more specific framework for nonprofits to consider when accepting gifts, spending funds, and investing funds. In the end, complying with suggestions of the act to create policies in these areas and then properly considering those policies when making decisions should actually benefit the organization, its clients, and its donors.
3.
12 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
“The secret of true happiness? Always read the grant guidelines before you fill out the application!”
Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 13
Ending Long-Term Homelessness Special feature by Michael Carbone,
Executive Director, North Dakota Coalition for Homeless People
14 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
NDCHP works to ensure that housing development for
Lack of affordable housing, low apartment vacancy rates
the homeless is in alignment with the state’s Ten Year Plan
(like those caused by the demand for workforce housing
to End Long-Term Homelessness. Currently, NDCHP
in N.D.), shortages of housing vouchers and an afford-
is working with the Corporation for Supportive Hous-
ability gap make housing development difficult and re-
ing and the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency
quire interventions in the form of public awareness and
(NDHFA) to develop a Supportive Housing Training In-
external
factors
drive
policy reform. We also need to know what works and what does not. Without accurate data and measurements we are unsure of
N Michael Carbone is the Executive Director of the North Dakota Coalition for Homeless People (NDCHP), and is responsible for the state’s combined Continuum of Care grant application that provides funding for emergency, transitional and supportive housing. He also directs the state’s annual point-in-time count of homeless households and coordinates homeless services across the state. Carbone has contributed to Fargo’s 10-Year Plan to End Long Term Homelessness, and works with the ND Interagency Council on Homelessness to coordinate statewide 10-year-plan efforts. He serves on numerous boards to address homelessness and shelter needs in both North Dakota and western Minnesota. He was formerly the Executive Director for the Fargo Moorhead Coalition for Homeless Persons, and coordinator of the Clay-Wilkin (MN) Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program. Carbone holds a degree in political science from Minnesota State University in Moorhead. (Michael Carbone can be reached at North Dakota Coalition for Homeless People in Bismarck, 701.258.2240, director@ndhomelesscoalition.org)
homelessness.
Additionally,
best practices.
orth Dakota has a statewide Ten Year Plan to End Long-Term Homelessness de-
There is no single entity, public or private, that can provide
veloped by the North Dakota Interagency Council on Homelessness (NDICH).
the housing, supports, interventions and data single-hand-
The work of NDICH was facilitated by the North Dakota Coalition for Homeless
edly. Success requires a collective effort. NDCHP provides
People (NDCHP). The statewide plan is predicated on regional plans developed
a platform for that collective effort through a coalition of
throughout the state representing a comprehensive approach to housing people
service providers.
The work of ending long-term homelessness is currently being complicated by the shortage of workforce housing in the western part of the state.
stitute that would provide training for agencies and housing authorities to plan, develop, finance and operate
who have been homeless for more than a year or four times or more within the last
Members include permanent and transitional housing
three years. While this may seem ambitious, it is an achievable goal if we follow
providers, mental health and chemical dependency ser-
the best practices and supportive housing development as outlined.
vices, domestic violence services, emergency shelter pro-
The work of ending long-term homelessness is currently
Any discussion about how to end homelessness should begin with the question,
viders, Community Action agencies, government entities
being complicated by the shortage of workforce housing
“Why end homelessness?” After all, the common misconception is people experi-
like planning departments and law enforcement, and other
in the western part of the state. Special needs populations
encing homelessness have chosen their own fates. This is not accurate. People who
stakeholders. Activities of NDCHP consist of writing and
and the booming workforce are being forced to compete
appear to have chosen homelessness have either chosen not to engage a system
submitting the state’s combined grant application to HUD’s
for housing. NDCHP is working with the Housing Alliance
that they feel has failed them, or they do not have the skills necessary to navigate
Continuum of Care competitive grant process, administer-
of North Dakota (HAND) to develop and propose a policy
the social systems that exist to help them. The vast majority of people who are
ing the HUD mandated Homeless Management Informa-
that balances the need for workforce, affordable and special
considered long-term homeless are suffering from mental illness, chemical de-
tion System (HMIS), conducting a statewide annual Point
needs housing. HAND is dedicated to the broad and diverse
pendency or some other disabling condition.
in Time Study.
housing needs that exist in the state
supportive housing.
Ending long-term homelessness is the right thing to do. It is also the smart thing
The Continuum of Care Competitive Grant is a HUD pro-
The cooperative efforts of NDCHP and its members, NDH-
to do. Long-term homelessness is a chronic problem. Emergency services like
cess that brings funding into the state for the establishment
FA, NDICH and HAND go a long way toward providing the
shelter, detox, police and ambulance calls, food pantries and emergency room vis-
and operations of permanent supportive housing. Cur-
elements needed to end long-term homelessness. The final
its are very expensive and not very effective for treatment. Permanent supportive
rently, NDCHP is helping to provide funding for more than
piece of the puzzle is public support in the form of policy re-
housing is a less costly, more effective and more humane way of dealing with long-
20 housing projects and has obtained over $15 million in
form and financial resources. Donors who wish to help in the
term homelessness. Studies from Oregon and New York show an average system-
HUD funds.
fight to end long-term homelessness have the opportunity to
wide savings of $16,000/year for each supportive housing unit. Statistics from a
Each January, NDCHP members attempt to locate and
support efforts to understand and mitigate the underlying
supportive housing project for the chronically homeless in Fargo are bearing that
survey all homeless in the state. Participants remain anony-
causes of long-term homelessness by contributing to NDCHP.
out. The savings are not the only benefit. People are more likely to access services,
mous, but supply valuable information about their circum-
They can help relieve the misery of homelessness by contrib-
maintain employment and return to productive lives if they are stably housed.
stances. This information identifies trends, tracks progress,
uting to the shelters and other programs that represent the
Long-term homelessness is a complex problem with a variety of contribut-
and forms programming. The study is comprehensive, but
coalition’s membership.
ing factors: disabilities, race, domestic violence, lack of education or job train-
groups like youth, veterans and those on Indian Reserva-
People can help promote policy reform by contacting
ing, child care, transportation, criminal background, credit issues, financial lit-
tions can be difficult to count. NDCHP believes these groups
policy makers and letting them know that ending long-term
eracy, veteran’s status, generational poverty and other factors. The interventions
are usually undercounted. This information is provided to
homelessness is the both the right thing to do and the smart
require a continuum of services that is well-coordinated and designed to meet
HUD, policy makers on state, local and federal levels and
thing to do.
individual needs.
the media. Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 15
Effective
Corporate Giving Q & A With Matthew Mohr
Q You’ve helped ensure that Dacotah Paper Co., a long-time local business, continually gives back to the community. What challenges come with corporate giving decisions, and how do you go about those decisions? To be effective, you have to believe in the missions of the organizations you give to, and get involved with them and their work in the community. There are many requests made of well-known, successful businesses. As a corporate leader or board member, you have to prioritize multiple requests and choose. Focus on missions you believe in and where you feel you can make a difference.
Q Editor’s note: Matthew Mohr is President and CEO of Dacotah Paper, a century-old business in Fargo that serves North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and parts of Iowa, Wisconsin and Montana. He holds degrees in economics and business from NDSU, and a Masters Degree from Purdue University. In addition to ensuring that Dacotah Paper continues to give back to the greater community effectively, Mohr has personally served on numerous non-profit boards and committees including the Fargo Public Schools Foundation, the MeritCare Foundation Board, the State Historical Society of North Dakota, Fargo Kiwanis, and more. He is a philanthropist and author, and writes occasional business and advice articles and has published several motivational and life-guidance books.
What recommendations do you have for those who wish to approach businesses for money, time or in-kind contributions? First, when looking for contributions, you need to have a well-crafted and specific “ask” to make of the company or board. Be sure you show both the need for the request or service and how it will make a difference in the community. Present a personal connection, such as how you or someone you know needs and uses the service and how it has affected real-life situations. For healthrelated services and education, that’s often easy to show. For other services, it can be more difficult. For example, through the Fargo Kiwanis I learned of a service called “Rainbow Bridge” which provides a safe place where parents who are within contentious separation processes can bring children when it’s time
to transition to the other parent for a visit or stay, so that the child doesn’t get involved in the middle of arguing or the conflict. It’s a bit more obscure, but valuable. Also, take care not to base your “asks” on the amount of business you or your agency give to the corporation—it’s not a positive approach. Stay focused on the mission, and the difference that the business can make with contributions. Consider extending an invitation for a meeting or visit to your [organization]. Also, it’s important to show your appreciation for contributions. We’ve been involved in contributions where no thanks were given after the fact. Recognition is an important and effective way to show appreciation, especially when you can show how the contributor made a difference. 1
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16 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
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fulfill their missions? How can nonprofits ensure they are best utilizing board members?
Q You have served and continue serving on multiple nonprofit boards. What do you see as the most important talents, skills, and actions to help organizations
Effective board members must get involved with the organization. And again, they must believe in the organization’s mission. Go to the board meetings, and take time to visit the organization. Spend time learning about and seeing their daily operations. In addition to personally seeing the outcome, by being involved and visiting the organization, you can then provide informed guidance. If you truly believe in the organization and its mission, it’s not hard to get involved. Sometimes board members don’t have or don’t make time to attend board meetings, much less to visit the agency or its operations. Organizations should consider setting policies for at least minimal board-
2
ways to receive Today’s Giving
1. Pick it up at most of your favorite local businesses. 2. Sign up online or send in this form for a subscription to receive Today’s Giving in your mailbox.
meeting attendance to help ensure that members are engaged and informed. Reasonable involvement will result in reasonable and more effective contributions.
Q What do you feel are the smartest decisions you’ve made in respect to giving at both a corporate and personal level? Those situations involving a commitment to sustained giving have proved to be the most meaningful. For example, Dacotah Paper has been a supporter of the Anne Carlsen Center [Jamestown, ND] since its inception. Their long-time commitment to supporting and educating people with special needs has grown to be renowned and has improved so many lives over many years. [Editor’s note: The Anne Carlsen Center began as a care facility in Fargo and opened as a full-care center in Jamestown in 1940.] Sustained giving gives you chance to really help a mission along. Trollwood Performing Arts School is another example that we’ve been involved with since its early days. We’ve been rewarded with seeing and helping it mature into a long-term and valuable community asset. Sustained giving takes commitment, but you get to see the greater value over time. It’s rewarding to see positive growth and apparent change.
Q What advice do you have for other business owners regarding charitable contributions? Long ago our company set a policy that our officers could not get directly involved with fundraising. We were well known within the community and often asked to assist with fundraising, but had to focus on doing business. I’m happy to help make connections and offer support, and of course make decisions on corporate giving. But being involved directly in fundraising, as a corporation, can be a tough issue. It of course depends on your [corporation’s] personality and mission. Chuck Bailey [founder of the accounting/consulting firm Charles Bailey and Co, which merged in 1998 to become Eide Bailey] was a friend of my grandfather’s, and always very involved in the community. I remember he once told me, “You know Matthew, I chose to give a lot of my time whenever I could, rather than only
giving money.” He knew the value of involvement. I personally believe that time is often more valuable than money when it comes to contributions.
Q Contributors of time and money should prioritize the recipient groups that display “best practices” regarding use of those resources. What do you consider top best practices for agencies? It’s difficult to be specific about what “best practices” are for every agency, because there are so many different causes. But you need to be very subjective about how the agency spends money and how your contributions will be used, making sure the money is going directly toward the agency’s mission. Be sure the agency can show exactly what they do and how it’s making a difference. 1 “Corinthian Column Head”, available under a Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 2.5 license. 2006, David Bjorgen
Martha Jane Friedrich knows the power of giving. “I think it’s important to give to the generations that come after me. And that’s why a gift to public television is so important.” Martha Jane included her public broadcasting station in her will. Consider joining the community of people who want public media to span generations. For more information about making a bequest to Prairie Public, or to request our free booklet, “How to Make a Will That Works,” please contact Prairies Public’s director of development, Ann Clark, at 701-241-6900.
www.prairiepublic.org
todaysgiving.com Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 19
Beyond the immediate damage to physical and mental health lie the long-term health effects for the victim and family members—all of which has a personal as well as financial impact. Women victimized by domestic violence are 80% more likely to suffer strokes, 70% more likely to have heart disease, 60% more likely to have asthma and more likely to abuse alcohol.3 In a single day in 2008, 16,458 children were living in a domestic violence shelter and another 6,430 sought services at a non-residential program.5 Witnessing violence between one’s parents is the strongest risk factor of transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next.6 Boys witnessing domestic violence are twice as likely to be offenders themselves.7 Victims of abuse lose almost 8 million days of paid work annually, the equivalent of 32,000 full-time jobs. The cost of domestic violence exceeds $5.8 billion each year, $4.1 billion of which is for direct medical and mental health services.3
Changing life-long violent behavior is difficult, but according to Hall-Jiran it is more likely when offenders are able to review their beliefs and role in the world. Their violence is based upon the control they seek; treatment offers more choices to control themselves and seek more positive behavior in situations. CVIC conducted a study of 127 offenders who completed the New Choices program. The study reviewed the participants’ domestic violence-related criminal behavior for the two years prior to entering the program, and then tracked their behavior for a two-year
Breaking the Cycle with New Choices
Domestic Violence Prevention Success By Shannon Schweigert Today’s Giving
The statistics are startling and shine a light on the glaring reality of the ugly, often hidden truth about domestic violence in America: One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime1. Eighty-five percent of domestic violence victims are women2 and an estimated 1.3 million are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year3. Every day in the U.S. more than three
20 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends; about one-third of all female homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner.4 These are the statistics of what is reported and may only represent a fraction of assaults that actually occur, because most cases of domestic violence are never reported to police. Research suggests that only one quarter of all domestic physical assaults are reported.1
Victim intervention remains the overwhelming priority at most agencies addressing the issue of domestic violence. But for Kristi Hall-Jiran, executive director of Grand Fork’s Community Violence Intervention Center (CVIC), there is a very important second step in the fight against abuse: prevention. “We realized that it’s going to take a lot more than intervention services if we really want to end the violence. We need to begin to address it at the source,” Hall-Jiran says. Since 1988 CVIC has offered therapy programming for offenders, but in more recent years it has developed an approach that centers on more cognitive restructuring than therapeutic treatment. The New Choices CVIC Executive Director Kristi Hall-Jiran program approaches the issue from the philosophy that domestic abuse is a choice, and that the offender makes a cognitive decision to abuse—therefore the abuser must make a cognitive choice to change their pattern of abuse.
Jake drew this picture last year for CVIC’s child therapist to show her what a happy family looks like.
period following completion of the program. The statistics were very encouraging, noting an 85% drop in lawenforcement involvement, a 91% drop in criminal charges filed against the study participants, and a 96% drop in the number of protection orders filed against members of the study group. New Choices is offered in a 27-week curriculum addressing nine topics over three-week periods. The three-week intervals allow individuals to enter the program at various stages rather than waiting for the beginning of an entire new class offering. Offenders attend in classes of up to 12 individuals with varying issues and varying degrees of violent histories. Demand for the program is increasing; 158 individuals participated in the program in 2009, and 135 Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 21
had already done so in 2010, through August of this year. Many participants are court ordered into the program, but Hall-Jiran is encouraged by a few individuals who are volunteering to participate. “The volunteer participant trend is an important first step in our efforts to make offenders aware of the control over their choices they have. Choosing, rather than being ordered into the program is a huge advantage and a great beginning to making healthy new choices,” she said. Most children living in violent homes are afraid to talk about the violence and There are many reasons the prohave told no one about what they’ve seen, which only augments their fear and confusion. CVIC’s Bright Futures Program provides them with an outlet to talk about gram has had success, but Hall-Jiran the abuse, offering not only a safe environment, but also a non-threatening way to points specifically to what she betell their story for the very first time, through the use of techniques such as art and sand tray therapy. lieves is the primary factor. “We’ve had tremendous collaboration withto prevent its re-occurrence. “Slowly we’re changing the in our community. The courts, states attorney’s office, law culture of acceptance and breaking down barriers that enforcement, and the community simply won’t tolerate caused domestic violence to be thought of as a family isdomestic violence anymore.” She believes that attitude is sue rather than society’s problem. Men and women are what led to CVIC developing a program that didn’t just working together to solve the issue, being more open treat the symptoms of abuse, but got to the source of it
about discussing it when it occurs and intervening when seeing it happen.” Encouraged by the number of men getting involved in finding the solution, she reminds us, “Though most abusers are men, most men are not abusers.” With proven pre-
vention success at CVIC, Hall-Jiran hopes others will be encouraged to adopt more preventative offender treatment models. She looks forward to the day when the traditional model, which is top- heavy towards intervention and light on prevention, is inverted; greatly diminishing the number of victims and their suffering.
Works Cited 1 Tjaden, Patricia & Thoennes, Nancy, National Institute for Justice and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, “Extent, Nature and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey,” (2000) 2 Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, February, 2003. 3 Costs of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in the United States, 2003. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
4 Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reports, “Crime in the United States, 2000,” (2001). 5 The National Network to End Domestic Violence. 2009. Domestic Violence Counts 2008: A 24-hour Census of Domestic Violence Shelters and Services.
Break the Cycle. (2006). Startling Statistics.
6
Strauss, Gelles, and Smith, “Physical Violence in American Families: Risk Factors and Adaptations to Violence” in 8,145 Families. Transaction Publishers (1990). 7
North Dakota, Inc. www.pathnd.org
Regional Men’s Groups A number of men’s groups focused on promoting a change in the culture of acceptance have emerged throughout the region reflecting a national trend of the leadership role men are taking to end domestic violence. For more information about these groups, please contact any of the organizations listed here.
Bismarck – PULSE (People United in Living in Safe Environments) Abused Adult Resource Center PO Box 5003 Bismarck, ND 58502-5003 Contact: Nicole Weiss Program Director 701.222.8370
Families’ making the difference makes all the difference in the world. Join the PATH to healthy families.
Fargo – Red River Men’s Action Network Rape and Abuse Crisis Center PO Box 2984 Fargo, ND 58108-2984 Contact: Jamie Pfeifer 701.261.8937 redriver-man@hotmail.com
Grand Forks – Grand Cities CARES (Communicate, Act, Respect, and Encourage) Community Violence Intervention Center 211 South Fourth Street Grand Forks, ND 58201 701.746.0405 www.cviconline.org
(Men’s Group Forming) Safe Shelter P.O. Box 1934 Jamestown, ND 58402 701.251.2300 888.353.7233
Become a foster or adoptive parent Make a financial donation
Jamestown PATH provides an array of family based services You can help in so many ways. 877-766-PATH
For more information on forming a men’s support network North Dakota Council on Abused Women’s Services – www.ndcaws.org 22 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
www.menstoppingviolence.org www.menagainstsexualviolence.org
Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 23
Competition, lack of affordable housing intensify homelessness in spite of healthy N.D. economy
the new
HOMELESS By Kate Henne, Today’s Giving
The Dakotas and western Minnesota by no means host the highest rate of homeless in the United States. But for a large part of the year, they host the coldest, most hostile weather. Yet on a single night in Jan. 2010, more than 1,126 people in North Dakota were homeless.1 Most alarming is a growing trend: Despite boasts of one of the healthiest economies in the nation, North Dakota is seeing an increasing number of homeless children.
Changing conditions exacerbate core causes Mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence and poverty have long been at the core of homelessness in America, and attitudes against these issues are difficult to overcome. Traditional municipal laws against behaviors such as loitering, sleeping in public places, and “begging” tend to punish and amplify stigmas attached to homelessness. In addition, a widely-held stereotype of a 24 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
U.S. homeless person as a single male adult with substance abuse or mental illness raises an obstacle to awareness of the reality: roughly a third of today’s U.S. homeless are families, often with a single female parent. Native Americans, new Americans, minorities and U.S. military veterans also make up an in-proportionate percentage of today’s homeless in North Dakota and western Minnesota.
While the underlying causes of homelessness remain consistent, it’s important to remember that environmental, economical and political conditions can not only aggravate but even produce the core causes. For example, an economic recession resulting in loss of work can quickly bring a family to poverty. Seemingly endless mitigating factors accelerate deteriorating conditions: A smaller food budget usually means Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 25
less healthy food, which in turn can result in ill health and high health care bills. In addition to a lower income, job loss can cause depression and stress, often directly resulting in an increase in domestic violence and/or substance abuse. Carla Solem, West Central Minnesota Continuum of Care Coordinator, says there’s also been a recent increase in young adults who are homeless. While the cause for that rise is not yet documented, she suspects it’s also driven by the states’ down economy. “Parents can’t afford to help out young adults with housing and other costs as much as they have in the past,” she said.
The following lists ways you can help agencies, which provide direct services to the homeless. These ideas are applicable for individuals, groups, and organizations. Donate furniture, clothing, bedding, towels, washcloths, and household items to local homeless shelters or thrift shops. Donate personal items, cleaning supplies, and food to local homeless shelters. Donate money to local homeless shelters. Donate your talents, such as carpentry skills, hair cuts, day care, etc. at a local shelter. Offer to spend time in the shelters teaching the individuals living there any special talents you may have. Suggest that the organizations you belong to do a food drive, clothing drive, or a non-food item drive for local food pantries or shelters. Possibly, that organization would do a fund raising project for a local pantry or shelter. Follow through on at least one special gift to and for the needy.
Homelessness is indiscriminate. It doesn’t matter if you’re a baby or old, or what your current conditions are. Very few people are completely exempt from risk. – Carla Solem West Central Minnesota Continuum of Care Coordinator
Count each light you use to decorate this Christmas. Give ten cents for each light to the hunger appeal. Give $1.00 for every “alternative” gift you receive this Christmas. Donate food certificates or coupons to a local shelter. Donate a bag of bus tokens to a shelter or school. Fast for one meal a week and donate to a food pantry what you would have spent on a meal. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Set an extra place at your table as a reminder of the 5 million children who go to bed hungry every night. Donate $1.00 to a service agency for every pair of shoes you own. Donate to a shelter items that can not be bought with food stamps such as soap, sanitary supplies, paper products,
But the most surprising cause-and-effect circumstance is currently driving a major homelessness situation in western North Dakota: a booming economy driven by the oil industry.
diapers, shampoo. Learn about homelessness so that if the issue is discussed you can provide useful information or resources. Respect the homeless as individuals. When approached by the homeless, respond with kindness, carry fast-food certificates, and know where the shelters are.
The irony of an economic boom In recent years, western North Dakota has bucked national trends as increased oil production brought on an economic explosion. But the negative effects have been astonishing. Housing has become utterly unaffordable for lower income families. In Dickinson, N.D. and similar communities, housing has become nearly impossible to find at any price. The lure of high wages offered by oil-industry 26 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
Get others involved. Sign up your company or school to volunteer at a shelter, recruit local businesses, or employ the homeless. Educate your children about the homeless so they can teach their friends, collect toys and games for donation, donate admission fees for an event, play with children in a shelter, and use birthday parties to help.
Source: North Dakota Coalition for Homeless People web site, www.ndhomelesscoalition.org
work has made keeping skilled staff extremely difficult for smaller business and agencies. The North Dakota Continuum of Care (CoC) network for homelessness is comprised of eight regions and is managed by the North Dakota Coalition for Homeless People. Dickinson is the hub of the southwest region and seat of the Southwest Homeless Coalition. The agency’s chair people— Darianne Johnson, Executive Director of Dickinson’s Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Center, Gloria Fichter-Rau, Direct Services Coordinator, and Chantel Zeller, Coordinator for Independent Living—say an already volatile housing environment has become even worse in September, and they expect it to continue accelerating with the onset of winter. While people in the region are generally extremely thankful for the healthy economy, the positive impact tends to mask underlying backlashes in housing affordability. “The changes in housing are happening so fast that all the nonprofits assisting displaced people are trapped,” Johnson said. Agencies are so focused on urgent action to help those affected that “no one is available to take time or come in to assess and address the overall situation.” Johnson added that in addition to a surge in demand for services, community-action agencies are increasingly becoming understaffed because the lure of higher wages in the oil industry is making it extremely difficult to find and keep consistent staff. “It’s just not very enticing to work at lower wages when you can get paid so much more elsewhere,” she said. Fichter-Rau said the elderly, who are often on set incomes, are also feeling an extreme impact as housing costs soar. “In some cases people are having to choose between medication and rent,” she said. Zeller added that a 2009 tornado destroyed a 36-unit low-income housing facility in Dickinson, adding to today’s severe shortage of affordable housing. In addition, dorms and housing for Dickinson State University students are overcrowded and becoming unavailable, which Fichter-Rau suspects may lead to students postponing or canceling education, which is not good for the economy long term. Dickinson city Commissioner Carson Steiner says Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 27
the city has been looking for creative and long-term solutions to addressing homelessness. “In today’s paper, there were seven columns for help wanted, which is good… people can find work. But on the other side of the page, there were only two ads for places for people to live.” The city’s only homeless shelter is combined with the Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Center, and women and children take priority. The shelter just can’t accommodate all homeless needs, Steiner said, and came to the city for help. “Instead of just giving money for shelter—which would be a ‘bandaid’—the city actually purchased two homes we intend to use as temporary housing for homeless families and also for new workers coming to the area,” Steiner said. This would provide transitional housing while homeless and new residents find more permanent homes. “Contractors are planning a 30plus income-based housing unit to replace the one we lost last year,” Steiner said, a project that Zeller said would be very important in addressing the problem. “Contractors are doing a good job but because things have changed so quickly, it’s a catchup game for the city.” He added that, “We’re also looking to hire a city planner to better prepare for changing and increasing housing needs. Some of the developers remember that a ‘boom’ was followed by a ‘bust’ in the 80s and they might be hesitant to invest in more housing. Solid city 28 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
planning and a planner can help assure investors of ongoing needs.” Michael Carbone, executive director of North Dakota Coalition for Homeless People (NDCHP), says that a shortage of affordable housing is indeed currently the biggest housing problem across the state. He said that latest surveys indicate a recent double-digit increase in the percentage of homeless persons, and that roughly 27% of the state’s homeless are children.
In percent of capita, Bismarck and Fargo are close contenders for hosting the most homeless. But when including statistics from adjoining Moorhead, Minnesota, the Fargo/Moorhead area takes a clear lead. A Wilder Study on homelessness reported that Fargo/Moorhead in 2009 had 763 homeless and at-risk of homelessness persons (including precariously housed).2 In Jan. 2010, a Continuum of Care survey indicated that the percentages were as follows:
Metro areas draw homeless
27% of homeless men were military veterans 14% of homeless women were victims of domestic abuse 26% of all FM homeless had recently moved to the area 34% had medical problems other than mental illness or substance abuse 46% cited bad credit as driving their homeless situation
While conditions in “boom areas” of western North Dakota are surprising, alarming and urgent, the metro areas of Bismarck and Fargo-Moorhead still host the largest percent of homeless per capita according to the last HUD “point in time” count by Continuum of Care coordinators (Jan. 2010). However, change is happening so fast in the western regions of North Dakota that NDCHP believes current homeless are undercounted there. A volatile economy draws homeless persons to areas where resources and services are available. Dickinson’s Johnson says that because of lack of housing, agencies at times have had to help people relocate to other cities, usually the metro areas of Bismarck and Fargo. Western Minnesota’s Solem says that Fargo-Moorhead employment rates seem promising, but when people relocate to the area for work they find that wages just aren’t high enough to match the costs of rent.
reservations commonly share living space and often live in substandard housing due to lack of rural codes or code enforcement, coupled with persistent poverty in many rural and tribal regions. Multiple families in a house often causes stress and family or friendship conflicts, leading to increased domestic violence,
depression, and other health issues. At the upper end of the “precariously housed” population are those families who may be employed but still cannot quite overcome the barriers to purchasing a home of their own, and so forfeit a big part of their income to monthly rent for what is often substandard housing.
Living in precarious housing Counts of current homeless don’t include the growing number of those in “precariously housed” situations, including those scraping by on monthto-month paychecks barley covering rent or mortgages; those living in substandard housing that may fail or be condemned; and those living in temporary arrangements such as with friends or extended families in overcrowded conditions. When housing becomes unavailable or deteriorates, people living in rural areas and native-American Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 29
Who are the homeless in North Dakota? A statewide January 27, 2010 Point-in-Time Survey of 1,126 Homeless People indicated:
3%
stayed outside, in cars, or in abandoned buildings the night of the survey
63% 25%
were precariously housed in motels or doubled up with family or friends and at imminent risk of being on the street
55% 44%
were unemployed
45% 35%
were unaccompanied individuals
were families, including 300 children under the age of 18
52% 48%
+
stayed in emergency shelters or transitional supportive housing
had a mental illness
30 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
$
can not afford rent, even if they have some income
had alcohol or drug abuse problems
The worldwide organization “Habitat for Humanity” has proved to be a successful approach to helping eliminate such situations. Shirley Dykshoorn is the Executive Director for Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, which serves Fargo/Moorhead and some other parts of the Red River Valley. Dykshoorn says that there are many misunderstandings about the organization, including that it provides families with free housing from tax dollars. In fact, “families in the program must meet a monthly mortgage just like any other homeowner,” Dykshoorn says. However, the program does provide assistance that helps lower the barriers to home ownership, such as an interest-free home loan, credit assistance and coaching, and materials and time donated by volunteers to help keep building costs low. “But to qualify, families must be ready to commit long-term to a partnership….they have to be ready and willing to take on the costs and commitment of home ownership,” she says. They must also meet income guidelines and yet show a need for assistance. Dykshoorn says benefits of home ownership are multiplied many times over in the community. “The largest impact is on children. With safe and secure housing, they feel more grounded. Both they and their parents are happier. The kids learn better, are more confident having friends visit their homes…they can even often have pets when they couldn’t before.” She adds that every house the
organization builds makes it possible to build more homes for additional families. “You’re not just helping one family at one point in time, but helping a family for an entire lifetime, plus helping other families for years.” But like many agencies in the current economy, Habitat for Humanity is seeing increased demand with little additional funding. Government assistance has tended to be fixed in recent years while expenses and need increase. Dykshoorn says over 100 families have attended orientation for applications in the 2011 building season. Applications will be narrowed down to 26 for consideration, and ultimately only 4-6 homes will be built. And unfortunately, North Dakota’s Southwest Homeless Coalition chair persons say that Habitat for Humanity in Dickinson disbanded last year, because citizens—who may have been unaware of looming changes in housing conditions—didn’t have enough interest in supporting the organization.
Progress in solution planning Shelters and food address urgent care, but NDCHP’s director Carbone stresses that they are not the answer. “We need to improve awareness of the underlying problems. Long-term solutions require identifying obstacles to housing stability and putting people in touch with the correct resources to overcome the obstacles,” Carbone said. Long-term solutions require iden-
Shelters aren’t the answer to homelessness. Homes are. – Michael Carbone, Executive Director, North Dakota Coalition for Homeless People tifying obstacles to housing stability and putting people in touch with the correct resources to overcome the obstacles,” NDCHP’s director Carbone said. Fortunately, NDCHP and sister organizations have assisted the governor’s interagency council on homelessness to create a 10-year plan to end homelessness. And N.D.’s tribal regions of Turtle Mountain and Fort Berthold created the first 10-yearplans in the entire nation to address homelessness in Native American reservations. The purpose of the 10year plans is “to assist communities and tribal nations throughout North Dakota with the ambitious goal of ending long-term homelessness at the local level within the next 10 years.” It includes recommendations to accomplish the following: Develop permanent supportive housing Improve the ability to pay rent Expand supportive services to wrap-around housing Strengthen prevention and outreach programs Collect and disseminate data relating to long-term homelessness
The plan has been presented to the state governor for adoption, and cities across the state have formally adopted support for the plan. Steps in the plan, all of which are completed or well underway, include: Secure input and approval of the 10-year plan. Designate an entity to assume the lead role in implementing the plan. Secure funding to support the plan. Provide information, education, tools and resources to local to support the plan. Why is a long-term plan so important to addressing homelessness? Carbone points to the old and well-proven adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. “Preventing homelessness is more effective, less expensive, and much more humane than urgent actions needed after the fact,” he says. And to prevent lastminute, short-term solutions such as hand outs, food lines, and temporary shelters, awareness and planning are key. Put quite simply, Carbone says, “Shelters aren’t the answer to homelessness. Homes are.”
Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 31
Get involved to end homelessness The following resources will provide you with more information about homelessness in your area, and help you find groups to guide you in how to help:
NORTH DAKOTA COALITION FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE www.ndhomelesscoalition.org * 2105 Lee Avenue Bismarck, N.D. 58504
FM COALITION FOR HOMELESS PERSONS (Fargo-Moorhead)
information
Missouri Valley HFH
P.O. Box 7238
www.mvalleyhabitat.org
Fargo, N.D. 58106
600 S 2nd 3RD Fl Ste 8
701.200.0855
Bismarck, N.D. 58504 701.255.7566
NORTH DAKOTA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRISIS AND SUPPORT RESOURCES www.aardvarc.org/dv/states/nddv.shtml
www.hud.gov/local/mn/homeless/mnccc.cfm
Fargo, North Dakota, Moorhead and Cass County, Minnesota: Lake Agassiz HFH
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAM www.hudhre.info/hprp
MINNESOTA CONTINUUM OF CARE CONTACTS FOR HUD
Bismarck, North Dakota:
www.fmhomeless.org
701.258.2240 *Use the Resources and Member Agencies links to find local contact
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
www.lakeagassizhabitat.org
Check out these Regional Films/Videos The Face of Homelessness Contact the FM Coalition for Homeless Persons at 701.200.0855 for film/video availability.
Homeless in the Heartland Contact the ND Coalition for Homeless Persons at 701.328.3264.
Homelessness Can Happen to Anyone...Even You; Lost In the Shuffle: Homeless Children in Our Schools; Fly Away Home, Street Life: Invisible Family, A Place to Call Home Contact the ND Dept of Public Instruction (701) 328.3264.
P.O. Box 1022 Moorhead, Minnesota. 56561 218.284.5253
PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT www.projecthomelessconnect.com
Grand Forks, North Dakota:
In the Fargo-Moorhead area, see www.fmhomeless.org
Red River Valley HFH
In the Bismarck area, see
www.rrvhabitat.org
www.missourivalleyhomeless.org/PHC_VSD.html
P.O. Box 5415 Grand Forks, N.D. 58206-5415 701.772.4418 Minot, North Dakota: Northern Lights, HFH www.local.habitat.org/minotND 618 3rd St NE Minot, N.D. 58703-2506 701.852.9799
A giving advertising opportunity utilizing print, web, e-newsletter & social networking.
701.364.4001 info@todaysgiving.com www.todaysgiving.com
32 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
US DEPT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT www.hud.gov
Works Cited: A statewide January 27, 2010 Pointin-Time Survey of 1126 Homeless People indicated: 2 North Dakota Coalition for Homeless People web site, www.ndhomelesscoalition.org 1
Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 33
Hunting for a Better Organization By Lisa Jackson, Today’s Giving
Many things about our part of the country are special, including the genuine people –most of whom go by, “do what you say and say what you do.” The work ethic is unparalleled and our land includes some of the most beautiful rolling plains that are home to wildlife and many outdoor activities. The combination of these demographics gives rise to a special way of life and truly remarkable accomplishments.
Last year at the Fargodome’s annual sportsman show, while my husband was enviously eyeing new boats and hunting trips to far-off places, we stumbled along an intriguing booth for “The Outdoor Adventure Foundation Inc.” Being involved with philanthropy in the state for years and having a family of avid sportsman I was surprised to not know about this organization. I also assumed that in a state known for hunting and the outdoors, we would have nonprofit efforts geared to helping those that 34 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
may not have the opportunity to enjoy these activities. Not so. Recently, I sat down with Brian Solum, founder and president of the Outdoor Adventure Foundation’s, to hear more about their efforts and why what they are doing is so unique. I was impressed by everything he has accomplished thus far. He has started a new nonprofit organization, was applying for grants, planning annual events and opening new chapters for the foundation across the country. In addition to North Dakota, the
Cancer fighter, Jeff Nelson 16 years old from Argusville on a deer hunt with Keith Mark in Missouri in 2009.
organization is now in Texas, Washington, and Iowa, with dozens more states lining up. Solum gave me the impression he was a seasoned veteran of the fundraising world, with experience of running a nonprofit for years. When I asked him when organization was incorporated, Solum replied, “It’s been just over...a year. May of 2009.” Wow—impressive. The first organization of its kind in the region, The Outdoor Adventure Foundation, Inc. has grown significantly in the last year with support
from national hunting personalities, companies and television shows. As a business owner and entrepreneur for his “day” job, Solum follows business practices that are important regardless of the industry – identifying your market, networking, collaborating, and having passion for your goals. A few learning and collaboration millstones along the way helped the organization get off the ground. Previously, Solum was an ambassador for The Hunt of a Life Time Foundation, a national organization
based in Harborcreek, P.A., working both for the national and North Dakota chapters. “Their mission was great, but the organization wasn’t run very well,” said Solum. He was frustrated because of three hang-ups: Only a small portion of the funds raised locally would be used for hunts within the state; it was very difficult to fulfill a dream hunt for kids locally; and communication channels were disjointed. Soon a committee of 15 people was formed to discuss how to
keep the good intentions of The Hunt of a Life Time Foundation, but provide local hunts for more people. The committee expanded the age of participation in youth activities to 25 and also added opportunities for veterans. Now the majority of funds raised by each chapter stay with that chapter, which is responsible for managing hunts and selecting recipients. The chapters now have the control to use their own networks for fundraising, reaching out to youth and veterans and connecting with Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 35
Pheasant hunt in Napoleon, N.D.
outfitters, landowners, and sponsors. In North Dakota, collaboration includes businesses like Gate City Bank and Scheels, associations like Pheasant Forever, Cass County Wildlife Club, and others groups like the Cedar Ridge Elk Ranch and the North
36 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
Dakota Game & Fish Department. The organization has tremendous momentum and buy-in from hunting celebrities and national businesses, helping make the organization financially viable.
Mike Feener, North Dakota Director of Disabled Veterans, has been working with the foundation since its inception and initially contacted Keith Mark, who owns and operates MacMillan River Adventures Outfitters in the Yukon Territory, Canada and is a host of the MacMillian River Adventures show on the Outdoor Channel. As a national television figure, Mark is contacted almost daily about helping organizations, but Freener’s request for The Outdoor Adventure Foundation, Inc. struck a chord. “The mission statement is awesome, I’ve never been around such good folks and it was apparent from day one that their hearts where in the right place,” said Mark. The board invited Mark to their annual fundrais-
Walleye fishing in Devils Lake, N.D.
ing banquet to show him more. Mark is now the national director of the foundation and it’s his personal mission to work on behalf of the foundation and get his contacts such as World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. wrestler Shawn Michaels, performer Ted Nugent, hunting show hosts Lee & Tiffany, and other hunting celebrities to help raise funds for the organization. Mark said, “My goal is to raise,—well, I’m not going to tell you, because it’s a lot. But I will continue to do hunts for the show. I’m creating a DVD that will promote and raise funds.” Hunting can be controversial for some, but according to Mark, there are four big reasons why this particular organization is important. “A child you have taken on an adventure may pass away. That part of it is very tough, but to have those memories and know that you were part of help-
ing someone deal with their fight is worth it. I get more out than I put in.” In addition, Mark believes this type of organization helps communities rally together, puts people in touch with their own humanity, and offers a gut check about personal faith and luck. So what does the future hold? Solum and the board’s vision is to expand to all of the states and eventually have opportunities for every applicant. Currently, Solum is still doing 80% of the fundraising and donates much of his time and the office space to make things work. This story is just one example of how individuals with passion help others who, because of illness or other circumstances, don’t have the same opportunities. Working within their network of hunters and sporting associations, the leaders of The Outdoor Adventure Foundation,
Inc. have created a very successful venture in a short time. Their biggest supporters are those who love the outdoors, appreciate the sport of hunting, and believe in land stewardship.
Keith Mark headshot.
Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 37
Social Media: Following the Rules of Engagement By Jay Wilkinson
2.
Thou shalt not lie
This is self-explanatory, so I won’t elaborate much. Just let me say, word spreads quickly online, and even little white lies can get uncovered quickly. Stay true to your organization and be honest about your successes as well as challenges. Your audience will have more respect for your honesty than they will any attempts to stretch or spin the truth.
3.
5.
Remember thy community and keep it holy
To paraphrase a famous president, “Ask not what your e-community can do for you—ask what you can do for your e-community.” If you approach your online audience with the attitude that you want something from them, you probably won’t get the response or the relationships you desire. But if your goal is to educate, inspire, inform and serve the members in your e-community, you’ll
Thou shalt not hire a third party to write nice things about you
I
f Facebook were a country, it would be the third largest in the world, right behind China and India. That’s a pretty big clue that social networks aren’t going away anytime soon. So, you probably understand by now how crucial it is for your nonprofit to build an e-community and establish a solid presence in the world of social media. Next step—you need to know the rules of engagement. It’s not enough to simply create a Facebook page, acquire some followers on Twitter or start a blog. The key is in knowing what to do next. How you connect with your followers and constituents in your e-community is largely up to you. However, following a few important guidelines will help you maximize your social networking efforts. In 2008, prominent Blogger Sonia Simone wrote about the “Ten Commandments of Social Media.” Here’s an updated twist on these important rules we would all be wise to heed.
Jay Wilkinson is one of the nation’s most sought after speakers on the impact of the web on nonprofits. As the CEO of Firespring, an interactive agency in Lincoln Nebraska, he has helped thousands of nonprofits utilize the power of the Internet for leveraging purpose, passion and mission. To register for one of Jay’s free webinars on Using the Web to Engage Constituents, Online Fundraising in Hard Economic Times, or The Power of Social Networking for Nonprofits, visit www.firespring.com/nonprofit.
38 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
1.
Thou shalt participate in the conversation
Your online activity should be interesting and relevant, drawing your audience into a lively discussion. Social media is not the place to be silent. The conversation is going to happen with or without you. Wouldn’t you rather be part of it? Once you invest the time into building an e-community on sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube, you’ll want to capitalize on your efforts by keeping the conversation alive. Post timely information or ask questions. Don’t ever sit idle—the onus is on you to keep the communication flowing.
Don’t pay someone to sing your praises. You’ll find that good word about your organization will spread organically if you stay engaged in a meaningful way with your constituents and supporters. Pay attention to what people post about you on Facebook or Twitter. You may uncover some authentic, favorable testimonials that show up in the best possible way—unsolicited.
4.
Thou shalt talk in real words, not corp speak
Not everyone knows nonprofit lingo, nor is everyone familiar with the ins and outs of your organization. This means that what you write for your e-community should be free of industry jargon or nonprofit “speak.” If you can, run your content by a person who’s outside your organization and see if it makes sense to them. If they get it, you’re on the right track.
be more likely to make friends and garner new supporters. In short, keep your focus others-centered.
6.
Thou shalt not be a wimp
Here’s a shocker—sometimes people will say things about your organization that are unfavorable. That’s why you need to have a backbone and not crumple with the slightest hint of negativity. Everyone has opinions, and social media has become a popular arena in which to share them—and it’s okay. Hold your head high and let the communication flow.
7.
Thou shalt not complain when people are mean
You know those people who shake their fists at slow drivers during rush hour or flip you a sign if you make the slightest mistake? Well, they’re not just mean on the roads. They’re probably mean everywhere—even in your social network. You may run across a little “road rage” from some of your online traffic. If that happens, my best advice is to refer back to commandment #6.
Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 39
�
V.
From the Collection “Calling Home”
How strange this is, this peaceful time a brand new year in which I find myself alone. And I am standing – I am slowly understanding what it means to be. The quiet of a place that makes you smile a stranger’s face. another mile. And I am standing I am still
standing.
I am
home.
©2009 Christine Hoper “V.” appears in Today’s Giving compliments of Fargo poet Christine Hoper. Christine spent her childhood in small towns across Minnesota and North Dakota. For as long as she can remember, she’s had a notebook close at hand. The words shared here capture moments in time–and who knows; they might be reminiscent of things you too have seen and heard along the way. You can find more of her poetry at www.northdakotarealized. com and her current blog featuring musings about the moon at www.redrivergirl.com.
40 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
8.
Thou shalt write what is worth reading
I mentioned earlier that it’s up to you to keep the conversation between you and your e-community going. In part, that means keeping the conversation relevant and compelling. You can tweet about what you had for breakfast, but who cares? Unless that breakfast was at a homeless shelter that your organization supports, and they’re running a canned food drive to stock their pantry for the winter. Keep your posts relevant and talk about the things your audience wants to hear. Otherwise, you’ll kill the conversation.
9.
Thou shalt not pontificate about what thou knowest nothing about
Simply put, don’t blow a lot of hot air about something if you don’t have the adequate knowledge or experience. Know your niche, speak to your expertise, and leave the rest to the other experts out there. Believe me, people will know when you’re faking it.
10.
Thou shalt have a sense of humor
The world of social media is not “all work and no play.” Far from it. Lighten up, have fun and every once in a while, try to make your audience smile. Most people in your e-community engage in social media for the fun of it, so make it fun. You can be informative, engaging and interesting, all with a sense of humor. Make someone laugh, and they’ll remember you—and that is a great way to be remembered. Social media is an excellent way to connect with your audience, foster good relationships with your supporters and promote your organization’s mission. You just need to be smart about it. Stay consistent, stay focused, be real and handle criticism with class. Follow the rules of engagement, and you’ll build an e-community that’s as passionate as you are about your cause.
one day...
i’ll become a botanist
College SAVE — for your child’s promising future Learn about the benefits of North Dakota’s own 529 college savings plan, including a matching grant for North Dakota residents.*
Visit collegesave4u.com or call 1.866.SAVE.529. * Matching grants are subject to the availability of funds and can be reduced or stopped at Bank of North Dakota’s discretion. If you are not a North Dakota taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state’s qualified tuition program. For more information about North Dakota’s College SAVE Plan, call 1-866-SAVE-529 (1-866-728-3529) or visit www.collegesave4u.com to obtain a Plan Disclosure Statement. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are included in the Plan Disclosure Statement; read and consider it carefully before investing. Upromise Investments, Inc. serves as Distributor and Underwriter. The College SAVE Plan is a 529 Plan established by the State of North Dakota. Bank of North Dakota acts as trustee of the College SAVE Trust and is responsible for administering the Plan. Upromise Investments, Inc. and Upromise Investment Advisors, LLC serve as the Plan Manager and Recordkeeping and Servicing Agent, respectively, with overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations, including effecting transactions and marketing and distribution of the Plan. The Vanguard Group, Inc. provides underlying investments for the Plan. The Plan’s Portfolios, although they invest in mutual funds, are not mutual funds. Units of the Portfolios are municipal fund securities and the value of units will vary with market conditions. ND6125 0809
Save for College while Reducing Taxes — a Compelling Combination It sounds too good to be true, but College SAVE, the State of North Dakota’s 529 college savings plan, can actually help you save for educational expenses while reducing your state and federal taxes. A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged way to save for higher education. With the rising costs associated in pursuing a college degree, families are searching for ways to help their loved ones finance their educational goals while reducing student loan debt. College SAVE is the only 529 plan in the nation specifically designed for North Dakota residents and offers a state tax deduction on contributions made to the plan. North Dakota taxpayers can deduct up to $5,000 per year (up to $10,000 if married, filing jointly) of their College SAVE contributions from their state taxable income. Any North Dakota taxpayer is eligible for the state tax deduction, not just the account owner. Parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors can help a child save for college and still receive the tax savings! Another valuable benefit includes a gift tax exclusion typically used for estate planning purposes. You can contribute up to $13,000 per beneficiary each year ($26,000 if married, filing jointly) without incurring the gift tax. The exclusion also allows individuals to make five years’ worth of contributions - $65,000 ($130,000 if married, filing jointly) - in a single year and treat them as if they were made over five years for tax purposes. When you invest in College SAVE, earnings grow tax deferred and are exempt from both federal and state taxes when used for qualified higher education expenses such as room & board, books, tuition and even a laptop. Students and their families have the potential to increase their savings more quickly than if invested in a taxable account. As if that wasn’t enough, Bank of North Dakota (BND) may also contribute to your college savings efforts. As the administrator of the program BND can, depending on your income level and the age of your beneficiaries, match your contributions up to $300. To learn more about how College SAVE can help you save for a future college-bound student please visit www. collegeSAVE4u.com or call 1-866-SAVE-529.
Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 41
Fundraising Strategies for a New Year By Lisa Jackson, Today’s Giving
W
e are either “askers” or “givers” when it comes to fundraising. Pretty simple right? Wrong. Whether receiving a knock at your door from a school child with cookie dough or visiting with a development director pitching a college’s capital campaign, there are things all fundraisers and donors must keep in mind to improve the impact of contributions. Here are ten keen, timeless insights for maximizing philanthropy and making year-end decisions.
“Askers”: Tips for Fundraising
1.
http://
Want more tips on asking and giving? Visit todaysgiving.com to see additional strategies. Don’t forget to tell us your favorites, add additional ideas or ask questions!
The biggest problem in fundraising isn’t getting others to give; it’s getting people to ask others to give. So, figure out what is holding you back from making the “ask.” Why are you hesitant? Is it that you don’t know enough about the donor? Not sure about the amount? Is it the wrong time? Make a list of what you need to know prior to a solicitation and then meet with your contact until all of your questions are answered.
2.
Get your board on board.
There is no way around it; to be successful the board must fundraise. Although everyone on the board doesn’t need to do the asking, they should be prepared to provide ideas for new contributors, use their networks to promote the organization and find the best ways to improve stewardship and thank supporters.
3.
Don’t assume if a prospective contributor is wealthy that they will automatically contribute to your cause.
When a major donor is announced in the media, do you immediately think, “How can I get this person to support us? Our cause is just as worthy.” Just because an individual is wealthy and even philanthropic doesn’t automatically 42 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
mean he or she will give to your cause. Focus on strengthening relationships with your own top donors, rather than attempting to convert another group’s major donors.
4.
Short-term gain can be long-term detriment. Emergency appeals might work once, but could affect contributors’ long-term confidence in your organization. Focus on building a reputation that is strong and viable. Recruiting highly-regarded board members and staff and consistently focusing on your organization’s mission will ultimately work better than scare tactics.
5.
People always give to people. This isn’t the first or last time you will hear this sentiment, but it’s true. However, it’s difficult to keep this in mind while tackling day-to-day activities.
“Givers”: Tips for Giving This Holiday Season During the holiday season, many of us reflect on our good fortunes and try to help others in need. But to receive charitable tax deductions for the 2010 fiscal year, gifts must be given or postmarked by Dec. 31. Here are a few tips to help guide the decision making process.
1.
Create a charitable budget for you and your family. Consider how much you gave this year and are willing to contribute next year. The process should include the family. Don’t over or under spend.
2.
Research your giving. It will mean more to you and the organizations that you support if you make an engaged decisions about how to spend your charitable dollars. You wouldn’t buy stock in a company before reviewing their portfolio. The same goes for giving to nonprofits. If tax deductions are important, be sure to support charities with 501(c)3 status. Focus on the mission, operating costs, and outcomes of organizations you are considering supporting. Does their mission match your values? Visit
www.charitynavigator.org to find the most efficient charities, including those that spend at least 75% of their budgets on programs and services and spend only a small percent on administrative and fundraising costs. Investigate each charity’s outcomes. Check on as each organization’s business practices such as their record of meeting goals, ethical behavior, and so on.
3.
Try selecting fewer organizations to support. Focusing on two or three groups can help you have a greater impact on the effect of your contributions. For example, if you give $25 to 10 charities and the average charity spends about $10 to process and fundraise for every gift it receives, $100 (or 40%) of the $250 you’d give goes to processing costs. By giving $125 to only two charities you are only spending $20 on administration (or 10%).
4.
Know current IRS regulations on charitable giving. Rules change from year to year and may influence your decision on making a gift now or waiting until next year. For example, income tax rates are scheduled to go up in 2011, topping out at 39.6% with the capital gains tax rate rising from 15% to 20%. Ordinarily, taxpayers save more from charitable contributions when tax rates are high but that may not be the case after 2010, if certain itemized deduction cutback proposals become law. Visit www.irs.gov for more information. (See also: “North Dakota Promotes Philanthropy Through Legislation” in the winter issue of Today’s Giving)
5.
Timing is everything when making large or non-cash gifts. If you are considering gifting non-cash assets such as mineral rights or real estate—or if you have been considering a life-income gift such as gift annuities or charitable trusts— be sure to allow sufficient time to meet with advisors, your family and the charities you wish to support. These types of transitions need to be reviewed carefully. Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 43
Calendar of Events E-mail your events to info@todaysgiving.com. More events listed on todaysgiving.com
Statewide December
Salvation Army Bellringing Season is Here! The money raised will help provide for families in our community. January 14 to 15
Special Olympics State Winter Games Bottineau, ND www.specialolympicsnorthdakota.org | 701.746.0331
North West North Dakota December 28 to February 6
“Best of Show” Americas 2010: Paperworks MSU Northwest Art Center at Gordon B. Olson Library Gallery Reception: Wednesday, January 19 at 6:30 p.m. January 26 to 28
February 18
KMOT Ag Expo
RSVP+ Penguin Plunge
December 14
North Dakota Fair Grounds
Mandan Community Center
Canadian Pacific Holiday Train
1800 16th St. SW Minot, ND
Mandan, ND
Holmes Street Railroad Crossing
agexpo@kmot.com | 701.852.5254
http://rsvp.ndsu.nodak.edu | 701.258.5436
Detroit Lakes, MN
February 17 to 26
A donation to the Food Pantry is suggested.
Vegas Motel
January 1 to February 28
February 12
Minot, ND
Coming to Clay County: 150 Years of Immigration
Heritage Singers annual variety show with dinner, music, silent auction and more!
South West North Dakota
www.fortmandan.org | 701.462.8535
Interpretive Center
December 19
Show Me the Accountability Hosts: Nonprofits Assistance Fund and NDANO with support from Otto Bremer Foundation Bismarck, ND www.ndano.org
Hjemkomst Center 201 1st Ave. N Fargo, ND www.hjemkomstcenter.com | 218.299.5511
January 1 to February 30
The White Album: The Beatles Meets the Plains Plains Art Museum 704 1st Ave. N Fargo, ND www.plainsart.org | 701.232.3822
January 15
Paws to Read: Reading Therapy Pets
3rd Annual Friends of Friends Fighting Hunger in Ottertail County Thumper Pond Resort 300 Thumper Lodge Rd. Ottertail, MN www.otcfriends.com
It’s Snowing in SD! Paper 3D Snowflakes South Dakota Art Museum
218.773.9121
Zoo Year’s Eve Fun Run/Walk
Spirit Room Gallery
Dakota Zoo
111 Broadway, Fargo, ND
Discovery Center Park Bismarck, ND
www. Lakeagassizhabitat.org | 218.284.5253 x2
www.dakotazoo.org | 701.223.7543
Tickets: $15 in advance $20 at the door
Help the Dakota Zoo kick off it’s annual Zoo Year’s Eve Fun Run and Walk!
January 30 and February 6
bblake@ndmoa.com | 701.777.4195
Candlelight Cross Country Skiing
The twentieth annual North Dakota Museum of Art Gala Benefit Dinner and Silent Art Auction.
MSUM Science Center at Buffalo River State Park Fargo, ND www.mnstate.edu/regsci/seasonalevents.cfm | 218.498.2124
44 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
January 29
December 11
www.cityoffargo.com/CityInfo/Departments/Library/ 701.241.1495
December 26
Grand Forks, ND
nate@icefishingdl.org | 218.846.0369
102 3rd St N Fargo, ND
422 4th St. Northwest East Grand Forks, MN
UND Campus
Detroit Lakes, MN
Eastern South Dakota
Home is Where the Art Is – Lake Agasiz Habitat for Humanity ReStore Art Show and Silent Auction
North Dakota Museum of Art Benefit Dinner
Little Detroit Lake
Fargo Public Library
February 5
February 5
Poles ‘n Holes Fishing Tournament
Help Breakfast Rotary earn money to fund programs.
Get the Most out of Your 990 – with Eve Borenstein. Accountability, Another Way to Tell Your Story
Campbell Library
Hear talented lakes area musicians perform holiday favorites.
South East North Dakota
Heritage Singers 2011 Varity Show
Christmas in the Park
Art Exhibit: “Art on the Prairie”
www.dlccc.org | 218.844.7469
218.844.7470
Washburn, ND
December 1 to 24
Lakes Area Community Concert Band Detroit Lakes, MN
November 26 to December 31
$5 per vehicle (additional charge for limos and buses), with the money going to benefit local Lions Club charities.
Dickinson, ND
December 12
A 45-plus year tradition offering great food, entertainment and auction.
North East North Dakota
jon.ramsey@assurityfd.com | 701.795.1115
Trinity High School
Western Minnesota
Historic Holmes Theatre
Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation Christmas Tea
Grand Forks, ND
Trinity Mardi Gras
Juleen.A.Roszkowski@sendit.nodak.edu | 701.483.6092
Minot, ND
December 11
Lincoln Drive Park
January 28 to 30
Brookings, SD www.southdakotaartmuseum.com | 605.688.5423
December 31
Celebrate Vermillion Dakotadome Vermillion, SD www.vermillionchamber.com | 605.624.5571
December 31
Parade / Simply South Dakota Tasting Event Delmont, SD www.delmontsd.org | 605.779.2621
Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 45
YOUR local 2-1-1 call center and 24 Hour HotLine.
At 73 years of age, Ed Milligan, a combat veteran who served nearly 25 years in the U.S. Army, continues to give back to his comrades. Once a month Milligan hosts “Veteran’s Hour” on KFGO radio, during which he interviews guests and takes calls on veteran-related topics. Since he retired in 1992 Milligan has been an active volunteer for the Disabled American Veterans Foun-
industry buzz Tails of the City – Holiday Pet Portraits
Changing Lives One Heart at a Time
Editor’s Note: Each issue of Giv-
dation in Fargo-Moorhead, serving as commander of
ing will include “Faces of Giving”
the group for one year. Milligan has been broadcast-
Dial 2-1-1 or
to recognize and thank some of
ing “Veteran’s Hour” for the past five years, and re-
701.235.7335 (SEEK)
those across our region whose ac-
ceived the 2007 American Legion Press Award for
www.myfirstlink.org
tions serve as both leadership and
his work. The show airs on designated Saturdays
inspiration for thoughtful, meaningful
from 2-3 p.m. For information on the next airing, visit
We provide listeningand support,
contributions that improve the lives of
http://www.wdayhonorflight.com/veteranshour.html.
human service information
others. Do you know of someone who
and referral, suicide survivors
fits the profile? If so, please send rec-
support group, and volunteer
ommendations to faces@givingmag.
After years of declining membership, the Presbyterian Church
opportunities.
com or mail to Faces of Giving, 1407
in Stanley, North Dakota was decommissioned in 2000 at the
1st Ave North, Fargo, ND 58102
request of its remaining congregants.
24 Hour Suicide Line:
The thought of losing one of its
Dial 1.800.273.8255 (TALK)
iconic structures alarmed Stanley residents and out-of-area alumni, but Don Hoirup initiated the idea to repurpose the
It’s all good.
building as an arts center. Evelyn Jim Klein has always put the needs
Horne helped coordinate fund-
of others ahead of his own. As the
raising and planning. Horne contacted
108 Front Street
1.800.450.4457
first blind graduate of UND Business
Preservation North Dakota (PND) which offers an Affiliate
Barnesville, MN
www.catholiccharitiesnd.org
School, Klein embarked on a career in mortgage banking; a
Program to assist the organizations in starting a nonprofit.
profession in which he spent the majority of his life. When
Using contact lists from Stanley’s centennial celebration in
Pregnancy, Parenting and
retirement came calling, Klein wasn’t ready to put the busi-
2002, alumni and residents were contacted and eventually
Adoption Services
ness skills he had honed to rest so he put his knowledge to
contributed close to $400,000. After extensive renovations,
work for the benefit of others by writing grants for nonprofit
the building is now known as the Sibyl Center for Life Enrich-
218.779.9021 www.ockhardtphoto.com Pet portrait sessions including 25 custom-designed premium
Guardianship Services for adults
701.258.2127
organizations. From 1993 to 1997, Klein raised a half a million
ment. Its namesake is for Sibyl MacDonald, who taught piano
holiday greeting cards for $60.
with developmental disabilities.
www.dansupermarket.com
dollars in small grants for the Pioneer Rest Home in Bathgate,
lessons to generations of students and left significant funds
ND, and spent time volunteering for the Cavalier Hospital as
to the church when she died in 1973. Since it was dedicated
Treat your furry pal to a fun trip to a modern photography
Adults Adopting Special
Visit one of our locations in
well. In May 2010 Klein, who has been blind since childhood,
in 2003, the Sibyl Center has had nine seasons of hosting en-
studio. Ockhardt Photography
Kids Program (AASK).
Bismarck, Mandan or Dickinson.
joined Great Plains Assistance Dogs Foundation, Inc. in Jud,
tertainment, arts, musical performances and social events,
ND as a grant writer. The foundation trains and certifies as-
creating a community-friendly space for the arts and learn-
Counseling Services for
sistance dogs to help physically challenged individuals gain
ing. Learn more about the Sibyl Center at www.sibylcenter.
individuals, couples, and families.
independence and autonomy. Klein’s professional experience
org and Preservation North Dakota at www.prairieplaces.org.
loves animals and provides a fun and relaxed session.
get in on the buzz!
call 701.364.4001 46 Today’s Giving Winter 2010
and perseverance has created new sources of funding in support of the foundation’s work. To learn more about giving resources to the GPADF, visit www.greatplainsdogs.com.
Winter 2010 Today’s Giving 47
Today’s Giving magazine the regions source for today’s nonprofit industry.
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