Good Afternoon, All--

Here are some NYSCAA updates and other information that you may find of interest.

 NYSCAA News

 Tech Day Changes: In response to feedback from several members, NYSCAA has decided to modify the format of this event, from a live event, to an online event.  This will minimize the cost and time associated with traveling to a live event and maximize the number of members who can attend.  We apologize for any confusion this modification may cause.  More details will follow.

 2007 Poverty Symposium/New York’s Response to Poverty.  Please mark your calendars for NYSCAA’s 2007 Poverty Symposium to be held March 12-13, 2007 at the New York State Museum in Albany

 Legislative Visit Day.  Please mark on your calendar the afternoon of March 13 (following the Symposium) and plan on participating in NYSCAA’s Legislative Visit Day.  We hope to have a good crowd to visit legislative members, committee chairs and others key to funding and regulation of the work you do everyday.  We are also hoping to find a sponsor to host a legislative reception the evening of the 12th so please plan on joining us.

 Thank You.  Thank you to Adrian Fassett for accompanying Denise Harlow to Washington DC yesterday for a valuable meeting with David Bradley of NCAF.  We appreciate the time and expense Adrian took to make the introduction.

 Meeting With David Bradley.  In our meeting with David Bradley, he again stressed the extremely positive way NCAF and Community Action are positioned for the next two years in relation to the election.  Two of our biggest supporters, Rep. David Obey and Sen. Tom Harkin, are set to become chairmen of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittees.  However, caution is warranted and we need to be careful in managing the transition.  Once committee chairs are announced, NYSCAA and NCAF will be strategizing on the best way to mobilize the NY membership to educate incoming members and how to best reinforce the message to the incumbents given their new roles.  He is hopeful for a Continuing Resolution through February 07.  We also discussed training, program quality, accountability and the importance of congressional relationships at the local level. 

 FDANYS News

Call for Proposals.  The Family Development Association of New York State is seeking presenters for its May 2007 Conference.  The Call for Proposals Application is available online. APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 19, 2007 click here for details.

National Community Action Partnership News

 Minutes.  The National Community Action Partnership has asked we share the minutes of the last two board meetings with the membership.  Please find them attached.

 Funding Opportunities

Apply for Financial Education; Building Communities and Entrepreneurs Grant
The
Citigroup Foundation supports nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S., and internationally, with emphasis on locations where Citigroup companies do business. Citigroup's family of companies includes Citibank, CitiFinancial, and Smith Barney. The Foundation primarily provides grants and technical expertise to organizations that help people improve their lives, businesses grow, and communities prosper. The Foundation’s three main grantmaking categories are: Financial Education; Educating the Next Generation; and Building Communities and Entrepreneurs. Applications are accepted throughout the year; however, those submitted early in the calendar year have the best chance of receiving funding.

Free Software Opportunity

On Wednesday, December 6th, 2006, Techsoup will be giving away a free anti-spam software to all registered Techsoup customers.  This is a great opportunity to help fight spam in your organization, and it is totally free.  This software is installed on individual computers, not on a network mail server, and is therefore, ideal for many of our community action agencies and for outlying sites.  Please go to http://ga0.org/ct/odaBPlY1EXV7/ to learn more.  If you are not already registered at Techsoup (http://www.techsoup.org/stock ), please take this opportunity to become one.  Even if this offer does not apply to your I.T. setup, Techsoup will save you thousands of dollars a year on your I.T. needs.  If you are wondering if this software is right for you, or have any questions regarding this offer, please feel free to contact our I.T. department for assistance at 518.690.0491 ext 26 or techmail@nyscaaonline.org .

IRS News and Issues

Excise Telephone Tax Refunds.   In May 2006, the IRS announced that individuals, businesses and tax-exempt organizations who paid the long-distance telephone excise tax can request the refund on their 2006 federal income tax returns.  The Internal Revenue Service announced a formula on 11/16/06 that will allow businesses and tax-exempt organizations to estimate their federal telephone excise tax refunds. Click here for more information http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=164305,00.htmlFor Q and A on the subject, click here: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=164310,00.html    I

FY 2007 Implementing Guidelines.  The IRS Exempt Organizations Division has released its FY 2007 Implementing Guidelines. The guidelines describe 2006 accomplishments, including increased education and outreach, the Political Activity Compliance Initiative, and a dramatic reduction in the backlog of exempt organization applications. Priorities for 2007 include a redesign of the Form 990, a detailed report on executive compensation practices, and continued work on electronic filing.

UBIT.  The IRS form for Unrelated Business Income Tax is now available online.

FY 2007 Annual Audit Plan.  The FY 2007 Annual Audit Plan, released by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), outlines plans to review IRS programs geared toward nonprofits. The review will include the oversight of nonprofit hospitals, protection from terrorist-related activity, and Form 990 compliance.

Other Meetings/Trainings of Interest

One New York: An Agenda for Shared Prosperity. Next Tuesday, December 5, 2006, at 1 pm in Room 711-A of the Legislative Office Building, the Fiscal Policy Institute will be presenting a briefing and discussion on its recently released "One New York: An Agenda for Shared Prosperity." Please join us if you can. RSVP by replying to mauro@fiscalpolicy.org or by calling them at 518-786-3156. The Agenda is available on the FPI website at http://www.fiscalpolicy.org/OneNewYork.stm and printed copies will be distributed at the December 5th briefing.  NYSCAA staff will be attending and will share highlights.

Fiscal Training.  The New York State Society of CPAs and the Foundation for Accounting are holding their annual Nonprofit Conference in Rochester and NYC.  Click here for more information http://www.nysscpa.org/faeconferences.htm   

Reports and Research Projects of Interest

State by State Data: Child Care and Early Education.  This set of state-by-state data includes new analysis of 2005 Head Start Program Information Report data, 2005 child care spending from Child Care Development Block Grant, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds, along with data (published in March 2006) on states' use of community-based child care to provide pre-kindergarten. Click here.

Nonprofit IT Staffing Survey Released: Salaries, IT Investments, and An Organizational Digital Divide
Technology has the potential to change the way nonprofits works and make the world a better place. But smart IT requires smart management and staff. What does that really mean? The Nonprofit IT Staffing Survey analyzes data on nonprofit IT salaries for different job functions, IT budgets and expenditures, satisfaction in IT staffing, and level and areas of IT outsourcing in more than 1,000 U.S. nonprofits.
Read the full report.

Best Practices for Effecting the Rehabilitation of Affordable Housing published by US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development discusses practices that have been shown to work in many settings where renovation of affordable housing is the objective. These best practices address the challenges to rehab in the development, construction, and occupancy stages. Volume 1 is a comprehensive resource guide to state, local, and federal tools for overcoming barriers. Volume 2 provides analyses of key rehab resources and barriers, and case studies of state and local efforts to overcome major regulatory impediments. Both volumes of Best Practices for Effecting the Rehabilitation of Affordable Housing are available as free downloads at www.huduser.org/publications/affhsg /bestpractices.html.

Maine Community Action Association completed its 2006 report on Poverty in Maine in conjunction with the Margaret Chase Policy Center. This profile presents a county by county picture of poverty in the state based on the most current reliable data available. The link to this report can be found on the Maine Community Action Association website www.mainecommunityaction.org

Have a great weekend!

Denise

 Denise Harlow
Chief Executive Officer
New York State
Community Action Association
2 Charles Blvd.
Guilderland, NY  12084
(518) 690-0491
Fax: (518) 690-0498
www.nyscaaonline.org
 
A Member of the Community Action Partnership-Helping People.  Changing Lives.