arkansas coalition for excellence annual report 2012
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Arkansas Coalition for Excellence (ACE) Annual Report for 2011-2012 is IMPACT.TRANSCRIPT
IMPACTIMPACTIMPACTIMPACT
Helping Nonprofits Help Arkansas
IMPACT2011-2012 Annual Report
IMPACT
WELCOME ABOUT ACEFor nearly a decade, the Arkansas Coalition for Excellence has impacted Arkansas’ nonprofits and the people they serve. Through our work, we have built a stronger, more energetic nonprofit sector by advocating for nonprofits around the state, serving as the leading resource for Arkansas’ network of nonprofit organizations, facilitating access to affordable resources, and sharing research and information.
Strengthen Arkansas Nonprofits
Best practices; Inclusive; Unity in Diversity;
Connecting & Equipping; Statewide Vision and Regional Approach
A strong, vibrant, united and effective
nonprofit sector that is well positioned to meet the diverse needs of all
Arkansans
Dear ACE Members and Friends,
The focus of the Arkansas Coalition for Excellence (ACE) Annual Report for2011-2012 is IMPACT. And ACE did indeed make one this past year. However, it is our members and supporters that help us make a larger impact in our work to support nonprofits.
In a Stanford Social Innovation Review article, Collective Impact, by John Kania and Mark Kramer (Winter 2011), the authors identify five components that “produce true alignment and lead to powerful results: a common agenda, shared measurement systems, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communication and backbone support organizations.” We believe that by producing strength, influence and power for the nonprofit collective we can create a better Arkansas.
ACE strives to be the “backbone support organization” that helps nonprofits work toward a common agenda of nonprofit excellence. We do this by providing a shared measurement system, the Arkansas Diamond Standards (TM) and by coordinating mutually reinforcing activities through advocacy, networking, training, and leadership. With our continuous online communications, research and technical assistance, we aim to keep the nonprofit sector abreast of common issues facing our community.
Your membership, and more importantly, your engagement in working with ACE will be critical as we spend the next year expanding upon the gains we have made in the last ten years. We are looking to you to direct us in pursuing our mutual goals in the next decade, as we work together to refine a common agenda to ensure that Arkansas nonprofits remain strong and viable. Are you ready to“get collective” with us? We hope so, because we cannot do it without you!
Thank you so much for your support over the past year and for your enthusiasm in looking ahead to what we can be together.
Sincerely,
Stephanie F. Meincke, MSW Diane LaFolletteExecutive Director Board Chair
By producing strength, influence and power for the nonprofit collective wecan create a better Arkansas.
Pierre Ferrari, President/CEO of Heifer International:
Supporting a thriving, robust,
competent and successful civil
society is of critical importance
in creating an Arkansan culture
of caring, inclusion and peace.
ACE does this superbly, we are
grateful for all the work they do.
WE AREGRATEFUL
Photo courtesy of Heifer International
“
”
Stephanie F. Meincke
Diane LaFollette
Mission Core Values Vision
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MEMBERSHIP &NETWORKINGACE thrives on our relationship with our members. And without their support, ACE wouldn’t exist. Our diverse alliance of foundations, government agencies, businesses and individuals all share a common goal--a strong, united and effective nonprofit sector. It’s through the strength of our shared objective that we impact the organizations and communities we serve. In the course of our growth through the past year, ACE:
• Welcomed a new Membership
& Communications Coordinator
through AmeriCorps*VISTA
• Welcomed 75 new members
into the coalition
• Added three new cost
saving benefits including
discounts on background
checks, video promotion and
online board resources
MEMbErs by MIssIOn
Art & Humanities 6%
Education 7%
Environment & Animals 1%
Foundations 15%
Health 4%
Human Services 34%
Business, Community & 15%Economic Development
Other 18%
ACE’s Cost Saving
Benefits help our
members put
more money
towards what
matters - the
causes they serve
sErvICE COMPAny
Health Insurance BRAVO
Career Center JobTarget
Audio & Web Conferencing ReadyTalk
Donor Software Giftworks
Online Grant Database GrantStation
In-Kind Donation Good360
Board Knowledge Center BoardSource
Nonprofit Publication Nonprofit World
Technology Educational IdealwareResources
Website Development FireSpring
Background Screening Coeus Global
Risk Management Resources Nonprofit Risk Management Center
Video Solutions Dharma Eye Media
vicki Pillow, Director of Development,Food bank of northeast Arkansas:
The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas not
only considers itself a member of the Arkansas
Coalition for Excellence, we consider ACE
our partner. We know we can count on ACE
to provide information, advice, and support
when we need it. ACE truly lives up to the
phrase--Helping Nonprofits Help Arkansas.
GREAT PARTNER
• Provided one-on-one technical
assistance on nonprofit
management issues
• Hosted 125 nonprofit leaders and
supporters at Heifer International
for our largest Annual Meeting
• Facilitated monthly Network
Lunches highlighting board
recruitment and engagement,
visioning, PR and media relations
“
”• Provided financial assistance
for five ACE member
organizations to receive
financial consulting through
Arkansas Nonprofit Services
• Coordinated statewide training
and networking opportunities
for nonprofit peers
It’s through the strength
of our shared objective that we impact the organizations and communities we serve.
$
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RESEARCH & COMMUNICATIONSThrough our research and communications efforts, ACE seeks to impact the public understanding and awareness of Arkansas’ nonprofit sector. ACE provides research, resources and information that is timely and relevant to the sector. And, most importantly, we continually tell the story of ACE and our members through various media outlets, online communication and social media. Over the past year, ACE:
• Launched the new online format
of ACE monthly e-newsletter
• Hosted two Communications
Interns to oversee website
and social media
• Began to “tweet” on Twitter
and increased ACE overall
social media impact
• Partnered with the National
Council of Nonprofits to
provide bi-monthly e-newsletter,
“Nonprofit Advocacy Matters”
• Sent policy alerts on urgent
matters facing nonprofits
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENTThrough best practices, technical assistance, training and education, ACE uses its statewide organizational development program to increase the impact of Arkansas’ nonprofits. This past year, ACE:
ACE’sOnline Resource
Guide gathers professional
developmentinfo and helpful
tools in oneconvenient place
FAST FACT• Focused on the topic of Social
Enterprise at the Annual Meeting
with guest speakers Jeremy
Thornton, Samford University and
Dr. Fitz Hill, Arkansas Baptist College
• Launched a new Arkansas
Diamond Standards™ workshop
series that focused on program
evaluation, board governance, audit
preparation and legal compliance
• Partnered with the American
Red Cross of Greater
Arkansas to present a disaster
preparedness workshop series
• Hosted a Summer Tech Series that
included Quickbooks for Nonprofits,
Cloud Computing and Online
Communications Strategies
• Completed statewide training to
100 nonprofits (20 per region)
and technical assistance to
30 nonprofits (6 per region) through
a Strengthening Communities Fund
Nonprofit Capacity Building
Program grant
• Presented monthly webinars on
fundraising topics in partnership
with the Association of Fundraising
Professionals (AFP) – Arkansas Chapter
COMMON GOALSDebra banks, Program Manager, ACHAnGE, north Little rock:
Despite the diversity of missions, organizations that are involved with ACE have one important commonality. We are
nonprofits, and as such, will be affected by the same basic laws and regulations. ACE helps ACHANGE to remain
aware of any changes, and in turn, share those changes with nonprofit affordable housing organizations throughout
the state.
arkansascoalitionforexcellence
acenonprofit
• Teamed with GrantStation
to send weekly grant alerts
to ACE members
• Participated in a national
2012 Nonprofit Salary Survey
in partnership with the
National Council of Nonprofits
and Columbia Books
• Conducted 2012 Nonprofit
Capacity Needs Survey in
partnership with the Arkansas
Philanthropy Roundtable and
the Arkansas DHS Community
Service and Nonprofit Support
“
” ”
LIFELINE FOR ORGANIZATIONLinda L. ragsdale, LMsW, Executive Director,Ouachita Children’s Center, Hot springs:
ACE has been a tremendous benefit and lifeline for our organization over the past few years! We see them as the “go-to” for organizational development issues, board member training, staff management guidance and even grant/funding opportunities. Nonprofits are a special species of business, so it’s very helpful to have a resource organization that understands our unique needs and concerns. Thanks ACE for all you do making Arkansas an even more excellent place to work and live!
“
LikeuS
FoLLow uS
Impacting the public’s knowledge and reception of Arkansas’ nonprofit landscape
6 2011/2012 Annual Report 7
COLLABORATIONOne of the strengths of nonprofits is their diverse missions—dynamic, varied, and as rich in character as the communities they serve. ACE aims to convene nonprofits, government agencies and business entities; we know that working together maximizes our impact. ACE has worked with the following groups over the past year:
Alliance for Justice
American Red Cross of GreaterArkansas
Arkansas Community Foundation
Arkansas’ Congressional Delegationand Office Staff
Arkansas DHS Division of CommunityService and Nonprofit Support
Arkansas Economic DevelopmentCommission
Arkansas Nonprofit Services
Arkansas Philanthropy Roundtable
Association of FundraisingProfessionals, Arkansas Chapter
Carl B. and Florence E. KingFoundation
Charles A. Frueauff Foundation
Circle Communications Network, LLC
ACE IS THE VOICE
GREAT INVESTMENT
sherry Middleton, DHs Division of Community service and nonprofit support:
The Arkansas DHS Division of Community Service and Nonprofit Support
(DCSNS) is pleased to partner with ACE to strengthen capacity of Arkansas
nonprofits. Our partnership is a model of best practices with government and
private collaboration. ACE is the voice for the sector in many ways – and by
working with DCSNS, we are able to better serve the nonprofit sector together
through quality training and technical assistance.
Ed seay, Executive Director, Help network, Inc., russellville:
We love being members of ACE for the benefits that we
receive. As a small nonprofit with limited resources, we could
never afford benefits like Grantstation, which we use on a
regular basis. We also would not have the training through
webinars and in-person that ACE provides, often at no cost
to members. Our membership with ACE has been a great
investment.
Clinton School of Public Service
Corporation for National andCommunity Service
Firespring
Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP
GrantStation
Idealware
JPMS Cox, PLLC
Ken Hubbell & Associates
Morris Foundation
Moving the Needle
National Council of Nonprofits
Southern Bancorp Financial Partners
Windgate Charitable Foundation
WinRock International
Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation
Young Nonprofit ProfessionalsNetwork
ACE provides our members with the latest information and trends in the nonprofit sector.
Thank you to our current members for their support of Arkansas nonprofits. Not a member yet? Here’s how to join.
With growing deficits and extreme budget cuts, Arkansas nonprofits will need to speak out now more than ever about the invaluable impact we have on our communities. We’ve dedicated a section of our website to finding funding resources.
is a best practice assessment for nonprofits of all sizes. A workbook, self-assessment tool and infrastructure checklist will help assess your organization’s immediate needs.
Supporting and nurturing the network of Arkansas nonprofits to ensure they continue their work.
is provided by ACE staff on a daily basis. It’s part of what we do, and exemplifies our commitment to ACE member organizations.
“
“
”
”information Sharing
Members
Public Policy
Arkansas Diamond Standards
Collaboration
Training & Technical Support
ACE helps
Arkansas nonprofits
navigate the legal
landscape with the
Arkansas Nonprofit
Legal Guide
FAST FACT
8 2011/2012 Annual Report 9
PUBLIC POLICYState and federal policies play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of our nonprofits. Therefore, it is essential that Arkansas’ nonprofits have a voice in legislative and public policy forums. From decisions on key funding to tax-exempt status, ACE works diligently to make sure that our sector’s voice is strong and united, and that the impact we have on Arkansas’ communities is clear to policy-makers.
• ACE and the Winthrop
Rockefeller Foundation hosted
a joint training on “How to
Advocate as a Nonprofit”
led by Alliance for Justice.
• ACE worked in partnership
with the Winthrop Rockefeller
Foundation, the Arkansas DHS
Division of Community Service
and Nonprofit Support, Southern
BanCorp Financial Partners,
and WinRock International to
develop a pilot training and
capacity building project for
nonprofits in the Arkansas Delta.
ACE works constantly to make sure nonprofits have a voice in legislative and public policy forums that is united and clearly heard.
MeMBeRS BYReGioN
Central 47%
Northeast 13%
Northwest 18%
Southeast 8%
Southwest 12%
Out of State 2%
• ACE hosted a webinar for
nonprofits featuring David
Thompson, Vice-President of
Public Policy for the National
Council of Nonprofits. The
webinar offered participants a
chance to ask questions about
the federal budget and its impact
on nonprofits in Arkansas.
• ACE provided regular monthly
updates to ACE members through
e-news about public policy efforts
both locally and nationwide
impacting nonprofit operations.
• ACE participated in a nonprofit
roundtable discussion hosted
by Representative Tim Griffin
(R) to discuss the needs of
Arkansas nonprofits.
• ACE participated in Lobby Day
in Washington, DC through the
National Council of Nonprofits.
ACE spoke to Arkansas’
congressional members about
protecting the charitable giving
tax incentive and protecting
the nonprofit sector from
across-the-board cuts.
COMMON GOALS“
”
Tim Delaney, President & CEO,national Council of nonprofits:
The National Council of Nonprofits is proud to have the
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence (ACE) in our nationwide
network of nonprofits, the largest in the country. ACE links
Arkansas nonprofits to a continuous exchange of vital
information on a timely basis. Whether distributing to Arkansas
nonprofits important information that we gather in Washington,
D.C., and other states, or swiftly gathering insights from
Arkansas nonprofits that is needed here on Capitol Hill to lift
the voices of Arkansas nonprofits, ACE has proven itself to be
an invaluable asset for all nonprofits to deliver on their missions
to serve individuals in local communities. Thank you, ACE!
• ACE sent a letter to Interim CEO
Robert Velasco of the Corporation
for National and Community
Service requesting a grant waiver
that would allow more nonprofits
to apply for federal funding
recognizing the challenges of
high matching requirements
in a largely rural state.
• ACE’s public policy efforts
increased membership
participation among nonprofits
interested in public policy issues—
especially federal funding—
affecting their organizations.
FAST FACTACE Nonprofit
CapacityNeeds Report
impacts nonprofit strategies
throughout Arkansas
10 2011/2012 Annual Report 11
The generous support of ACE’s funders, members, state leaders, and board leadership has made our growth possible.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
With special Thanks to: Arkansas Community Foundation
Arkansas’ Congressional Delegation and Office Staff
Arkansas Economic Development Commission and State General Improvement Funds
Charles A. Frueauff Foundation
Corporation for National and Community Service
Dolores F. and Thomas A. Bruce Endowment
DHS Strengthening Communities Fund,made possible by the Arkansas Governor’sOffice and supporting state agencies
Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLC
JPMS Cox, PLLC
Morris Foundation
Senator David Johnson
Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation
Windgate Charitable Foundation
“
”
QUALITY OFFERINGSJim Caldwell, Executive Director,United Way of southeast Arkansas:
Two of the most difficult issues which
all nonprofits, especially new and
developing organizations, face is
getting answers to hard questions
along with counsel on thorny issues.
In Arkansas, ACE is the “go to”
place for such times. ACE is to be
commended for both the quality
and quantity of its offerings!
State & Federal
39%
Membership& Programs
72%
Administration
20%
Resource Development
8%
Contributions
2%
Foundation
38%
Membership& Programs
21%
Income
Expenses
boardDiane LaFollette, ChairDaniel L. Herrington, Vice ChairBarbara Akins, SecretaryW. Taylor Marshall, Treasurer
Stephanie F. Meincke, MSW Executive Director
Emily C. IngramAssociate Director
Rebecca ZimmermannAmeriCorps*VISTA forMembership & Communications
staff
Lisa Bondurant, APRBarry J. Colley, PhDMaxie CarpenterDebbie Watts
Thank you for your
support and enthusiasm
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Helping Nonprofits Help Arkansas
Located in the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation offices200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | (501) 375.1223
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