The NonProfit Times - October 1, 2008 - (Page 24)

ON CAPITOL HILL Continued from page 16 include nonprofit and grantee perspectives in their discussion.” No legislation affecting philanthropy has been enacted in the past year, so in some ways Gunderson views that as a success story, in avoiding any additional regulation for the nonprofit sector. He expects to be more active with the caucus after the August recess, as the IRA Charitable Rollover is expected to be included among tax extenders that should pass this year. In addition, people he’s spoken to on The Hill warn against introducing new and expansive initiatives in an election year. “There are a lot of senators we have good relationships with who may or may not join caucuses. Some are just not big on caucuses, they’re not joiners like in the House,” Gunderson said. “In the House, joining a caucus can make a representative become an expert and more visible in their areas of interest and in their district. It’s a way you rise to the top among 437 members,” he said. Gunderson recalled Tubbs Jones as a strong backer of the IRA Charitable Rollover who understood the importance of donor-advised funds. Most of all, he recalls her as being committed to philanthropy, but also suspect about overregulation. The House Philanthropy Caucus focuses on promoting philanthropy in general and talking about the potential for growing philanthropy in the future, primarily through the tax code and regulations, according to Gunderson, as well as how to structure and use the caucus on Capitol Hill as a vehicle for members and staff to learn about what’s going on. “The incredible thing about her was, any time there was a hearing about this issue, she reminded people at the hearing that she was co-chair of the House Philanthropy Caucus,” Gunderson said. “She made clear her total commitment to the partnership of the philanthropic and public sectors in serving the common good,” he said. Gunderson recalled another hearing, after testimony from Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officials, when Tubbs Jones was not hesitant in suggesting that their view was not a representative one. NPT Tubbs Jones will have to be replaced as co-chair of the caucus but it will difficult, Gunderson said, since she was so valuable, as a member of “the right committee” (the powerful Ways and Means Committee), but also because she “understood philanthropy and was committed to it.” VOLUNTEERISM Continued from page 23 for talent. Columbia University banned ROTC programs from campus in 1969. Sens. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduced bipartisan legislation to expand national service membership by 175,000 people a year in a new “Corps” and would expand the Peace Corps “Volunteers for Prosperity” short-term international program. Budgeted for $5 billion over five years, the “Serve America Act” would increase national service members to 250,000 people that would work on issues like disaster preparation, education and the energy crisis.The act would establish a commission to mesh nonprofits, the federal government and the private sector to increase productivity and venture capital funds. The act would increase service for all ages, from student to retirees, which both candidates expressed interest in developing. The ServiceNation campaign is pressing the act to be passed by Sept. 11, 2009. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg welcomed attendees on the summit’s second day and the forum concluded with a keynote address by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who earlier this year became the first governor to create a cabinet post dedicated to service and volunteering.New York Gov.David Paterson announced that he would also establish a cabinet position for national service, elevating the existing state Office for National and Community Service. “Service is an idea whose time has come.” said Alan Khazei, CEO of Be The Change, Inc. one of the four organizations -- along with City Year, Civic Enterprises and Points of Light Institute -- that are helping to coordinate the ServiceNation effort.“The entire service movement is energized by both Senators McCain and Obama making service a central theme of their respective visions for America.” And the conversation is happening when the worth of a volunteer has never been greater – the estimated value of a volunteer hour jumped by 74 cents, from $18.77 in 2006 to $19.51 last year, according to Independent Sector (IS), a Washington, D.C.-based coalition of nonprofits and foundations. “It’s an invaluable tool to demonstrate to stakeholders the impact volunteers have,” said Erin Barnart, manager of volun- Republican Presidential Nominee John McCain teerism initiatives for Idealist.org in Portland, Ore. “Whether you call it volunteerism or service, you are giving back to the community,” about putting a dollar amount on volunteering. “What would happen if the volunteer didn’t show up one day? Putting it in economic figures makes it tangible.” The ServiceNation Summit is cochaired by Stengel, Caroline Kennedy; Alma Powell, chair of America’s Promise Alliance; Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York; Bill Novelli, CEO of AARP; and Laysha Ward, President of Community Relations and the Target Foundation. It is convened and underwritten by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York and Presented by TIME, AARP and Target. The recording artist, Usher, serves as the Youth Chair for the Summit. On Sept. 27, ServiceNation organized a national Day of Action to engage tens of thousands of Americans in events across the country that will showcase the power, potential and impact of service across all 50 states. The presence of the Democratic and Republican candidates gives civic engagement the spotlight in an “opportunity in time that’s unmatched,” according to Toby Chalberg, vice president of strategy policy and evaluation at Hands on Network in Atlanta. Chalberg said while most Americans are concerned about schools, health care, the economy and other issues, it’s important that the presidential nominees are paying attention to national volunteer service because “their administration alone won’t be able to solve (problems) without the involvement of the people.”The summit shouldn’t be considered a “crescendo” to national service that will fade from the public eye, according to Chalberg, who instead called the event “an ignition to galvanize public attention.” The goal of ServiceNation is to mobilize a grassroots movement that will inspire America’s leaders to expand voluntary community and national service opportunities, target Americas greatest societal challenges with proven service strategies, and promote voluntary service as a core ideal in our democracy. Facebook is the lead social media partner to help ServiceNation achieve these goals. A full list of ServiceNation coalition members can be found at http://www.bethechangeinc.org/servicenation/about_us/organizing “Now is the time to unleash the energy and entrepreneurship of a new generation of social innovators, and ServiceNation will help bring about this transformational change by putting citizens at the center of community problem-solving,” said Michelle Nunn, CEO, of Points Of Light Institute in Atlanta. Nonprofit leaders are waiting to see how the ServiceNation Summit and the legislation introduced will affect the sector – and hope that the next administration will commit to expanding national service will stick after November. “We’ve seen events like this in the past that didn’t even make a blip in solving the country’s needs, let alone the international problems,” said Leigh Wintz, executive director of Soroptimist International of the Americas, based in Philadelphia. Soroptimist is a member of the Service Club Leaders Conference, which includes service club organizations like American Mensa, Kiwanis International and Y’s Men International, that leverage more than 1.2 million volunteers. Many service clubs were unintentionally left out of the summit guest list initially. “I don’t think it does any of us any good for volunteerism if we start talking about who was included and not – I think there is plenty of room at the table because there is a lot of work to be done,” said Wintz. NPT OCTOBER 1, 2008 THE NONPROFIT TIMES www.nptimes.com http://www.bethechangeinc.org/servicenation/about_us/organizing http://www.Idealist.org http://www.nptimes.com

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The NonProfit Times - October 1, 2008 Near Miss & Direct Hit Donor Intent The Focus Of Suit North Dakota AG Investigating The Grant Institute Contents Who...When...Where...How...What? Calendar Kumbaya Tying The Knot Filing Changes Philanthropy Caucus Big Bucks For Capital Campaigns 5 Things NOT To Do In A Capital Campaign Acquisition: Staying The Course ServiceNation Summit Fundraising Guide NPT Jobs Resource Directory

The NonProfit Times - October 1, 2008

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