Your member-only newsletter from the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy (CCP) December 2015 |
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Public Policy Call to Action:
IRS Reporting Proposal Threatens Donor, Nonprofit Security What's happening? The Internal Revenue Service is proposing a voluntary nonprofit reporting regime that encourages nonprofits to ask for, store, and protect donor Social Security numbers. The proposed regulations would give nonprofits the option of filing a separate new information return with the IRS and individual donors by February 28 every year to substantiate contributions of more than $250 in value. What can you do? What should be included in your comments?
The National Council of Nonprofits compiled the following talking points: - A charitable nonprofit should never be asking a donor for her or his Social Security number when soliciting donations; if someone is asking in relation to a donation, that should be considered a sign of a scam or fraudulent solicitation.
- The proposed Donee Reporting Rule conflicts with the IRS's advice to taxpayers to only give out their Social Security numbers when "absolutely necessary."
- Taxpayers may reduce giving because they are reluctant to provide Social Security numbers to charities given concerns over identity theft.
- The current contemporaneous written acknowledgement system is working.
- Just because the proposal is voluntary now is no reason to ignore its potential adverse impacts.
Also be sure to include basic information about your organization. You may also want to mention your concern for your grantees. Where can you get more information? Is this lobbying? NO. Comments on regulations are not considered lobbying by the IRS. |
Reminder: CCP Board Nominations We're still looking for some really great nominations for the CCP Board. We hope you will help us discover the right individuals for volunteer leadership. Read more >>Submit nominations by JANUARY 15 for consideration in our March 2016 elections. Send to Maggie Osborn, President. . |
CCP PROGRAMS & MEETINGS |
 Thursday, January 21, 9:00 - 11:00 am
New Haven Lawn Club, New Haven CCP invites you to participate in a session that will help you understand how to navigate the changing tides of legal, public policy and ethical issues in the field. The program will include time for interactive discussion and peer learning. This program will be led by Ed Spinella, counsel with Reid & Riege, and CCP President Maggie Osborn. |
CCP UPDATES |
Thank you!  | Thank you for all you do to make Connecticut a better place through your generosity and commitment. We are honored to be of service and support to you in your work and are thankful for your investment in CCP. Wishing you a healthy and joyous holiday season. The Board and Staff - Connecticut Council for Philanthropy |
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Giving in Connecticut 2015  The Council's annual report on charitable giving includes key findings on individual and foundation giving with thoughtful interpretation of the data. You'll also find charts and graphs, the Quick Facts sheet and Top 100 Connecticut Grantmakers by Assets and Grants Paid.
Key findings from Giving in Connecticut:
- Individuals and foundations in CT gave $4.66 billion in charitable contributions during 2013
- $3.66 billion in contributions from individuals
- $999 million given by Connecticut foundations
- $10.9 billion in assets held by Connecticut foundations
- 1,607 active grantmaking foundations
Download Giving in Connecticut 2015 >> |
Newman's Own Foundation Renews Match!  The Newman's Own Foundation has generously agreed to will match, $1 for $1, any increase in support for the CCP Leadership Fund or for sponsorship of a program, event, or publication. That means that your organization's additional gift doubles in value. Help keep CCP Strong Membership fees only cover a bit more than half of CCP's operating costs. The remainder comes from leadership gifts, sponsorships, fees for service, and grants, all of which are vital to keep CCP strong. Please remember, the CCP membership renewal DEADLINE is January 1. QUESTIONS? Contact Maggie Osborn, President, 860-525-5585. |
The Forum Appoints New Leader  CCP is a proud member of the United States' largest philanthropic network, the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers (Forum). Recently, the Forum's board of directors completed their search for the organization's next president and CEO, and announced the appointment of longtime philanthropy executive David Biemesderfer. Currently, Biemesderfer is the President and CEO of Florida Philanthropic Network (FPN). CCP and FPN are two of 33 Forum members, which represent more than 5,500 participating organizations. Biemesderfer's appointment with the Forum is a perfect fit, as Biemesderfer has been with FPN for 8 years, and was previously with the Minnesota Council on Foundations (another Forum member) for 10 years. America's largest philanthropy network will now have a seasoned executive who is willing to drive forward the Forum with connection, collaboration, and expertise. Read more >> |
MEMBER NEWS, PUBLICATIONS & RELEASES |
TRENDS & PERSPECTIVES |
NEW RESOURCES  The Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) and Foundation Center launched a new report, Measuring the State of Disaster Philanthropy, and an accompanying interactive data tool. The report gives a more complete picture of how institutional philanthropy is situated within the broader disaster and humanitarian crises funding landscape. | |  Prompted by a conversation among nonprofit leaders about the general lack of knowledge about nonprofits, this article, Nonprofit Law 101 for Journalists, briefly discusses some basics of federal and tax laws applicable to 501(c)(3) organizations. |  GrantCraft's new guide, Funding Indigenous Peoples: Strategies for Support, illustrates how donors see indigenous populations as important partners, especially in the areas of environmental defense, climate change and global food security, because they live on lands holding much of the earth's remaining biodiversity. | |  Building Collaboration from the Inside Out is Grantmakers for Effective Organizations' (GEO) new resource focused on building an organization's collaboration muscles. The resource offers guidance on steps grantmakers and nonprofits can take to adopt a "collaborative mindset" and align values and practice so they can be better partners in collaboration. |
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 The board of directors of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation has announced the appointment of Peter Taylor as president. Taylor, who was selected after a national search, will be the fourth president in the foundation's nearly 30-year history. Taylor comes to Berkshire Taconic from the Maine Community Foundation, where he currently serves as vice president of program development and grantmaking services. He will assume his new role at Berkshire Taconic in early January 2016. Jennifer Dowley will leave her post as president at the end of 2015. Read more >> |  In September, Fairfield County's Community Foundation welcomed Carol Guernsey as their new arts & culture fund manager. Carol has held positions in corporate and foundation relations, development and events planning at World Monuments Fund, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum, The Museum of Modern Art and Americans for the Arts. Read more >> |
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  After more than a quarter century of service to United Way Susan B. Dunn announced her plans to retire in March of 2016. Susan joined United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut (UWCNCT) in 1990 as communications director, and in 2006, as named president and chief executive officer after the sudden death of George Bahamonde. The UWCNCT board of directors announced that Paula Gilberto, senior vice president is named to assume the duties of president and CEO after Dunn's departure in March 2016. Read more >> |  Kelly Giordano has been promoted to managing director of Newman's Own Foundation, a position she had held on an interim basis. Kelly was a senior manager of the Foundation for five years, serving as the senior grants manager. Prior to Newman's Own, Kelly served for five years as a vice president, Corporate Philanthropy Group for Lehman Brothers and assistant treasurer of The Lehman Brothers Foundation. Read more >> |   Two CCP member colleagues were recognized as 2015 Global Impact Honorees by Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame. Maryam Elahi, president and CEO of Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, and Robin Tauck, board member of Tauck Family Foundation, were chosen because of their outstanding performance as community leaders in Connecticut. |  Nicole Lindsay of The Zoom Foundation has share her intention to transition out of her role as the director of leadership development and anticipates that her end date will be in March 2016. Lindsay is working closely with Executive Director Meghan Lowney to ensure a seamless transition and they have launched a search for a new director. View the job description >> |  Elizabeth Krause, vice president of policy & communications for Connecticut Health Foundation, was one of three judges for the Hartford Business Journal's Greater Hartford Health Care Heroes. The judges played a key role identifying the Health Care Heroes in eight different categories ranging from nurses, physicians and volunteers to industry leaders who made advancements in healthcare prevention and innovation. Read more >> |  Fiona Hodgson, vice-president of development and marketing for Fairfield County's Community Foundation, was featured in the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Fairfield County Connecticut Chapter's November newsletter. Read more >> |
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Check the right hand sidebar on our Upcoming Programs & Meetings webpage to view links to events offered by other organizations: webinars & conference calls, and local, regional and national events. |
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