Hello Nonprofit Leaders and Supporters, |
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There are several important pieces of information to share today, so I’ll get right to it. Following from the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) announced changes, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) have released guidance on wearing masks if you have been vaccinated for COVID-19. In issuing that guidance, the State has put the burden on nonprofits and businesses to verify vaccinations if staff or visitors are allowed to go without mask indoors. This is a pretty big burden and carries liability issues with it. Our friends at Miller Nash Graham and Dunn have produced an incredibly useful resource for you to use as you navigate the new requirements. You can read their guidance here as well as join a special session NAO is partnering on to answer your questions about these latest guidelines. You can find details on how to register here.
Back in April, you may remember that we partnered with the Public Interest Management Group (PIMG) and The Impact Foundry to ask you to fill in a survey of nonprofit leaders nationwide. The survey looks at the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their organizations about one year after the first cases and stay at home orders were put into effect. Today, we are releasing this mini report on the findings from your responses. The good news is that the majority of participants reported doing better financially than expected. There are also concerning trends in nonprofits leaders and teams feeling over-extended and needing better supports for self-care offered by their organizations. Thank you to all that participated and be sure to take a look at the findings below!
Finally, I want to point out that economists employed by the State of Oregon presented a significantly revised budget projection to lawmakers which shows a $1 billion surplus in funds that have not been anticipated in the current budget-writing that is taking place in Salem. Be sure to read more below and reach out to your legislators to ensure that your community and mission are being considered in the budgeting process.
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Stay healthy and be safe,
Jim White
NAO Executive Director
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Nonprofit News
Oregon Nonprofits: A Year Into The Pandemic
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In April of 2021, Public Interest Management Group (PIMG) in partnership with the Nonprofit Association of Oregon (NAO) and The Impact Foundry surveyed nonprofit leaders nationwide to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their organizations about one year after the first cases and stay at home orders. We gathered 158 responses from a wide-range of organizations in the nonprofit sector across the country. In this report, we are extracting the data specifically from 77 Oregon respondents to extrapolate themes and gain insight from nonprofit leaders throughout our state.
Today, we released the full report which you can find and download here. |
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APANO on Community Hotline Interview
Monica Weitzel host of MetroEast’s Community Hotline interviews Duncan Hwang, Associate Director of the Asian Pacific American Network or Oregon (APANO) to learn about how we can stand in solidarity against Asian hate, and support our neighbors and community; begin listening here. All throughout Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we are encouraging nonprofit leaders and community members to learn more about and support your local AAPI led- and focused- nonprofit organizations, businesses and agencies. We are proud to have members such as APANO uniting Asians and Pacific Islanders to achieve social justice here in Oregon. A big shoutout to longtime NAO members, MetroEast for highlighting the great work of local nonprofits. For more Community Hotline interviews, click here.
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At the State Level
Mask Mandates: Amy Robinson, JD, SPHR, SHRM-SCP at Miller Nash Graham & Dunn just published their suggested guidelines on mask mandates as Oregon continues to lift restrictions based on CDC guidelines and increased vaccination rates. She states “... the CDC’s May 13, 2021 guidance is merely advisory and does not have the force of law in the employment context like safety regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other state and federal agencies have. So far, OSHA has said they may update their guidance based on the CDC’s announcement, but has not done so–which means the prior guidance (posted January 29, 2021) is still in effect. Likewise, where state law imposes more stringent masking requirements—as both Oregon and Washington do—employers must comply with those laws to the extent they exceed federal law requirements.”
They also note that “even where states may allow for relaxation of masking rules for vaccinated individuals, employers and business owners have the option to continue to impose a more stringent mask policy if they wish. Many are choosing that path right now for a host of reasons, including the inherent practical challenges with enforcing a two-class mask policy.”
To view the full guidance from Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, click here.
State Economists predict $1 billion surplus
Yesterday, State Economists stated to lawmakers that the Oregon is on track to bring in an additional $1 billion in tax revenues this budget cycle and could pay out a “kicker” tax rebate of up to $1.4 billion. The State already had $2.6 billion from the latest federal aide package to allocate as well. The new projection left legislators on both side of the aisle shocked and stunned.
Exactly a year ago today, State economists had predicted that the Coronavirus pandemic would “blow an Enormous hole In Oregon's budget.” At that time, the prediction was that the state will bring in $4.4 billion less than formerly anticipated in the budget running from 2021-23, and $3.3 billion less than expected in the budget after that.
The “new found money” means that the previous plans for expenditures that were being written into the state’s next biennial budget will need deep revisions. As the State Legislative session heads toward the finish-line scheduled for June 27, legislators and budget writers are in a scramble to develop a spending plan and wrap-up all other legislative business.
In press releases, Gov. Kate Brown and Democratic and Republican legislative leaders all spoke about the importance of focusing on one-time spending items rather than establishing new, ongoing commitments and they acknowledged the uncertainty around future revenues.
This is a good reminder that nonprofits need to advocate for their community needs through this budgeting process. Earlier this week, the National Council of Nonprofits released an initial set of principles that governments can use in deciding how to allocate their share of the $350 billion State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds made available through the American Rescue Plan Act. The Principles are part of a larger project they are working on with the network of state associations to help identify opportunities and promote appropriate solutions. Here is a link to the draft Principles for Allocating ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
NAO has been advocating with legislators and the State of Oregon not to hold back funding now, when communities and nonprofits need it most, rather invest in communities and the nonprofits that serve them. We urge all nonprofits to get involved in the legislative process and advocate for the needs of the communities and issues that you serve.
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At the Federal Level
Anti-Asian Hate Crime Bill Passes
By a vote of 364 to 62, the House overwhelmingly passed legislation this week that strengthens federal efforts to address hate crimes directed at Asian-Americans. The New York Times says “the measure … would establish a position at the Justice Department to expedite the agency’s review of hate crimes and expand the channels to report them. It would also encourage the creation of state-run hate crime hotlines, provide grants to law enforcement agencies that train their officers to identify hate crimes and introduce a series of public education campaigns around bias against people of Asian descent.” Here is the news release from bill sponsor Representative Grace Meng (D-NY) celebrating the passage of her COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. The bill is on its way to the President’s desk for his signature, having passed the Senate last month with only one dissenting vote.
Climate Change and Justice40 Initiatives announced
At the beginning of the year, the Biden Administration issued an executive order “…to tackle the climate crisis at home and abroad…” and has simultaneously created “… a government-wide Justice40 initiative with the goal of delivering 40 percent of the overall benefits of relevant federal investments to disadvantaged communities…”.
Justice40 Accelerator is to connect communities to information about the Federal opportunities, provide readiness grants for those preparing to apply, host pre-development workshops, facilitate connection amongst organizations, and support projects with technical assistance.
To learn more about this unprecedented fund, see here.
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Upcoming Online Sessions
NAO offers practical, affordable learning and convening programs in a variety of formats, including conferences, resource round-ups, informational sessions and mini-workshops through webinars, and deeper-dive learning through virtual learning cohorts. Please scroll through and sign-up today!
Convening Opportunities
South Coast Area Learn at Lunch Series
Are you on a nonprofit board or staff member in Coos or Curry County looking for practical training and tools to strengthen your organizational leadership skills? Come learn with us at our South Coast Learn at Lunch series! Each session is one-hour long, held on Zoom and are provided a la carte, so you can join us for all of them. Please see the links for more information and we hope to see you there!
NAO has a limited number of scholarships available for organization based in rural, and/or BIPOC lead and serving organizations. Scholarships will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to be considered for a scholarship with a brief description of your need.
Webinar Sessions
Managing Staff in 2021 - How are Nonprofit Employers Innovating for Success?
Tuesday, May 25, 10 – 11 a.m. PT | Presenter: Christine Frazer, Christine Frazer HR Strategist
With the pandemic carrying into 2021, we’ve had to learn how to manage remote employees, keep staff safe, possibly downsize, all while maintaining a positive work culture. Learn about ways other nonprofits are innovating and breaking barriers to be successful. This course is perfect for nonprofits that have between 1-25 employees. More details and registration information here.
Fundraising vs. Compliance ROI Risk Assessments: Making Informed Choices Amidst an Economic Downturn
Tuesday, May 25, 10 – 11 a.m. PT | Presenter: Maia Lee, Affinity Fundraising Registration
When the pandemic hit last year, nonprofits were forced to get creative with their fundraising efforts in order to stay afloat. Our friends at UST have kindly extended their webinar invitation to NAO. This webinar will walk through charity registration, the return on investment (ROI) and how to ensure your fundraising strategy is in compliance with local and state laws. Participants will also learn which risk assessments to consider prior to fundraising registration and community activities. Apply discount code: APPROMO to receive $20 off registration. More details and registration information here.
Mask Mandates & Safety in the Workplace – What You Need to Know as We Reopen
Thursday, June 3, 10 – 11 a.m. PT | Presenters: Amy Robinson and Ivan Resendiz-Gutierrez, Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP
As Oregon continues to reopen and vaccination numbers increase, requirements around masking also continue to evolve. What can your organization expect legally as we welcome employees back to shared office space and facilities? Presenters will lead a practical discussion of this fast-moving issue and highlight some key considerations for employers as they contemplate whether and how to address masking and vaccination in their return-to-work planning. This event is FREE to NAO members, registration is required. More details and registration information here.
How to Conduct Culturally Responsive and Equitable Program Evaluation
Tuesday, June 8, 10 – 11:30 a.m. PT | Presenter: Karyl Askew, Ph.D., Education Program Evaluator
Trustworthy data allows organizations to make informed business decisions. How are you ensuring that your evaluation designs, data collections, and reporting are culturally responsive and equitable? Explore how to use a culturally responsive and equitable evaluation in your organization; how to identify where you can readily apply a culturally responsive and equitable framework to your unique settings and needs; and examples from your colleagues and like-minded leaders who are advancing these frameworks in their own work. More details and registration information here.
Pandemic (and Post-Pandemic) Major Gift Strategies
Thursday, June 10, 10 – 11 a.m. PT | Presenter: Grady Goodall, OSU Foundation
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the world upside down for many nonprofits and many more people. In this session, participants will learn timely strategies to build stronger relationships with potential major gift donors leading to more support for your organization. More details and registration information here.
Building Inclusive Teams and Mitigating Structural Bias
Tuesday, June 15, 10 – 11:30 a.m. PT | Presenter: Gerardo Ochoa, Linfield University
As the demographics of our communities continue to change, organizations are striving to reflect the communities they serve. This interactive session focuses on how the implicit attitudes, behaviors, policies, and practices may influence how we engage with individuals and/or groups and make decisions in the workplace. More details and registration information here.
Nonprofit Board Treasurer Training – Understanding Your Responsibilities and Creating Strong Financial Stewardship Processes
Thursday, June 17, 10 – 11 a.m. PT | Presenters: Erin Zollenkopf, Susan Matlack Jones & Associates and David Atkin, Center for Nonprofit Law
Are you the Treasurer, or interested in becoming the Treasurer, of a nonprofit organization’s board? Join us for this interactive session that will provide a framework of knowledge for how you can best serve your organization’s needs as a financial steward. Participants can expect to understand the roles and duties, legal and otherwise, of the Treasurer position; learn how to engage board, staff and committees in creating financial oversight and controls; and review compliance procedures, including payroll tax, donor restrictions and federal and state tax reporting requirements. More details and registration information here.
If you have any questions or difficulties registering, contact NAO's Training Program Coordinator at [email protected].
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Thank you to the following SUPPORTERS and SPONSORS who are supporting NAO’s online events and communications during these challenging times. Their support is vital in helping NAO to bring much-needed resources and information to Oregon’s nonprofits – thank you. |
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FRIEND PLUS PARTNER SPONSORS |
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FOLLOW NAO ON SOCIAL MEDIA |
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