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What exactly should a nonprofit board do when it learns that its trusted Treasurer has redirected some of its funds?

Below is the Washington Post story about the theft experienced by the Talbot Watermen Association. The Treasurer helped herself to the nonprofit's funds and members of the organization called the cops. Presuming that the nonprofit has liability insurance, much of their loss should be recovered.

The good news. Below the Washington Post article is what the Association shared with its members. On the Association Website the item is simply titled "Talbot Watermen Association Official Statement. Clicking-on this title gets one to the statement. Fair enough.

Good step: once financial theft is learned or even perceived: call the cops! Next step, fix the systems and policies that enabled the theft. Finally, talk to your constituents. Kudos to the Association for moving forward in what I believe to be correct actions.

EASTON, Md. — Maryland State Police have charged the former treasurer of a Talbot County nonprofit with stealing from the organization.

Forty-year-old Lisa N. Gowe of Neavitt was charged Thursday with theft scheme, $100,000 plus.

Troopers say in January, members of the Talbot Watermen’s Association contacted state police and alleged that Gowe, then the group’s treasurer and event organizer, depleted the association’s bank accounts.

Investigators say bank records show that Gowe wrote numerous checks written, made withdrawals, debits and electronic money transfers that were not authorized.

Police say Gowe used the money for herself and not the Watermen’s Association. Washington Post

Talbot Watermen Association, Inc. Official Statement (Website)

POSTED ON JULY 25, 2015

As most of you are now aware, our past treasurer Lisa Gowe has been arrested for embezzling money from our Association. As a Watermen Community and a Association, we have pulled together and will overcome this setback. This is our official statement :

Lisa Gowe’s criminal charges are the result of an investigation by the Maryland State Police. The investigation was requested by our Association when we discovered discrepancies between information provided between Ms. Gowe and information provided by the bank. We were shocked and disheartened to learn that our once trusted treasurer was, in fact, untrustworthy. Since learning the details of the apparent embezzlement, we have consulted with attorneys and accountants, and have instituted new financial controls and oversight. We are saddened by our prior treasurer’s actions, for her family, for our members, and for our supporters throughout the community. We have asked the State’s Attorney to seek restitution as a component of the criminal process.

Outreach Nonprofit Consulting (ONC), a student organization at Yale School of Management (SOM), provides pro bono consulting services to nonprofit organizations in the New Haven area. For 20 years, ONC has brought together nonprofit leaders and Yale MBA students to achieve a positive impact in the New Haven community.

ONC is currently accepting applications from nonprofit organizations that wish to solve an important organizational challenge in one of these key areas: Financial Planning, Human Resources, Marketing/PR, Operations, Design & Innovation, and Strategy.

Selected organizations will typically work with a team of Yale SOM student consultants from January–May 2016.

To qualify, an organization must meet the following criteria:

• Have a clearly defined project with goals related to the client organization’s mission and a tangible deliverable
• Feasible project scope and timeline
• Strong potential to make a significant impact on the client organization
• Enthusiasm for the project within the client organization
• Commitment to assist Yale ONC leaders and teams during a semester-long project

Important Application Dates

Sat, Aug 22:  Application due date

Fri, Sept 5:  Finalists notified about their selection status

Fri, Aug 22-Fri, Sept 5:  Finalists meet with SOM Outreach Coordinator to further define their projects and discuss desired outcomes

Wed, Oct 8:

Finalists present their project at mandatory “Meet-the-Clients” evening session with student consultants

Apply here. Applications are due Saturday, August 22, 2015 at 11:59pm.  

Please craft your proposal carefully to communicate a well-defined project that will address a pre-existing need for your organization.

Learn more about ONC at its website.

Family Centered Services of CT is sponsoring a Back to School program for the children that we serve.  Our goal is to outfit 125 kids with all the necessary supplies from backpacks to markers to notebooks. 

The follow is a list of needed supplies:Backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils, markers, crayons, rulers, binders, scissors and sharpeners. Donations can be dropped of at Family CT, 235 Nicoll St, New Haven CT or we will pick up.

For more information or to arrange pick up contact: Shannon Ryan at 203-624-2600 ext. 121

A big shout out to Frank Pepe Pizzeria and Gary Bimonte for hosting our annual dine out event today at Pepe's on Wooster Street, New Haven. Pepe's has been working with Family Centered Services of CT for a number of years.  Come on down and enjoy a meal with family and friends.  Dine Out runs all day today, July 28. Come and enjoy.

Social entrepreneurs will love what Porter has to say about the role of business in solving social problems: LINK.

Generally, when I ask nonprofit CEOs about their boards there are two types of answers: polite and complaining. Usually both types of answers are given by each CEO I encounter. So, it should come as no surprise when an accounting firm asks 100 nonprofit CEOs about their boards, the responses are less than positive. It's kind-of just the way it is as CEOs only have so much control over their boards and boards have such wide--ranges of experiences and are in various stages of development and face, depending on their sector, wide-ranging experiences and challenges.

The results from the Marks Paneth accounting firm survey of 103 nonprofit CEOs generally in the "big" nonprofit category should not come as a surprise to anyone who has been to more than two nonprofit board meetings. Yes! Nonprofit boards are often challenged by understanding an organization's finances. And yes, nonprofit board members should have better training.

Thank you for making a mountain out of a molehill. The real need here is not to "document" (100 respondents does not document in my opinion) but to provide the answers for effective training and support. This would be a survey.

I do however need to congratulate this firm: they are definitely fine marketers.

Nonprofit Executives Say Board Members Are Too Removed From Some of Their Key Responsibilities, According to Survey Findings

Directors Are Often Light on Performance Monitoring, Strategic Input and Making Good Connections for the Organization, Executives Say in Marks Paneth National Survey.

NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 07/15/15 --Nonprofit executives recognize their board members' passion for the mission but say directors are removed from some of their key governance responsibilities.

Those are among the findings of Nonprofit Pulse, a national survey of nonprofit leaders byaccounting firm Marks Paneth.

On the plus side, 73% of nonprofit executives say their boards "have a passion for the mission," and most (61%) say their boards are engaged but don't micromanage. Further, most (57%) say directors "closely monitor financial expenditures" and have "strong attendance" at meetings (54%).

But when it comes to some specific and sometimes mission-critical activities, board members fall short in the eyes of many nonprofit executives, according to the survey findings. (It included over 100 executives at nonprofits with annual budgets between $10 million and $100 million -- namely Presidents, Executive Directors, CEOs, CFOs, Board Chairs, Treasurers, Development Directors and Vice Presidents.)

Relatively small percentages of nonprofit leaders say directors do the following "very well":

Only 15% say the board "closely monitors dashboard performance compared to peer organizations".
Only 28% say board members are highly strategic in providing guidance.
Only 29% say the board connects the organization to external sources.
Only 47% say board members lend their professional expertise to the board.
Only 45% say the board closely monitors investments.
CIO, CTO & Developer Resources

In addition, half of nonprofit executives say board members follow the overall performance of the organization but fail to look into specific programs.

"It's probably not an overstatement to say nonprofit leaders love their boards. However, these executives have suggested they would benefit from deeper or more thoughtful board involvement in key areas of governance and strategy," saysMichael McNee, CPA, Partner-in-Charge of the Nonprofit and Government Services Group at Marks Paneth.

"One solution to get more productive involvement from boards is member training. But our survey suggests that director availability and cost present significant obstacles," says McNee. The majority of leaders say directors' limited time is a roadblock to training, and 48% say cost is a deterrent.

To receive a copy of the Nonprofit Pulse and/or to speak with a leader from Marks Paneth's Nonprofit and Government Services Group, please contact Katarina Wenk-Bodenmiller of Sommerfield Communications at (212) 255-8386 or katarina@sommerfield.com.

Methodology
The Nonprofit Pulse: A Leadership Study from Marks Paneth represents the findings of a survey of nonprofit leaders in the United States. The 103 professionals participating in the research include Board Chairs, Presidents, Executive Directors, Chief Executive Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Treasurers, Chief Operating Officers, Development Directors, Vice Presidents and Board members and are with organizations with annual budgets between $10 million and $100 million. The research employed self-administered questionnaires completed online by respondents. The national list of professionals surveyed was compiled by Marks Paneth LLP, the research sponsor, and by Michaels Opinion Research. Interviews were completed during the period of November 12 to December 31, 2014.

About Marks Paneth LLP
Marks Paneth LLP is an accounting firm with more than 550 people, including over 70 partners and principals. The firm provides public and private businesses with a full range of auditing, accounting, tax, consulting, trade remediation and valuation services as well as litigation and corporate financial advisory services to domestic and international clients. The firm also specializes in providing tax advisory and consulting for high-net-worth individuals and their families, as well as a wide range of services for international, real estate, hospitality, media, entertainment, nonprofit and government services clients. The firm has a strong track record supporting emerging growth companies, entrepreneurs, business owners and investors as they navigate the business life cycle.

The firm's subsidiary, Tailored Technologies, LLC, provides information technology consulting services. In addition, its membership in Morison International, a leading international association for independent business advisers, financial consulting and accounting firms, facilitates service delivery to clients throughout the United States and around the world. Marks Paneth, whose origins date back to 1907, is the 35th largest accounting firm in the nation and the 9th largest in the mid-Atlantic region. In addition, readers of the New York Law Journal rank Marks Paneth as one of the area's top three forensic accounting firms for the fifth year in a row.

Its headquarters are in New York City. Additional offices are in Washington, DC, New Jersey, Long Island, Westchester and the Cayman Islands. For more information, please visit www.markspaneth.com.

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Position Description

Operations Manager, New Haven Land Trust

Our Mission

The New Haven Land Trust promotes the appreciation and preservation of natural resources in New Haven for the benefit and education of the community. We do this through land conservation, community gardening, and environmental education.

Our Culture

The Land Trust is a rapidly growing non-profit with a strong, community-focused mission.  We harness the strengths of community members, volunteers, employees and our other organizational partnerships in a positive, yet dedicated way.  The Land Trust’s approach is one of “can do”, where staff and volunteers are encouraged to be persistent, think outside of the box to confront challenges, and take ownership over the organization’s ongoing projects and mission.  If you are someone who doesn’t give up after hearing “no”, who puts all your energy and passion into the projects you implement, and who enjoys working collaboratively with a diverse group of individuals, then you will fit in at the Land Trust.

Position

The New Haven Land Trust seeks an Operations Manager with strong organizational skills and a passion for community and environment, who can both manage the administrative tasks of the organization and play a supporting role to the many ongoing projects and strategic initiatives that the Land Trust is implementing. 

Work Commitment                                           

The Operations Manager will work 40 hours per week and will report directly to the Executive Director.

Compensation

$40,000/year with benefits.

Primary responsibilities of the Operations Manager will be:

Bookkeeping: This includes recording financial transactions and reconciling monthly statements, creating financial reports, making bank deposits, and managing accounts receivable and payable.

Office systems: Develop, strengthen and maintain office systems that ensure that key information is effectively recorded, filed and organized, office communication systems are in place, and a sufficient inventory of supplies is on hand.

Database management: Manage the Land Trust’s donor, volunteer and contact lists.

Outreach and communications: Assist with design of the Land Trust’s communication strategy.  Keep the Land Trust’s social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, website and email – active and alive with current information and notices.  Assist with design of brochures and outreach material.

Events planning: Spearhead the planning and execution of Land Trust meetings and fundraisers such as our Annual Meeting and Fall Fundraiser.

Ensure the smooth running of office procedures: Triage incoming phone and email communications, order supplies, maintain an effective filing system.

Grant writing: Draft, compile and process grant applications for ongoing and future Land Trust programs. 

Liaison and Representative: Assist with coordination, attend and in some cases lead various stakeholder meetings including both internal and external meetings.

Responsibilities will vary with specific tasks assigned as needed and to address the changing needs of the organization. 

Ideal Skills and Qualities

The Operations Manager must demonstrate the following skills, experience, and expertise:

Strong organizational and financial skills

Candidates must be highly reliable with a keen sense of responsibility. They must bring a can-do attitude to their work, with a creative approach to solving problems.  This includes an ability to multi-task while maintaining strict attention to detail and work well under pressure. Candidates must also have experience in keeping financial records and maintaining a tight financial management system.

Excellent project management skills

Proven track record in setting project objectives and timelines, managing tasks against a project plan, and providing insightful evaluation following completion. Ability to manage multiple project components and make adjustments in response to changing conditions.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills

This includes oral and writing skills and an ability to relate to and communicate effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and styles. Experience running meetings, giving presentations, developing and executing marketing and communications strategies are all highly desired. Ability in Spanish language is a plus.

Experience in managing office systems. 

Including ease with managing documents in Google Docs and Dropbox; facility with Adobe, and Microsoft Office Suite.  Expertise in managing database systems, and in promoting through social media platforms is also required. Bookkeeping software experience is also highly desired.

New Haven Knowledge

Knowledge of New Haven’s diverse neighborhoods and in particular New Haven’s food system and environmental arena is highly desired. 

Passion for environmental and food system issues is required. 

Please send cover letter and resume by August 7, 2015 to justin.elicker@newhavenlandtrust.org. Please include “Operations Manager” in the subject line.

New Haven Land Trust is an "equal opportunity employer." New Haven Land Trust will not discriminate in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender expression, or sexual orientation.

Values matter and should drive the policies and practices of a nonprofit.

In the so-called City of Brotherly Love the so-called Sisters of Mercy (yes, irony on both counts) fired a teacher because she is married (a value the Roman Catholic Church does embrace) but, wait for it, to another woman.

According to the core values of Roman Catholicism, relationships including marriage between two people of the same sex is not permissible. So, when the Sisters of Mercy (again, irony) learned from ever-so-faithful parents (remember the "casting the first stone") that one of their female school teachers was indeed married to another woman, according to their core values, they were compelled to remove that teacher from the school. The article below speaks primarily to the head of the church's position in support of this action, again as consistent with the Church's core values.

The lesson: right or wrong, nonprofit values matter and acting according to those values is necessary and proper. This story should remind all nonprofit boards of the importance of periodically (at minimum during the 3-5 year strategic planning process) reviewing, updating, and, reconciling their values in recognition that these fundamental statements of belief will indeed guide all policies and practices of their institution.

Kudos to the Sisters for being clear about and standing by their values! At the same time I am led to wonder whether the Sisters and their Church aren't a bit confused about how to reconcile this value with at least two of their other stated core values: mercy and love.
Chaput: Waldron right to fire gay teacher

KATHY BOCCELLA, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
LAST UPDATED: Tuesday, July 14, 2015, 1:07 AM
POSTED: Monday, July 13, 2015, 3:25 PM

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput said Monday that the Mercy Sisters who run Waldron Mercy Academy showed "character and common sense" in firing a lesbian teacher who has been married since 2007.

In his first direct comment since the firing became public last week - after parents of two students found out about the marriage and complained - Chaput said in a statement, "Schools describing themselves as Catholic take on the responsibility of teaching and witnessing the Catholic faith in a manner true to Catholic belief.

"There's nothing complicated or controversial in this. It's a simple matter of honesty.

"I'm very grateful to the Religious Sisters of Mercy and to the principal and board members of Waldron Mercy for taking the steps to ensure that the Catholic faith is presented in a way fully in accord with the teaching of the church. They've shown character and common sense at a moment when both seem to be uncommon."

MORE COVERAGE

Editorial: School that fired gay teacher gets public money
Support grows for fired gay teacher
Firing of lesbian roils Catholic school

The archdiocese, through its spokesman, has insisted it had nothing to do with the dismissal of Margie Winters, the director of religious studies. She was fired June 22 after refusing to resign. She has maintained that school administrators had known of the marriage and had told her she could be open with faculty but to keep the information from parents.

After the complaints were lodged, Nell Stetser, the school principal, told parents in an e-mail that in order to continue as a Catholic school, Waldron had to comply with Catholic teachings and the authority of the archdiocese.

In a letter to parents Monday, the Sisters of Mercy Mid-Atlantic Community Leadership Team said that it upheld the decision and that if Stetser had not fired Winters, "our Leadership Team would have had to do so."

Some Waldron staff and some nuns are supporting Winters vigorously.

And a group of parents and others supporting Winters, calling themselves Stand With Margie, said in response to Chaput's statement, "Margie Winters' ministry ... was faithful to the teachings of the church. ... Margie was terminated from her position simply because she is married to her wife, Andrea Vettori. Stand With Margie is a community that believes this is fundamentally wrong and that together we should discuss how to be more inclusive in life and in our church."

As the same-sex marriage movement has rippled across the United States, same-sex married couples who work at Catholic institutions are finding it difficult to keep their jobs, according to Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA, an organization for LGBT Catholics. She said she knew of more than three dozen cases of teachers in same-sex marriages being fired from Catholic schools.

"It's been absolutely horrendous," she said. "It's only going to get worse."

The U.S. Supreme Court last month declared same-sex marriages constitutional. Religious liberty has been a major priority for U.S. bishops, who contend the ruling has made it difficult for Catholics to practice their faith.

Whether the religious-liberty principle applies to faith-based institutions that accept public money is under debate. Waldron Mercy, a 92-year-old private coed school with 532 students, has received more than $270,000 in state tax credits in the last two years, and more than 70 students have received financial aid since 2005 under a program called the Educational Improvement Tax Credit, according to the school's website.

"Legally, there's no problem with Catholic schools firing same-sex people," Duddy-Burke said, since they are private faith-based organizations. "Morally, it doesn't equate with what Catholics expect from their institutions."

More than 100 people, including some Waldron staff and nuns, attended a prayer vigil in Narberth on Sunday night to support Winters, who was hired eight years ago.

Stand With Margie's Facebook page has more than 9,000 likes and many wrote to condemn Chaput's statement.

"I just called and left him a message telling him how cowardly and disgusting this statement is," wrote Natalie Bucciarelli Pedersen. "I encourage others to do the same."

"The urge to beat him with a bible is rising," wrote Matt Ryan.

"This man is misguided. ... It's 2015 for the love of God!!!!" Mary Rowely Meixell wrote.

A GoFundMe account set up by parents and students has raised nearly $14,000 for Winter and Vettori.

In 2013, French and Spanish teacher Michael Griffin was fired from Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Bensalem after filing for a marriage license in New Jersey, where he and his partner lived.

Griffin said he had brought his partner to many school functions, they both wore rings, and an administrator had attended a ceremony for their civil union in 2008.

Duddy-Burke said she hears privately from school administrators who do not want to follow orders to fire staff. Stetser, for her part, wrote, "In the Mercy spirit, many of us accept life choices that contradict current church teachings."

But with Pope Francis visiting in September during the World Meeting of Families, "Philadelphia is under a lot of scrutiny," Duddy-Burke said. "It's sort of Catholic central for the U.S. right now."

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20150714_Chaput__Waldron_right_to_fire_gay_teacher.html#Hiju8rUrdV1pgk48.99

In case helpful, there's a site call techsoup.org that I'm told offers deep discounting on software for non-profits. I am not affiliated in anyway; just like to pass along useful information if it can help your organization. Enjoy your day!

New Haven Nonprofit List!

City Atlas: New Haven is compiling a comprehensive list of nonprofits in the New Haven area with the hopes of facilitating easy collaboration & increasing public awareness and involvement.

If you'd like to be included, fill out THIS FORM!

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Planning to engage your community online requires a disciplined thought process just like any other form of strategic planning. The more time and considered planning you give to the process, the more likely you are to run an effective and meaningful online engagement... continue reading:

http://bangthetable.com/2015/06/25/10-ways-to-effectively-plan-your-online-engagement/?utm_content=buffer74fe4&utm_medium=social&utm_source=plus.google.com&utm_campaign=buffer