Adventure Theatre MTC is the preeminent Theater Academy for youth in the DC region with an integrated and nationally renowned high quality professional theater for family audiences. Adventure Theatre educates and inspires new generations of theater artists and audiences with exceptional theatrical experiences. The ATMTC Academy offerings complement the National & State Fine Arts Standards of Learning, providing a challenging outlet for students to develop the skills necessary to be successful performers – including self-discipline, teamwork, problem solving, and self-confidence. ATMTC Academy Alumni have numerous Broadway, national tour, TV and film credits.

What does being a finalist for this award mean for you and your organization?

Since the merger between Adventure Theatre and Musical Theater Center in 2012, ATMTC has been reimagining and restructuring its board. The board has made hard choices, taken strategic risks, and embraced a dynamic and compelling vision for the organization. Becoming a finalist for this award creates credibility for the progress to date. While the ATMTC board and its work is always continuing to grow, being a finalist is a wonderful acknowledgment of how far the board has come.

What have you learned through the application process for the Board Leadership Award?

Among the many things ATMTC has learned through this process, two stand out. First, although ATMTC takes pride in its onboarding process and ongoing training of board members, only through this process has ATMTC seen how much its board members have internalized and how they have become such talented ambassadors for the organization.

Second, this application process reminds ATMTC that its board’s work is never done. The board is always adapting to changes, new trends, and unexpected opportunities and challenges. The ATMTC board’s ability to be flexible and dynamic as changes arise has permitted it to respond with clarity in identifying issues, creativity in devising solutions, and bravery in implementing the selected course of action.

What advice would you offer for other organizations/board members striving for excellence in board leadership?

ATMTC offers three pieces of advice for organizations/board members striving for excellence in board leadership.

First, if you want a truly diverse board, you must first diversify the organization. An organization must do the work toward diversity before trying to bring new members to the board who will, in turn, move the needle on board diversity. Only when the organization has internalized the goals of social justice can it attract board members who will help continue the progress.

Second, you need to acknowledge the limits of board members’ time. Board members are willing to work, but organizations need to provide the tools to make it easy to do the work it needs them to do. Examples of these tools include providing meeting agendas and materials at least a week in advance of meetings; providing meaningful orientation to new board members; and asking concise questions or specific opportunities to help.

Finally, boards should be courageous in their convictions. When a board adopts a well-informed course of action based on appropriate strategic risk, the board and the organization benefit and grow by seeing the decision through and actively participating in the work.

Share This Page:

For nearly 40 years, Martha’s Table has worked to support strong children, strong families and strong communities by increasing access to quality education programs, healthy food and family supports. They believe that every child deserves the opportunity for their brightest future and a deeply engaged family and community committed to their success.

What does being a finalist for this award mean for you and your organization?

This recognition is quite gratifying for the Martha’s Table board, especially given the major milestones we’ve hit in the past year. It feels like we’ve run several marathons consecutively, with everything that went into our new headquarters and satellite location, selection of our new CEO and transition to a new board chair. That we’ve emerged from each of these challenges a stronger Martha’s Table is a testament to the steady hand and tireless work ethic of our board.

At the same time, there’s still so much to be done at Martha’s Table, and our place-based work in our new neighborhood in Southeast D.C. is just beginning. As we noted in our award application, Martha’s Table’s board holds itself to high standards and does not seek the limelight. Being a finalist for the Board Leadership Award is a reminder that someone is watching us at work, and a nice validation for our board that we should keep doing what we’re doing.

What have you learned through the application process for the Board Leadership Award?

Through the application process, we appreciated the opportunity to pause and reflect. Perhaps most significantly, it was helpful to take stock in Martha’s Table’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, as the application forced us to delve into this area. As far as we’ve come in diversifying our board membership and staff, in adopting asset-based language and amplifying the voices of our community members, we still have much remaining to do on this front.

We are proud of what we’ve accomplished in championing greater equity within Martha’s Table and within the District of Columbia. But we can’t rest on our laurels while so many members of our community are denied a real opportunity to be successful in life. We’re glad the Board Leadership Award emphasized equity, diversity and inclusion in the application, which reinforces the critical role our board must play in realizing system-level change.

What advice would you offer for other organizations/board members striving for excellence in board leadership?

At Martha’s Table, our board members and senior staff are true partners in our work to support strong children, strong families and strong communities. To be effective, both our executives and directors consistently push and challenge each other—respectfully, of course—in service of our mission. Our board is effective because they “get it” when it comes to Martha’s Table’s mission.

We often compare board member recruitment to casting a play, each role having specific characteristics and expertise. We’ve built out our board roster very strategically, with a purposeful mix of business leaders, academics, food experts and longtime Washingtonians, all of whom give generously of their time and resources. We hope other organizations can learn and benefit from how we’ve filled our board with great people and allowed them to do what they do best.

Share This Page:

The Primary Care Coalition of Montgomery County (PCC) is deeply committed to providing a continuum of care for low-income, uninsured and underinsured, ethnically diverse residents of Montgomery County. They work with clinics, hospitals, health care providers and other community partners to coordinate health care services for our most vulnerable neighbors. Their vision is a community in which all residents have the opportunity to live healthy lives.

What does being a finalist for this award mean for you or your organization?

PCC is a backbone organization in our community. Collaboration is our mechanism for achieving our mission. We bring together funding from our local government, hospitals, and foundation partners and, through partnerships with other nonprofits in our community, ensure vulnerable community residents have access to health services. We serve as a data hub; our direct service partners entrust us with the analytics and aggregation of protected health information. Our community looks to us, with our process improvement and facilitation expertise, to serve as a convener across the healthcare and social service sectors to achieve systems level change.

We work in partnership with so many different entities, and it is important they are confident in our internal governance and can look to us to model and share best practices. For PCC as an organization, the credibility of this prestigious award would further affirm to external stakeholders that PCC’s leadership governs the organization well, is committed to continuous learning and sharing what it learns with our partner nonprofits.

For the PCC Board, being a finalist for the Board Leadership Award from the Center from Nonprofit Advancement validates the Board’s introspection for and time dedicated to enhancing Board culture, composition, structure and stakeholder engagement.   Being a finalist also reinforces that Board improvement work is valuable and should be continuous, in parallel and in support of our work on setting and driving organizational strategy in a changing healthcare environment.

What have you learned through the application process for the Board Leadership Award?

This is PCC’s second year applying for this award. We have found tremendous value in the feedback received through the application process. Having an external entity examine our Board practices causes us to see them with a different lens as well. In doing so, we can see areas to change and innovate.

Using the feedback from the previous year’s interview we recognized there are community and population perspectives missing from our Board. In response, we developed Board composition guiding principles and a Board structure and recruitment pipeline strategy to asses and address gaps. In addition to recruiting new Board members with different perspectives, we also created Committee Charters, updated our bylaws to allow non-Board members on most committees as voting members, and clarified the role of Board members affiliated with PCC partners.

This latter work led to the chartering of a Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Strengthening Work Group, tasked with developing relationship strengthening work plans, commensurate with the impact of the relationship, that ensure the relationship is sustainable in the event of turnover at PCC or the stakeholder organization.

Through this year’s application process, we’ve recognized the importance of explicitly building a Board culture and structure for continuous learning, improvement, and innovation in governance practices. We’ve also recognized that, as a backbone organization, we interact with Boards of many nonprofits and can lead by modelling best practices and promoting the value of external feedback and internal reflection for Boards. Partnerships and collaboration are the mechanism through which we forward our mission; the strength and excellence of our partners’ Boards is relevant to our mission.

What advice would you offer for other organizations/board members striving for excellence in board leadership?
  1. It is important that organizations/board members embrace introspection and change regarding Board culture, perspectives, relationships, and work methods. Select a Board Chair who will explicitly champion change and Board excellence; change must be welcomed and made a priority from the top.
  2. Use time-limited work groups to address issues within the domains of Board governance. Set a clear work group charter and goal, achievable within a short time frame (e.g. six meetings/six months). Ensure the Board timely considers work group recommendations and enacts reasonable changes. As a work group concludes, determine next priority for a work group.
  3. Determine what diversity means for your Board and adopt guiding principles for Board member recruitment. Consider the skills, perspectives or voices needed at the Board to ensure the organization holds to its mission and understands the need it exists to serve. Build an ongoing recruitment network and pipeline that can deliver the voices and skills when identified, rather than seek members only when there is a vacancy or to ‘check a box’. If the Board and its related committees and work group are not sufficiently diverse, focus on building a more extensive recruitment network. Where appropriate, include non-board members as voting members of standing committees and work groups as a means to develop those unfamiliar with or uncertain about Board service.

Share This Page:

… and reduce the negative impact of the new tax law.

With the increase in the standard deduction and the new limitation on state and local tax deductions, fewer people itemized on their 2018 returns, thus decreasing the tax incentive to make charitable gifts. In addition, the estate and gift tax exclusions were also doubled, which may lessen the incentive to make bequests to charities. According to the Tax Policy Center, these changes led to an estimated 12 to 20 billion dollar decline in overall charitable giving, or roughly a 5% decline in contributions.

So, what should your nonprofit do?

Focus on developing high net worth donors now and educating individuals on maximizing their way of giving, recommends Javier Goldin, managing partner of Goldin Group CPAs. Further he offers four suggestions to give potential donors.

1. Group gifts

One way to join the 1 in 10 tax filers expected to itemize this year is to do something called bunching. With this strategy, as many deductible expenses as possible (for example, medical expenses) are shifted into one year, so that itemizing becomes advantageous. Then the standard deduction is taken the next year or two.

In the case of charitable gifts, that would mean donating two or three years’ worth of gifts in one year. This may be tough for those who may not have extra cash accessible, but there’s a solution to that issue. By making a substantial gift—typically a minimum of $5,000—to a donor-advised fund, the donor can deduct the full gift now and then direct the money to charity over time. Fidelity, Schwab and Vanguard are among the financial firms offering these planned giving accounts.

2. Use IRA distributions

People who are 70½ or older and are taking required minimum distributions from an individual retirement account can funnel those withdrawals directly to charity (up to a max of $100,000 a year). With what’s called a qualified charitable distribution (QCD), donors can’t write off the gift, but they won’t owe income taxes on the withdrawal. So in the 22 percent federal tax bracket, a $10,000 QCD saves $2,200 in taxes. (A QCD is not an option with 401(k) savings plans or, in virtually all cases, from Roth IRAs.)

3. Donate stock winners

Another way to come up with a big gift is to tap into investment portfolios. More than nine years into this bull market, donors may be sitting on highly appreciated stocks or mutual funds. By donating that stock instead of selling it, donors may be able to deduct the full market value. They also avoid the big tax bill they would face if they cashed out and kept the profits.

Another option is to keep the stocks or funds in their portfolio and donate the shares. Then using the cash that they would have donated to your nonprofit, they can buy more shares in the same investments.

4. Save more in high-tax states

Charitable giving can be particularly beneficial for those who live in states with high income taxes. If the limits on state and local tax deductions push their overall tax rate higher, the value of their donations is higher too. That’s because every dollar donated (assuming itemizing is worthwhile) saves a higher amount in taxes. Capital gains also fall into the new federal law limiting state tax deductions to $10,000. For donors who live in states with capital gains taxes, their effective tax rate on those gains has gone “way up,” making it even more advantageous to donate winning stocks to your nonprofit before December 31.

Finally, it’s essential to make your nonprofit stand out to donors by providing accurate and complete information. Dazzle them with your infrastructure and financial efficiencies. These items will go a long way in persuading your donors that their dollars go further with you.

Article contributed by Javier Goldin, the Center’s CPA Partner. Javier is also a Founding and Managing Partner with Goldin Group CPAs in Bethesda, MD, chosen nationally as an Innovator Firm for the profession.

Share This Page:

April 20 – May 3

ACT for Alexandria expressed its appreciation in Alexandria Gazette Packet to the 9,423 donors who contributed to this year’s Spring2ACTion Campaign, helping raise over $2 million for 162 organizations.

Capitol Hill Group Ministry announced it has changed its name to Everyone Home DC according to Yahoo Finance. Additionally, the organization is celebrating 50 years of service.

Casey Trees celebrated Earth Day by planting 25 trees on the University of the District of Columbia campus according to WUSA9.

A 2017 national report by the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) on child care subsidies was included in a feature on WAMU 88.5 about how government funding has long fallen short, leaving states to tighten eligibility standards and pushing many providers to opt out of accepting subsidies at all.

A report by the Council for Court Excellence advocating for local criminal justice reform was featured in an article about Hope Village on WAMU 88.5.

Loudoun County (VA) Board of Supervisors awarded over $1.5 million in grants to local nonprofits according to Loudoun Times. Among the nonprofits set to receive funding are: Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter, Legal Services of Northern Virginia, and Good Shepherd Alliance.

Miriam’s Kitchen was featured in Stanford Social Innovation Review for their efforts to end chronic homelessness in the region. Miriam’s Kitchen also penned an opinion piece in The Washington Post about the importance of “Housing first” policies and programs in the District.

National Black Justice Coalition discussed the alarming rise in suicide rates among black youth in The Root.

National Forum for Black Public Administrators announced that Missouri City, TX, City Manager, Anthony J. Snipes, will serve as National President and Board Chair according to Black Press USA.

Community Foundation for Northern Virginia awarded a $25,000 Innovation Fund grant to  PHILLIPS Programs for Children and Families according to Alexandria Gazette Packet. Funds will be used to support an urban indoor vertical farm.

Seabury Resources for Aging will hold its annual premier gala, 2019 Leadership in Aging Awards Celebration, on May 15. The event honors individuals or businesses for outstanding service in the field of aging. This year’s honoree is Virginia Ali, co-founder of Ben’s Chili Bowl. Seabury is also celebrating its 95th anniversary!

A mentor/mentee pair with The Campagna Center’s Wright to Read program were featured in Alexandria Gazette Packet.

Britepaths, Habitat for Humanity Northern Virginia, Lorton Community Action Center, Pathway Homes and Wesley Housing Development Corporation joined with several other Virginia nonprofits to urge county leaders to invest more in affordable long-term housing support programs according to Mount Vernon Connection.

Washington Regional Alcohol Program offered free safe and sober rides home on Cinco de Mayo through its SoberRide program according Bethesda-Chevy Chase Patch.

 

April 13 – 19

Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network (A-SPAN) was among the organizations/agencies selected to receive a Virginia Housing Trust Fund Homeless Reduction Grant according to 13 News Now.

Community Foundation of the New River Valley Executive Director, Jessica Wirgau, discussed the potential impact that tax code changes could have on future philanthropic giving in Roanoke Times.

Miriam’s Kitchen was featured on WUSA9’s Great Day Washington segment, to discuss their efforts to end chronic homelessness.

Nonprofit Village will present its 2019 Making a Difference Awards to Interfaith Works, Passion 4 Learning and Tamara Copeland, President, Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers at its Awards Breakfast on May 3, 7:00am to 9:30am at Bethesda Marriott Pooks Hill. Tickets and sponsorships are still available.

The Campagna Center’s Out of School Time Programs were featured in Alexandria Gazette Packet. The organization served over 900 children in Alexandria, VA this year.

YWCA National Capital Area celebrates excellence in community service, civic engagement and philanthropy while highlighting extraordinary women in our community at its Empowering Every Woman Annual Luncheon & Leadership Awards. The event is on May 15, 11:30am – 1:30pm at the Mayflower Hotel.

April 6 – 12

Good Sweat, an indoor cycling studio with an emphasis on social impact, announced that A-SPAN and Doorways for Women and Families will be its first nonprofit beneficiary partners according to Washingtonian.

Casey Trees‘ Cherry Blossom map was highlighted in The Hillishome.

DC Central Kitchen’s new cafe for at-risk youth was featured on WUSA9. The cafe program aims to provide mental health services for young people in the community.

DC Central Kitchen was also highlighted in a Washington Post opinion piece written by José Andrés about feeding homeless individuals in Washington, DC.

N Street Village will host its Annual Empowerment Luncheon to raise awareness related to women and poverty, homelessness and health. The event is scheduled for Thursday, May 23, 12:00-1:30pm at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, DC.

Share This Page:

March 23 – 29

Britepaths’ leadership team was featured in the March-April issue of Fairfax Woman Magazine. Additionally, The Fairfax Connection newspaper featured Britepaths’ celebration of its volunteers and supporters in its March 20 issue.

The Community Foundation of the New River Valley is gearing up to host its Annual GiveBigNRV giving day on April 24 according to Roanoke Times. Since the launch of the campaign in 2014, over $1 million has been raised for local nonprofits.

Good Shephard Alliance will hold its 17th Annual Golf Tournament to benefit homeless individuals and families. The tournament begins at 7:30am on Monday, May 6 at the Brambleton Golf Course in Ashburn, VA. Visit their website for registration and/or sponsorship.

DC Scores will host One Night One Goal––a VIP experience at Audi Field on Thursday, May 30 at 6:00pm. Mingle with D.C. United players, tour exclusive areas of the stadium, enjoy a live auction with one-of-a-kind items and experiences, and sample specialty cocktails and cuisine. All proceeds benefit DC Scores.

Safe Sisters Circle executive director, Alana Brown, and board vice president, Bria Culp, spoke on a WBGR Gospel Network Facebook Live show, The Anointed Women of Christ, regarding the intersection of Black women survivors, domestic violence and faith.

Smith Center for Healing and the Arts has posted its calendar of programs and retreats for April, May and June. The Smith Center will also host its 7th Annual Alchemical Vessels Exhibition and Benefit, The Transformative Power of the Written Word, April 11 – June 1, 2019. The Opening Reception is Friday, April 12 and the Benefit Event is Saturday, May 3.

Suited For Change, Washington, DC’s leading nonprofit for women in need of professional clothing, job-readiness programs and mentoring will host its annual gala, Suited To Celebrate! at the Arts Club of Washington, DC at 6:30pm on Thursday, May 16, 2019. Visit their website for tickets and/or sponsorship.

Thurgood Marshall Center Trust currently has multiple office spaces available for rent in its 5-level National Historic Landmark building located at 1816 12th Street, NW, Washington, DC. Visit its website for more details.

March 9 – 22

Bright Beginnings Executive Director, Marla Dean, discussed DC’s pre-K program and its impact on low-income children in WAMU 88.5.

Building Bridges Across the River‘s equitable development plan for Washington, DC’s Wards 7 and 8 was featured in the Nonprofit Quarterly.

A local woman is raising money for Calvary Women’s Services by hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, from the US-Mexico border to Canada according to WUSA9.

DC Vote commended the US House of Representatives for the passage of legislation calling for DC statehood according to Common Dreams.

National Humanities Alliance and American Historical Association discussed the importance of the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities with Inside Higher Ed.

National Low Income Housing Coalition president and CEO, Diane Yentel, discussed the organization’s national study on affordable rental housing in CityLab.

Washington Regional Alcohol Program provided nearly 700 individuals with a free safe-ride home during the St. Patrick’s Day festivities through their SoberRide initiative according to Inside NoVA.

March 2 – 8

Building Bridges Across the River and Capital Area Asset Builders launched a program designed to help low-income families in Washington, DC build a post-secondary education fund for their child according to Afro American.

Capital Area Asset Builders acting Executive Director, Joseph Leitmann-Santa Cruz, discussed the importance of the Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income families in WAMU 88.5.

DC Scores Executive Director, Bethany Henderson, and the organization’s remarkable success and impact in the community were the focus of an article in The Christian Science Monitor.

DC Vote Executive Director, Bo Shuff, commented on growing congressional support for DC Statehood according to U.S. News & World Report.

Food & Friends’ partnership with AmeriHealth Caritas was featured in Washington City Paper. The organizations are working together to deliver healthy meals to new and expectant mothers.

The Campagna Center President and CEO, Dr. Tammy Mann, will participate in a Women’s Leadership Forum panel hosted by the Alexandria Chamber Professional Women’s Network according to The Zebra.

Share This Page:

Guidelines for setting up an unpaid internship program:

Internships provide an excellent way to prepare students for the workforce, provide hands-on training and launch careers. For nonprofits, it’s an opportunity to help shape the emerging workforce, nurture an interest in the nonprofit sector and discover potential new employees.

For many of us, an intern also provides some much needed free assistance. This view, however, could lead to trouble. There have been several cases where an employer has been forced to pay back-wages to someone who completed an unpaid internship. While for-profit companies have been looked at closer than nonprofits, it is still a good idea to understand the guidelines.

Below, we’ve provided a summary of the criteria for an unpaid intern position. Plus, with input from Center member Miriam’s Kitchen, we’ve also provided a helpful checklist for setting up an internship program.

Criteria for an unpaid internship

In the Department of Labor’s internship programs under the Fair Labor Standards Act, it explains how courts have used the “primary beneficiary test” to determine whether an intern is in fact an employee. A summary of the test criteria that the internship must meet includes:

  • Be similar to training that the student would receive in an educational environment. If a college provides credit or if the intern gains experience that could be used elsewhere, this would fit the criteria.
  • Be a benefit to the intern, not the organization.
  • Not replace a paid employee, and work under close supervision of a staff member.
  • The employer gets no real advantage from the intern, and sometimes may be impeded by having the intern.
  • The intern is not entitled to a job at the end of the training.
  • The employer and intern agree that the intern is not entitled to wages at the end of the internship.

When considering offering a stipend, understand that it may send mixed signals to the DOL. Either the wages are earned, or this is a training program that benefits the intern.

Internship Program Checklist

  1. Define the need. Determine what department or team could use an intern in a way that benefits the student as well as the organization.
  2. Determine the time and duration. Will it be a semester long, over winter break or during the summer? Knowing the duration will guide setting the number of hours per week and what duties to include in the program. Students may have less time during the academic semester than over the summer. Every internship should have an end date. The DOL does not let you keep an intern indefinitely.
  3. Specify the roles and responsibilities of the intern. Create a description of tasks and a timeline with check-ins to monitor progress. Include rules, policies and expectations so the intern, and your team, understands what is required right from the start. Make sure tasks/projects are reasonable and realistic.
  4. Decide if the intern will be paid, receive a stipend or be unpaid. Obtain approval from President/CEO for any payments. For unpaid internships, answer the following questions:
  • Will the intern receive course credit?
  • Are there written goals and objectives associated with the internship?
  • Is the student’s on-the-job learning beneficial to his/her future career?
  • Does the intern understand that the internship is unpaid?
  • Does the program pass the “primary beneficiary test?”
  1. Advertise the internship opportunity. Post online, on your website, circulate with colleges and universities.
  2. Collect and review applications, sharing best candidates with the hiring department.
  3. Conduct interviews either in person or via Skype.
  4. Once a candidate is selected and has accepted, complete an intern information sheet with details about criteria, school requirements and credits, etc., as well as any HR forms and return to HR.
  5. Make sure interns have an opportunity to engage with staff at multiple levels and get the most out of their experience. Consider including a rotation through several departments.
  6. Ask for feedback. At the end of the internship, ask for the intern’s perspective and input about the experience. Re-evaluate your program and adapt if needed. This is also the time to share feedback with interns about their performance.

If you have other suggestions, please share them!

Share This Page:

When setting up a 457(b) plan makes sense:

In 2019, the government allows taxpayers to contribute up to $19,000 annually to their 401(k) or 403(b) plans ($25,000 if over age 50). However, executives at nonprofit organizations tend to max out these qualified retirement plans early and are looking for a deeper tax shelter beyond these limits. Also, receiving additional employer contributions into their 401(k) or 403(b) plan is difficult because of anti-discrimination testing restrictions.

Thus, two crucial questions arise:

  1. How can executives defer income beyond the limits imposed on qualified retirement plans?
  2. How can they receive a higher employer contribution on top of their 401(k)/403(b) plans without having to give it to the entire staff and strain the organization’s budget?

For these executives, a nonqualified 457(b) plan, also known as a top hat plan, may be a great solution for the following reasons:

  1. A 457(b) plan allows executives to shelter an additional $19,000 of income from federal and state taxes each year on top of the amount contributed to their 401(k) or 403(b) plans. When you factor in the 401(k) and 403(b) limits, it amounts to a huge potential tax savings—as much as $38,000 ($44,000 for those over 50) of income per year!
  2. Executives can also receive employer contributions in addition to the match they receive in their retirement plan without running into problems with anti-discrimination testing. Any employer contribution into a 457(b) plan is considered ordinary income to the employee; therefore, the organization and the executive must pay their share of FICA taxes on the amount contributed, however, that contribution is sheltered from federal and state income taxes.
  3. Execs can opt for some combination of the two. For instance, if the Board approves $10,000 in extra employer contribution, they still have $9,000 to shelter from taxes should they choose to do so.

Let’s see how such a plan might work in action:

Jane Doe is an executive at Nonprofit X. She is fifty one years old and contributes $25,000 from her paycheck to max out her 403(b) plan each year. Seeing a need to reduce her taxes, Nonprofit X establishes a 457(b) plan to bonus execs like Jane Doe up to $19,000 per year.

Jane Doe sees the following tax advantages from this strategy: Supposing she pays at a 37% federal income tax rate, with her 457(b) plan, Jane Doe will save a little over $7,000 per year in federal taxes alone ($19,000 x 0.37 = $7,030)—in addition to the savings she already sees in her 403(b) plan.

Ultimately, a 457(b) plan presents an attractive option for nonprofit organization executives who are looking to defer more of their income past the $19,000 limit on qualified (i.e., 401(k) or 403(b)) retirement plans. Therefore, setting up a 457(b) plan may help your organization strengthen recruitment and retention of top performing executives by offering a more attractive retirement benefit.

Of note, a 457(b) is not appropriate for all organizations and is subject to requirements and restrictions. Ensure a qualified tax professional is consulted.

 

Article contributed by: Amir B. Eyal, JD, CFP®, AIF®, Employee and Executive Benefits Specialist at the Center for Nonprofit Advancement. Amir is also the CEO of Mylestone Plans – a national leader that educates the members of the nonprofit community on how to achieve their financial goals. Mylestone provides a comprehensive range of institutional services to hundreds of non-profit organizations, as well as private financial and investment planning to their leadership and employees.

 

Share This Page:

The Center is turning 40! Join us in celebrating our past as we look toward the future.

Share your story: #Rocking40withtheCenter

What has Center membership meant to your nonprofit? What benefits have made a difference? How has the Center helped you expand your capacity and impact? Post your thoughts and stories using #Rocking40withtheCenter, and we’ll share your message with our entire network.

Spread the word: Rocking40 Membership Drive

Our membership has grown considerably over the years, and as nonprofits face new challenges, we plan to broaden our outreach and support even more. If you know of organizations that would benefit from Center membership, please encourage them to join!* For every nonprofit you refer that becomes a member, the Center will thank you with a $40 gift card to Starbucks.

*To refer a nonprofit, send the organization name, contact name and email address to Sean Sweeney. Or tell the nonprofit to join online and include your name and email on the application where it asks, “How did you hear about the Center.”

 

Share This Page:

February 23 – March 1

Bright Beginnings Executive Director, Marla Dean, discussed national efforts to reduce child poverty in NPR.

A report by Council for Court Excellence about the challenges individuals exiting prison face in Washington, DC was highlighted in WAMU 88.5.

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC will perform Let Freedom Sing, a glittering musical celebration of the African American influence on civil and equal rights, on March 16 at 4:00pm and 8:00pm at the Lincoln Theatre. Their vocal ensemble Potomac Fever will perform a special concert at Asbury Methodist Village on March 2 as part of their outreach program.

Generation Hope will hold three Mentor Open Houses this spring: March 14 in Washington, DC, April 25 in Alexandria, Virginia, and May 16 in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Individuals and groups (families, partners, friends, colleagues, etc.) are welcome to attend and learn more about being matched with teen parents attending college in the Washington, DC metro area for the 2019/2020 academic year.

Nonprofit Village recognizes two organizations for their work in bettering our communities: Interfaith Works (large nonprofit category) and Passion for Learning (small nonprofit category). They will be awarded at the Nonprofit Village Making a Difference Awards Breakfast on Friday, May 3 from 7:00-9:30am at the Bethesda Marriott Pooks Hill.

YWCA National Capital Area is presenting a free screening of the movie, The Hate U Give, according to Hoodline. Following the movie, the organization will host a discussion on racism and police violence.

 

February 16 – 22

Food & Friends was featured on WTOP for their work delivering nutritious meals to expectant mothers and their families.

For Love of Children will hold its annual College Night event on Friday, March 1, 2019, featuring panel discussions with college admissions counselors, current college students, parents of college freshmen, as well as scholarship representatives.

A report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance on the rise of dollar stores in low-income communities was featured in WAMU 88.5

National Low Income Housing Coalition president and CEO, Diane Yentel, commented on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s overhaul of health and safety inspections of taxpayer-subsidized housing in NBC News.

The Salvation Army National Capital Area Command will host its 2nd Annual Diamond Gala on March 9, 2019 at the Fairmont Hotel. The purpose of the Gala is to raise funds and awareness for The Salvation Army’s Anti-Human Trafficking Program, with additional opportunities to support other vital services offered by the organization.

Unlocking Potential is offering its UnlockIt Series, a 3-part leadership training series that helps participants master the tools and disciplines practiced by the world’s most admired leaders, as well as solve common, challenging problems. Discounts are available to Center members.

Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s report on drunk driving on road safety in the Region was highlighted on WTOP.

 

February 9 – 15

On March 1st, Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB) will hold #DCAhorrayProspera Forum: Wealth Creation Strategies for Low/Moderate-Income Washingtonians to shine a spotlight on the role and benefits of being banked, managing savings plans, accessing financial products and services, accessing credit-building strategies, accessing savings programs & platforms, and implementing debt reduction.

Institute for Local Self-Reliance was highlighted in a WAMU 88.5 story about recycling in the region.

The Ron Kowalski Real Estate Group will host the 12th Annual Monopoly Game Tournament on March 2, 2019 to benefit the Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC). The tournament includes two preliminary rounds and a final round where the top six competitors play for a prize of $500.

Marking the culmination of a joint public-private effort to bring services and resources to DC’s communities most in need, Trinity Plaza features 49 affordable apartment units, 12,000 square feet of office space, 6000 square feet of retail space and a 2000 square foot community center. Those interested in the apartments should register for one of the Lydia House (W8) Homebuyer & HPAP Orientations.

Miriam’s Kitchen Executive Chef Cheryl Bell was profiled on NBC4 Washington. Chef Bell started as a volunteer with the organization, prior to moving into the role.

National Peace Corps Association was highlighted in Forbes for their work helping returning volunteers transition to career and educational opportunities.

 

February 1 – 8

On February 5, the DC City Council issued a ceremonial resolution recognizing the Beacon House teen writers of “The Day Tajon Got Shot,” a Black Lives Matter movement-inspired work of fiction that won two national awards in 2018. Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie presented the recognition resolution to the authors, who were ages 11-13 when they began writing the book.

The Center for Nonprofit Advancement will launch its Board Leadership Award call for nominations on February 12, 2019.

Community Foodworks keeps two farmers markets open throughout the winter in Virginia: Oakton 9:00-1:00 on Saturdays and Arlington 9:00-12:00 on Saturdays.

A new nonprofit accelerator program operated by Community Foundation of the New River Valley was featured in Roanoke Times. The two-day program aims to support and advance small and struggling nonprofits.

Foundation Center and GuideStar announced a merger in Fast Company and The Chronicle of Philanthropy. The new organization, Candid, aims to be the go-to source for information on grants and nonprofits.

Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) posted an article “Turning 18 in Virginia: What Individuals with Disabilities Need to Consider” and their March and April calendar of parent training opportunities.

Share This Page: