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Community Foundation Jackson Hole to host NLG workshops Back by popular demand March 12-14, the Community Foundation Jackson Hole will again be presenting two half-day workshops for the board and staff of nonprofit organizations. The workshops, covering organizational sustainability, governance, and leadership skills, will be presented by John Heymann from NewLevel Group. Time, location, and content of the sessions will be announced in early February. IRS Revoking Nonprofit Tax-Exempt Status Close to 700 North Bay nonprofit organizations are in danger of losing their tax-exempt status for failing to file 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF. Many smaller organizations that previously were not required to file may not realize that they now must file a Form 990-N. In fact, the What Changed? For decades, once an organization
received its determination from the IRS as tax exempt, that status was final — it
remained in effect unless revoked by the IRS. To increase transparency and accountability for the
nonprofit sector, the Pension Protection Act passed by Congress in 2006
contained a new requirement that almost all exempt organizations had to file
information with the IRS annually, and the IRS is now required to revoke the
tax exemption of any organization required to file that doesn’t do so for three
consecutive years. Those revocations will affect not only the organizations
that lose their exemptions but also the donors and funders that support them
and the audiences that rely on their services. What’s Next? According to a report from
GuideStar, the IRS is waiting until 2011 to send revocation letters. At that time, tax-exempt organizations that have
not satisfied annual filing requirements for three consecutive years will automatically
lose their tax-exempt status. However, the IRS is providing one-time
relief for organizations that have filing due dates on or after May 17 and
before October 15, 2010. Recently, the IRS published a list
of organizations at risk of revocation. Click here to see the Napa County
organizations listed. Click here to see Sonoma County organizations listed. The lists include organizations for which the IRS does
not have a record of a required annual filing for 2007 and 2008, and whose 2009
return, due on or after May 17 and before October 15, 2010, has not yet been
received. What to Do If Your Organization is at Risk If you see your organization on the
list and its gross receipts are less than $25,000, an officer from the
organization should file Form 990-N at http://epostcard.form990.org . If your organization’s revenues are
$25,000 or greater, view the information on http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=184445,00.html
to determine whether your organization qualifies to file a Form 990-EZ. If it does, follow the instructions
on http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=225704,00.html
to participate in the Filing Relief Voluntary Compliance Program. If your organization is required to
file Form 990 or Form 990-PF and has missed the deadline for filing your 2009
return, you cannot participate in the Filing Relief Voluntary Compliance
Program. NewLevel Group supports the work of socially
responsible organizations and their leaders in advancing missions that
benefit people, planet, and profits. John Heymann can be reached at (707)
255-5555 x105 or jheymann@newlevelgroup.com NewLevel Group helps launch the One World Futbol Project Young Darfur refugees were engrossed in a makeshift game of soccer under the hot sun—with the "ball" a sphere made of trash tied up with twine and the "field" a patch of dirt and rocks with barbed wire for boundaries. Their game was captured on film by a CNN crew. Watching this footage at home, Tim Jahnigen, an inventor, song-writer, and music producer, imagined that these kids might have once had a regular soccer ball, which had worn out or been punctured by use in such a harsh setting—or perhaps the ball was deflated but the needle was lost or the pump broken. Tim was inspired to design a ball that played like a "real futbol," but would never wear out, never go flat, never need a pump. Such a ball could match the joy and determination of people to play “the beautiful game” of soccer—anywhere. Tim's idea remained in the concept stage until a chance conversation with the entertainer Sting, with whom Tim produces a bi-annual concert at Carnegie Hall. Once Tim shared his vision of an indestructible soccer ball, Sting offered to donate money for R&D, and so the first "One World Futbol", now patent-pending, was born. The One World Futbol can be played on any surface, anywhere—not just grass or regulation soccer fields. Unlike other soccer balls, the skin of the One World Futbol won't wear off no matter how abrasive the playing area. The ball requires no pump or needle and will never go flat even if punctured. For decades, UNICEF, the U.N. Refugee Agency, as well as private nonprofit organizations working in war zones, refugee camps, and impoverished communities throughout the world, have observed children finding their own ways to play soccer with rag balls, cans, and rocks. The One World Futbol Project will assist the work of these organizations and brighten the lives of millions of children by distributing ultra-durable,all-terrain balls. The company's "Buy One, Give One" promotion allows individuals to buy the ball, and for each ball purchased the company will donate a ball to needy children and young people around the world. The business also sells favorably-priced balls to governments, U.N. agencies, and nonprofit organizations that distribute free soccer balls to communities who can't afford them. To learn more about the amazing "All-Terrain" ball, or to order one, go to http://oneworldfutbol.com
Oakland nonprofit, Urban Habitat, lauches strategy initiative NewLevel Group’s John Heymann will assist Urban Habitat with their three-year planning process this summer and fall. Urban Habitat builds power in low-income communities and communities of color by combining education, advocacy, research and coalition-building to advance environmental, economic, and social justice in the Bay Area. NCBA LiveWell Conference in Yountville NewLevel Group was engaged by Edelman PR (Chicago) to facilitate a highly interactive roundtable discussion for nutrition professionals attending the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association conference “Live Well 2010: A Return to Real Food and Simple Pleasures.” The conference, held at the Villagio Inn in Yountville, brought together some of the top health influencers and credentialed media from across the country to explore trends in food and nutrition and to hear from top researchers in the field. Napa County strengthens watershed restoration projects Napa County has contracted with Napa County Resource Conservation District and NewLevel Group to provide coordination among several ongoing Napa River restoration projects. For more information about the projects, check out the Watershed Information Center & Conservancy of Napa County website at http://www.napawatersheds.org Bringing energy and resource conservation resources to Napa's nonprofit community Working through Sustainable Napa County, NewLevel Group has started another round of behavioral assessments & benchmarking for energy efficiency and resource conservation with social service agencies. The latest group includes the Napa Valley Center for Spiritual Living and tenant organizations of the Napa Valley Vintners Community Health Center. As part of other efforts to bring the benefits of energy efficiency to all segments of the community, NewLevel Group has facilitated meetings between caseworkers from several of the county’s Family Resource Centers and representatives of a PG&E program for low income residents. The free program can provide replacement appliances, new doors and windows, weather-sealing, and other energy-saving measures to home owners and renters who qualify.
Animal welfare groups join forces to benefit the communities they serve NewLevel Group’s John Heymann recently facilitated a meeting between two successful animal welfare organizations in Jackson Hole, WY. PAWS of Jackson Hole advocates for animals and promotes responsible pet ownership through local outreach programs, and the Animal Adoption Center is dedicated to saving the lives of homeless animals through adoptions, community outreach, and education. As a result of their meeting, the two groups agreed to conduct joint spay/neuter clinics and will work more closely in several areas where their missions converge. Leading health design research organization continues growth
NewLevel Group is providing support for development of a “balanced scorecard” for performance measurements to long-time client The Center for Health Design (CHD), as it continues to develop its organizational capacity. CHD helps healthcare and design professionals to improve the quality of healthcare through the built environment using evidence-based design. NGO Workshops in Costa Rica
With the economic recession
making its impact felt around the world, leaders of Central America-based
businesses and nonprofits gathered in San Jose, Costa Rica for a series of
workshops and training sessions on the topics of nonprofit governance,
leadership development, fundraising, and grant writing presented by John
Heymann of NewLevel Group, and Joelle Gallagher, Executive Director of Cope
Family Center. Attendees included
representatives from Junior Achievement, Centro Cultural, Eco Global, Green
Pages of Costa Rica, the United Nations’ University for Peace, the Costa Rican
Ministry of Culture, Accion Arte, Hogar Siembra, Hewlett-Packard, the American
Chamber of Commerce and many others. Participants shared their
challenges, and came away with new connections as well as practical tools for
addressing some of their most pressing issues. Additional workshops are being
planned for Summer 2010. For more information, contact John Heymann at 707-255-5555 x105 or jheymann@newlevelgroup.com
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