On April 6, the Mayor held a press conference to outline a number of steps the City is taking to support not-for-profits. This package of policies and resources are designed to strengthen the not-for-profit community, particularly during the current economic downturn. These new initiatives have been at the forefront of our advocacy agenda and we will continue to collaborate with the City on these initiatives to ensure their implementation is successful. Click here to see the full press release. You can also see a summary of the initiatives and contact information by clicking here. As part of the initiative, the Mayor’s Office launched a new website, nyc.gov/nonprofit, which provides information and assistance to nonprofits, including an online contract tracking system. The system will be updated weekly so nonprofits with City contracts can easily check the status of any contract in the pipeline (click here to track discretionary awards over $25K or click here to track other human service contracts). The Mayor’s Office of Operations will also report on each agency’s overall efficiency in processing contracts, which should improve the speed in which contracts are processed.

Take Action on the New Payroll Tax to Support the MTA: - Read>>

In early May, the “MTA bailout” legislation, which creates a new payroll tax on employers in the New York City region, was passed. This new tax applies to all employers, except schools. The payroll tax of $.34 per $100 of payroll begins March 1, 2009 with the first payment due on 9/1/09. Payments will be due quarterly there after.

HSC is taking steps to raise concerns with key decision makers about this new tax on human service providers, although we do not anticipate the reversal of this enacted legislation and urge you to begin taking the necessary steps to meet this new obligation. Regardless, we must be well prepared to make a strong case if we hope to see exceptions of any kind for our sector. At a time when both private and public funding sources are down and client need is up, we must demonstrate how this tax impacts the health of the sector and our ability to meet client needs.

We are asking members to share information on actions taken/in plan to meet this new obligation, such as the number of staff or services to be cut. We will use this data to educate City and State officials about the effect this tax has on the sector and build a case for a possible exception for not-for-profits if any opportunities for movement on this issue arise (and we will be looking!). Please send information to: Michelle Jackson, HSC Policy Analyst, at jacksonm@humanservicescouncil.org.

We sent letters to Governor Paterson, Speaker Silver, and Majority Leader Smith, outlining our concerns and asking for relief. We are also raising the issue with State legislators and agencies, as well as City officials who we hope will advocate with the State and who need to be aware of the impact this law has on the providers who deliver services to needy populations. Attached is a copy of the letter we sent to Governor Paterson; we encourage you to send letters outlining your concerns also. Please feel free to use our letter as a template but adding specific information about the impact of the tax on your agency will improve the effectiveness of your letter.

While we DO NOT anticipate being able to successfully advocate for not-for-profit entities to be exempt from this new law, we believe it is our responsibility to educate government on the impact this action is having on our sector and to explore opportunities for compromise that could provide some needed relief.

Join HSC in Signing a Declaration - Read>>

Join HSC in signing the Declaration, “Forward Together:  Empowering America’s Citizen Sector for the Change We Need.”  The Nonprofit Listening Post Project organized a seminar that brought about this declaration. Click here to sign the declaration or get more information.

See the Letter HSC Sent to Congress - Read>>

See the letter HSC sent to Congress to include funding for Human Service agencies in the Federal Stimulus Package. Click here.

Endorse the One New York Budget Coalition Today! - Read>>

Endorse the One New York Budget Coalition Today! Please click here for more information.

Invitation for Executives to Hear about Agency Experiences with Undoing Racism™ -- 7/6/09 - Read>>

Following the discussion at HSC’s 6/10/09 Board meeting on the need to continue examining how we can undo racism, HSC is highlighting work in this area. Please click here and note that the meeting is Monday, July 6.

The U.S. Department of HHS released guidelines to apply for the ARRA "Strengthening Communities Fund" - Read>>

The Strengthening Communities Fund will make $50 million in Recovery Act funding available to help communities severely affected by the economic downturn. Partnering with private and public organizations, HHS will provide one-time, two year grants. Please visit the HHS website for more information.

NY State Announces Federal Stimulus Funding – Upcoming Deadlines - Read>>

The State has made several federal stimulus funding announcements, including the following items of particular interest to the sector. Please see the full announcement for more details on these funding streams.

Congratulations to Nancy Wackstein - Read>>

Congratulations to Nancy Wackstein, Executive Director of United Neighborhood Houses and HSC Board Chair, for being inducted into the Columbia University School of Social Work (CUSSW) Hall of Fame. She was honored on April 17 at the CUSSW 2009 Alumni Conference. Hall of Fame recipients are distinguished alumni who have made outstanding contributions to the theory and practice of social work and who, by their work and example, have added significantly to the image of the social work profession. Click here to read more.

New Funding Opportunity to Bring Healthy Food to Low Income Communities – RFP due 7/29/09 -Read>>

UNH has been working with The New York Community Trust and The Atlantic Philanthropies on a national initiative that seeks to build the capacity of organizations to involve older adults in the civic life of their communities so those over age 60 come to be seen as a tremendous – but untapped – resource for change and community good. To further this work, they have announced a new $70K funding opportunity, the details of which are attached. Note that there is an informational meeting on 6/30/09. Please feel free to share this funding opportunity with other agencies.

Opportunities to Partner with For-Profit Leaders - Read>>

Greater NY is a strategic partnership program, pairing executive leaders from both nonprofit and for-profit sectors in an effort to build stronger and more effective organizations by developing and implementing solutions using best practices from both sectors. Launched by private sector business leaders in response to the current economic crisis, this public-private partnership is an initiative of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City.

Eligible nonprofit organizations should:
1)Provide human and social services that provide programming for vulnerable New York residents 2)Have an operating budget between $2 and $20 million 3)Currently receive funding from New York City 4)Need assistance in one of the following areas: o Administration o Expansion/Growth Strategy o Financial Management o Human Resources Strategy o Marketing/Communications/Outreach o Real Estate Sales/Acquisitions o Strategic Decision Making
Selected nonprofits will receive a grant of $15,000 and the opportunity to apply to Greater NY for additional funds to implement structural innovations.For more information about the Greater NY program and how to fill out an Expression of Interest form, please go to the City government website at:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nonprofit/html/assistance/greater.shtml

Fair Share Return Tax Adopted - Read>>

Working with the One New York: Fighting for Fairness coalition, HSC successfully advocated for the adoption of the Fair Share Tax Reform Act. State leaders have agreed to temporarily raise the personal income tax on New York’s top earners to counter spending cuts for a three-year period from tax year 2009 to tax year 2011, generating an expected $ 4 billion. The progressive reform will create the following two new tax brackets from the previous flat rate of 6.85 percent for all joint filers making more than $40,000:
1) 7.85 percent for single or married-filing-separately taxpayers making more than $200,000, head-of-household filers making more than $250,000 and married couples with incomes greater than $300,000. 2) 8.97 percent for all taxpayers making more than $500,000, regardless of filing status.

FY09-10 Enacted State Budget Passed - Read>>

The FY09-10 Enacted State Budget was passed on April 3, 2009 after an extended debate.  Due largely to the availability of $6.2 billion in federal stimulus dollars, many human services were partially or completely restored.  There are also many enhancements and new initiatives that will benefit the sector and our clients.  Members can click here to find a copy of HSC’s Summary of the FY10 Enacted Budget.  HSC would like to thank their members for their tremendous advocacy – everyone’s hard work has resulted in the preservation of many critical services and reforms to State spending inefficiencies that redirect resources to local communities.

Our Advocacy in Albany Paid Off - Read>>

HSC is thrilled to announce that our advocacy in Albany has paid off and our State budget includes many restorations for human services.  Please read the Message from Michael Stoller for more information.

DOE Rescinds RFP Charge - Read>>

HSC is happy to announce that the Department of Education has agreed to rescind its new policy of charging to download copies of its RFP. We would like to thank Kathleen Grimm, Deputy Chancellor for Finance and Administration, for working with us to resolve this matter quickly and amicably.  If you would like a copy of the RFP in question, please feel free to contact Michelle Jackson, jacksonm@humanservicescouncil.org.

Managing in Hard Times Workdshops Announced - Read>>

HSC is pleased to announce a series of workshops to help nonprofits manage their resources more effectively, called Managing in Hard Times.  Co-sponsored with NPCC, Lawyers Alliance for New York and UJA-Federation, the series will run from April 27-June 16 and includes workshops on topics such as:  The Effect of the Federal Stimulus Package on New York Nonprofits; Strategic Alliances for Cost Savings; Legal Issues for Hard Times; Human Resource Considerations; and Lobbying in a Time of Crisis.  These workshops are only open to members. Click here to go to our Trainings and Meetings page to find more details about the workshops and how to register.

New Grant from the NYSOFA Available - Read>>

The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) is administering a new grant to support Community Empowerment initiatives for the aging. To see an abstract of the funding opportunity and to request an RFA, click here.

Michael Stoller and the HSC on CUNY-TV - Read>>

Michael Stoller and the Human Services Council are featured on CUNY-TV’s Eldridge & Co. show, airing in early April.  Ronnie Eldridge is a former New York City Council member and currently hosts a series on CUNY - TV that covers issues and institutions concerning the people and politics of New York. You can click here to find out the exact broadcast schedule or to view the show from the website.;

Free Guide on Maintaining Health Coverage After Job Loss - Read>>

Do you have clients who need to maintain health coverage after losing a job? United Hospital Fund produced a new consumer guide, Hard Times and Health Insurance: Staying Covered When You Lose Your Job, which presents practical advice on state and federal protections and how to exercise them.  The guide, which is available for free by clicking here, is made possible in part by support from the New York State Health Foundation and can be shared freely. Please contact the Fund’s Health Insurance Project co-director Peter Newell (pnewell@uhfnyc.org) if you have questions or comments.

HSC Hosted an Info Session on 311 And ACCESS NYC - Read>>

HSC hosted an info session on 311 and ACCESS NYC for City Council Members and Staff, which Council Member Brewer (Chair of the Technology in Government Committee) attended with HSC Technology & Referral Committee members on March 18.  You can read about what was covered by clicking here

One New York: Fighting for Fairness - Read>>

HSC continues its work with the One New York: Fighting for Fairness coalition in opposition to budget cuts. We participated in the March 5 rally at City Hall; the March 16 delivery of more than 3,500 postcards to Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith in Albany to adopt the Fair Share Tax Reform Act (click here to read more about it); and the March 23 Albany Day to support tax increases on high-income New Yorkers as a way to help close the budget gap (click here to hear a radio story and click here, here, and here to read articles about the day).

Judy Willig Honored - Read>>

Congratulations to Judy Willig, Executive Director of member agency Heights & Hill Community Council, for being named one of 31 Brooklyn women honored for their accomplishments and service to their communities. Ms. Willig, along with 30 other distinguished women, was formally acknowledged at a ceremony on March 25, 2009. Click here to read article.

Lilliam Barrios-Paoli: Reception - Read>>

HSC and United Way of New York City co-hosted an event honoring Honorable Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, Commissioner of the New York City Department for the Aging on March 12.  Please visit us again to see the photos from the event.

The Citizen’s Advice Bureau - Read>>

The Citizen’s Advice Bureau held a forum to discuss the effects of ongoing cuts in social services where HSC spoke about the inequities in the NY State Income Tax system in Feburary, 2009. To read more about it, click here.

The New York Times: Soup Kitchen Accounting - Read>>

The New York Times questions why banks can't use fund accounting as practiced by nonprofits in "Dealbook: Soup-Kitchen Accounting for banks." to read the article, click here.

Going Green Initiative - Read>>

HSC launched our inaugural "Going Green Initiative" with our Annual Leadership Awards Reception. HSC's 2008 journal is electronic as part of our effort to promote sustainable living. Click on this link to view our 2008 Journal.(The file may take a few minutes to download, please be patient.)