| A Shell Game Whenever I am in New York City, I am fascinated by the number of people gathered around corner shell games or three card monte. The game seems simple, only a matter of keeping your eye trained on the shell with the ball or the queen. But, if it is so easy, why does no one ever seem to win? Because the game is rigged, no matter how hard you try to keep your “eye on the ball.” I think we may be facing a new shell game. The Office of Management and Budget recently released a proposed regulatory change to the metrics used to determine eligibility for federal programs like SNAP and Medicaid. The proposal would change the way inflation is indexed for the purpose of measuring poverty from the consumer price index (CPI) to the chained consumer price index (C-CPI). As our colleagues at The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities stated in their analysis: “If the poverty line is altered in this fashion, fewer individuals and families will qualify over time for various forms of assistance, including many who work hard but are paid low wages.” The current administration has expressed a hope to reduce poverty in the United States. That is a laudable goal. But, their solution for this is to change the rules for how we measure poverty, not doing anything that will have a positive effect on the financial condition of those who struggle in a challenging economy. That seems like a shell game to me. We all need to keep our “eye on the ball.” Lee Sherman, President & CEO
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| No Hate, No Fear: Ensuring Safety and Opportunity for Immigrant Women
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In April, YWCA USA celebrated its 13th annual Stand Against Racism, an action campaign that “highlights the injustices faced by immigrant communities,” on Capitol Hill by hosting a policy briefing. Panelists ranged from former members of the Obama administration to local attorneys and shared valuable insights and everyday stories that solidified the need for a comprehensive look into what systemic factors leave immigrant women in unsafe conditions. Much of the initial conversation centered around the intersectional nature of being an immigrant woman, and what that means in terms of sexual and economic exploitation, domestic violence, and how the overall climate around immigration impacts immigrant women. This was coupled with federal policy recommendations that would combat against an immigrant woman’s increased susceptibility to violence. YWCA USA has taken distinct and direct action on supporting policies that facilitate a safe opportunities for immigrant women. Read the full analysis on the NHSA blog.
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| Contribute to the Management Compensation Report Data collection is underway for the annual “Management Compensation Report of National Voluntary Health and Human Service Organizations.” The deadline to participate is Wednesday, May 22. This compensation report is an essential resource for national voluntary health and human service organizations and is produced jointly by NHSA and the National Health Council. The report is a must-have reference, covering more than 80 different positions, and is an excellent source for not only setting compensation and benefits packages, but also for complying with the IRS 990 question that specifically asks about the use of research data to establish leadership compensation. Participants in the survey will receive a FREE copy of the final report. If your organization is interested in participating, please contact Melissa Reifler.
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| Last Call for Webinar on Improving Business Collaboration in the Age of Remote Workers by Moving Your Phones to the Cloud "Companies are noticing that if they want to be an attractive destination for job seekers, they need to create flexible work environments that prioritize getting work done over spending long hours in the office. Roughly 63% of companies today have some form of remote workers..." Votacall, one of our featured PurchasingPoint vendors, offers a variety of cost-effective solutions to enable your in-office and remote staff to collaborate better. Join the webinar, "Moving Your Office Phones to the Cloud," TOMORROW, May 9 from 2-3 PM ET to learn more.
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| There's Still Time to Register for #EssConHS!
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Opportunities and Resources
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General Funding - Encore Fellow – Individuals seeking a high-impact, flexible, time-limited, paid assignment with nonprofits and public agencies, or offering the opportunity to work in a new social-purpose environment should apply. Deadline: Ongoing via Encore.org »
- 12 unique funding opportunities each week via GrantStation Insider »
Webinars - Moving Your Office Phones to the Cloud via PurchasingPoint and Votacall from 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET on May 9 »
- Seven Steps to Achieving High Performance via Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and Aligned at Work from 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET on May 21 »
- Better Voter Engagement Strategies for People with Disabilities via Nonprofit VOTE from 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET on May 21 »
- ON DEMAND - Volunteer Perspective: Industry Insights for 2019 via PurchasingPoint and Verified Volunteers Recording »
Events
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The New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof recently highlighted the incredible success of an eight year-old chess champion who is a Nigerian refugee. In an initial column, he described how the boy catapulted from novice chess player to state champion in his category in one year, despite living in a homeless shelter and lacking the resources of his peers. Kristof used the example to illustrate the truism that “Talent is universal, but opportunity is not.” In response, readers made donations and offered housing to the family. In reporting on the outpouring of support, Kristof observed in a second column “…that readers often want to donate just to a particular individual I write about, without addressing the larger social problem.” Human service organizations face similar challenges with how to use client stories to demonstrate the need for and benefit of programs and policies without the unintended consequence of the audience falling into the “Individualism Trap.” Read more on the stories and how to deal with storytelling.
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Camp Fire Announces New President & CEO Greg Zweber brings 24 years of nonprofit and corporate experience to the role of President and CEO at Camp Fire, an NHSA member organization. Zweber most recently served as the Chief Affiliate Officer for another NHSA member, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of America. Zweber, a Minnesota native, brings extensive experience in board recruitment, fundraising, financial management, youth development, and organizational stabilization and growth. Zweber succeeds Cathy Tisdale, who retired after nearly a decade leading the organization. Best wishes to both Greg and Cathy in their future endeavors!
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