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Network
Projects
The
Network works to create state-wide programs to benefit Texas nonprofit
organizations. Click on the following links to learn more about each
project.
Nonprofit Workshops & Consulting Project for Wharton Area Nonprofits
The Gulf
Coast Medical Foundation in Wharton, TX awarded a $16,000 grant to the Network
to support workshops and consulting services for nonprofits in the Wharton area.
The Network designed a training survey to determine topics for the workshop
series, and the grant will support three nonprofit workshops and consulting
projects for three nonprofit organizations. Thanks to this grant,
nonprofit organizations will be able to attend the workshops free of charge.
The first workshop, "The Delicate Dance of Board and Staff" is scheduled for
September 23, 2008 at the Wharton County Historical Museum, and it will be
taught by Rose Mary Fry, Executive Director of the Network.
Circuit
Rider Technology Grant for Wichita Falls
The Priddy
Foundation in Wichita Falls, TX awarded a $20,665 grant to the Network for a
Circuit Rider Technology project for nonprofit organizations in the Wichita
Falls area. The grant will include a Technology workshops for nonprofits
and five nonprofit organizations will be selected for a technology consulting
project. Rene Wilhite, Network Technology Manager, will conduct the
technology assessments and provide the consulting services to the nonprofit
organizations. Since the majority of nonprofit organizations do not have a
technology person on staff, this grant will bring needed technology expertise to
these organizations.
Pilot
Program for Standards for Excellence
The
Network will sponsor a Pilot Program for the Standards for Excellence program
for Texas. Thanks to Washington Mutual and the Simmons Foundation for
underwriting this program. The Pilot Program will include four
Introductory Standards program in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio and a two-day Clinic
Series in Houston. The Standards for Excellence program is a core program
of Maryland Nonprofits; it includes eight standards with benchmarks in the
functional parts of a nonprofit. A description of the Standards for
Excellence program is available on their website at
www.marylandnonprofits.org.
AT&T Foundation
Funded Projects:
Train-the Consultant Event and the Nonprofit Congress
Thanks to
a $25,000 grant from the AT&T
Foundation in San Antonio, the Network will coordinate two events for
Network members and Texas nonprofit organizations. One project will be the
Train-the-Consultant event; this professional development training will be
offered to Network members and their consultants who provide consulting services
to the nonprofit sector. It will be held on October 24, 2006 in San Antonio.
The second
project will be participation in the first
Nonprofit Congress on October
16-17, 2006 in San Antonio. The Network will coordinate four Town Hall meetings
in Texas to gather input from nonprofit staff, board members, and funders about
the opportunities and challenges of the nonprofit sector. For each Town Hall
meeting, the Network will partner with a Network member as the local host in
Houston,
Midland,
San Antonio, and Wichita Falls.
There will be facilitated discussions about the following questions.
- What
do all nonprofits have in common?
- What
is your ideal vision for the nonprofit sector in your state?
- What
are the obstacles common to all nonprofits – regardless of mission – that
prevent us from reaching this vision? Prioritize the order in which these
obstacles and challenges should be addressed.
- What
key short-tem steps can nonprofit organizations collectively take to
eliminate these obstacles?
- What
key long-term steps can nonprofit organizations collectively take to
eliminate these obstacles?
Texas
BoardSource Governance Index
The
Network sponsored the first statewide survey of Board Members and their Chief
Executive Officers in 2004. Several funders supported this project to learn
about how Texas nonprofit boards work; their strengths, and areas for
improvement. Funders included the following donors: Houston: the
Houston
Texans Foundation and the Simmons Foundation, Palacios:
The Trull Foundation,
and San Antonio, the Texas Nonprofit Management Assistance Network. The project
was done in partnership with BoardSource in Washington, D.C. and
Applied Research Analysts, McLean,
VA. Listed below are some key facts from the
survey:
Board
Member Survey/2004
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121
board members participated in the survey, 54% female and 46% male.
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31% of
the respondents were first-time board members.
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34%
were board chairs and 66% were board members.
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24%
worked in for profit entities, 27% in nonprofit organizations, 9% in
governmental entities, 18% were self-employed, 15% were retired, and 7% were
other.
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30%
represented organizations with budgets less than $250,000, 34% budgets of
$250,00-999,999, 26%/$1 million-4.9 million, 6%/$5-9.9 million, and 4% were
unsure of budget size.
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86%
represented 501(c)(3) organizations, 3% either a 501(c)(4) or 501(c)(6)
organizations, and 10% did not know the tax exempt status of their
organization.
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Individuals serve on one or more boards at a time. 13% served on four
or more boards; 38% served on two - three boards, and 48% served on one
board.
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The top
two reasons for joining boards were a Fit of Mission with Personal Interest
and Time Commitment Necessary.
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91% of
respondents did not feel distances in Texas affected their ability to
recruit board members.
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51% of
respondents spent more than 5 or more hours per month on board service.
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93%
gave a financial gift to the organization.
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67% of
the respondents indicated an interest in additional board training.
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Board
members used consulting services, nonprofit resource centers, and board
structure for board training.
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92% of
the respondents indicated they would stay involved with the nonprofit
organization after their board term ended.
CEO
Survey/2004
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228
CEO's participated for a 20% response rate.
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74% of
respondents were first-time CEO's and 13% of the CEO's were voting board
members.
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The
median size of their boards was 15 members.
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The
majority of board members were Anglo in these organizations.
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Board
members represented all age ranges. However, the majority of board
members were in the 40-49 and the 50-59 age range.
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Top
criteria for selecting board members were Commitment to Mission,
Professional Skills, and Community Visibility.
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CEO's
primarily saw their boards as an Oversight Body, Providing Group Support &
Direction to the CEO, a Policy-Making Board, and Community Ambassadors.
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The
most common frequencies for board meetings were monthly and quarterly.
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52% had
fewer than 5 standing committees on their boards.
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81% of
the organizations had an external audit.
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72% had
a Conflict of Interest Policy and 57% had used the policy within the last
year.
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86% of
the organizations purchased Directors and Officers' Liability for their
organizations.
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77% of
the CEO's received an annual evaluation.
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36%
rated their board's overall effectiveness as highly effective, 58% as
somewhat effective, and 6% as ineffective.
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Improving Board Composition, Roles, & Training and Fundraising were seen as
the two best ways to improve board performance.
Technology Database Online
In the coming year, Texas
nonprofits will soon have a new technology resource for their organizations.
With a $16,385 grant from SBC in San Antonio, Texas, the Network will complete a
two-part grant in 2005. The Network will build an online searchable
technology database into its website. Nonprofit organizations will be able
to search for technology resources for hardware, software, networks, and
technology consulting services. Network members providing technology
services will be included in the database as well as other providers throughout
Texas. The grant will also fund attendance at the Nonprofit Technology
Conference for the Network Technology Manager and other technology staff
positions at Network member organizations.
Circuit Rider Technology Grant – Wichita
Falls
Thanks to the support of the
The Priddy Foundation and the J.S. Bridwell Foundation in Wichita Falls, five
nonprofit organizations will receive technology consulting services. Many
nonprofit organizations do not have technology staff in-house or the expertise
to hire external technology resources. Rene Wilhite, Network Technology
Manager, worked with Network member, the Nonprofit Management Center of Wichita
Falls to select the five nonprofit organizations. Child Advocates, Child Care,
Inc. Interfaith Ministries, Inc., NorCen Tex Girl Scouts, and Whispers of Hope
are the beneficiaries of this project grant. Rene Wilhite, Network Technology
Manager conducted the technology assessments and he will provide the hands-on
implementation of software, hardware, and networks.
Rose Mary Fry, Executive Director, says, “This second Circuit Rider Technology grant
will help our members deliver technology services to their clients. Increasing
the ability of nonprofit organizations to use technology effectively is a major
goal of this project.” For additional information, please contact Rene Wilhite,
Network Technology Manager at
rwilhite@txnetwork.org.
Nonprofit Benefits
Association of Texas
The
Nonprofit Benefits Association of Texas has been formed to provide affordable
benefit programs to Texas 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit employers
need to recruit and retain qualified employees for their organizations. The
ability to offer health, dental, and supplemental insurances is one tool in
recruiting and retaining quality employees. Based in San Antonio, the Nonprofit
Benefits Association of Texas has developed the health indemnity plan, dental
and vision, and supplemental benefit programs in partnership with SWBC. Current
providers are Homeland Health, Dental Select, Aflac Supplemental Insurance, and
David K. Young, Third Party Administrator. The Kronkosky Charitable Foundation in San
Antonio facilitated the start-up for this initiative. The legal firm of
Oppenheimer, Blend, Harrison, and Tate in San Antonio assisted with legal
services for this project. This program is available to eligible nonprofits at this time.
The website at
www.nonprofitbenefits.org provides complete information about the insurance
benefits. The
program is described in the attached
Power Point presentation. For more information, contact Rose Mary Fry, Texas
Nonprofit Management Assistance Network, at (210) 558-2845 or email at
rmfry@txnetwork.org.
Nonprofit Online Library Catalog
 During
the last year, the Texas Nonprofit Management Assistance Network has worked
with nine of its members with library services to implement the Nonprofit
Online Library Catalog. The Network’s Executive Director Rose Mary Fry raised
the project funding from private foundations. She said, “By working with our
members, we can increase the level of library services available to nonprofits
throughout Texas. Our members provide specialized nonprofit research and
general information libraries for individuals and nonprofit organizations. It
makes sense for library patrons to be able to search their local libraries
catalog online.” Once this project is completed, they can search the catalog of
their local nonprofit library as well as the other eight libraries
participating in this project. This project will also allow library patrons to
borrow library resources from the other nonprofit libraries. Again, the goal is
to increase convenience for the library patron and to expand the number of
resources available to new and established nonprofits in Texas.
The participating
libraries include: El Paso: Center for Civic Engagement at the University of El
Paso, Fort Worth: Funding Information Center of Fort Worth, Houston: Management
Assistance Program at the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast, Laredo: Nonprofit
Management & Volunteer Center, City of Laredo, Midland: Nonprofit Service
Center at the Permian Basin Area Foundation, San Antonio: Nonprofit Resource
Center of Texas, Tyler: Nonprofit Development Center of the United Way of
Tyler/Smith County, and Wichita Falls: Nonprofit Management Center of Wichita
Falls.
Project funding
was provided by the Kronkosky Foundation in San Antonio, the SBC Foundation in
San Antonio, the Swalm Foundation in Houston, The Priddy Foundation in Wichita
Falls, the Washington Mutual Foundation in Seattle, and the Network. For
additional information, please contact Rose Mary Fry, Executive Director of the
Network at (210) 558-2845 or rmfry@txnetwork.org.
Bookmark www.txnetwork.org and the
websites of the participating members. By early April, it’s clear that library
patrons will have a much easier way to locate nonprofit resources.
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Train-the-Trainer/BoardSource Workshops
 The
Network and 18 of its members just completed two BoardSource training programs.
Based in Washington, D.C., BoardSource (formerly the National Center for
Nonprofit Boards) is recognized as the premier provider of board governance
training and resources in the country. 25 Network members and volunteer
consultants were trained in Critical Components of Effective Governance and
Advanced Consulting and Organizational Redesign. These organizations
will utilize the BoardSource materials in workshops in communities throughout
Texas. Thanks to the following funders for support of this project.
Amarillo
- The
Don & Sybil Harrington Foundation
Austin
Houston
-
Houston Texans Foundation
Palacios
San
Antonio
- John
& Florence E. Newman Foundation
- HEB
Grocery Company
- Texas
Nonprofit Network
Seattle
-
Washington Mutual Foundation
If your organization wants to improve its Board Governance skills,
please contact one of the following Network members:
| Amarillo: |
Amarillo
Area Foundation Nonprofit Services Center
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| Austin: |
Center for Community-Based & Nonprofit Organizations at Austin Community
College
Greenlights
for Nonprofit Success
RGK
Center for Philanthropy & Community Service
Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations (TANO)
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| Corpus
Christi:
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Management
Assistance Program at the Volunteer Center of the Coastal Bend
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| Dallas:
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Center
for Nonprofit Management
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| Edinburg: |
Southwest
Border Nonprofit Resource Center
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| Fort
Worth:
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Cornerstone
Assistance Network
Funding
Information Center of Fort Worth
Nonprofit Service
Center of Tarrant County
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| Houston:
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Cultural
Arts Council of Houston/Harris County
MAP, United Way
of the Texas Gulf Coast
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| Jacksonville: |
A
Circle of Ten, Inc.
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| Laredo:
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Nonprofit
Management and Volunteer Center
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| Lubbock:
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Volunteer Center
of Lubbock
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| Midland: |
Nonprofit
Management Center of the Permian Basin
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| San
Antonio:
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Nonprofit
Resource Center of Texas
Texas Nonprofit
Management Assistance Network
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| Tyler: |
Nonprofit
Development Center, United Way of Tyler/Smith County
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| Wichita
Falls:
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Nonprofit
Management Center of Wichita Falls |
As participant
Sarah Jane Rehnborg, Ph.D., Consultant in Volunteerism & Community Service
at the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service said, “BoardSource
provided a high quality trainer with the experience and knowledge level
necessary to work effectively with the caliber of the audience convened by the
Network.” Board governance is a critical part of a nonprofit organization’s
success – schedule a board governance workshop and increase the skills of your
board members. Board membership is a privilege and learning is a part of your
obligation as a board member.
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Circuit Rider Technology Grant
 For
nonprofit organizations, access to technology expertise and equipment is a
requirement for doing business in today's world. Yet for many organizations, it
is difficult to determine practical solutions to technology problems. Based in
San Antonio, the Texas Nonprofit Management Assistance Network received a
$26,480 SBC 2002 Excelerator grant to work with ten nonprofit organizations in
Amarillo, Jacksonville, and Tyler on technology infrastructure projects.
Rene Wilhite,
Technology Manager will work with the three Network members Nonprofit Service
Center at the Amarillo Area Foundation, A Circle of Ten, Inc. in Jacksonville,
and the Nonprofit Development Center at the United Way of Tyler/Smith County to
select ten nonprofits needing assistance with technology infrastructure. He
will visit the ten nonprofit organizations, assess their technology needs, and
help them implement projects involving computer hardware, software, and
networks.
Rose Mary Fry,
Executive Director, says, “This partnership grant is a wonderful way to
leverage the technology expertise of the Network with our Network members in
three Texas communities.” Our members know their nonprofit clients and their
needs; it is a way for Network members to bring technology expertise to their
communities.
For additional
information, please contact Rene Wilhite, Network Technology Manager at
rwilhite@txnetwork.org.
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