Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental health and wellbeing is important. Go ahead and take a moment…

Growing Partnerships

In conversations with funders over the last few years, there’s been a common thread of them wanting to support capacity-building at nonprofit organizations – helping nonprofits build the management skills and practices to operate and govern their organizations efficiently and sustainability. This has evolved into several partnerships through which funders sponsor a group of their grantees to become Center members, participate in the Center’s Nonprofit Management Institute (NPMI), and work individually with an experienced nonprofit coach to create and execute a workplan built on results of each organization’s NPMI management assessment. We acknowledge and thank Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, North Carolina Partnership for Children, The Camber Foundation, and Truist Foundation for their investment in and commitment to their nonprofit partners and our statewide nonprofit community.

In a similar thread, we acknowledge and appreciate the City of Raleigh for supporting Triangle nonprofits along their EDI journeys. Through their investment, ten nonprofit leaders joined the Center’s EDI Roundtables for Nonprofit Executives through which they designed actionable steps to integrate EDI principles into their organizations’ operations and cultures.

AI Rising

The idea of artificial intelligence (AI) has been around for decades. But recently, discussions around ethics and regulations on its application have grown exponentially. According to Salesforce’s 2023 Nonprofit Trends Report, “[77% of] Nonprofits – traditionally rooted in human-centric values, practices, and relationships – are now peeking into the world of AI with a mix of optimism, curiosity, and a healthy dose of reservation.”

In many ways, organizations are already using AI to do things like automate tasks, analyze data, create content, and engage with clients and supporters. So it may not be as big of a leap as you’d think for organizations to tap into more benefits of AI. Among the plethora of resources and guidance to help nonprofits do it well:

• Careful integration following defined protocols and organizational policies can ensure that your nonprofit is using AI ethically and responsibly, as well as lay a solid groundwork for growing AI applications.
• Training and supporting your staff will help them better understand why and how AI integrates into your operations and enhances your work.

Sharing Is Caring

We’re looking for energetic leaders, practitioners, and experts to share your knowledge, strategies, and lessons learned with hundreds of nonprofit professionals this fall! Submit a proposal to lead a session during the 2024 Conference for North Carolina’s Nonprofits on October 22-23 in Research Triangle Park. Learn more about the session criteria and selection process and submit your proposal by June 10.

Meet Board Nominees

After amazing nominations (thank you!) and careful vetting by our board nominations committee, we’re pleased to present the board nominees for the Center's 2024-25 board of directors. We invite you to learn more about their experience, leadership, and nonprofit perspectives.

Board elections open on May 23. Center members get one vote per organization. If you’re the designated voting contact for your organization, keep an eye out for the email invitation. If you need to designate or update your contact, let us know.

Changes Coming to Overtime Pay

The U.S. Labor Department (DOL) recently released its new rules on the salary threshold increases for overtime pay. Long story short, nonprofits need to prepare for: July 1, 2024 when employees earning less than $43,888 per year are entitled to overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours per week; and January 1, 2025 when the salary threshold increases to $58,656 for overtime pay. Many nonprofits have voiced moral support but operational anxiety about the new rule.

To help ease some of this anxiety, we put together key details about the new rule including how the salary thresholds may affect NC nonprofits, compliance options, and next steps to consider as your organization prepares. You can also listen in on last week’s webinar and Q&A with nonprofits.

While these changes have nonprofits focused on how they’ll comply, they should also think through the tough HR decisions and conversations with their employees. Not surprisingly, the changes nonprofits make to their HR policies may significantly affect employee morale. Here are some helpful tips:

• Understand potential compliance options and costs before making any decisions.
• Explain to your staff the new DOL rules, what that means for your organization, how employees will be affected, and the options your organization is considering to comply. Listen to and be prepared to answer questions.
• Have these difficult conversations with staff in person and well before any changes take place.
• Acknowledge and appreciate your employees and their contributions. Let them know these changes are in no way a reflection of that.
• If possible, invite employees to be a part of the decision-making.
• Clearly communicate to each employee, in writing, specific changes to their wages, compensation, and/or hours, and any new or different ways they will track their time. It may also be helpful to provide training.
• Check in with employees regularly to continue to support them and their morale.

What We're Reading

• Protecting your work time may also preserve well-being.
• Nonprofits helped to boost voter turnout by 10% in the last election – our voter education and engagement works!
• Understanding mental health issues and barriers to care that persist among marginalized communities can inform nonprofit programs and advocacy.

Upcoming Training

• Eastern NC Nonprofit Policy Conversation, May 17
• Charlotte Nonprofit Policy Conversation, May 20
• Not-For-Profit Accounting Conference, May 22
• Wooing Ultra Donors: Breaking Moves Management to Secure Big Bucks, May 22
• Customizing Direct Mail Appeals, May 22
• OMB Uniform Guidance: What the Updates Mean for Nonprofits, May 30
• QuickBooks Fundamentals for Desktop, June 4-6
• QuickBooks Fundamentals for Online, June 11-13
• The Trainer Academy (on-demand, 16-session course)
• The Ultimate Grant Proposal Blueprint: Your Step-by-Step Roadmap and Build-It-Yourself Toolkit for Crafting an A+ Proposal (on-demand, 8-session course)
• Bookmark the Nonprofit Calendar for ongoing training and events

Thank You, Supporters!

We appreciate the support of these new businesses in Business Finder, our online directory of businesses and consultants that work specifically with nonprofits. Check them out and learn how to purchase a listing.

Welcome, New Members!

We appreciate the members of our growing nonprofit network. Your support and partnership make it possible for us to educate, connect, and advocate for and with nonprofits across North Carolina.

Members of the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits have full access to training and resources and discounts on additional programs and services.

All NC 501(c)(3) nonprofits can become members.

Current Center Member? Access your benefits or create your account.

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Nonprofit Connections is the monthly newsletter of nonprofit news, trends, and resources from the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits.

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