Volume VI Issue 9 September 2011
GroundWork group...Strengthening the ability of nonprofits to achieve their missions

Greetings from GroundWork group National CEO John Hrusovsky

Hello Everyone,

My last day with GWg is September 30.  I want to thank all our constituents for allowing me the opportunity to lead GWg for almost six years.  I cannot thank all of you enough for your support, help, guidance and insight as we have built GWg over the last six years.  Thank you!!

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FY 2011 Annual Report to Our Constituents

Fiscal Year 2011 was a great year for GroundWork group. 

We continued to enhance our relationships with all our constituents including the nonprofit organizations we serve, funders, IT professionals and our business partners.

We created the GroundWork group Nonprofit IT Creativity Awards, a special event putting the spotlight directly on nonprofits.  We launched GroundWork group Orange County and continued our expansion efforts to deliver the GWg mission to nonprofits in additional markets nationwide.  We expanded our membership and we implemented a Help Desk to streamline our method of supporting organizations that utilize our services.  

Over the course of FY 2011, we significantly changed GroundWork group.  One year ago, we received approval from the GroundWork group Board of Directors to launch GroundWork group Orange County.  We got it started.  We changed the GWg Board structure and governance.  We took a big risk by expanding into another market, and we've made significant progress in Columbus, in Orange County and in our pursuits to open additional GWg affiliate offices.

Stepping onto the national stage allows us to throw our net wider to engage more IT Professionals from a volunteer perspective and from a business partner perspective.  Additional nonprofits, funders, volunteers and business partners will bring more ideas to the table.  Growth of GWg National will help us be successful in helping nonprofits in Columbus, in Orange County and in additional markets.

We have the opportunity to positively impact more nonprofits in more communities to help them more effectively serve their clients.

In summary, during FY 2011, we –

  • Maintained our focus on great customer service
  • Launched GWg Orange County
  • Created the GWg Nonprofit IT Creativity Awards Event
  • Conducted Our 5thAnnual Central Ohio Nonprofit IT Conference
  • Conducted Our 3rdAnnual GWg Columbus Community of Funders Gathering
  • Expanded our membership
  • Continued our expansion plans

As we look to FY 2012, our Key Objectives include –

  • Continue to enhance our customer service capabilities
  • Focus on Member services
  • Re-evaluate the mission of GroundWork group and enhance our offerings to better support our mission
  • Conduct our 2ndAnnual GWg Columbus Nonprofit IT Creativity Awards Event
  • Conduct our 6thAnnual Central Ohio Nonprofit IT Conference
  • Conduct our 4thAnnual GWg Columbus Community of Funders Gathering
  • Conduct our Inaugural GWg Orange County Nonprofit IT Conference
  • Conduct our Inaugural GWg Orange County Nonprofit IT Creativity Awards Event
  • Continue our expansion plans

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"Is The Cloud Right For You?" GWg 6th Annual Central Ohio Nonprofit IT Conference

 

ONLINE REGISTRATION IS OPEN

Are you in a fog about "The Cloud"?

We feature workshops to...

  • Increase your understanding of cloud computing
  • Dig in depth to further your current usage of "the cloud"
  • Demonstrate how cloud computing can benefit your nonprofit
  • Share many ways your nonprofit can implement cloud computing
  • Connect you with tools and resources to get started

Come hear keynote addresses from two of Columbus's top IT planners:

"Technology is the Easy Part: Becoming a High Performance Organization" - Kathy Starkoff, CIO, The Ohio State University

"What To Do: Modernizing Your Core Infrastructure"- Sehul Patel, Director of IT, The Buckeye Ranch

Come learn what's new in Fundraising and Technology Planning.

Join the panel discussion on How to Get the Most out of Social Media.

Win end-of-day raffle items such as flat screen monitors, Apple® iPad® 2 tablets, office supplies, Micro Center gift certificates, MindLeaders series licenses and more!

Join us for our low-cost conference dedicated to increasing technology capacity for nonprofit organizations.  Enjoy plenty of networking opportunities throughout the day!  Please visit our conference page for full details on all the day's activities.

Cost: $65 for GroundWork group Full Members; $80 for Associate Members; $100 for Non-Members/Corporate; $25 for Students in a degree-earning program.

REGISTER NOW

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Charitable Ventures of Orange County Partners with GWg OC

Charitable Ventures of Orange County (CVOC), as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and GroundWork group Orange County (GWg OC) are working together to implement an integrated Information Management System to assist CVOC in supporting and growing its mission.

CVOC provides a needed resource to emerging nonprofit organizations in the community.  CVOC maximizes a nonprofit's chances for survival by strategically tapping available resources and completing necessary legal requirements for fundraising.

Why is this important? 

An organization that has nonprofit status and is willing to provide fiduciary support to a potential peer is a large part of "fiscal sponsorship."  Grant applications, soliciting and accepting tax-deductible donations, maintaining records and auditing are some fundamental benefits of this "big brother" relationship.  It helps perfect infrastructures with administrative support before applying for tax-exempt status. 

In addition to assisting with fiscal sponsorship, CVOC provides an array of accounting and capacity-building services.  From evaluation planning to grant and proposal writing to marketing and strategic planning to shared space collaboration, CVOC is a rare community resource.  It provides specific training on how to run a charitable organization according to sound nonprofit business principles.

CVOC capacity-building activities help raise the standard of business practice so that more time and energy are focused on missions versus operations.  This support is tailored to each program's needs and includes linking agencies with appropriate technical assistance.

GWg OC is working behind the scenes with CVOC, creating a specialized information management system that oversees many sublevel projects and their clients.  GWg OC has simplified accountability, providing a reporting feature that tracks donations and tax-deductible receipts.  This assists in making the incubation stage for nonprofit organizations seamless.

GWg OC's fresh new model of support has quickly become invaluable to the Orange County community. Our organization is proud to help CVOC in achieving their mission.

To learn more about CVOC and to view their partner organizations visit their website, www.charitableventuresoc.org,or to better understand how GWg OC can help your organization, visit www.groundworkgroup.org or drop us a line at InfoOC@groundworkgroup.org.

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Member Spotlight: Ohio Literacy Network


From left to right: John Hrusovsky, GWg CEO; Lisa Larson, OLN Volunteer; Marcelita Haskins, WOSU Pubic Media Director of Educational Services; Alan Toops, OLN Executive Director; and Wendy Ciehanski

Ohio Literacy Network (OLN) won the 2011 GWg Nonprofit IT Creativity Award for Service Delivery, among a slate of 24 nominees.  OLN was recognized for integrating technology into all aspects of their service delivery, including mobile computing, research & development, advanced data security and service delivery continuity planning.  The award event honored nonprofits for the innovative and meaningful ways in which they are leveraging Information Technology to support their business functions to help them effectively and efficiently achieve the goals of their missions.  This is the third in a series of articles featuring one of the winning nonprofits and their programs in our eNews each month.

In August 2008, OLN initiated a significant organizational refocus to better support busy adult learners by providing them free, 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week education options for GED prep and workplace skills development.  OLN's eLearning website and strategic partnerships provide learners access to educational resources on multiple platforms and mobile devices statewide via: PBS and cable stations/websites, streaming videos, local literacy programs, libraries and community computing centers.

Prior to this organizational redesign, they provided resources primarily to 200 local adult education programs. Their current service delivery model enables them to serve more than 33,000 users per year with their hotline, referral directory, eLearning site and delivery partner network.  This is one example of how OLN's new delivery model is making a difference across Ohio.  Each year their eLearning website receives an average of 400,000 hits and supports 33,000 new and repeat users.

Established in 1987, the Ohio Literacy Network is committed to building Ohio's workforce by strengthening adult and family literacy education.  OLN promotes awareness of adult literacy issues and needs, serves as a clearinghouse for the exchange of literacy information, and encourages collaborative literacy efforts to maximize the impact of funds available to address literacy needs.

OLN is embarking on an initiative to "re-imagine" literacy in the 21stcentury.  Literacy leaders across Ohio will be invited to collaborate and to explore best practices and new research to build literacy skills and sustain adults and families in today's difficult economic and social climate. 

Get connected – for updates on this initiative plus free 24/7 learning resources, volunteer opportunities, success stories and events, please visit www.ohioliteracynetwork.org, sign up for OLN's newsletter, or call the statewide hotline 800-228-7323 (800-228-READ).

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Developing Abilities – A New Philanthropic Mission in Central Ohio

Developing Abilities Company was started in 2010 with a vision to create a paradigm shift in how jobs are created for people with disabilities through the use of philanthropic intellectual property (IP).  The mission of the organization is to collect donations of IP, apply technical and business filters to such donations, and then distribute the IP to group workcenters who employ people with disabilities or to individuals with disabilities who seek to start a micro-business.

Developing Abilities is pioneering the use of philanthropic IP as a job creation mechanism for people who greatly need assistance and who are often an undervalued and unrecognized segment of our working society.  

This nonprofit effort was started by Peter Apostoluk, a career scientist for Greif in Delaware, Ohio, and the organization consists of volunteer engineers, scientists, legal and business professionals, students, and people from all walks of life. 

Developing Abilities is collecting donations of patents, patentable ideas, trademarks, copyrights, business plans, and know-how that can be commercialized.  For donors who desire a tax deduction, the company has established a qualified donee income reporting mechanism that is compliant with Internal Revenue Code.  All collected IP is deposited into the company's "virtual bank of philanthropic intellectual property" and a value to the IP asset is established.  

To assist in distribution of IP, partnerships with federal, state, and local governments are being pursued, as well as direct solicitation with nonprofit and for profit workcenters, rehabilitation programs and job development efforts.

The scope of disabilities targeted includes, but is not limited to, developmental disabilities, autism, aging, rehabilitation from injury or disease, and wounded warriors.  

To help the mission of Developing Abilities with philanthropic donations of IP, capital funding, or volunteer assistance, please contact Peter Apostoluk at apostoluk@yahoo.com or 219-616-2688.

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Upcoming Education Events – Columbus

GWg Nonprofit IT Forum – Working With Consultants

When:             Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Where:            Jewish Family Services, 1070 College Ave., Columbus, OH 43209
Time:               12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Cost:                None. Pizza and salad lunch provided by the Tony R. Wells Foundation.
RSVP:              Carolyn Green, cgreen@groundworkgroup.org

If you have experience working with consultants, good or bad, please come and share with the group.

If you've never worked with a consultant, it's only a matter of time; come learn how to get the most out of a consultant relationship.

Among the scheduled topics, will be:

  • Preparing for a consultant (define the project, generate commitment, etc.)
  • Selecting and hiring a consultant (RFP's, contracts, oh my!)
  • Consultant Fees (how are they determined, what's reasonable, etc.)
  • Partnering with a consultant (know how best to work with a consultant, learn warning signs of a client-consultant relationship that's headed south)

Joining us, to provide insights from the consultant's perspective, will be:

  • Kameron deVente, Vice President at Navigator Management Partners
  • Galen Bock, Director of Consulting Services at CGI

In keeping with Nonprofit IT Forum practices, neither of these gentlemen has anything to pitch to us.

Both of them have generously donated their time to make us better-informed participants in the client-consultant relationship.

As always, pizza, salad and pop are generously provided by the Tony R. Wells Foundation.
 

GWg Business Productivity Classes – Columbus, OH

What:              Microsoft ® Office 2007 Excel and Word
When:             Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Where:            Franklin University, Dublin Campus, 495 Metro Place South, Room 106, Dublin, OH 43017
Time:               8:30 – 11:30 a.m. – Introduction to Excel 2007
                        11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Lunch on your own
                        12:30 – 3:30 p.m. – Introduction to Word 2007
Cost:                Per Class: $35/Full Members; $45/Associate Members; $55/Non-Members and Corporate
RSVP:              Carolyn Green, cgreen@groundworkgroup.org

Introduction to Microsoft ® Excel 2007

Does using Excel give you butterflies? Not anymore. Our beginner Excel 2007 course is a simple, hands-on approach to learning all the Excel basics. Learn how to manipulate worksheets, format data, create simple formulas, size columns and rows, use relative and absolute references, sort data effectively, create basic charts, and proof and save excel workbooks.

Introduction to Microsoft ® Word 2007

Microsoft® Word is an excellent tool for creating professional looking documents, newsletters, flyers, etc. to help your organization.  Learn how to format your document, use templates, insert images, edit your document and more!  This course is great for beginners who want to learn what all Word can do for you. 
 

Increase CDC Event – Columbus, OH

Calling all small business owners, partners, supporters, corporate managers, service providers and government agencies!  Don't miss the opportunity to REJUVENATE your business at the 2011 Entrepreneurs Conference & Expo on October 6thsponsored by Fifth Third Bank.  Visit www.increasecdc.org/conference.

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Upcoming Education Events – Orange County

GWg OC Seminar – Orange County, CA

SAVE THE DATE!

What:              Board Connection
When:             Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Info:                InfoOC@groundworkgroup.org

Calling all IT Professionals – mark your calendar for November 9, 2011! There are thousands of nonprofits in Orange County. Technology plays an important role at all of these nonprofits. And they require board leadership - especially in technology - to change and strengthen our communities. If you are an IT professional, YOU can play a vital role.

What do you need to know before serving on a nonprofit board? What are the unique IT issues faced by nonprofits? How do you get involved?

IT Professionals interested in serving the community as Board Members, join OneOC and GroundWork group Orange County for an informational 3-hour seminar on becoming a board member.

This interactive seminar engages participants on the following topics:

  • The nonprofit sector: background including size, revenues, employment, volunteerism and charitable giving data, types of nonprofits, IRS designations and facts about 501(c)(3) charities
  • Facts about Orange County boards
  • Characteristics of boards at different organizational lifecycle stages
  • Board responsibilities – legal and contextual
  • Individual board member responsibilities – including detail on boards and fundraising
  • Sources of revenue for nonprofit organizations
  • IT challenges faced by nonprofits
  • How to take a strategic approach to technology, utilize tools to help nonprofits
  • Reinforce technology strategies as a key to reducing total cost of ownership and enhancing a nonprofit's ability to expand capacity
  • Refresher for Current Board Members

Review the efforts and contexts of nonprofits with Julie Holdaway, Director, Training and Leadership, OneOC and Gene Elias, CEO, GWg OC. Julie brings extensive years of consulting and nonprofit management experience, and Gene brings technology expertise and a unique perspective of IT in the nonprofit sector. Send your current board members for a refresher session on what's new in board management. Understand the roles and responsibilities of boards. Reframe your board's efforts, from rubber stamping to action oriented. Come share your experience and insights with us and take back to your board.

For more information, send a note to InfoOC@groundworkgroup.org.

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