May 5th Genesis Discovery Tour: Utica Fire Department

The Genesis Group of the Mohawk Valley Region
Join us for a Genesis Discovery Tour to:
UTICA FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING CENTER
1350 Bleecker Street, Utica
www.uticafire.com/training

Tuesday May 5th - 5:00pm

"Discover how men and women from across New York State are training to become firefighters right here in Utca."
The tour is FREE and ALL are welcome to attend including,
Students, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts & Volunteer Fire Departments

For reservations, contact Genesis Executive Director Ray Durso, Jr., by
calling 792-7187 or by email, info@thegenesisgroup.org

More tours are being planned including a tour of “New Life in the Historic the Brewery District! – May 27th”

Thank you for your interest!

Ray Durso, Jr.
Executive Director

Nonprofit Economic Impact Program: Ideas and Next Steps

The Group held their recent program meeting last Wed, April 29th, which was generously hosted by Rescue Mission. The meeting featured a panel discussion about economic impact was attended by over 25 participants. The panel featured:

• David Mathis, Director of Workforce Development
• Frank Elias, Executive Director of Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce
• Margaret O'Shea, CEO of The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, Inc.
• Rick Sebastian, CEO of Human Technologies Corporation
• Ron Thiele, Executive Director of CNY Arts/Stanley Center for the Arts

The discussion was truly relevant and drew the attention of The Observer-Dispatch and WKTV, which both featured stories (WKTV story and OD print story). The questions (posted below) resulted in an insightful and dynamic conversation around the need for nonprofits to better communicate their impact and have a more open and collaborative discussion on the topic. As one panelist related, nonprofits can't run away from the idea of making a profit. Nothing is free and there is always a bottom-line. Nonprofits need to be clear about this cost and be viable and sustainable and state their impact.

One of the first points the panel addressed was the idea of an economic impact study for the two-county region. There was agreement in the value of such a study, and the need for it to include the financials and quality of life pieces. Peggy O'Shea related a Michigan nonprofit study, which revealed the significant contributions nonprofits make, including making up 10% of employment in the State. There was agreement that a study of the local region or across NYS could be invaluable.

The discussion continued with a key point made about how nonprofits can say they create wealth. How do nonprofit communicate in terminology and concepts that everyone understands? More importantly, how do nonprofits change the perception that they are taking away from the community? There is an attitude that if an organization isn't making money, it isn't contributing. But this isn't the case. Nonprofits are making money. For example, Ron Thiele related that the arts have a $118 million impact on the region. Take a look at the study the Central NY Community Arts Council carried out in 2002.

The discussion also focused on the need for action, and a couple of ideas were offered. One was to pick a central issue, such as health care, and collect the numbers from nonprofits (and possibly for profit companies) and lobby for change at the local and State levels. Another idea was to raise the visibility of nonprofits and their accomplishments by attending more legislature meetings. As one panelist related, nonprofits need to be speaking with government not just when there are problems or issues, but on a regular basis.

The panel agreed that there is no question about the impact of nonprofits. As one panelist mentioned, just look at inner city Utica and the buildings developed and utilized by nonprofits. The key is for nonprofits to assess what they do, and communicate their mission in terms of impact. For example, an organization should be able to say for every dollar, their impact is (fill in the blank). And if they can't communicate their impact, they may need to think about collaborations or even a merger to strengthen the organization.

Peggy O'Shea summed up the end of the meeting with a great overview of how nonprofits impact each of our lives. Her example of a young boy related how in the course of one day, his life was touched by nonprofits. From the clothing to art classes to the library to visiting a relative in a nursing home, nonprofits surround us all. As Tim Trent stated: They are the "life sector of the community." Nonprofits are not just about life in the community, they are the life of the community.

SURVEY DATA: The Economic Impact Survey Summary is available here. The data collected so far offers a beginning definition of the impact of the nonprofit community in Oneida and Herkimer Counties. For nonprofits who have not completed the survey, click here to add your data.

Feedback about the program was collected and is available to review here. The consensus was that the program was a valuable discussion, but actionable steps need to be taken now. Some participants suggested looking at the upcoming June 12th Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce legislators' breakfast as an opportunity.

Agree or disagree with this feedback? Want to share your thoughts? Post them here.

Panel Discussion Questions:

• 1) How do you define economic impact? How would you define the economic impact of nonprofits? Could we help nonprofits by better educating the public about their economic impact in the community?
• 2) Do you think there is value in nonprofits carrying out an economic impact study and would this information be helpful to your organization?
• 3) Have you encountered the attitude that nonprofits take funding from the community rather than giving back? How can nonprofits showcase the ways in which they generate more money for the community?
• 4) In the area of economic development and business attraction/retention, why are nonprofits not included in discussions of economic development (such as those run by EDGE)?
• 5) How can nonprofits position themselves as a vital part of the community and an asset rather than a burden?

Communicate Your Economic Impact Statement

The American Association of Museums has created a online form that will send out an e-mail communicating a museum's economic impact to political officials. The form asks for information, which is then translated into the letter template below. A simple and easy way for a nonprofit to get the word out about their economic impact on the region. Take a look at the questions here. Is this something that nonprofits in Oneida and Herkimer could use? Share your thoughts here.


Message Preview
[Your information will be inserted here]
Prefix Firstname Lastname
123 Street AddressMyCity, St 12345

April 28, 2009
[The Official's information will appear here]
The Honorable Firstname Lastname
123 Street Address
Washington, DC 12345

Dear [Official's Title and Name will be inserted here]:I am writing to express my disappointment about a recent amendment (S. Amendment. No. 309, offered by Sen. Tom Coburn) barring any museums, zoos, and aquariums from receiving any funds through the economic stimulus bill.

Museums employ more than a half-million Americans, spend an estimated $14.5 billion annually, and rank among the top three family vacation destinations. In fact, visitors to cultural and heritage destinations stay 53% longer and spend 36% more money than other kinds of tourists. Unfortunately, the economic downturn has forced museums to struggle just to maintain essential services.

I would like to provide for you a Community and Economic Impact Statement for my institution, the [UserField3]:
- [UserField3] employs [MergeField1] people in our community;
- Each year, [UserField3] spends $[MergeField2] on goods and services in our community;
- [UserField3] serves [MergeField3] visitors each year, including [MergeField4]% from out of town;
- [UserField3] serves [MergeField5] schoolchildren each year through school visits to museums;
- Admission fee: [MergeField6].

Museums are also critical partners to school districts. Many work with school districts to both train educators and help teach the curriculum. Many offer after-school programs for at-risk youth. Zoos and aquariums have tremendous public benefit for environmental education and wildlife conservation.

Please consider the economic impact that museums, zoos, and aquariums have on our community. They are in fact economic engines and a vital part of our nation's educational infrastructure, and will be critical in the economic recovery of cities and localities.I look forward to hearing your views on this issue.

Sincerely,
[Your name will appear here.]

Nonprofit ED Group Program Reminder

The Oneida and Herkimer Nonprofit Executive Directors Group will be meeting on Wed, April 29th. The program, Impact of Nonprofit Businesses on the Local Economy, will feature a panel discussing and helping defining economic impact. The panel includes:

• David Mathis, Director of Workforce Development
• Frank Elias, Executive Director of Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce
• Margaret O'Shea, CEO of The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, Inc.
• Matthew D. Babcock, JD, FACHE, Chief Operating Officer of St. Elizabeth Medical Center
• Rick Sebastian, CEO of Human Technologies Corporation
• Ron Thiele, Executive Director of CNY Arts/Stanley Center for the Arts

The panel will discuss the following questions:
1) How do you define economic impact? How would you define the economic impact of nonprofits? Could we help nonprofits by better educating the public about their economic impact in the community?
2) Do you think there is value in nonprofits carrying out an economic impact study and would this information be helpful to your organization?
3) Have you encountered the attitude that nonprofits take funding from the community rather than giving back? How can nonprofits showcase the ways in which they generate more money for the community?
4) In the area of economic development and business attraction/retention, why are nonprofits not included in discussions of economic development (such as those run by EDGE)?
5) How can nonprofits position themselves as a vital part of the community and an asset rather than a burden?

A follow up from the program will be posted shortly.

Funding cuts offer opportunity

The OD reported that anticipating a projected increase in uncollectable pledges from individuals and corporate donors, officials from the United Way of the Valley & Greater Utica area announced Monday that the agency plans to reduce some of its current program agreements and the funding for some of its upcoming awards by 20 percent beginning July 1.

United Way Executive Director Philip N. Hayne said the agency has encouraged organizations receiving money from United Way to get rid of duplication and seek ways to economize and partner with other groups in the community if possible.

With nonprofit fundraising efforts increasingly competing with each other and funders across the nation projecting future reductions in grants, nonprofits need to give serious consideration to new ways of doing business and supporting their mission. Now is the time to look at increasing capacity with new partnerships. For example, is there an opportunity for organizations to share backroom operations? Could organizations implement joint fundraisers? Should some nonprofits consider collaborating more closely or even merging with another organization?

There is no easy solution, but with any challenge comes an opportunity to rethink the nonprofit's usual reaction.

Economy prompting regional cooperation

The Utica OD reported that recent conversations are focusing on regional cooperation, according to Rome Mayor James Brown said Wednesday during a visit with the O-D Editorial Board.

And the economy is shining the flashlight, he said.

Ideas about consolidation and a willingness to work together might have existed before, but the current state of the economy seems to be forcing efforts to become more serious, Brown said.

“There’s a glimmer there,” he said.

A two-hour meeting on Jan. 26 with Brown, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, Utica Mayor David Roefaro and officials from the city of Sherrill serves as an example of consolidation initiatives that have started to move forward, Brown said.
But real change will require more than just officials, he said.

Residents of Upstate New York need to ban together and create a voice that will bring more attention to economic development and other upstate issues, Brown said.

The kind of regional unity that fought the proposed New York Regional Interconnect power line could make a real difference on other issues often ignored by downstate officials, he said.
“If we had a force like that, maybe we could be listened to,” Brown said.

During a later phone interview, Picente said he agrees that the economy is pushing the need for consolidation and cooperation to the forefront.

Picente said he talks regularly with Brown and Roefaro, but even more communication is needed. And following the Jan. 26 meeting, Picente has been looking into possible consolidation in the areas of law enforcement, technology, purchasing and tax collection, he said.

Taxpayers banding together to push for the consolidation would help with the efforts that “we need now more than ever,” Picente said. An effective consolidation that saves money needs to take place before the end of the year, he said.“I think we’re heading down that path,” he said. “But I think people need to realize – it’s a lot more than flipping the switch and making it happen.”

Upcoming Genesis Events: Save the Date

April 25th - 9:00am, Clean & Green Initiative, (various locations around the region)
May 14th - 12:00pm, Regional Healthcare Recognition at Hotel Utica (nominations at Genesis website)
May 21st - 7:30am, Genesis General Meeting

For more information, visit our website at www.thegenesisgroup.org