This morning, Congressman Jim Cooper gave a presentation to Middle Tennessee nonprofit CEOs on how health care reform will impact local agencies. The Center is grateful to the Congressman and his staff for coordinating this event! The Congressman and his legislative aide, Elizabeth Falcone referenced documents that will offer additional information on the bill. Click here to view the information referenced during today’s session.

Based on the large turn out we had for the event CNM hosted with Congressman Cooper in March, I thought this would be of interest to area nonprofits. The Chronicle of Philanthropy in their blog roundup, highlights a nonprofit consultant’s thoughts on stimulus funding. Click on the link in the headline to view the full post, with comments:

Words of Caution for Small Charities Looking for Stimulus Money
As the recession dampens giving from private sources and local governments, more charities are looking to the federal stimulus package as a possible source of desperately needed support. But before sticking their hands in the federal cookie jar, grass-roots group should make sure they are not reaching for more than they can chew, writes Ken Goldstein on his Nonprofit Consultant Blog.

Mr. Goldstein urges charities to weigh not only the short-term but the long-term impact on their revenue, and whether they are big enough to handle the project they propose.

“Most of these stimulus programs are not designed for grass-roots organizations; they pretty much require large structures, with already large budgets, and the capacity to take on new projects without much additional overhead,” he write. “Seriously, if you have an annual budget of only $500,000 you should not be looking at a grant for $300,000/year for only two years, and with only 5 percent allowed for administration.”

Today, CNM hosted an event on the 2009 Stimulus Package in collaboration with Congressman Jim Cooper. Here is CNM President Lewis Lavine’s summary of this morning’s informative session:

Jim Cooper, Congressman for the 5th District in Nashville, spent a constructive hour with local nonprofit leaders this morning. Accompanied by nearly all his local staff, he explained the pros and cons of both the Stimulus Package passed by the Congress and the Omnibus Bill currently being debated.

The bottom line for nonprofits is that there is no rainbow here, no pot of money to solve our current budget difficulties. Stimulus funds, while massive on a national level, are break down quickly. One-third of the “funds” consist of tax reductions. Other large pieces of the pie are passing through traditional channels to schools, highway construction, and other uses.

Continue reading ‘CNM President Summarizes Event with Congressman Cooper’

If you are like me, you are wondering what the passage of the stimulus package will mean to Nashville, specifically the nonprofit community. To help inform the community, CNM has set up an event with Congressman Jim Cooper on Monday, March 9 at 9:30 a.m. Rep. Cooper will offer insight into how dissemination of the funding works, how to gain access to it and general guidance on the items included that may impact the nonprofit community.  Join Congressman Jim Cooper and the Center for Nonprofit Management at the Nashville Public Library for this free and informative event! Click here to register.