Panera Bread teams up to help Care and Share Food Bank

Panera Bread is rolling out a line of new breakfast sandwiches, and, in the process, hopes to help fill up the shelves at the Care and Share Food Bank of Southern Colorado. Starting Friday, June 20, Panera Bread will launch a line of grilled breakfast sandwiches in Colorado Springs and around the state. Through June 29, Panera customers who donate a non-perishable breakfast item to Care and Share will receive a free breakfast sandwich. Panera has three varieties of its new breakfast sandwiches: egg and cheese; bacon, egg and cheese; and sausage, egg and cheese. Breads of the World, a Panera franchisee, owns and operates 22 Panera Bread locations in Colorado, including four in Colorado Springs. More information: www.panera-colorado.com.

Board members being hit up for donations, survey says

More than half of nonprofits require financial contributions from board members, a trend expected to become increasingly more commonplace, according to a study released earlier this year by Grant Thornton LLP, an accounting, tax and business advisory company.
Results of the fifth annual National Board Governance Survey for Not-for-Profit Organizations show that 54 percent of nonprofit organizations that have an annual budget of less than $20 million expect board members to contribute $1,000 or less annually, 20 percent expect a contribution of $1,001 to $2,500, 12 percent a contribution of $2,501 to $5,000, and 14 percent a contribution of $5,001 or more.
The study concludes that more organizations use a "give or get" policy for board members, in which they're asked to contribute personally and/or solicit contributions from their friends and contacts in order to remain on the board.

Kaiser awards local grants

Kaiser Permanente approved nearly 300 Community Benefit grants and donations totaling $19 million nationwide in the first quarter of this year, the nonprofit health care insurer said.
Locally, Kaiser awarded nearly $100,000 in the first grant cycle of the year to:
Urban Peak's female health program for teens
Harbor House
El Paso County Medical Society Prescription Assistance Solution Service
Pikes Peak Hospice
Ronald McDonald House
Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center
Inside/Out's STD/HIV prevention program
Head Start's childhood obesity program
Girl Scouts' local health and wellness intiative
Colorado Springs Child Nursery Centers' health and nutrition program
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and the Sheriff's Department to purchase electronic defibrillators.

Peak Vista expands with new Family Health Center

Peak Vista Community Health Centers recently hosted an open house for its newest Family Health Center at 225 S. Union Blvd.

The 34,000-square-foot building has been renovated from a former school into a medical facility with 48 exam rooms, a pharmacy, lab, well-child waiting area, registration center and a health education area.

Peak Vista also expanded hours at its Harrison School District 2 Entrada Health Center a few months ago and last summer opened a Family Health Center at the Myron Stratton Home.

The nonprofit organization established in 1971 operates 12 health centers in El Paso and Teller counties, offering primary medical, dental and behavioral health services to 53,000 low-income residents a year. The organization has immediate openings for employment at several of its locations.

2008 Nonprofit Day March 6

The Center for Nonprofit Excellence in Colorado Springs will host the 2008 Nonprofit Day on March 6 at the Colorado Springs Marriott Hotel, 5580 Tech Center Drive.

The event offers educational seminars on nonprofit practices, networking opportunities and about 25 local exhibitors.

The keynote speaker is Dr. Joseph Michelli, a local psychologist and author, who will discuss how nonprofits can get past everyday challenges and put the "wow" back into organizations.

A panel discussion with representatives from five foundations will emphasize what funders consider when making funding decisions. The foundations/companies are Agilent Technologies, Bee Vradenburg Foundation, Boettcher Foundation, El Pomar Foundation and Pikes Peak United Way. Vicki Dimond of Springs Style Magazine will present "Media and Marketing Tips for Your Nonprofit." Participants also can learn about the Standards for Excellence program.

For more information, see http://www.cnecoloradosprings.org/.

Two local residents win volunteer grants

Two El Paso County residents received grants from the Prudential Foundation and Prudential Financial, in honor of their volunteer service, to pass on to their chosen charities.

Randy L. Reynolds, a broker associate with Prudential Professional Realtors, received a $1,000 grant, which he donated to Junior Achievement. Reynolds donated 200 volunteer hours to Junior Achievement in 2006, teaching students about finance and entrepreneurship.

Jacqueline Youmans, a Prudential Financial retiree from Colorado Springs, received a $1,000 grant, which she donated to Easter Seals of Southern Colorado. She volunteered 200 hours to Easter Seals, which included coordinating a minor league baseball game, wrapping gifts during the holidays and working at bi-weekly bingo games.

The program provided $461,000 volunteer grants to 444 nonprofits worldwide. Grants range from $250 to $5,000 and recognize team and individual efforts of at least 40 hours of volunteer service per person.

The safety check before joining a nonprofit board

Many business people are asked to join a nonprofit organization's board of directors. Here are some key issues to consider beforehand, from Marks Paneth & Shron, a New York accounting firm with extensive nonprofit experience.

1) Do you know the nonprofit board's real mission? And are you fully aware of the duty of care, obedience and loyalty you will be subject to?

2) Did you receive and review the nonprofit board's packet that contains bylaws, descriptions of committees and functions and charter information. Review the materials before you make your decision about joining.

3) Does the organization have a whistleblower's policy? There should be a confidential way for organization employees to bring up and discuss matters regarding management indiscretion and other problems.

4) Does the organization carry a directors and officers insurance policy? This is important to protect you and other board members from unforeseen lawsuits and judgments.

5) Are there conflict of interest guidelines? You should know what constitutes a conflict of interest so you can both monitor and have input over other board members' activities and make judgments about your own.

6) What's the tone at the top of the board? Is there too much focus on connections and personal networking to fulfill the mission and make sound decisions?

7) How does paid management carry out its fiduciary responsibilities? If the executive director or other staff members have override over the board, proceed with extreme caution. Beware if management doesn't provide periodic internal audit statements.

8) By expanding the board, is the nonprofit going for quantity over quality? Since board members usually give, there's real incentive to expand a board. Is the quality of members and their insights high?

9) Is the board just a powerless group of donors, rather than a body with serious impact? It's important to decide if one wants to be part of a board if the real power and traditional board responsibility rests solely with the executive committee.

American Numismatic Association begins search for new director

The American Numismatic Association, headquartered in Colorado Springs, is accepting applications for a new executive director to replace its former executive director who was fired in October.
Resumes are due by Jan. 11 to the board president, Barry Stuppler, barry@stuppler.com.

The coin collecting association with 32,000 members is looking for candidates who have knowledge of and interest in coin collecting and at least five years of management experience.
The new executive director will head an organization facing several lawsuits, an operating budget deficit and a membership that in July voted out all incumbent members of its board.

Rocky Mountain Community Land Trust fundraiser on Thursday

The 11th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser for the Rocky Mountain Community Land Trust takes place 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at Colorado College's Bemis Hall, northwest of Cache La Poudre Street and Cascade Avenue in Colorado Springs. Classic Cos.' Jack Howard will give a welcome address and Comcast public relations official Sandra Mann will be mistress of ceremonies. The suggested donation is $25; a buffet and refreshments are provided for attendees. Sponsors include Classic, Comcast and Air Academy Federal Credit Union. More information: 447-9300. The non-profit Rocky Mountain Community Land Trust provides affordable housing opportunities for limited-income families in Colorado Springs and El Paso County through home ownership with families and collaborations with other non-profits.

Nonprofits invited to apply for grants

Grant applications are being accepted for the 14th annual Wells Fargo Community Assistance Fund.

Wells Fargo will contribute $260,000 to an estimated 200 qualified community-based nonprofit organizations. The average grant ranges from $500 to $1,500. Eligible organizations must be certified 501C(3) and have an annual budget of $350,000 or less.

Applications, available at all Wells Fargo stores throughout the state, are due June 29.
Last year, Wells Fargo donated $4.2 million to community groups around the state.