survey with smaller total staff sizes in
2010 and 2012), but because we kept
the budget size comparison consistent
each year, it’s hard to explain why the
ratio would fluctuate so much.
One thing we gained from breaking
out technology roles in our recent survey was the ability to take a more nuanced look at the staffing levels:
From this we see that:
relatively higher percentage than larger organizations, considering their total staff sizes and in relation to their IT
Staff levels. For example, Very Large
organizations seem to have twice as
many traditional IT Staff positions Web
or Online staff, while Small organizations seem to have about the same level
of Data or Web staff as they do IT Staff.
So, based on this data, we see that the
technology staff, perhaps, in order to
make sure all of the nonprofit techies
were counted -- we’ve seen increases
in reported technology staff, in general, but the reported ratio of tech staff to
org staff is still in question:
Are organizations today made up of
more technology-responsible staff, as a
percentage of total staff, than in previous years?
______________________________
Amy Sample Ward, executive director of
NTEN will be presenting on the full report
and benchmarking tool at the 11th Annual
CT Nonprofits’ Conference on October 29th
at the CT Convention Center in Hartford.
• Traditional IT Staff seems to be the
most-staffed role among organizations
• Smaller organizations staff other
roles -- such as Data or Web staff -- in a
traditional IT staff role is still very well
represented among nonprofit organizations, and in our attempts to be more
inclusive -- to expand the definition of
Future site of CT Nonprofits Center
CT Nonprofits Center:
Our Vision has become a Reality
Grand Opening: January 2014
I
f you joined us at our annual conference
in November of 2011, you heard first hand
about our vision to develop a nonprofit center in Hartford County that would be home
to multiple nonprofits sharing space, resources
and services in order to be more effective in serving their missions. We then publically launched
our plans and vision in the December 2011 edition of the Nonprofit Advantage. We spent the last
two years studying the needs of the nonprofit
sector, identifying and developing an ideal location for the center at 75 Charter Oak Avenue
in Hartford, and recruiting several nonprofits to
join us when the doors open. We are thrilled to
announce that our vision has now become a reality! But we didn’t do this alone and we are just
getting started on creating a dynamic community
that could benefit your nonprofit.
CT Nonprofits launched this initiative in collaboration with the Corporation for Independent
Living (CIL.) CIL is uniquely qualified to ensure
that the nonprofit center is a success. With 34
years of experience identifying sites for the comContinued on next page
Page 14 | Nonprofit Advantage | September 2013
CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF NONPROFITS
CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF NONPROFITS
u
Nonprofit Advantage | September 2013 | Page 15
Nonprofit Center Study Findings:
and can apply a fraction of that
cost to sharing it with other
center members).
Types of Benefits Associated with Nonprofit Centers
Types of Benefits Associated with Nonprofit Centers
Organizational
Efficiencies
Organizational
Effectiveness
Community
Infrastructure
Reduced and more
stable rental costs
Reduced costs
through shared
services and
spaces
Increased
staff
productivity
Increased
organizational
capacity
Increased
knowledge
Increased IT
capacity
Improved
access to
funders
New community
spaces and
opportunities for
civic engagement
Higher quality
space through
new or renovated
facility
Community
access to
technology
Learning and
capacity
building
assets
Improved
quality of
back office
services
New
environmental
and
sustainability
practices
Types of Impacts Associated with Nonprofit Centers
Types of Impacts Associated with Nonprofit Centers
People
plex and specialized needs of nonprofits throughout Connecticut, CIL has an unmatched track record. Founded in
1979, CIL was created to meet the needs of individuals, nonprofit agencies, cities and towns.
CIL’s role in developing the nonprofit center with CT
Nonprofits is to lay the ground work and create the infrastructure necessary to expand both the physical office space
and the administrative services necessary to run a state of
the art facility. CIL will serve as property manager and sole
owner of the facility.
velop a shared vision, study the market to determine if the
needs of the nonprofit sector supported the vision, helped
us evaluate and select a location and are currently working
with us to develop the shared benefits and build a dynamic,
collaborative community within and outside of the walls of
the CT Nonprofits Center.
CT Nonprofits/CIL’s shared vision for The Center in
Hartford, CT will be realized by achieving the following
goals:
• There were 268 respondents with more than 60 of
them as true prospective members for the Center;
• Half of the prospective tenant organizations are
very dissatisfied, dissatisfied or neutral about their
current overall workspace;
• The most important shared benefits the respondents are interested in include: conference rooms,
kitchen/lounge, offices open after normal business
hours, state-of-the-art technology and free parking;
• Respondents were most concerned with security,
losing organizational autonomy and how space
would be scheduled.
What we learned
There are more than 200 documented, intentional nonprofit centers across the nation and many of them belong to
the Nonprofit Center Network, (NCN) a program of Tides
Foundation. Due to the generous support of the Hartford
Foundation for Public Giving, CT Nonprofits secured the
consulting advice of NCN in January of 2012. Over the course
of the last 18 months, NCN has worked with CT Nonprofits
and CIL to conduct a feasibility study. They helped us dePage 16 | Nonprofit Advantage | September 2013
Our market study provided us some valuable insight that
has and will continue to guide us in development of the
Center:
The Nonprofit Center Network’s Impact Assessment
Study: Measuring Collaborations: The Benefits and Impacts
of Nonprofit Centers was the first study to measure the economic, environmental, and community impacts of nonprofit
centers.. (Read the executive summary at www.nonprofitcenters.org/impactstudy.)
Continued on next page
u
CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF NONPROFITS
Improved outcomes
for clients due to
better services and
referrals
Human capital
development
through
participation in
Center activities and
services
Shared Services
• State of the art technology
Place
for conference rooms: White
boards, video conferencing,
Increased social
sound systems, LCD projecEnvironmental
New policies and
Field building and
capital and civic
Society
tors, etc.;
improvements
approaches
knowledge creation
engagement
• Future phases for development include: Shared highspeed internet, phone systems,
copiers, printers, postage machines, technology
Why would a nonprofit want to be a member of a nonservers, portable technology for use outside of the
profit center?
main conference rooms (ie. Laptop/LCD/Screens,
The CT Nonprofits Center will be more than a physical
etc.);
home to multiple nonprofits. It will serve as a community
• Shared reception: An individual to greet your visiresource. Not only will The Center offer below-market,
rent-stable, affordable administrative office space, it will be
tors and meeting attendees;
a hub for non-tenants in need of amenities such as shared
• Back-end Office Services: It is CT Nonprofits’
office/administrative services, technology and rental space
intention to develop (and partner) to provide administrative services to both members of the center
to convene groups for the community.
and nonprofits in the general community in the
future.
Anticipated Center Benefits
There are many tangible and intangible benefits to joining
a nonprofit center as noted in the chart above. CT Nonprofits is currently seeking funding from community investors
Our market study provided
to help provide resources (such as technology, staffing and
us some valuable insight
furniture) for the Center so nonprofits may focus their budget dollars on their missions and operational versus capital
that has and will continue
expenditures. CT Nonprofits Center members will enjoy:
Revitalization of
surrounding area
Aerial view of the two-building, 86,000 sq. ft. campus
1. Provide high quality, affordable workspace and
services for nonprofit organizations in the region;
2. Foster innovative collaborations to better serve the
community;
3. Enhance the efficiency of nonprofit organizations;
4. Elevate visibility and awareness of the nonprofit
sector. Increased numbers
served due to greater
access
Shared Space
• 2-3 large conference rooms
(up to 50 people with 2 of them
combined for event space);
• 1-2 small conference rooms;
• Shared reception space (for
all visitors to the Center);
• Shared kitchen, employee
lounge and street access for
catering;
• Shared common spaces
(welcoming and inviting space
with comfortable furniture
for guests and employees as
well as inspiring art on display
from local nonprofit arts organizations).
Amenities provide
enhanced quality of
life
Increased revenues
for surrounding
retailers
• Below market rental rates of $13/sq foot inclusive
of all operational costs (included: security, parking, utilities, janitorial, etc.);
• Fixed rental rates for the term of your lease with
CIL (no built in annual rent escalations);
• A reduced footprint and budget by sharing space
(example, if you have a kitchen, reception area and
conference room, you are likely paying rent per
month for about 1,000 square feet of space. If you
share this space you will save $13,000 annually
CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF NONPROFITS
Fiscal benefits to the
community
to guide us in development
of the Center.
Additional Benefits
• Professional development workshops and special
events designed for members of the Center;
• A collaborative environment, both facilitated/intentional and natural;
Continued on next page
u
Nonprofit Advantage | September 2013 | Page 17
Nonprofit Center Study Findings:
and can apply a fraction of that
cost to sharing it with other
center members).
Types of Benefits Associated with Nonprofit Centers
Types of Benefits Associated with Nonprofit Centers
Organizational
Efficiencies
Organizational
Effectiveness
Community
Infrastructure
Reduced and more
stable rental costs
Reduced costs
through shared
services and
spaces
Increased
staff
productivity
Increased
organizational
capacity
Increased
knowledge
Increased IT
capacity
Improved
access to
funders
New community
spaces and
opportunities for
civic engagement
Higher quality
space through
new or renovated
facility
Community
access to
technology
Learning and
capacity
building
assets
Improved
quality of
back office
services
New
environmental
and
sustainability
practices
Types of Impacts Associated with Nonprofit Centers
Types of Impacts Associated with Nonprofit Centers
People
plex and specialized needs of nonprofits throughout Connecticut, CIL has an unmatched track record. Founded in
1979, CIL was created to meet the needs of individuals, nonprofit agencies, cities and towns.
CIL’s role in developing the nonprofit center with CT
Nonprofits is to lay the ground work and create the infrastructure necessary to expand both the physical office space
and the administrative services necessary to run a state of
the art facility. CIL will serve as property manager and sole
owner of the facility.
velop a shared vision, study the market to determine if the
needs of the nonprofit sector supported the vision, helped
us evaluate and select a location and are currently working
with us to develop the shared benefits and build a dynamic,
collaborative community within and outside of the walls of
the CT Nonprofits Center.
CT Nonprofits/CIL’s shared vision for The Center in
Hartford, CT will be realized by achieving the following
goals:
• There were 268 respondents with more than 60 of
them as true prospective members for the Center;
• Half of the prospective tenant organizations are
very dissatisfied, dissatisfied or neutral about their
current overall workspace;
• The most important shared benefits the respondents are interested in include: conference rooms,
kitchen/lounge, offices open after normal business
hours, state-of-the-art technology and free parking;
• Respondents were most concerned with security,
losing organizational autonomy and how space
would be scheduled.
What we learned
There are more than 200 documented, intentional nonprofit centers across the nation and many of them belong to
the Nonprofit Center Network, (NCN) a program of Tides
Foundation. Due to the generous support of the Hartford
Foundation for Public Giving, CT Nonprofits secured the
consulting advice of NCN in January of 2012. Over the course
of the last 18 months, NCN has worked with CT Nonprofits
and CIL to conduct a feasibility study. They helped us dePage 16 | Nonprofit Advantage | September 2013
Our market study provided us some valuable insight that
has and will continue to guide us in development of the
Center:
The Nonprofit Center Network’s Impact Assessment
Study: Measuring Collaborations: The Benefits and Impacts
of Nonprofit Centers was the first study to measure the economic, environmental, and community impacts of nonprofit
centers.. (Read the executive summary at www.nonprofitcenters.org/impactstudy.)
Continued on next page
u
CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF NONPROFITS
Improved outcomes
for clients due to
better services and
referrals
Human capital
development
through
participation in
Center activities and
services
Shared Services
• State of the art technology
Place
for conference rooms: White
boards, video conferencing,
Increased social
sound systems, LCD projecEnvironmental
New policies and
Field building and
capital and civic
Society
tors, etc.;
improvements
approaches
knowledge creation
engagement
• Future phases for development include: Shared highspeed internet, phone systems,
copiers, printers, postage machines, technology
Why would a nonprofit want to be a member of a nonservers, portable technology for use outside of the
profit center?
main conference rooms (ie. Laptop/LCD/Screens,
The CT Nonprofits Center will be more than a physical
etc.);
home to multiple nonprofits. It will serve as a community
• Shared reception: An individual to greet your visiresource. Not only will The Center offer below-market,
rent-stable, affordable administrative office space, it will be
tors and meeting attendees;
a hub for non-tenants in need of amenities such as shared
• Back-end Office Services: It is CT Nonprofits’
office/administrative services, technology and rental space
intention to develop (and partner) to provide administrative services to both members of the center
to convene groups for the community.
and nonprofits in the general community in the
future.
Anticipated Center Benefits
There are many tangible and intangible benefits to joining
a nonprofit center as noted in the chart above. CT Nonprofits is currently seeking funding from community investors
Our market study provided
to help provide resources (such as technology, staffing and
us some valuable insight
furniture) for the Center so nonprofits may focus their budget dollars on their missions and operational versus capital
that has and will continue
expenditures. CT Nonprofits Center members will enjoy:
Revitalization of
surrounding area
Aerial view of the two-building, 86,000 sq. ft. campus
1. Provide high quality, affordable workspace and
services for nonprofit organizations in the region;
2. Foster innovative collaborations to better serve the
community;
3. Enhance the efficiency of nonprofit organizations;
4. Elevate visibility and awareness of the nonprofit
sector. Increased numbers
served due to greater
access
Shared Space
• 2-3 large conference rooms
(up to 50 people with 2 of them
combined for event space);
• 1-2 small conference rooms;
• Shared reception space (for
all visitors to the Center);
• Shared kitchen, employee
lounge and street access for
catering;
• Shared common spaces
(welcoming and inviting space
with comfortable furniture
for guests and employees as
well as inspiring art on display
from local nonprofit arts organizations).
Amenities provide
enhanced quality of
life
Increased revenues
for surrounding
retailers
• Below market rental rates of $13/sq foot inclusive
of all operational costs (included: security, parking, utilities, janitorial, etc.);
• Fixed rental rates for the term of your lease with
CIL (no built in annual rent escalations);
• A reduced footprint and budget by sharing space
(example, if you have a kitchen, reception area and
conference room, you are likely paying rent per
month for about 1,000 square feet of space. If you
share this space you will save $13,000 annually
CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF NONPROFITS
Fiscal benefits to the
community
to guide us in development
of the Center.
Additional Benefits
• Professional development workshops and special
events designed for members of the Center;
• A collaborative environment, both facilitated/intentional and natural;
Continued on next page
u
Nonprofit Advantage | September 2013 | Page 17
• Representation on a governing board to address
issues and create ideas for
a vibrant community and
future.
Impact on the Neighborhood Revitalization / Local Community
CIL has an established track record
of development in the surrounding
neighborhood. In the 1990’s, CIL developed the Wyllys Lisbon 35 units
Affordable Cooperative Housing
Project, located diagonally across
from the Center. On land that is adjacent to the Center, CIL is currently
developing 24 affordable single-family townhomes, and intends to develop market-rate rental units in the
long abandoned Capewell Factory
building. The Center will serve an
important role in the ongoing neighborhood revitalization efforts.
Economic Impact - Surrounding
Community and Beyond:
Economic Development – The
Center will bring together nonprofit
businesses from outside of Hartford
to reside in the center. Our tenant
organizations and their visitors will
spend money within the local community using food, retail and service
establishments.
Call to Action
If your nonprofit is considering
moving within the next five years,
contact us through this short form
to begin discussions. Over the next
five years, we will be replacing current for-profit tenants with nonprofit
Center members as their leases expire. The Center is currently home
to seven nonprofits occupying 37%
of the 86,000 square foot Center. We
anticipate by the end of five years we
will be between 20 and 40 nonprofits
strong with more than 300 employees.
Please consider joining and/or supporting the CT Nonprofits’ Center.
Questions may be directed to Mark Berardi or Karen Maciorowski.
Page 18 | Nonprofit Advantage | September 2013
Don’t Do
Press Conferences!
Technology Services
When Your
Business
Relies on
Technology,
You Can
Rely on Us.
Experts in the
unique technology
requirements of
non-profits!
 Network Systems and Support
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 Network Vulnerability Assessments
 Offsite Back-up
 Website Development
 Remote Network Monitoring
 Outsourced IT Department
Consulting Services
 Non-profit Accounting Solutions
 SOC 1, SOC 2 Audits (formerly SAS 70)
 Fundraising Solutions
 Network Security Audits
 HIPAA Security Compliance
 IT Policies and Procedures
 Business Continuity Planning
 Software Selection
THE TECHNOLOGY GROUP, LLC
147 Charter Oak Ave ∙ Hartford ∙ 860.524.4400 ∙ www.TheTechnologyGroup.com
By Rick Schwartz, www.schwartztalk.com
Biting your nails while waiting
for the media to show
Here’s the scene. It’s Wednesday
morning at 9:55 a.m. The Happy Feet
Center for Dance is beginning a press
conference in five minutes to announce
it has snagged ballet genius Igor Terpsichorean for its upcoming season.
Problem is, only a single reporter
from a local weekly newspaper has arrived thus far, and he looks to be about
12 years old. The artistic director is
shooting daggers at the public relations
guy, who is sweating bullets. 'I sent out
detailed, embargoed press advisories
yesterday, and I called all the assignment desks first thing this morning,' he
reassures himself. All the editors promised they would 'try' to send someone
to cover the event.
Just as the Center’s Board chair and
president can’t delay any longer and
start the press conference, a crew from
the least of the three network TV stations comes bustling in. Everyone is so
grateful that they stop the speeches and
wait for the cameraman to set up. The
press conference concludes 20 minutes
later. After a brief additional interview,
the TV crew packs up and leaves for its
next appointment. The story is on the
noon news, but not at 6 or 11 p.m.
For most of the attendees, the only
measure of success was how many
press outlets showed up. By that standard, the press conference failed.
Get the story in the morning’s
newspaper and celebrate with
people who matter
I probably haven’t conducted five
press conferences in the past 20 years,
but I’ve had more than my share of
front page, above-the-fold stories on
exactly the day I wanted them to ap-
pear. I haven’t held press conferences;
I’ve hosted dozens of wonderful events
to which I’ve ‘invited’ the press (and
they’ve come).
Here’s the process:
• Make sure you really have press
worthy news. Hiring a new CEO generally isn’t. Announcing a new program
to end homelessness is.
• Determine who you really want to
hear the news. It’s seldom the ‘general
public’. It may be prospective large donors, important local or state officials,
your own board of directors. People
you want to impress.
• Design an appropriate event for
them. For Happy Feet, let’s say, we
have an early evening occasion with
cheese, crackers and wine for all the
dance aficionados in town. We show
a film of Mr. Terpsichorean, who appears at the podium immediately after.
We allow plenty of time for our key
Continued on next page
u
CARNEY, ROY AND GERROL, P.C.
Certified Public Accountants
Guiding Non-Profit Organizations with
accounting & audit services for over 30 years.
Together we can make a difference
in our community.
Thomas D. Roy, CPA
Director of Non-Profit Division
35 Cold Spring Road, Suite 111
Rocky Hill, CT 06067-3161
860-721-5786
tomroy@crandg.com
CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF NONPROFITS
CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF NONPROFITS
Nonprofit Advantage | September 2013 | Page 19