What's New at CAPLAW?

 

New Resource: Preserving the Low-Income Voice: Snapshots of Democratic Selection Procedures in a Pandemic

In this collection of short snapshots, CAPLAW presents the experiences and outcomes of CAAs that successfully recruited and elected new low-income sector representatives to their board during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some agencies tested new ways of conducting their processes, while others implemented their existing procedures in remote or socially-distanced environments. We hope their stories will inspire other CAAs to consider innovative methods of engaging their communities and complying with tripartite board requirements throughout the pandemic, and beyond.

.....................................................................................................

Updated Case Studies: Raising the Low-Income Voice: Case Studies in Democratic Selection Procedures

CAPLAW’s case studies provide an in-depth view of the various ways CAAs are meeting the CSBG Act’s requirement that the low-income sector of the tripartite board be selected in accordance with “democratic selection procedures." We updated these case studies in 2021 to show how these CAAs adapted their existing democratic selection procedures in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

.....................................................................................................

New FAQ: Unlocking the Potential of the Tripartite Board Private Sector

CAAs have the opportunity to leverage certain flexibilities when filling private sector seats on their tripartite boards. As a result, many have questions about the private sector, ranging from who may serve in it to how that person may be selected to serve. This FAQ seeks to answer key questions about identifying, recruiting, and selecting private sector members and groups to serve on the tripartite board, and to present ways in which CAAs can utilize the private sector seats to boost board capacity.

.....................................................................................................

New: All a-Board! The Purpose, People, and Process of CAA Boards

CAPLAW has released three new videos exploring fiduciary duties, strategies for keeping board members engaged, and how to make the most out of the board's time together.

.....................................................................................................

New Tool: Combining Forces: A Merger Manual for Community Action Agencies

Whether or not your agency is currently contemplating a merger, this tool will help you understand what may be gained by and what should be considered in the pursuit of a strategic merger transaction.

View the Tool
View the Appendices

.....................................................................................................

New Case Studies: Leadership During Crisis: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic

CAPLAW and the National Community Action Partnership have developed two case studies focused on the ability of CAAs to respond to unique challenges and effectively govern themselves during difficult times. These case studies highlight the examples of two CAAs, and how each relied on good governance practices and communication to navigate complex challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pro Action of Steuben and Yates
Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission

.....................................................................................................

New Section 4 of Tools for Top-Notch CAAs: A Practical Approach to Governance and Financial Excellence

In light of the new FASB accounting standards for nonprofit organizations, CAPLAW has issued a newly updated Section 4 of our popular guide, Tools for Top-Notch CAAs, focusing on financial statements for board members and management of nonprofit CAAs. Also check out the new sample financial statements in the Appendix to Section 4.

News for Community Action

 

Coronavirus Updates for the Community Action Network

CAPLAW is closely monitoring the coronavirus outbreak and impacts on the Community Action network. See the latest developments and funding source guidance here. (Last updated April 15, 2021).

New Resource: Building Readiness: Planning, Prevention, Response, and Liability

.................................................................................................

Final Uniform Guidance Revisions Issued

On August 13, 2020, the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released its final guidance revising sections of the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. This is the first major revision of the Uniform Guidance since its publication in 2014, and contains changes that will affect how federal grant recipients administer their federal funds. Read more.

.................................................................................................

Free Upcoming Webinars

Executive Directors Chat with TechSoup
Presented by: TechSoup
Date: Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Time: 1:00 PM EDT
This session will be a space to connect executive directors and discuss how nonprofits and NGOs are using technology to advance their missions. TechSoup will be selecting several nonprofits to share what they do, their current challenges, and the successes they are celebrating.

Putting Shared Leadership Into Practice
Presented by: Candid Learning
Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2021
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EDT
An increase in conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have resulted in great efforts by organizations to implement DEI values into their core operations. As one part of this effort, a growing number of nonprofits are exploring alternative leadership structures. Shared leadership models are driven by values of equity, power-sharing, and anti-oppression. As we work to shape new worlds that are anti-racist and anti-oppressive, shared leadership models offer ways in which leaders can cooperatively enact change. This webinar will delve into the wins, lessons learned, and future of shared leadership models in the nonprofit sector.

Building a Resilient Nonprofit Organization Through Proactive Risk Management
Presented by: CharityVillage
Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021
Time: 1:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT
Nonprofit organizations continue to face a growing list of risks that have the potential to create significant disruption to operations, harm to brand and reputation, and financial losses. Whether it’s property damage from a natural disaster, or human-caused events like embezzlement, cyber-attacks, or allegations of misconduct, a proactive and comprehensive approach to managing risk can help reduce potential losses.

Lobbying Considerations for Nonprofits: What Your Organization Needs to Know
Presented by: Venable LLP
Date: Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Time: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM EDT
As nonprofits interact with every level of government to advocate for their various causes and initiatives, understanding how to utilize these systems to your ultimate benefit is vital to the success of your organization. This webinar will cover several of the key rules and issues nonprofits need to be aware of in order to lobby with confidence. Some of the discussion topics will include federal and state lobbying disclosure law requirements, federal tax limits, restrictions, and requirements for 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(6) tax-exempt organizations, as well as lobbying restrictions for federal fund recipients.