[Map News Wire] Excellence Award Deadline Extended - MAP NewsWire

[mapnewswire at communityforum.net]

May 31, 2006

MAP FOR NONPROFITS
25 Years of Navigating for Nonprofit Excellence

1. Honor the Work of Excellent Nonprofits -- Deadline Extended
2. Congratulations Board Stars!
3. Round up 990 Information
4. Board Chair Training
5. New Leaders Circles(r) Forming

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1. Honor the Work of Your Nonprofit - Apply for Excellence Award

We heard from many of you that you were not able to achieve the May 26
deadline for Nonprofit Excellence Award applications, so we have
extended the deadline to June 30. Honor the work of your nonprofit with
an application for a Nonprofit Excellence Award.

The Nonprofit Excellence Award is based on the Minnesota Council of
Nonprofits' Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence.

Minnesota nonprofit organizations that are at least five years old, and
are a 501(c)(3), may apply for the awards. The organizations selected
are awarded a cash prize ($3,000 for the selected organization with an
annual operating budget of less than $1.5 million; $5,000 to the
selected organization with an annual operating budget of $1.5 million or
more.), a commemorative art glass award and recognition at the awards
ceremony held later in the year.

Being recognized from among the field of an organization's nonprofit
peers is one of the highest honors a Minnesota nonprofit can achieve.
Take action to assess and honor your organization, through your
application for this award.

The Nonprofit Excellence Award is sponsored by Marquette Financial
Companies, MAP for Nonprofits and MCN. Visit www.mapfornonprofits.org,
Excellence Award TODAY for more information and please submit your
application by 4 p.m. June 30.

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2. Congratulations Board Stars!

MAP's Board Recruitment Service recruits hundreds of management
professionals to serve on nonprofit boards each year. This year, in
honor of National Volunteer Week, MAP sought nominations from nonprofit
organizations for Board Stars -- board members placed by MAP who deserve
special recognition for the exemplary roles they have played on their
nonprofits boards. Two exemplary board members were selected by MAP
staff from among the nominations received.

Congratulations to Harold Parsons, who has served on the Board of
Directors for Wingspan Life Resources for nine years; and to Bobbi Rix,
who has served on the Board of Directors for Teatro del Pueblo for one
year.

Harold Parsons is a CPA and a principal with Larson Allen. He has been
active on the Wingspan Life Resources Finance Committee since joining
the organization's Board nine years ago and has served as Treasurer for
five years. According to Patricia Moore, of Wingspan Life Resources,
Harold's leadership has produced some great results: Wingspan has
started a 401K for staff, financed two tax exempt bonds to purchase 20
homes to serve persons with developmental disabilities; established a
Board-designated fund for use in emergencies, expanded Wingspan to serve
frail Hmong elders in an adult day center, and more!

Bobbi Rix may be a newcomer to the Teatro del Pueblo Board of Directors,
with one year of service, but according to Alberto Justiniano, she has
been a great addition to the Board. "She has instilled energy and
excitement to our Board of Directors. She has great ideas and has been
very candid and is supportive of the staff. She has contributed money
and time to the organization."

These two individuals demonstrate the results that both long-term and
short-term board members bring to nonprofit boards.

Congratulations Harold and Bobbi!

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3. Round up that 990 Information

MAP's Accounting services team requests nonprofit organizations with a
reporting year end of December 31, 2005 that filed for an automatic
three month extension (Form 8868) get their 990 materials in to their
MAP accountant as soon as possible in order to enjoy an efficient filing
process. We encourage you to contact your MAP accountant if you have
questions on the materials or submit them immediately if they are
already complete.  

If you need to file an extension and missed the May 15 deadline, call
Brian J. Wald at 651-393-2161, or email bwald at mapfornonprofits.org, to
work out a course of action.  Form 8868 can be obtained from the IRS
Website (www.irs.gov) or contact MAP for Nonprofits if you would like us
to take care of your tax filing needs. MAP charges $400 to file the IRS
return. As part of the fee, we will also prepare the MN Attorney General
Annual Charitable Organization report. Scholarship funds may be
available for some organizations.

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4. Board Chair Training and More!

New and experienced Nonprofit Board Chairs benefit from Board Chair
Training. MAP's next Board Chair Training session is July 12, 4-8:30
p.m., at MAP, $75 per person, which includes dinner and materials. 

Board Boot Camps provide important basic training for individuals
serving on nonprofit Boards of Directors. Learn the responsibilities of
nonprofit board members, legal considerations, board member roles and
responsibilities and more at Board Boot Camp, $35 per person, offered
June 28 and Aug. 30, 8:30-10:30 a.m., and July 26, 6-8 p.m., all at MAP.

Reserve your place for either session by calling 651-647-1216 or
emailing classes at mapfornonprofits.org.

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5. New Executive Director Leaders Circles(r) Forming

For more than 10 years, MAP has convened small groups of nonprofit
executives in professionally-facilitated Leaders Circles(r) to
strengthen and nurture their leadership. If you're an executive director
of a nonprofit-whether in human services, the arts, health, education,
or the environment - you can join a new Circle now for only $400 for the
entire year. If you are a Greater Twin Cities United Way funded agency,
United Way is now making it possible for you to participate for only
$100. The new Circles will be launched during the next few months. In a
Circle, five to seven executives meet monthly to focus on solving their
own real-life management and organizational issues. Using
results-oriented, action learning methods, resources are shared,
problems are solved and leadership is developed. If you are interested
in being a part of a Leaders Circle(r), please contact Debbie Okerlund,
a MAP Leaders Circles(r) facilitator. She can be reached at 612-798-4908
or at debbie.okerlund at bitstream.net.

Here's what one executive director says about Leaders Circles(r): "I
always leave the Leaders Circle with a feeling of renewed energy. I gain
not only knowledge, but also a sense of perspective, humor, and support
from people I respect."

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MAP for Nonprofits 
25 years of Navigating for Nonprofit Excellence

MAP provides management and board recruitment services to large, medium
and small nonprofit organizations in the Greater Twin Cities area. We
complement the management expertise and resources of our clients with
the right combination of paid staff, and professional consultants to
achieve our clients' strategic objectives. 
 
If you would like to discuss how MAP services can help your nonprofit
achieve its objectives, contact Julie Dappen at
jdappen at mapfornonprofits.org.