IMPACTIMPACTIMPACTIMPACT

Helping Nonprofits Help Arkansas

IMPACT2011-2012 Annual Report

IMPACT

WELCOME ABOUT ACEFor nearly a decade, the Arkansas Coalition for Excellence has impacted Arkansas’ nonprofits and the people they serve. Through our work, we have built a stronger, more energetic nonprofit sector by advocating for nonprofits around the state, serving as the leading resource for Arkansas’ network of nonprofit organizations, facilitating access to affordable resources, and sharing research and information.

Strengthen Arkansas Nonprofits

Best practices; Inclusive; Unity in Diversity;

Connecting & Equipping; Statewide Vision and Regional Approach

A strong, vibrant, united and effective

nonprofit sector that is well positioned to meet the diverse needs of all

Arkansans

Dear ACE Members and Friends,

The focus of the Arkansas Coalition for Excellence (ACE) Annual Report for2011-2012 is IMPACT. And ACE did indeed make one this past year. However, it is our members and supporters that help us make a larger impact in our work to support nonprofits.

In a Stanford Social Innovation Review article, Collective Impact, by John Kania and Mark Kramer (Winter 2011), the authors identify five components that “produce true alignment and lead to powerful results: a common agenda, shared measurement systems, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communication and backbone support organizations.” We believe that by producing strength, influence and power for the nonprofit collective we can create a better Arkansas.

ACE strives to be the “backbone support organization” that helps nonprofits work toward a common agenda of nonprofit excellence. We do this by providing a shared measurement system, the Arkansas Diamond Standards (TM) and by coordinating mutually reinforcing activities through advocacy, networking, training, and leadership. With our continuous online communications, research and technical assistance, we aim to keep the nonprofit sector abreast of common issues facing our community.

Your membership, and more importantly, your engagement in working with ACE will be critical as we spend the next year expanding upon the gains we have made in the last ten years. We are looking to you to direct us in pursuing our mutual goals in the next decade, as we work together to refine a common agenda to ensure that Arkansas nonprofits remain strong and viable. Are you ready to“get collective” with us? We hope so, because we cannot do it without you!

Thank you so much for your support over the past year and for your enthusiasm in looking ahead to what we can be together.

Sincerely,

Stephanie F. Meincke, MSW Diane LaFolletteExecutive Director Board Chair

By producing strength, influence and power for the nonprofit collective wecan create a better Arkansas.

Pierre Ferrari, President/CEO of Heifer International:

Supporting a thriving, robust,

competent and successful civil

society is of critical importance

in creating an Arkansan culture

of caring, inclusion and peace.

ACE does this superbly, we are

grateful for all the work they do.

WE AREGRATEFUL

Photo courtesy of Heifer International

“

”

Stephanie F. Meincke

Diane LaFollette

Mission Core Values Vision

2 2011/2012 Annual Report 3

MEMBERSHIP &NETWORKINGACE thrives on our relationship with our members. And without their support, ACE wouldn’t exist. Our diverse alliance of foundations, government agencies, businesses and individuals all share a common goal--a strong, united and effective nonprofit sector. It’s through the strength of our shared objective that we impact the organizations and communities we serve. In the course of our growth through the past year, ACE:

• Welcomed a new Membership

& Communications Coordinator

through AmeriCorps*VISTA

• Welcomed 75 new members

into the coalition

• Added three new cost

saving benefits including

discounts on background

checks, video promotion and

online board resources

MEMbErs by MIssIOn

Art & Humanities 6%

Education 7%

Environment & Animals 1%

Foundations 15%

Health 4%

Human Services 34%

Business, Community & 15%Economic Development

Other 18%

ACE’s Cost Saving

Benefits help our

members put

more money

towards what

matters - the

causes they serve

sErvICE COMPAny

Health Insurance BRAVO

Career Center JobTarget

Audio & Web Conferencing ReadyTalk

Donor Software Giftworks

Online Grant Database GrantStation

In-Kind Donation Good360

Board Knowledge Center BoardSource

Nonprofit Publication Nonprofit World

Technology Educational IdealwareResources

Website Development FireSpring

Background Screening Coeus Global

Risk Management Resources Nonprofit Risk Management Center

Video Solutions Dharma Eye Media

vicki Pillow, Director of Development,Food bank of northeast Arkansas:

The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas not

only considers itself a member of the Arkansas

Coalition for Excellence, we consider ACE

our partner. We know we can count on ACE

to provide information, advice, and support

when we need it. ACE truly lives up to the

phrase--Helping Nonprofits Help Arkansas.

GREAT PARTNER

• Provided one-on-one technical

assistance on nonprofit

management issues

• Hosted 125 nonprofit leaders and

supporters at Heifer International

for our largest Annual Meeting

• Facilitated monthly Network

Lunches highlighting board

recruitment and engagement,

visioning, PR and media relations

“

”• Provided financial assistance

for five ACE member

organizations to receive

financial consulting through

Arkansas Nonprofit Services

• Coordinated statewide training

and networking opportunities

for nonprofit peers

It’s through the strength

of our shared objective that we impact the organizations and communities we serve.

$

4 2011/2012 Annual Report 5

RESEARCH & COMMUNICATIONSThrough our research and communications efforts, ACE seeks to impact the public understanding and awareness of Arkansas’ nonprofit sector. ACE provides research, resources and information that is timely and relevant to the sector. And, most importantly, we continually tell the story of ACE and our members through various media outlets, online communication and social media. Over the past year, ACE:

• Launched the new online format

of ACE monthly e-newsletter

• Hosted two Communications

Interns to oversee website

and social media

• Began to “tweet” on Twitter

and increased ACE overall

social media impact

• Partnered with the National

Council of Nonprofits to

provide bi-monthly e-newsletter,

“Nonprofit Advocacy Matters”

• Sent policy alerts on urgent

matters facing nonprofits

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENTThrough best practices, technical assistance, training and education, ACE uses its statewide organizational development program to increase the impact of Arkansas’ nonprofits. This past year, ACE:

ACE’sOnline Resource

Guide gathers professional

developmentinfo and helpful

tools in oneconvenient place

FAST FACT• Focused on the topic of Social

Enterprise at the Annual Meeting

with guest speakers Jeremy

Thornton, Samford University and

Dr. Fitz Hill, Arkansas Baptist College

• Launched a new Arkansas

Diamond Standards™ workshop

series that focused on program

evaluation, board governance, audit

preparation and legal compliance

• Partnered with the American

Red Cross of Greater

Arkansas to present a disaster

preparedness workshop series

• Hosted a Summer Tech Series that

included Quickbooks for Nonprofits,

Cloud Computing and Online

Communications Strategies

• Completed statewide training to

100 nonprofits (20 per region)

and technical assistance to

30 nonprofits (6 per region) through

a Strengthening Communities Fund

Nonprofit Capacity Building

Program grant

• Presented monthly webinars on

fundraising topics in partnership

with the Association of Fundraising

Professionals (AFP) – Arkansas Chapter

COMMON GOALSDebra banks, Program Manager, ACHAnGE, north Little rock:

Despite the diversity of missions, organizations that are involved with ACE have one important commonality. We are

nonprofits, and as such, will be affected by the same basic laws and regulations. ACE helps ACHANGE to remain

aware of any changes, and in turn, share those changes with nonprofit affordable housing organizations throughout

the state.

arkansascoalitionforexcellence

acenonprofit

• Teamed with GrantStation

to send weekly grant alerts

to ACE members

• Participated in a national

2012 Nonprofit Salary Survey

in partnership with the

National Council of Nonprofits

and Columbia Books

• Conducted 2012 Nonprofit

Capacity Needs Survey in

partnership with the Arkansas

Philanthropy Roundtable and

the Arkansas DHS Community

Service and Nonprofit Support

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” ”

LIFELINE FOR ORGANIZATIONLinda L. ragsdale, LMsW, Executive Director,Ouachita Children’s Center, Hot springs:

ACE has been a tremendous benefit and lifeline for our organization over the past few years! We see them as the “go-to” for organizational development issues, board member training, staff management guidance and even grant/funding opportunities. Nonprofits are a special species of business, so it’s very helpful to have a resource organization that understands our unique needs and concerns. Thanks ACE for all you do making Arkansas an even more excellent place to work and live!

“

LikeuS

FoLLow uS

Impacting the public’s knowledge and reception of Arkansas’ nonprofit landscape

6 2011/2012 Annual Report 7

COLLABORATIONOne of the strengths of nonprofits is their diverse missions—dynamic, varied, and as rich in character as the communities they serve. ACE aims to convene nonprofits, government agencies and business entities; we know that working together maximizes our impact. ACE has worked with the following groups over the past year:

Alliance for Justice

American Red Cross of GreaterArkansas

Arkansas Community Foundation

Arkansas’ Congressional Delegationand Office Staff

Arkansas DHS Division of CommunityService and Nonprofit Support

Arkansas Economic DevelopmentCommission

Arkansas Nonprofit Services

Arkansas Philanthropy Roundtable

Association of FundraisingProfessionals, Arkansas Chapter

Carl B. and Florence E. KingFoundation

Charles A. Frueauff Foundation

Circle Communications Network, LLC

ACE IS THE VOICE

GREAT INVESTMENT

sherry Middleton, DHs Division of Community service and nonprofit support:

The Arkansas DHS Division of Community Service and Nonprofit Support

(DCSNS) is pleased to partner with ACE to strengthen capacity of Arkansas

nonprofits. Our partnership is a model of best practices with government and

private collaboration. ACE is the voice for the sector in many ways – and by

working with DCSNS, we are able to better serve the nonprofit sector together

through quality training and technical assistance.

Ed seay, Executive Director, Help network, Inc., russellville:

We love being members of ACE for the benefits that we

receive. As a small nonprofit with limited resources, we could

never afford benefits like Grantstation, which we use on a

regular basis. We also would not have the training through

webinars and in-person that ACE provides, often at no cost

to members. Our membership with ACE has been a great

investment.

Clinton School of Public Service

Corporation for National andCommunity Service

Firespring

Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP

GrantStation

Idealware

JPMS Cox, PLLC

Ken Hubbell & Associates

Morris Foundation

Moving the Needle

National Council of Nonprofits

Southern Bancorp Financial Partners

Windgate Charitable Foundation

WinRock International

Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation

Young Nonprofit ProfessionalsNetwork

ACE provides our members with the latest information and trends in the nonprofit sector.

Thank you to our current members for their support of Arkansas nonprofits. Not a member yet? Here’s how to join.

With growing deficits and extreme budget cuts, Arkansas nonprofits will need to speak out now more than ever about the invaluable impact we have on our communities. We’ve dedicated a section of our website to finding funding resources.

is a best practice assessment for nonprofits of all sizes. A workbook, self-assessment tool and infrastructure checklist will help assess your organization’s immediate needs.

Supporting and nurturing the network of Arkansas nonprofits to ensure they continue their work.

is provided by ACE staff on a daily basis. It’s part of what we do, and exemplifies our commitment to ACE member organizations.

“

“

”

”information Sharing

Members

Public Policy

Arkansas Diamond Standards

Collaboration

Training & Technical Support

ACE helps

Arkansas nonprofits

navigate the legal

landscape with the

Arkansas Nonprofit

Legal Guide

FAST FACT

8 2011/2012 Annual Report 9

PUBLIC POLICYState and federal policies play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of our nonprofits. Therefore, it is essential that Arkansas’ nonprofits have a voice in legislative and public policy forums. From decisions on key funding to tax-exempt status, ACE works diligently to make sure that our sector’s voice is strong and united, and that the impact we have on Arkansas’ communities is clear to policy-makers.

• ACE and the Winthrop

Rockefeller Foundation hosted

a joint training on “How to

Advocate as a Nonprofit”

led by Alliance for Justice.

• ACE worked in partnership

with the Winthrop Rockefeller

Foundation, the Arkansas DHS

Division of Community Service

and Nonprofit Support, Southern

BanCorp Financial Partners,

and WinRock International to

develop a pilot training and

capacity building project for

nonprofits in the Arkansas Delta.

ACE works constantly to make sure nonprofits have a voice in legislative and public policy forums that is united and clearly heard.

MeMBeRS BYReGioN

Central 47%

Northeast 13%

Northwest 18%

Southeast 8%

Southwest 12%

Out of State 2%

• ACE hosted a webinar for

nonprofits featuring David

Thompson, Vice-President of

Public Policy for the National

Council of Nonprofits. The

webinar offered participants a

chance to ask questions about

the federal budget and its impact

on nonprofits in Arkansas.

• ACE provided regular monthly

updates to ACE members through

e-news about public policy efforts

both locally and nationwide

impacting nonprofit operations.

• ACE participated in a nonprofit

roundtable discussion hosted

by Representative Tim Griffin

(R) to discuss the needs of

Arkansas nonprofits.

• ACE participated in Lobby Day

in Washington, DC through the

National Council of Nonprofits.

ACE spoke to Arkansas’

congressional members about

protecting the charitable giving

tax incentive and protecting

the nonprofit sector from

across-the-board cuts.

COMMON GOALS“

”

Tim Delaney, President & CEO,national Council of nonprofits:

The National Council of Nonprofits is proud to have the

Arkansas Coalition for Excellence (ACE) in our nationwide

network of nonprofits, the largest in the country. ACE links

Arkansas nonprofits to a continuous exchange of vital

information on a timely basis. Whether distributing to Arkansas

nonprofits important information that we gather in Washington,

D.C., and other states, or swiftly gathering insights from

Arkansas nonprofits that is needed here on Capitol Hill to lift

the voices of Arkansas nonprofits, ACE has proven itself to be

an invaluable asset for all nonprofits to deliver on their missions

to serve individuals in local communities. Thank you, ACE!

• ACE sent a letter to Interim CEO

Robert Velasco of the Corporation

for National and Community

Service requesting a grant waiver

that would allow more nonprofits

to apply for federal funding

recognizing the challenges of

high matching requirements

in a largely rural state.

• ACE’s public policy efforts

increased membership

participation among nonprofits

interested in public policy issues—

especially federal funding—

affecting their organizations.

FAST FACTACE Nonprofit

CapacityNeeds Report

impacts nonprofit strategies

throughout Arkansas

10 2011/2012 Annual Report 11

The generous support of ACE’s funders, members, state leaders, and board leadership has made our growth possible.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

With special Thanks to: Arkansas Community Foundation

Arkansas’ Congressional Delegation and Office Staff

Arkansas Economic Development Commission and State General Improvement Funds

Charles A. Frueauff Foundation

Corporation for National and Community Service

Dolores F. and Thomas A. Bruce Endowment

DHS Strengthening Communities Fund,made possible by the Arkansas Governor’sOffice and supporting state agencies

Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLC

JPMS Cox, PLLC

Morris Foundation

Senator David Johnson

Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation

Windgate Charitable Foundation

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QUALITY OFFERINGSJim Caldwell, Executive Director,United Way of southeast Arkansas:

Two of the most difficult issues which

all nonprofits, especially new and

developing organizations, face is

getting answers to hard questions

along with counsel on thorny issues.

In Arkansas, ACE is the “go to”

place for such times. ACE is to be

commended for both the quality

and quantity of its offerings!

State & Federal

39%

Membership& Programs

72%

Administration

20%

Resource Development

8%

Contributions

2%

Foundation

38%

Membership& Programs

21%

Income

Expenses

boardDiane LaFollette, ChairDaniel L. Herrington, Vice ChairBarbara Akins, SecretaryW. Taylor Marshall, Treasurer

Stephanie F. Meincke, MSW Executive Director

Emily C. IngramAssociate Director

Rebecca ZimmermannAmeriCorps*VISTA forMembership & Communications

staff

Lisa Bondurant, APRBarry J. Colley, PhDMaxie CarpenterDebbie Watts

Thank you for your

support and enthusiasm

12 2011/2012 Annual Report 13

Helping Nonprofits Help Arkansas

Located in the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation offices200 River Market Avenue, Suite 100 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | (501) 375.1223

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