A source for tools, advice and training to control risks ... so you can focus on your nonprofit's mission

Employee or Independent Contractor: What’s the Difference?
The IRS has released a new audio presentation, developed for practitioners by the IRS Small Business/Self-Employed division but of interest to all employers, on Proper Worker Classification. A written transcript of the program is also available.

Featured Publication
For more information on personnel practices and how employment laws impact your nonprofit workplace, turn to one of the Center’s best-selling resources, Taking the High Road: A Guide to Effective and Legal Employment Practices for Nonprofits.

Note: The on-line version of Taking the High Road has been recently updated with links to recent statutes and new on-line resources. Purchasers of the text also receive a URL to the on-line version. If you previously purchased the text but don’t have access to the on-line version, please call the Center at (202) 785-3891 or email.

Questions?
Do you have a question about any of the issues raised in this eNews? Contact us at (202) 785-3891 or info@nonprofitrisk.org.

June 29, 2009

Summer Issue of Risk Management Essentials Now Available

The Summer issue of the Center’s newsletter, Risk Management Essentials, is now available. To download a PDF of the newsletter, click here. To view the articles featured in the new issue online, click here. To request copies of the printed version for distribution within your organization, contact Sue Weir Jones at (202) 785-3891 or Sue@nonprofitrisk.org

Tori Murden McClure to Deliver Opening Keynote Address

The Nonprofit Risk Management Center is excited to announce that Tori Murden McClure will deliver the opening plenary address at the 2009 Risk Management and Finance Summit for Nonprofits on Monday, September 21. The conference will be held at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center at the University of Texas in Austin, TX.

Tori is best known as the first woman and first American to row a boat solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She was also the first woman and first American to travel over land to the geographic South Pole, skiing 750 miles from the ice shelf to the pole. Tori’s accomplishments have been chronicled in ten books, 30 major magazines and an award-winning documentary.

Tori is the author of a new book titled A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in the Middle of the Ocean, which chronicles Tori’s two solo journeys across the Atlantic in her handcrafted boat American Pearl. These ocean trips became extraordinary, life-changing “voyages of self-discovery.” During her Summit appearance Tori will share some hard-earned lessons from both success and failure. Those fortunate to hear Tori’s address will be inspired by her grit and determination as well as her ability to learn and grow from professional, educational and other life experiences…her premise is that everything we do is an opportunity for personal and professional growth. To learn more about Tori and her appearance at this year’s Summit, visit the conference web page.

Employment Issues in the Spotlight at this Year’s Summit

The topic of managing human resource risks will take center stage at the annual Risk Management and Finance Summit for Nonprofits. Early-bird registration rates are available until July 31, 2009. Learn more about the Summit.

Employment-related sessions that will be featured at the conference include:

Managing HR Risk — Rapid-Fire Wisdom from a Panel of Experts
The luncheon program on September 22nd will feature a panel of experts sharing practical advice on managing HR risk. Learn “what to do” as well as “what not to do” during the hiring, termination, downsizing or rightsizing process. Bring your thorniest employment dilemmas to share during the Q&A portion of the program.
Hot Topics in Employment Law for Churches and Religious Nonprofits.
Retaliation, age discrimination, and managing leaves of absence are just a few of the topics with which leaders of churches and religious nonprofits must be familiar. This workshop will explore the world of employment risk through the lens of a church or faith-based nonprofit organization, offering practical as well as values-based advice.
Taking the High Road: Compassionate and Risk-Savvy HR Practices.
Decisiveness and compassion are recognized as essential leadership qualities during a crisis. The same qualities are key elements of success when managing a nonprofit’s human resources. Did you know that the risk of a lawsuit is 20-times greater when NO reason is given for a termination? Honesty, clarity and managing expectations pay enormous dividends in the world of employment risk. Attend this workshop for tips in balancing the essential ingredients of sound business practices with honesty and compassion in risk-savvy HR practices.

Whether your title is CEO, CFO, COO, Director of Human Resources or Board Chair, you won’t want to miss these informative, practical sessions. To learn more about Summit workshops on other topics, including risk management basics, managing legal risks, volunteer risk management, financial management and insurance for nonprofits, click here.