June 2009

News of the Month

Super Early 2010 Conference Registration – Don't miss out on the savings when you register super early for the 2010 APAP Conference NYC! » Register now

Calling for 2010 Conference Ideas and Suggestions – We are busy planning what we expect will be the most dynamic APAP Conference yet and we can't do it without you. » Contribute here

2010 Emerging Leadership Institute – The Emerging Leadership Institute (ELI) is an intensive two-day seminar that will provide participants with many of the critical leadership skills they need now and in the future. This is an opportunity for mid-career arts professionals to connect with professional practitioners in the field while becoming a part of a growing ELI alumni network of presenters, managers, artists, agents, artistic company managing directors, marketing directors, arts council personnel, and other related positions in the performing arts. » Apply now

Photo by Abeer Abdalla

Arts Presenters Board Nominations – Nominations are open now for positions on the Board of Directors that will be available in January 2010. Please submit nominations by mail or online by July 3, 2009. » Guidelines and nominations form

Need software and computers? Nonprofit TechSoup can help! – Techsoup.org is the one-stop resource for nonprofit organizations' technology needs. They offer software donations and have a refurbished computer initiative available for nonprofit organizations. » Learn more here

Economy Watch

Free Financial Management Seminars – The recession is forcing many charities and foundations to make crucial financial decisions, often in pressured circumstances. In many cases, nonprofit leaders and board members do not know what questions to ask and do not have a clear understanding of what their choices will mean to their organizations' long-term financial health. The Chronicle of Philanthropy and the Nonprofit Finance Fund created a series of free online discussions that will give nonprofit and foundation leaders the opportunity to get advice from financial experts. » View transcripts and learn about the last live session

Government Affairs

Advocacy and Action Alert: President Obama's Summer Service Initiative – United We Serve – On June 17, President Obama officially announced his summer service initiative, United We Serve, encouraging Americans to create meaningful change in their communities by engaging in service. Sandra Gibson, President and CEO, Arts Presenters, led a member-only conference call to discuss how the arts community can get involved with President Obama's summer service initiative on June 11. As we continue our commitment to helping our members through these difficult economic times, we want to make sure this extraordinary opportunity to both serve communities while creating innovative ways to sustain arts and cultural organizations is made available to each of you. If you are interested in participating in our volunteer survey, please contact Leah Frelinghuysen, Director of Public Affairs at lfrelinghuysen@artspresenters.org We are proud to be working closely with the Corporation for National & Community Service and the White House on this important call to action. » Conference call recording

Advocacy and Action Alert: IRA Rollover Update – The IRA Charitable Rollover Provision, which allows individuals age 70 1/2 and older to donate up to $100,000 from their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) without having to count the distributions as taxable income, was extended through December 2009 following the passage of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. The budget resolution adopted by Congress for FY10 extends the IRA rollover provision through 2011, although the legislation must still be enacted to make the provision permanent. On April 22nd, Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) introduced the Public Good IRA Rollover Act, S. 864. S. 864 is the Senate companion bill to H.R.1250, introduced by Reps. Earl Pomeroy (D-SD) and Wally Herger (R-CA) and would build on the success of the current IRA Rollover by making it permanent, removing the current dollar limit on donations per year, making all charities eligible to receive donations, and providing IRA owners with a planned giving option starting at age 59.

The IRA Charitable Rollover allows Americans to make millions of dollars of new contributions to the nonprofit organizations that benefit people every day. Please contact your Member of Congress and ask them to co-sponsor and support the Public Good IRA Rollover Act (S.864/H.R.1250).