No Images? Click here Year Round Advocacy: Utah's Legislative Session Utah's 45- day legislative session begins on January 23, 2017. During the session UNA regularly monitors bills and activity that affect our nonprofit community.  We'll be providing information to you throughout the session, so stay tuned. We also gather our community for Nonprofit Day on the Hill (more on that below).  Many of our member organizations monitor legislation specific to their area of service. We strongly encourage all nonprofits to be aware and active regarding public policy and it's affect on their operations; we provide many resources regarding nonprofit advocacy here.  If you're new to the legislative process or need a quick refresher on how an idea becomes a law, the Utah State Legislature website provides a quick tutorial here.  Once a bill has been created, you can search and track its progress through the legislative session here.  UNA offers Advocacy 101 in SLC on February 2 from 2-4pm where you can learn the best way to engage your legislators during the session. Read More & Register for Advocacy 101 Here!   9th Annual Nonprofit Day on the Hill Thursday, February 16, 2017 nonprofit organizations will gather at the Capitol to educate and advocate for their respective organizations. For the past nine years, the Utah Nonprofits Association has organized this event to educate Utah's policy makers on the breadth and depth of Utah's social sector, to help our members understand the importance of their voice in the policy making process and to provide training on how to make your voice heard! We hope you can join us! Read more and register here!   National Nonprofit Advocacy With the likely change from government gridlock to fast and furious legislating in Washington this month, many nonprofit and foundation professionals are struggling to see how the pieces fit together and where their advocacy efforts can promote positive solutions. Our national network, the National Council of Nonprofits, just published a look at six federal issues of sector-wide importance that will likely be taken up in the coming weeks and months, and lays out what they mean for your nonprofit. We encourage you to read the article “Nonprofits Need to Stand Together to Push for Smart Public Policies,” share it with your board and other stakeholders, and be ready to stand up to defend nonprofit missions. Working with our colleagues at the National Council of Nonprofits, we will keep you informed on developments in our nation’s capital that affect the work of nonprofits in our state.   SLC Member Social! Join us on Thursday, January 26 from 5-7pm for the first gathering of 2017! You can check out the great event spaces that our host Sugar Space offers and talk with colleagues about all the changes that 2017 might bring to your organization - all while having a great time! Register for the Social!   Increase program impact!  Achieve operational excellence!  Increase organizational funding! Take advantage of UNA's Credential workshops in 2017 to provide donors and volunteers a way to identify your nonprofit as one that stands out in efficiency and impact. Find the statewide schedule here.   Welcome New Nonprofit Members! Music Makes Music Color Country Community Radio Color Country Animal Welfare Ogden Downtown Alliance Dixie State University Global & Community Engagement Office   Member Benefit Spotlight Easily Access Board Development Resources on UNA's Website. UNA provides valuable resources that you can use as board training tools to educate and engage your board members. UNA's Virtual Training Center offers excellent videos designed for board members that you can easily screen at a board meeting. This offers you a low-cost way to bring in that "outside expert" to introduce best practices to your board members. It can also help jazz up meetings to keep members engaged.  On the Members-only FAQ Resources page UNA provides many interactive concept maps. Board of Directors or Fiduciary Duties can be reviewed during a board meeting and used to spark lively discussions regarding your organization's attainment of best practices! Need other ideas or help accessing these resources? Contact UNA's friendly staff!   Community Announcements AFP Utah is presenting Creative Ways to Engage Volunteer Leaders in Philanthropy, 19 Jan. 11:30 am - 1:00 pm. Read more and register here. Eide Bailly is presenting Trends and Lessons Learned from the Resourcefullness Award. 19 Jan. 8-10am. Register here. The Sorenson Impact Center is offering a grant opportunity for communities needing data assistance with their Pay for Success projects. Eligible applicants are nonprofits, universities, state and local governments, tribes, as well as faith-based organizations operating in the U.S. that are actively involved with a Pay for Success project. Application deadline is January 17, 2017. Read more and find application materials here.