Top Leaders Join Kentucky Nonprofit Network Board of Directors

Kentucky Nonprofit Network (KNN), the state association of nonprofit organizations, has elected new members and selected its 2024 slate of officers for its board of directors. New board members include Mason Dyer, president of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU), attorney Elizabeth Ann Johnson of Stites & Harbison PLLC and Tawanda L. Owsley, chief marketing and development officer for Hosparus Health. Newly elected officers include Jeffrey L. Ashley, founder and president of Ashley Rountree and Associates, and attorney Eileen M. O’Brien of Osborne Family Law.

A 19-year veteran of AIKCU, Mason Dyer has served in many capacities in the organization including vice president of public affairs and external relations and information and director of communications and research. Previously he served as program manager for Junior Achievement (JA) of the Bluegrass. He previously served as a member of the Advisory Board for the Kentucky College and Career Connection Coalition.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Johnson is a member at Stites & Harbison’s Lexington office, where she concentrates her practice in health law, focusing on regulatory matters impacting both providers and payors. Kentucky’s former Medicaid Commissioner, her diverse background includes serving in both legal and policy roles in state government and the private sector. She previously served as president/executive director of the Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities/ Kentucky Center for Assisted Living and serves on the American Health Care Association Legal Committee.

At Hosparus Health, Tawanda Owsley leads the organization’s $24 million People of Compassion comprehensive campaign. She has headed the American Red Cross’ Bluegrass Chapter, was market director of philanthropy at KentuckyOne Health and served as director of major gifts for Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Her past board experience includes the Transit Authority of River City, Greater Louisville Inc., the Leadership Louisville Center, the Louisville Urban League, Lexington Children’s Theatre, Commerce Lexington and the Lexington Transit Authority. She was selected for the Leadership Louisville Bingham Fellows Class of 2021

Jeff Ashley of Ashley Rountree and Associates, a KNN board member since 2019 and KNN’s new board vice chair, has 30 years of fundraising and nonprofit experience. He previously held the positions of Spalding University’s vice president for university advancement and director of major gifts for the University of Louisville’s “Challenge for Excellence” campaign. Currently, he serves as the board chair for the Regional Cancer Center Corporation, the University of Kentucky National Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Twisted Pink Board of Directors.

New board secretary Eileen O’Brien has been with Osborne Family Law (formerly Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC) since 1981, where her practice focuses on insurance, employment law, product liability and personal injury as well as family law. The organizer of the firm’s Women in Business Conference each autumn, she currently serves as treasurer for the Kentucky Bar Foundation Board and president of the boards of the Chrysalis House and the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning. O’Brien was a member of the KNN board from 2013 to 2020 and rejoined the board in 2022.

Additionally, Sarah H. Jefferson, vice president and cash management director of Traditional Bank, was re-elected as KNN’s board chair and Judy Simpson, director of finance for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, was re-elected treasurer. Both joined the KNN board in 2020.

KNN was founded in 2002 and exists to strengthen and advance the Commonwealth’s nonprofit organizations, which are essential to vibrant communities. KNN provides quality education, sharing of best practices and resources, time and money-saving member benefits and a unified public policy voice for its more than 1,000 members statewide.

Kentucky Nonprofit Network Strengthens Investment in Louisville

Louisville native to lead public policy, advocacy efforts for Louisville Nonprofit Coalition

Kentucky Nonprofit Network (KNN), the Commonwealth’s statewide association of nonprofits, is expanding its coalition-building and public policy advocacy efforts in Louisville Metro and beyond with the addition of Laela Kashan, its new director of regional advocacy and engagement.

A Derby City native, Kashan has dedicated her career to ending gender-based violence with nonprofit organizations on the local, state, national, and international levels. She brings expertise in public policy advocacy, coalition-building, and project management to the Network’s mission, and in particular, will provide leadership and support to their Louisville Nonprofit Coalition (LouNC) – a local alliance of KNN members that launched in April 2023.

“Laela is eager to roll up her sleeves to strengthen and expand the impact of the LouNC in creating a unified advocacy voice and stronger partnership with the city and other officials to create solutions for the issues facing the Metro Louisville community. Her skills, passion for the work of our sector, and enthusiasm are the perfect combination we sought in someone filling this position,” said Danielle Clore, KNN’s CEO.

“The LouNC effort will give voice to the diverse residents that nonprofits serve in Louisville, and then extend to other interested alliances of nonprofits west of Louisville.”

Kashan holds a Juris Doctor degree from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University and a BS in justice administration from the University of Louisville. In her new position, she returns to local community advocacy from her position as housing project coordinator with the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence based in Washington. Prior to this position, she served for seven years as staff attorney and led public policy efforts with the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs. 

“Nonprofits are a core service sector impacting every Kentuckian and it’s a privilege to join KNN to support nonprofits using their voices to make impactful change,” said Kashan.

With its statewide mission of a strong, unified voice for Kentucky’s nonprofits, KNN’s focus is on expansion in the wake of COVID-19.

“The pandemic clearly highlighted the need for more coordinated advocacy on behalf of the sector at the local, state, and federal levels,” said Clore, “Our Coalition in Lexington, and now our new Coalition in Louisville, will help ensure that the expert voices of Kentucky’s third largest private sector employer are at the table in these two communities – and others as we grow – to effectively partner with government to create communities where all residents thrive.”

Over 1000 members strong, Kentucky Nonprofit Network was founded in 2002 and exists to strengthen and advance the Commonwealth’s nonprofit organizations, which are essential to vibrant communities. It provides quality professional development opportunities, access to nonprofit management recommended practices and resources, time and money-saving member benefits, and a unified public policy voice.

We Grieve. And We Must Also Act.

Dear nonprofit colleague: Since the horrific mass shooting in downtown Louisville one week ago, I’ve been struggling with what to say in this space that hasn’t already been said. Thoughts, prayers, condolences, we are grieving with you, we are angry and frustrated too… I deeply feel all of those things and yet, such statements feel so empty and hollow to me without a call to action. When I worked on this message last week, I decided I’d sit on it over the weekend and send today. In that time, another mass shooting happened in Louisville – this time at Chickasaw Park on Saturday. And a mass shooting at a sweet 16 party in Alabama. And a child shot twice in the head while knocking on the wrong door in Missouri when picking up his little brothers. And. And. And… A new survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation says most Americans – 54% – say they or a family member have personal experience with some form of gun violence. I am among this 54%, and I don’t want to live like this any longer. Do you?Each of us deserves to feel safe at work. Our kids deserve to feel safe at school and in their neighborhoods. Our clients and constituents deserve to feel safe at our organizations and our events. We deserve to feel safe as we shop for groceries, go to the movies, visit a park, or attend a worship service. And the fact is: many do not feel safe. The fact is: many are not safe.  We all agree this must change. But what does this mean exactly? I’m not sure. But I am sure that like most complex issues, it’s clear to me that more nonprofits are going to need to step up, and step up in a big way. And by this I mean not just nonprofits whose missions focus on gun violence (they’re already doing the heavy lifting), but ALL nonprofits (like KNN and many of you reading this). Why? Because your nonprofits are the ones on the front lines providing intervention, prevention, and other services to individuals, families, and communities. Nonprofits working with at-risk populations have employees afraid to come to work, afraid to conduct in-home visits, afraid to exist – they cannot continue to provide services without a workforce. Nonprofits are the ones willing to hold difficult conversations. Nonprofits are the ones willing to help hold elected officials accountable. As Whitney Austin, a gun violence survivor who was shot 12 times at a Cincinnati bank in 2018 and set up Whitney/Strong, a nonprofit on violence prevention and gun safety said: “This is not about divisiveness. This is not about guns are good, guns are bad. This is about finding where there is common ground and working together. I always have hope that change will come.” I never anticipated that gun violence would be a KNN legislative priority for the sector, but now it’s become clear that there is no other choice. For us to address this complex issue, nonprofits – once again – are needed to lead the way. It’s the only way that I too can have hope that change will come. To Louisville – and every community in Kentucky – we are with you, both in your quest for healing and in finding short and long term solutions. Even though I am not certain what that looks like yet… we are with you. Danielle Clore CEO

KNN Statement on Senate Bill 62

Senate Bill 62 is set to become law in mid-summer 2023. Kentucky Nonprofit Network stands with state associations of nonprofits across the nation in fighting similar unnecessary and confusing legislation in their states. We are disappointed that calls to improve this bill to protect the integrity of charitable nonprofits and address a host of implementation issues were ignored by the bill sponsor. We are disappointed that this bill was not vetoed by the Governor. 

Despite our disappointment, this is an important opportunity to remind charitable 501 (c)(3) nonprofits and donors that donor information always was, and still is, private and secure. Nothing about Senate Bill 62 changes that. What Senate Bill 62 does do is protect the privacy of donors to unincorporated nonprofits and nonprofit LLCs – entities lumped under the broad tent of the word “nonprofit,” but not subject to the same reporting requirements and now benefitting from the same protections as 501 (c)(3) charities. 

The 2021 U.S. Supreme Court ruling cited as the impetus for this legislation reinforced existing federal law protecting donor privacy for charitable nonprofits and for that reason, this legislation is at best – unnecessary. Unfortunately, it has mistakenly planted seeds of doubt and confusion regarding donor privacy among nonprofits and their donors. At worst, Senate Bill 62 is so broad that it is codifying protections into Kentucky law for entities with little to no oversight or required reporting, threatening the integrity of charitable nonprofits just when they need donors most. 

Senate Bill 62 also creates significant confusion on compliance that is certain to be a distraction and cause heartache for many worthy Kentucky charities. And we are troubled that Senate Bill 62 has the potential to weaken law enforcement’s ability to weed out bad apples who are taking advantage of donors. This legislation is fraught with unknown consequences that put the integrity of the sector and law enforcement’s ability to protect consumers at risk. 

If Senate Bill 62 only codified the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, it would have been unnecessary, but not risky for charitable nonprofits. The problem is that Senate Bill 62 does so much more. There are thousands of charitable nonprofits with critically important work to do in Kentucky. Donor trust is essential to their ability to raise needed funds to accomplish their missions and meet community needs. These charities cannot afford to be hijacked by partisan interests. Senate Bill 62 becoming law will make that easier.

Statement on Governor Andy Beshear’s 2021 Budget Address

January 7, 2021

Contact:
Danielle Clore
859-963-3203 x3
danielle@kynonprofits.org

Statement by Danielle Clore, CEO, Kentucky Nonprofit Network

Nonprofits are on the frontlines of Kentucky’s COVID-19 battle. As providers of critical services and as the fourth largest employer in the commonwealth, they need relief and they need it now. Tonight, Governor Andy Beshear proposed $20 million in relief and other aid – including small business relief funds – that can assist these essential organizations. The proposed relief will help ensure that programs for our most vulnerable continue, that communities thrive and that Kentuckians remain employed.

Nonprofits are unique. When a nonprofit closes its doors or must scale back its services, not only are jobs lost – vital services are lost as well. When another nonprofit cannot step in to pick up the slack, it’s Kentuckians who pay the price. Kentucky’s future depends on a thriving nonprofit sector and our Kentuckians will need nonprofit partners to support them and their families in the days and months ahead.

On a call earlier this week, the Governor told me, “Our administration is investing in relief, our people and Kentucky’s future. Nonprofits are essential to all three – that’s why my administration is committed to ensuring our nonprofit partners are here to help Kentucky communities thrive in our new economy.”

When nonprofits are hurting, the Kentuckians they serve are hurting. This investment of one-time funds would assist the organizations serving our neighbors and communities when they need help the most. The General Assembly has a history of supporting Kentucky’s nonprofit sector and we urge them to support this urgently needed relief.

Statement on Lexington Urban County Council’s Vote and Urgent Need for Congress to Act Now on Relief for Nonprofits

Yesterday’s unanimous vote by the Lexington Urban County Council to restore funding cuts proposed by the mayor for the city’s Extended Social Resource (ESR) grant program reflects an appreciation for the critical role nonprofit organizations play in serving each of us and our neighbors through partnerships with the city. The vote also reflects a growing understanding of the critical role nonprofits play in our economy – employing over 20,000 citizens in the Lexington community and generating over $1 billion in annual wages.

This roller coaster ride of proposed cuts, a city led “fundraising” campaign for selected nonprofits, confusion around any role that CARES Act reimbursements to the city might play, and more were unfortunate and unnecessary distractions for the impacted nonprofits, as well as for the nonprofit allies who were not directly impacted yet took time to speak out because they understood the ripple effect this would have on Lexington.

Nonprofits are on the front lines of serving our neighbors during COVID-19 and will be critical to thriving communities in recovery. As one Council Member stated during the debate to restore the proposed cuts: “We are attempting to shift the city’s uncertainty to those who can least bear it – the nonprofits who are needed most by our community.”

 This is the first time KNN has ever engaged in local public policy efforts. We felt compelled to work with our Lexington colleagues because the potential cuts and belief that private philanthropy could fill the gaps set a dangerous precedent in Kentucky and beyond.

Now that the dust has settled, funding is restored and the grant proposals will be reviewed, we share this example with Kentucky’s federal delegation and urge them to act now on bipartisan solutions important to all charitable nonprofits, as well as the critical need for local and state government funding. Nonprofits and the people we serve simply cannot afford a partisan standoff. We need Kentucky’s delegation to urge Congress to act now so that we don’t see Lexington’s crisis play out in communities across Kentucky.

Nonprofits are encouraged to sign on to our call for Kentucky’s delegation to act now.

Will Kentucky continue to thrive? It depends on the 2020 Census.

While April 1, 2020 seems a long way off, much is at stake to be sure the commonwealth receives its fair share of federal dollars for programs that use census-derived data. Kentucky is at high risk to undercount our population, which would mean a devastating loss of federal funding – our tax dollars returned to the commonwealth – for needed infrastructure improvements for roads and bridges, services for our most vulnerable Kentuckians and investments in programs that educate our children and strengthen families.

With so much at stake for all Kentuckians, the Count Me In KY 2020 Nonprofit Coalition encourages all nonprofit organizations to look for simple ways to help ensure a complete census count.  And we encourage all communities and residents to be counted.  Kentucky simply cannot afford to leave money on the table.

Required by our constitution, the census is performed every 10 years to not only count our country’s population, it also helps determine state populations that inform congressional representation and federal funding that comes to Kentucky.  The constitution requires that all persons residing in Kentucky be counted.

Infrastructure funding for roads and bridges is determined by census-derived data, as are many statewide programs including health coverage (Medicare Part B, CHIP and Medicaid); nutrition assistance (SNAP/WIC and school meals); education (Head Start, Title I and student loans and grants); housing (Section 8 and housing loans); and critical programs for children (foster care, adoption assistance and child care).  Kentucky receives approximately $15.8 billion per year in funding for 55 of the more than 300 federal programs using census data.

These allocations account for at least $2,021 per Kentuckian.  An undercount of just 1 percent of our population, or about 45,000 people, would cost Kentucky almost $91 million a year – and Kentucky would experience this loss for ten years. During the 2010 census, 12,568 children under the age of five went uncounted.  This undercount cost the commonwealth and our local communities over $12 million per year from just five of the many federally funded programs that exist to strengthen children and families.

In addition to children, other hard-to-count populations exist, such as transient families or individuals without a stable place to live, people living in poverty, the elderly, multi-family households, immigrants and rural communities. And with much of the census being conducted online in 2020, individuals who are distrustful of a count or reluctant to complete it online will need incentives to be counted.

An accurate count is also important to protecting Kentucky’s representation in Congress.  Kentucky lost a seat after the 1990 census and our current delegation of six representatives could be adversely affected by an undercount (or possibly positively affected depending on the count).  Census data is also used to determine Kentucky’s number of electoral college votes, as well as districts for state and local government.

Unfortunately, Kentucky has not appropriated any money for census outreach. Other states, including our neighbors in Virginia and friends in Georgia, are investing significant dollars to ensure an accurate census.  Regardless, outreach to secure a complete count must be done to avoid the devastating impact local communities would experience should Kentucky undercount our residents in 2020.

Kentucky Nonprofit Network and partners from across the Commonwealth formed the Count Me In 2020 KY Nonprofit Coalition to encourage nonprofits in all Kentucky communities to engage in simple census outreach that encourages their stakeholders to be counted.  Nonprofits are in a unique position to assist in helping secure a complete count because the thousands of organizations across Kentucky come into contact with these typically hard-to-count residents on a regular basis. Nonprofits also understand more than most that cities and counties will look to our sector to meet the needs of citizens in the event of funding cuts to programs based on census-derived data.

Resources to help nonprofits engage, including webinar recordings and a current list of complete count committees where they can work with others in their community or launch a community effort themselves is available at www.kynonprofits.org/census2020.  As we approach April 1, additional information and resources for nonprofits will continue to be posted to this site.

Kentucky cannot afford to procrastinate. Data from the 2020 Census will have long-term implications for Kentucky in the next decade. Each of us can play an active role in census outreach to help ensure an accurate count. We urge nonprofits and all Kentuckians to come together to prepare now to make sure every resident is counted in 2020.

More information about the Count Me In KY Nonprofit Coalition can be found at www.kynonprofits.org/census2020 or via email: countmeinky2020@kynonprofits.org.

Signed by member of the Count Me In 2020 KY Nonprofit Coalition:

• Association of Kentucky Independent Colleges and Universities
• Catholic Charities of Louisville – Kentucky Office for Refugees
• Child Care Council of Kentucky
• Feeding Kentucky
• Kentucky Association of Counties
• Kentucky Head Start Association
• Kentucky Health Resources Alliance
• Kentucky League of Cities
• Kentucky Nonprofit Network
• Kentucky Voices for Health
• Kentucky Youth Advocates
• Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky
• Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence
• United Way of Kentucky

 

Statement on the General Assembly’s Passage of a Legislative Solution to the Sales Tax Issue Facing Nonprofits

Kentucky Nonprofit Network CEO, Danielle Clore, issues statement on passage of the Free Conference Committee Report to House Bill 354.

Kentucky’s nonprofit organizations have moved a critical step closer to relief from the burden of collecting and remitting sales tax on admissions to their events and on items sold for fundraising purposes. The passage of the Free Conference Committee Report to House Bill 354 by the Kentucky General Assembly lifts and clarifies sales tax requirements and allows Kentucky’s nonprofit organizations to focus on what they do best – serve Kentucky communities. The bill now heads to Governor Bevin’s desk for signature.

As employers of one in eleven Kentuckians, nonprofit organizations are essential to Kentucky’s quality of life – the kind of quality of life that makes businesses want to operate in Kentucky. Nonprofits are also often vital partners with the Commonwealth to deliver programs and services the state is obligated to provide.

When nonprofits are hurting, the Kentuckians they serve are hurting. We appreciate the General Assembly’s recognition of the vital work of our nonprofit sector. This legislative solution provides much-needed relief by ensuring that the funds donated to the commonwealth’s charities will stay with the charities — investing in their vital work to address critical issues and strengthen our communities.

Statement on BR 76, A Tax Exemption Bill on Admission Ticket Purchases

Kentucky Nonprofit Network Executive Director/CEO Danielle Clore issued the following statement in response to the prefiled bill.

The recent Kentucky Supreme Court ruling, combined with the 2018 tax reform legislation have created a truly unfortunate distraction for the thousands of nonprofit organizations working to enhance the quality of life for Kentuckians.  Organizations statewide are spending precious resources of time and money trying to understand the new laws, determine how the changes impact them and then adjust their business practices to comply, if required.  The administrative burden and potential impact on the individual donations that are essential to their missions is enormous.

We are pleased that Speaker Pro Tempore Osborne and other members of the Kentucky General Assembly agree that addressing this problem as soon as possible is imperative.  Kentucky Nonprofit Network is actively drafting a legislative solution that helps nonprofits remain focused on what they do best – strengthen communities. We look forward to working with them.

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Kentucky Nonprofit Network (KNN) is Kentucky’s state association of nonprofits. Founded in 2002, KNN provides a unified public policy voice, sharing of best practices and resources, and time and money-saving member benefits to advance Kentucky’s nonprofit community.

Contact: Danielle Clore | danielle@kynonprofits.org | http://www.kynonprofits.org

Statement on Governor Bevin’s Budget Proposal

Kentucky Nonprofit Network Executive Director/CEO Danielle Clore issued the following statement in response to the release of Governor Bevin’s budget proposal:

Nonprofit organizations are at risk, which means Kentuckians are at risk.

In his budget proposal, Governor Matt Bevin recommends investments to combat Kentucky’s opioid crisis, improve child protection and the foster care system and other programs, which would be important steps to building a stronger Kentucky. He also proposes budget cuts of 6.25 percent and the elimination of 70 programs, which will result in more Kentuckians turning to charitable nonprofits for assistance. Combine that with further significant budget cuts coming from the federal level and the projected loss of millions of dollars in charitable contributions as a result of the new federal tax law. Add on new demands on nonprofits to accommodate, manage and verify service hours for thousands of Kentuckians needing to meet new requirements for Kentucky HEALTH eligibility, the 1115 Medicaid waiver approved last week. This all has the makings of a perfect storm bearing down on the nonprofits that serve every community from Paducah to Pikeville.

When nonprofit organizations face these competing forces of increased demand and decreased resources, that perfect storm hurts the most vulnerable Kentuckians who rely on nonprofits for vital services. Left in the wake of the storm are reduced service hours and waitlists. And that perfect storm could force some nonprofits to close their doors, leaving our friends, families, and neighbors without meals, adequate shelter, health services, crisis counseling, job training, quality child care, educational opportunities and other assistance.

We know that Governor Bevin shares the commitment of nonprofits organizations to a quality of life in Kentucky that makes our Commonwealth an attractive place for businesses to set up shop. Quality of life is what nonprofits do. It’s why we exist. We know that investments in education, health care, workforce development, the environment and the arts build a better economy that is critical to creating vibrant communities that bring jobs to Kentucky. Accounting for nine percent of Kentucky’s wages and employing over nine percent of our state’s workforce, nonprofit organizations are also an economic engine vital to the kind of Commonwealth Governor Bevin says he envisions.

Kentucky Nonprofit Network hopes to work with the Bevin Administration to ensure that Kentuckians seeking to meet the new Kentucky HEALTH eligibility requirements and the nonprofits that welcome them will both benefit. To do this, we must work together to make certain those organizations have the capacity and support to effectively accommodate the individuals who must satisfy community engagement requirements to receive basic health care.

We call on the Governor and members of the General Assembly to take a balanced approach to getting Kentucky’s fiscal house in order. Kentucky cannot cut its way to prosperity. We agree that new revenue is essential and urge tax modernization sooner rather than later.

Nonprofits are committed partners and proven problem-solvers. Let’s work together to create a better future for all Kentuckians.

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Kentucky Nonprofit Network (KNN) is Kentucky’s state association of nonprofits. Founded in 2002, KNN provides quality education, sharing of best practices and resources, time and money-saving member benefits and a unified public policy voice to advance Kentucky’s nonprofit community because nonprofits are essential to vibrant communities.

Contact: Danielle Clore | danielle@kynonprofits.org | http://www.kynonprofits.org