We had a great year with our inaugural Wisconsin State Journal Nonprofit Advisory Board. If you'd like to ask questions, just add a comment through the attached forum. I'll be watching this space in the coming weeks. Or you can email me at efoley@madison.com.

I wanted you to see the great effort the advisory board put forth in outlining for State Journal journalists the top coverage areas for the nonprofit community. As I said in the column that appeared in Sunday's paper and also published at www.madison.com/wsj/home/opinion/, we are very grateful. Here is the detailed document the first advisory board shared with us for your perusal.

Top Issues for WSJ Coverage

Of Greater Madison Nonprofit Organizations

1. Nonprofit Contributions/Enhancements to the Community

Content Suggestions

• Overview of the services provided by nonprofits in Dane County
• Impact of advocacy for system change on our community
• Personal stories from those who benefited from services and/or system change
• How not-for-profits maximize resources/dollars
• Opportunities for leadership and development within nonprofits as paid or volunteer staff
• How not-for-profits improve local quality of life
• Research on quantifying the impact of not-for-profit dollars in our community (Private foundation, state and federal dollars that fund local services)
• Economic impact of nonprofits (number of employees, revenues, self-sufficiency, non-local dollars contribute to the economy, revenue dollars stay local)
• Importance of business involvement in the nonprofit community (business philanthropy)

2. Changing Demographics of our Community

Content Suggestions

• Changes/shifts in race and ethnicity, and immigrant population in our community
• Affordable housing/homelessness
• Environmental protection and stewardship (water quality, transportation, development, green space, food supply)
• Increasing poverty and class divide
• Erosion of established rights (i.e. marriage amendment, death penalty)
• Rising prison population

3. Practices/Issues at the State and Federal Level that are Decreasing Democracy

Content Suggestions

• Good government and lack of opportunities for citizen participation (hearing notices, campaign finance, decision making processes)
• Immigration "reform"
• Funding cuts at the state and federal level
• Reduction in federal benefits programs (Medicare, Welfare, Food Stamps)

4. Understanding Nonprofits

Content Suggestions

• Management, funding, operations and program evaluation
• Understanding audits, 990's and nonprofit accounting
• Importance of strong infrastructure to quality services (administration/program)
• Viewing not-for-profits as contributing business entities

Benefits and Recommendations for Future

1. WSJ Nonprofit Advisory Board Benefits

• Created opportunity for dialogue on issues (listening post)
• Provided opportunity for developing relationships (round-table discussions)
• Received editorial support (i.e. Nonprofit Gag Rule & Neighborhood House)
• Increased resources for reporters and editors (creation database)

2. Recommendations

Identify one of the four key categories identified above

• Run a series in 2006/07 on issues related to that category
• Incorporate opportunity for four guest columns within the year on this issue by panel members on this category
• Include 1 feature or story in the business section related to this category

Increase coverage of nonprofits in business section

• Include monthly 'spotlight' on nonprofit business, similar to existing local business spotlights
• Ensure that nonprofits know their personnel "changes" can be included in "changes" section
• Include nonprofit emphasis in broader business stories (i.e. impact of gas price increases on all local businesses could include impact on transit-heavy nonprofits)

Meeting Structure and Content

• Provide background information for the initial meeting ahead and respond to questions only thus allowing more time for discussion and dialogue on identified topics
• Include round-table discussions in first meeting as method of relationship building
• Include more opportunities for nonprofits to meet with reporters, not just editorial staff
• Devote the remaining meetings to specific key issue or issues allowing time for nonprofits to prepare background and editors/reporters identify questions
• Minimize emphasis on 'tips' for nonprofits such as how to write press releases

e-mailed/Crystel Anders/5-4-06