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NEWS RELEASE

September 16, 2009

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Ulman Announces the Creation of a Nonprofit Resource Development Council for Howard County

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Ken Ulman announced today the creation of a Nonprofit Resource Development Council, a collaborative effort to ensure the long-term health and resiliency of local nonprofit organizations. Ulman made the announcement at the Association of Community Services (ACS) monthly meeting. The 13-member council, appointed by the County Executive and Co-Chaired by The Horizon Foundation President Richard Krieg and ACS Executive Director Anne Towne, will serve for three years.

“As the country’s economic woes continue, it’s critical that we offer proactive support to make certain that nonprofits have the resources they need to continue providing vital services to the community,” said County Executive Ulman. The nonprofit sector represents approximately 15 percent of Howard County’s workforce; they support human services, health, the environment, the arts and other activities which Howard County residents rely on.

“ACS members have been on the front line of seeing the challenges the human services community is facing today. County Executive Ulman has recognized these challenges both in funding – and now in creating this Council. His action today follows Howard County’s tradition of government and nonprofits working together to identify the best ways to operate successfully as organizations and for the county citizens they serve,” said Jay Blackman, ACS President. “We’re confident this Council and this partnership will identify practices, resources and collaborations that can help nonprofits – and particularly the people served by the human services community – to survive and thrive.”

This effort will build on two earlier projects: 1) the Capacity Building Initiative developed by the Department of Citizen Services and 2) a summit convened by the Horizon Foundation and ACS. Last year, the Department of Citizen Services developed a Capacity Building Initiative to explore creative new approaches to service delivery while also strengthening the organizational capacity of participating nonprofits. The initiative involved 13 nonprofits over a seven-month period, and the final report, entitled “Building Capacity to Serve,” offers important findings for individual organizations as well as for the nonprofit sector collectively. In addition, this past March, the Horizon Foundation and ACS convened a summit entitled “Leading in the Lean Years: Organizational Survival Strategies.” The summit attracted over 250 participants and generated important thought and discussion about the need for strong, creative and dynamic leadership during these difficult economic times.

“Nonprofits provide essential services and are often asked to do more with less. The economic downturn has made a difficult job far more challenging. I give great credit to County Executive Ulman for bringing these issues to the foreground and look forward to working with the Council in taking a systemic look at the issues and focusing on workable recommendations. As I see it, the goal is to have the community come together behind our nonprofits,” said Richard Krieg, President of The Horizon Foundation.

Those appointed to the Nonprofit Resource Development Council are:

• Richard Krieg, Horizon Foundation, Council Co-Chair
• Anne Towne, Association of Community Services, Council Co-Chair
• Susan Rosenbaum, Howard County Department of Citizen Services
• Richard Story, Howard County Economic Development Authority
• Valerie Gross, Howard County Library
• Kate Hetherington, Howard Community College
• Beverley Francis, Columbia Foundation
• Dr. Peter Beilenson, Howard County Health Department
• Pam Klahr, President Howard County Chamber of Commerce
• Dr. Sydney Cousin, Howard County Public School System
• Coleen West, Howard County Arts Council
• Ned Tillman, Howard County Environmental Sustainability Board
• Vic Broccolino, Howard County General Hospital