Alliance Magazine Columnists

Nonprofit Law

• Explores a variety of legal issues that are, many items, unique to nonprofit organizations
• Provides easy-to-understand analysis to help nonprofits ensure they are minimizing risk and operating effectively

About the Author: Kathryn M. Vanden Berk practiced law for nine years before serving as president of two residential treatment centers for children. Now practicing in Chicago, she focuses on nonprofit start-ups, corporate and tax law, and employment issues. She serves as adjunct faculty at several Chicago universities, and is a member of the Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management Advisory Board at North Park University.

She authored a handbook on starting nonprofits that is available from the Nonprofit Financial Center in Chicago, and a chapter in the Illinois attorney’s handbook Not-for-Profit Corporations, 2004 Ed., Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education. In 2004 she authored Retooling Employment Standards for the Future, a publication of the First Nonprofit Educational Foundation, Chicago.

She can be reached by email or at 312-558-1690.

Fund Development

• Covers a variety of topics related to improving strategies, developing new practices, and aligning with best practices
• Aims to increase nonprofits’ capacity of to raise funds

About the Author: Bob Jones, Ph.D., is chair of the Alliance's Resource Development Advisory Committee. He is president and CEO of Alliance member Children's Aid and Family Services in Paramus, N.J., and an adjunct professor with the Master of Nonprofit Administration program at the University of Norte Dame Mendoza College of Business.

Capitol Connection

• Updates the Alliance for Children and Families and United Neighborhood Centers of America (UNCA) membership networks about ongoing work by the public policy staff in Washington, D.C.
• Provides information about how the public policy office sets its agenda, as well as how it responds to a variety of issues and legislative measures that impact the nonprofit human services sector

About the Author: Cecilia Fiermonte is director of child welfare policy at the Alliance. An attorney, she previously was assistant director at the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, advocating for policy change and providing training and technical assistance.

She also previously:

• Supervised the child welfare program of the County Attorney's Office in Wyoming County, N.Y.
• Worked in research and evaluation at the Quality Improvement Center on the Representation of Children
• Represented children in family court matters

Perspectives

• Provides updates about Alliance and UNCA programs and initiatives, as well as national nonprofit human services sector news
• Shares personal observations and experiences from interactions with a variety of nonprofit leaders and organizations throughout the country

About the Author: The late Peter Goldberg was president and CEO of the Alliance and its parent holding company, Families International (FI). In his capacity as president and CEO of FI, he oversaw a thriving group of affiliated organizations, including the Alliance, United Neighborhood Centers of America, FEI Behavioral Health, and Ways to Work.

He was selected by The NonProfit Times as one of the 50 most influential people in the nonprofit sector nine times since 1998.