Minnesota Council on Foundations Blog – Philanthropy Potluck

Roundup of articles about philanthropy and nonprofits.

Economy:

• House Stimulus Legislation Would Bolster Social-Services Spending
  Chronicle of Philanthropy: The economic-stimulus package approved by the House of Representatives would provide new money to an array of health and social-services programs, offering some relief to charities that are facing rising demand and shrinking revenues as the economic crisis deepens.
• Charity Must Not Become a Casualty of the Recession
  Richard Branson in the Daily Telegraph.
• Nonprofit Groups Feel the Credit Crunch
  Chronicle of Philanthropy: Nonprofit organizations are in for a tough year of tightening credit markets and a deepening recession, according to two new reports from Moody’s Investors Service.
• Nonprofits and the Economy, a three-part series from the Wilmington (NC) Star-News:
  > Part 1: The downturn’s effect on philanthropic giving
  > Part 2: What it means to North Carolina
  > Part 3: Strategizing under the current conditions
• When Donors Can’t Keep Their Pledges
  Wall Street Journal: Although a pledge is a legally enforceable contract in most states, charities typically don’t enforce them. But a donor’s ethics and reputation may still be on the line. If you have been a steady supporter of a charity but have to cut back on your usual gifts this year, get in touch with the charity right away and consider alternative forms of donations.

Local:

• Bremer, a Bank Built for Charity, Creates New Fund to Help Individuals Hitting Hard Times
  MinnPost: The money is meant to help people who can’t keep the heat on, who have a sudden medical bill or face other financial emergencies. Bremer identified grass-roots organizations it believed were in touch with individual needs, and charged them with getting the money to the people who need it.
• Students Teach Others About Conflict Management
  Bemidji Pioneer: Five students who taught a session on bullying are involved in the “I Can Teach” after-school program. The concept evolved from the Students Teaching Attitudes of Respect program funded by the Northwest Minnesota Foundation and sponsored by Peacemaker Resources.
• Mpls. Capri Theater To Get Some Big Upgrades
  WCCO: Later this year, the theater will be fitted with enhanced sound and lighting, a bigger and better lobby and a marquee to extend the jazzed-up atmosphere to the outside. The center has already received funding for the project in the form of grants from the Anderson Family Foundation, The McKnight Foundation, the RBC Foundation – USA and the Travelers Foundation.

National:

• Madoff and America’s (Poorer) Foundations
  New York Times columnist: A few private foundations have owned up to the money they’ve lost with Mr. Madoff, but most haven’t. So let me help them out. These foundations serve the public interest, and if the nonprofits that rely on them have been financially crippled we should get a heads up. (Seven Minnesota-based foundations are on the list [PDF].)
• Gates Foundation Loses Money, Still Ups Spending
  Reuters: The Gates Foundation has lost about 20 percent of its assets in the economic recession but will still increase spending on global health, education and other causes. Bill Gates said it is more important to help society than to maintain his foundation’s endowment.
• The Dead, More Generous than the Living in 2008
  Wall Street Journal: “Giving while living” became a mantra of philanthropy in recent years. Now, with the living running out of cash, it is the nonliving who are back in the lead as donors.