In the Media

February 26, 2009

Roundup of how the media is covering philanthropy and nonprofits.

Economy:

  • Nonprofits Team Up for Sake of Survival
    Dayton Daily News: The Dayton Foundation is launching an initiative to help nonprofit organizations forge possible alliances to survive in this shaky economy.
  • Charities Merge at Almost the Same Rate as Businesses
    Chronicle of Philanthropy: In the for-profit world, investment banks act as match makers, shopping deals to potential merger partners. Nonprofit mergers don’t offer the same financial payoff, and as a result, there are no intermediaries scouting for logical charity mergers. The co-authors of a new report think that grantmakers could play that role.
  • Global Giving: Not So Bleak
    Fortune: The more dire the outlook, the more the need for giving. Turns out, powerful people are getting more aggressive rather than stepping back. Technology helps. So does an influx of talent.
  • In Uncertain Times, Donors Hold Back
    New York Times: However, there are ways donors might give in tough times without putting themselves in financial peril, should the economy and financial markets continue their fall.

Local:

  • Giving for Good
    Twin Cities Business: I talk to friends in other cities, and I read about what goes on elsewhere. And the more I do, the more I come to understand and appreciate what we have going here: an attitude, a self-imposed standard, a generosity of heart (and of pocketbook) that enriches all our lives.

National:

Leave a Comment » | collaboration, corporate, economy, in the news, individual giving | Permalink
Posted by MCF Webmaster

Are the Arts Pork?

February 25, 2009

Well, of course not. But I got your attention. And I bet this headline made a few of our readers as mad as a sow protecting her piglets.

But there’s no use denying it. Funders of the arts, artists and arts organizations are all worried that support for their sector is on the chopping block in this economic climate. (MinnPost recently reported on the Senate cutting National Endowment for the Arts funding in its version of the federal stimulus bill, possibly because of sentiment that arts funding is pork.)

When I sat in on the Arts & Culture breakout session at MCF’s recent Funding Outlook meeting, the participants didn’t hold back on expressing their fears. But they also brainstormed some ideas that could be useful for any nonprofit sector looking to preserve its share of the pie:

  • Don’t be ashamed of your mission. In good times and bad, you have a valuable role in society.  Attendees at the meeting said, “Be loud and proud.”
  • Take control of your messaging.  Define your organization and its benefits before someone else does; in sports lingo, that means playing offense, not defense. The president of Americans for the Arts, for example, makes the case that the arts are an essential part of the economy.
  • Look to the pros for marketing advice. Corporations are very generous in the Twin Cities; ask your funders to share their expertise to positively position your cause.
  • Answer the “So what?” question.  If you’re in the arts, for instance, what does the continuation of your program mean for preserving jobs or educating inner-city kids?
  • Speak with one voice. Combat uncertainty, fear and paralysis by communicating with your peers.  Stop competing and start collaborating by creating common messaging that can be heard above the din.

At MCF, our association as a whole can’t advocate for arts more than any other area of interest in the nonprofit sector.  But our individual members can — and do — advocate for the causes that are at the heart of their missions.  So, if you’re a nonprofit that’s worried about being positioned as pork, don’t just start squealing.  Communicate and collaborate with your colleagues so that everyone benefits.

- Wendy Wehr, MCF V.P. of Communications and Information Services

Leave a Comment » | arts, economy | Permalink
Posted by Wendy Wehr

General Mills Sponsors Pound for Pound Weight Loss Challenge

February 24, 2009

General Mills is teaming up with the reality TV show The Biggest Loser to sponsor the Pound for Pound Challenge to raise money for the hunger-relief charity Feeding America.

For every pound that Americans pledge to lose, General Mills will donate 10 cents to Feeding America. (10 cents provides one pound of groceries for a local food bank.) Participants can register their weight-loss pledge at www.pfpchallenge.com.

General Mills will also donate 10 cents for each seal from a designated product, if mailed by the end of the year. With a target of $500,000 from the weight loss challenge and $275,000 from the product seals, General Mills could donate up to $750,000 to Feeding America through this partnership.

Teachers from one local school have already taken the pledge. The Star Tribune profiled the group: Westonka Staff Proud to Join ‘Biggest Losers.’

Leave a Comment » | corporate, health | Permalink
Posted by MCF Webmaster

A Day to Celebrate Corporate Investment in the Community

February 23, 2009

Today is International Corporate Philanthropy Day, a day to build awareness of corporate-community partnerships and inspire businesses to do more in the way of giving. In honor of the day, sponsored by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, MCF celebrates the contributions made by Minnesota’s corporate grantmakers by sharing the following statistics:

  • $483 million: Amount given by all Minnesota corporate grantmakers in MN in 2006.
  • 10.8%: Increase in corporate grantmaking in Minnesota between 2005 & 2006.
  • 9%: Share of grantmakers in the state who are corporate.
  • 42%: Share of grantmaking dollars in Minnesota that come from corporate funders.

Where do the corporate grant dollars go?

  • 33%: Share of dollars that go to Education.
  • 19%: Share of dollars that go to Human Services.
  • 18%: Share of dollars that go to Public/Society Benefit.
  • 16%: Share of dollars that go to Arts.
  • 9%: Share of dollars that go to Health.

Source: MCF’s Giving in Minnesota, 2008 Edition.

In the words of Paul Newman, co-founder of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy and an innovative philanthropist in his own right: “I respect generosity in people, and I respect it in companies too. I don’t look at it as philanthropy; I see it as an investment in the community.”

A big shout out to Minnesota’s corporate grantmakers, and happy International Corporate Philanthropy Day!

- Juliana Tillema, MCF’s research manager

Leave a Comment » | corporate, research | Permalink
Posted by julianatillema

Welcome, Chris!

February 23, 2009

Christine Murakami Noonan is MCF’s new part-time communications associate. Chris has a deep background in marketing and communications. Her last position was with the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, where she was instrumental in the marketing of the planet Ordway presentations, which brought music, dance and theater to diverse audiences in the Twin Cities. Previously she served as a community relations manager for Asian American Renaissance, and she held communications positions at the University of Minnesota and the University of St. Thomas.

Leave a Comment » | communication, mcf | Permalink
Posted by MCF Webmaster

Practical Mergers and Collaborations

February 20, 2009

At MCF’s program last week on the 2009 funding outlook for Minnesota, grantmakers and grantseekers in the social services sector spent a good deal of time discussing collaboration and mergers. Are these strategies (part of) a solution to the limited grant dollars available during tough economic times? Do they allow organizations to have greater impact? Or are they held out as a panacea, when the practical reality is that mergers and collaborations require a great deal of time and resources to be effective (and who’s got extra of either right now)?

Overwhelmingly, conference participants called for more information: examples of successful collaborations, best practices, and nuts and bolts guidance on how to partner and merge. As well they should …

A quick scan of what resources are available online on nonprofit collaboration shows … not a whole lot. David La Piana, an expert on nonprofit management, has conducted groundbreaking research on strategic restructuring. His research includes information on different types of strategic relationships, as well as survey findings on the benefits and challenges of different types of collaborations.

Several local agencies are also working to expand the knowledge base on nonprofit mergers and collaborations, including MAP for Nonprofits’ Project ReDesign and Greater Twin Cities United Way. One thing to emerge from MCF’s program is the strong demand for these resources.

Know of high-quality resources, information, or best practices on nonprofit mergers? Please share them here.

- Juliana Tillema, MCF’s research manager

3 Comments | collaboration, research | Permalink
Posted by julianatillema

In the Media

February 19, 2009

Roundup of how the media is covering nonprofits and philanthropy.

Economy:

Local:

  • Cargill Donates $1 million to Global Anti-Hunger Network
    Star Tribune: The Chicago-based Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) said the donation will be used to feed schoolchildren in Argentina, Colombia, India and South Africa, as well as “support existing partner networks and food banks, and scale up key network development projects that alleviate hunger and malnutrition.”
  • What’s New (and Old) In the Neighborhood?
    The Bridge: A photo exhibit running through the end of the month reveals the familiar details, past and present, of neighborhood life in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Sponsors include the Carolyn Foundation, The McKnight Foundation, St. Paul Travelers’ Arts and Diversity Employee Committee and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (with funding from the Minnesota Legislature).
  • U.S. Senators Help Promote Best Buy Teen Program
    Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal: The public service announcements, filmed by various U.S. senators, including Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, are short, unscripted videos that share “messages of hope and inspiration for America’s youth.”
  • Dental Health Important, Tooth Decay Preventable
    Wahpeton Daily News: As Dental Health Awareness Month runs during February, West Central Initiative is pushing families to take precautionary measures for their kids’ teeth.

National:

  • Dramatic IRS Shift for Nonprofits
    Philadelphia Inquirer: Nonprofits, which don’t pay federal taxes, but still must report their income, are confronted with a new, more complicated public-reporting form, called form 990, that demands a deeper look at how organizations operate. It now delves into questions such as how top officers are compensated and what potential safeguards exist to prevent corruption.
  • Twitter Followers Raise Thousands of Dollars for Charity
    Chronicle of Philanthropy: Twestival, which took place in more than 175 cities around the world from Banaglore to Baton Rouge, brought together people who use the social networking site, Twitter, to meet in person and raise money for charity.

1 Comment | arts, economy, fundraising, health, in the news, technology | Permalink
Posted by MCF Webmaster

Survival is Spelled E-V-O-L-U-T-I-O-N

February 18, 2009
Photo: kevindooley

No, no, this is not a treatise on evolution vs. creation theory. It’s just a coincidence that about the time of last week’s anniversary of Darwin’s 200th birth, some heavy hitters in the nonprofit and foundation worlds were sharing a few thoughts of their own about survival and change in a harsh (economic) environment.

Last Friday MCF hosted a dynamic meeting. Nearly 250 grantmakers and grantseekers met face-to-face (this doesn’t happen often enough) to talk about the economic outlook — who’s affected in what ways and how we’re going to cope or, in some cases, survive.

Innovation and change were top of mind for our opening panel: Jon Pratt from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, Sandy Vargas from The Minneapolis Foundation, Alex Cirillo from the 3M Foundation and Judy Alnes from MAP for Nonprofits.

Everyone spoke with candor. Alnes honed in on change: We must believe that change is needed, and we must realize that we (not the other guys) need to change.  And to be innovative we need to nurture our curiosity and be deliberate about the process.  She referenced one of her latest reads on how to free yourself from the status quo, “Blue Ocean Strategy.”

Vargas flatly stated that restructuring (not only at nonprofits, but at foundations, too) is going to happen with or without our consent — so it’s time to get beyond the fear, to focus on our constituents and to embrace creative thinking.

Of course, 3M and innovation are nearly synonymous. Cirillo told the group, “The biggest obstacle to innovation is what you know.” He coached us to stop talking to the same people we always talk to. Flip everything around — inside out and upside down.

These and other ideas were bandied about throughout the afternoon (more on our breakout sessions by sector later this week). I’ll be interested in reading our participant evaluations: Will the evolution in thinking lead to evolution in action in the coming months?

Join the conversation: How are you and your organization embracing change and fostering  innovation? Which structures and systems do you want to turn upside down and inside out?

- Wendy Wehr, MCF V.P. of Communications and Information Services

Leave a Comment » | economy, leadership, nonprofits | Permalink
Posted by Wendy Wehr

« Previous Entries