December 27, 2008
Roundup of news articles about philanthropy and nonprofits in the local and national media:
Local:
- Outpouring of Generosity to Fire Victims
WCCO: They came out in droves, bringing clothes, food, toiletries, Christmas gifts and toys, like the ones a group of Bloomington boys brought to help out.
> Burnsville Fire Victims Tearfully Receive $17,500 Checks from Anonymous Donor (Star Tribune)
> Let’s Ignore Effectiveness, Just For Today (New Voices of Philanthropy)
- Forum Offers Landowners Information on Wind Energy
Bemidji Pioneer: The wind energy potential is significant for Minnesota, and greater Minnesota can capture economic benefits from the wind energy market, according to Cheryl Glaeser of the Southwest Initiative Foundation.
- From Gang Member to Guide
Twin Cities Daily Planet: Not many heroes around, these days. Isaac Combs, recipient of the McKnight Foundation’s 2008 Virginia McKnight Binger Award in Human Service, undeniably is one.
Economy:
- After Madoff, Donors Grow Wary of Giving
Wall Street Journal: Amid a distressed economy and the disturbing news that many high-profile nonprofits were hurt by Mr. Madoff’s alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme, an increasing number of donors are losing confidence in the ability of such groups to safeguard their money.
> Major Foundation To Close, While Charities Reel from Scandal (Chronicle of Philanthropy)
> CT Attorney General Examines Liability of Charity Trustees in Madoff Scandal (Chronicle of Philanthropy)
- Hard Times Stir Opportunities
Elk River Star News: Kathy Gaalswyk, the president of the Initiative Foundation, spoke about economics locally and pointed out the opportunities that a recession brings as community leaders and decision makers assess their situation and prepare for the eventuality of the economy being restored.
- Despite Economy, We Must Invest in Region
Editorial by Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation president Tim Penny in the Rochester Post-Bulletin.
- Charity Gets Personal Amid Economic Hardship
MSNBC: The vast majority of survey respondents said they plan to keep up or even increase contributions to favorite charities or those in need, even if they are feeling the financial pinch themselves.
- Despite Tough Times, Retailers Are Giving More to Charity
USA Today: Double-digit sales declines notwithstanding, retailers have shown this is the season of giving after all.
- Nonprofits Don’t Need a Bailout; Americans Give In Bad Times, Too
Investor’s Business Daily editorial: The American people are generous. They support their charities in good times and bad. And while some charities are suffering now, the answer is not expanded federal spending or bailouts.
National:
- Congress Targets Philanthropy
Wall Street Journal: Like divining rods, Members of Congress are always alert to fresh sources of money, which once discovered they will spend. California Democratic Congressman Xavier Becerra thinks he’s discovered a new source of political treasure: the money inside private and community foundations.
- Who Gives the Most?
Forbes: Americans give more to charity, per capita and as a percentage of gross domestic product, than the citizens of other nations. But why?
- Charity Rankings Giveth Less than Meets the Eye
Wall Street Journal: It may make you feel better to know that your charitable donations are going to organizations that have been highly rated by any number of online charity rankings. But these sites fail to quantify the most-important and most elusive charity measurement: success in achieving its mission.
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disasters, economy, in the news, individual giving | 
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Posted by MCF Webmaster
December 5, 2008
Roundup of philanthropy and nonprofit articles.
- Greiling to Nonprofits: Act Like Auto Execs and Ask for More
MinnPost: Rep. Mindy Greiling (D-Roseville) says in bleak financial times, nonprofit agencies typically go to the Legislature and say, “Don’t cut me. Please don’t cut me.” That approach needs to change, she says.
- Layoffs Hitting Nonprofits Despite Need Increasing
NonProfit Times: The economic downturn is battering nonprofits, first with a marked decrease in donations and now the ensuing layoffs because of the dramatically reduced revenue. In some cases, the layoffs are in the double-digits of percentage of workforce.
- Nonprofits in a Faltering Economy
Opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times that asks, “Where’s the bailout for agencies that help our neediest?”
- Ike Donations Flow Slowly as Economy Slips
Houston Chronicle: Aid campaigns have raised less than $19 million.
- Americans Are Charitable; The Next Congress Should Offer More Choices
Op-ed piece by national Council on Foundations president Steve Gunderson in the Washington Times.
- Obama Adviser Meets With Foundation Officials
Chronicle of Philanthropy: Nonprofit leaders hopeful that Barack Obama will listen to their ideas, take note: this week he sent a senior adviser to meet with foundation officials to discuss ways the federal government and philanthropy can work together to overcome the nation’s financial turmoil and housing problems.
- Obama Must Mobilize Supporters to Help Nonprofits
Op-ed piece in the Washington Post.
- Gates Urges Obama to Maintain Education and International Spending
Chronicle of Philanthropy: Gates, who is increasingly using his pulpit as arguably the country’s best-known businessman and philanthropist to influence American policy, said that programs supported by his foundation, and by the U.S. government, have proven that investments in those areas do produce results.
- New Philanthropists More Global
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The combination of parental money and youthful idealism is creating a new group of philanthropists who are more hands-on and globally aware than their parents.
- Philanthropist Goes His Own Way to Find Causes
San Francisco Chronicle: Quite possibly the Bay Area’s fastest philanthropist, Somerville gives away $5 million a year to fight poverty, granting each proposal he likes within 48 hours.
- Ultra-Wealthy Donors Looking for More Advice, More Sophisticated Ways to Give
Wall Street Journal: A 2008 study found accountants, attorneys and financial or wealth advisors to be among the leading sources of charitable advice. Compare that to 2006, when the study found that nonprofit personnel and wealthy donors’ peers led the way in advice-givers.
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disasters, economy, government, in the news, international | 
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Posted by MCF Webmaster
September 18, 2008
The Minnesota Council on Foundations held a discussion on disaster response on Tuesday at the Red Cross - Twin Cities Chapter, to discuss how funders have stepped up to meet the challenges they’ve faced this past year brought on by the flooding in southeastern Minnesota, the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis, as well as Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav and Ike.
The most common themes to come out of the discussion were communication and collaboration — both were key factors in providing assistance. Communication was important both with donors and collaborators. Funders need to be sure their statement of intent — what they are going to do with the money they collect — is crystal clear so that donors will not feel misled later. The importance of early and constant streams of communication with other funders and the community programs could not be stressed enough. This saves time and money especially to help prevent duplication of efforts.
After the crisis has passed, it is important to take a moment to write down the lessons learned and to share them with others. All of the presenters thought it was important to remain in contact with one’s network so that it is easy to mobilize resources should it become necessary again.
Presenters included Charlie Cook, LSW, of Emergency Behavioral Health Professionals and Louisiana Spirit; Hazen Graves, Attorney, Faegre & Benson; Karen Kelley-Ariwoola, Minnesota Helps-Bridge Disaster Fund and The Minneapolis Foundation; Julia Ross, Disaster Outreach Coordinator, Hennepin County; Karen Erlenbusch, United Way of Olmsted County.
Many resources on disaster grantmaking are listed on our website at www.mcf.org/disasters.
A couple recent articles from the Chronicle of Philanthropy about disaster recovery:
- Lisa Johnson, MCF’s manager of professional development and e-learning
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Posted by Lisa Johnson
August 1, 2008
One year ago, after the 35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis fell, we all saw an enormous outpouring of support. The Minnesota Helps Fund received more than $1.2 million in donations from funders and individuals, and grantmakers contributed to that fund as well as other local relief agencies. Later that month, funders again responded after southern Minnesota was hit by floods.
When disaster strikes, philanthropy has a valuable role in both emergency and long-range relief efforts. But the philanthropic sector is, of course, not alone in responding — it requires the entire fabric of community and government systems.
MCF will hold a Funders’ Response To Disaster: Lessons Learned program for grantmakers on Sept. 16. Karen Kelley-Ariwoola of The Minneapolis Foundation and the Minnesota Helps Fund will be a panelist describing how funders are supporting disaster preparedness in innovative ways. She will be joined by Karen Erlenbusch of the United Way of Olmsted County, which is continuing to assist flood recovery, in discussing how philanthropy can be a stronger partner in ensuring that the needs of all are met when disasters occur.
No Comments » | disasters, mcf, programs | Permalink
Posted by MCF Webmaster
July 29, 2008
Photo by U.S. Geological Survey
Earlier this month, ten senators introduced legislation that would have created charitable incentives for giving to support relief efforts of the recent disasters that have hit the Midwest (as an amendment to an unrelated bill designed to ease the housing crisis). The national Council on Foundations reported that the Senate passed the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 (H.R.3221) without that amendment.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that a new bill, S. 3322, has been introduced by 11 senators, including Minnesota senators Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar:
The Midwestern Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008 would allow individuals and corporations to get unlimited charitable deductions for donations to relief efforts in the affected areas through the end of 2008.
No Comments » | disasters, government | Permalink
Posted by MCF Webmaster
Posted by MCF Webmaster
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation just released a second report on the state of the recovery, 
