Can Bloggers Change the World? Some Food for Thought on Blog Action Day 2009

September 28, 2009

Can bloggers change the world? The folks over at change.org certainly think so. They are busy orchestrating the third annual Blog Action Day.

The idea behind Blog Action Day is simple. Individual bloggers can only do so much, but if enough bloggers can be united to write about a single issue on a particular day from their own unique perspective, suddenly that issue has an audience of millions.

Reading about change.org’s Blog Action Day got me thinking about the prospect of this type of cross-organizational communication on common causes within Minnesota. As a communicator working in the nonprofit and philanthropic sphere, I know I daily combat the daunting knowledge that we are all in a sense “competing” for a finite amount of the public’s attention.

Seeing the change.org initiative got me thinking. What if groups hooked arms and pulled together around causes, instead of elbowing each other out of the way?

What do you think? Are there more ways that organizations within Minnesota can be collaborating on communication around common causes? How effective do you think online, cross-organizational strategies like these are, especially when there’s no common message per se, but just a common directive to draw attention to the topic?

Can you think of any groups who are taking steps to communicate jointly around a shared interest using their online communications like the folks over at change.org?

I am all ears! If you have any thoughts or examples to share about this strategy for public engagement, please leave your comments below.

-Cary Lenore Walski, MCF web communications associate

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In the Media

September 16, 2009
Photo by Dan..

Ridin' the range and ropin' the headlines so you don't have to.

Your biweekly roundup of media coverage on the world of nonprofit and philanthropy (yee-ha.)

Ecology-minded Kids are Working to Gather 1 Million (Noncontroversial) Acorns
(MinnPost) Sick of the scandal over nonprofit ACORN? Here’s something to brighten your day.  Local youth participating in the Million Acorn Challenge are learning about ecology as they collect acorns for planting around the state of Minnesota.

Foundation Center Launches National Education Stimulus Initiative
(PND) New York based Foundation Center has announced the launch of a new national educational initiative to engage foundations and education leaders across the country in a unified, strategic drive to improve public education. The centerpiece of the initiative will be a web portal designed to help education funders align their grantmaking with funds available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

How Foundations Can Do the Most to Advance the Needs of Minorities
(The Chronicle of Philanthropy) Black philanthropist Robert K. Ross reflects on the soul-searching inspired by the recently proposed law to require the disclosure of the race and ethnicity of grantees in his home state of California.

In New York City, Poverty Defined In New Terms
(NPR) In response to the inadequacy of the current federal measure of poverty, New York City policy makers have created their own metrics for calculating poverty and determining support.

Stressing Results, Charity Retools Grant-giving
(The Boston Globe) The biggest charity in New England is changing how they award grants, leaving many nonprofits worried about funding. The new strategy will favor larger, less-restricted grants to fewer grantees.

United Ways 2009: A Confusing Mix of Missed and Missing Goals
(The Nonprofit Quarterly) A sign of the time, United Ways across the nation are changing how they set goals for their annual campaigns. Many UWs will focus on increasing the number of donors, not the total amount of donations. But in these trying times, skeptics wonder where these new donors will be found.

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“Growing Up Healthy” in Minnesota

August 21, 2009

Tune in to TPT’s MN Channel on Sunday at 7:30 for the latest program from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation: “Growing Up Healthy: Kids and Communities — Addressing Social, Economic and Environmental Influences on Health.”

The half-hour program focuses on improving young children’s health through high quality early care and learning, safe and healthy housing, a healthy physical environment, and connections with caring adults. It features the work of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota grantees, including:

  • The National Center for Healthy Housing, documenting the positive health impacts of a green renovation of a low-income apartment complex in Worthington, Minn.
  • East Side Neighborhood Development Company in St. Paul, creating healthier home and child care environments on the city’s East Side.
  • The University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, reducing women and children’s exposures to pesticides in the Red River Valley and increasing residents’ access to locally grown produce.
  • Rice County Growing Up Healthy, working to connect residents of Faribault and Northfield to programs, services and resources to help them be healthier.
  • University of Minnesota Children, Youth and Family Consortium, working to ensure that Minneapolis families with young children have healthy home environments.

Free DVDs of the program are available from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.

Also available are Somali, Spanish and Hmong discussion guides for an earlier program, “Shared Values: Health and Community — Shaping Minnesota’s Future with New Americans.” The program explores how individuals and communities become more interconnected and healthier when there are strong social support networks and opportunities to work together.

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In the Media

May 13, 2009

Roundup of media coverage on the world of nonprofits and philanthropy.

Economy
Nonprofits Fear Charitable Giving Will be Cut by More Than 10%
Investment News: The banking and finance industries make up 25% of foundation support, study says.

Donors Find Gift Annuities Can Stop Giving
Wall Street Journal: The economic downturn could cause some charities to have trouble meeting their annuity obligations.

From the Answer Desk: How Can Foundations Avoid or Address Financial Emergencies?
Foundation Center: There’s no single answer that will be right for all organizations. Here are 10 resources that may help.

Recession Slams U.S. Arts Organizations
Philanthropy News Digest: U.S. Art Organizations  fight the economy and the perception that donations to the Arts are frivolous in tough economic times.

Local
Hourcar’s Fleet Now Includes 20 Cars at 18 Locations in Minneapolis
Star Tribune: Seward Co-op home of new vehicle sharing hub. A 2008 matching grant of up to $150,000 from the McKnight Foundation should help the expansion continue.

Young Essay Writer Inspires Capitol Crowd
Kare 11: Sixth Grader Shavaughnta Carter from Concordia Creative Learning Academy in Saint Paul wins essay contest and hearts with letter to President Obama.  The TCF Foundation is proud to present a cash award to Carter for the Center for School Change essay contest.

Foundation Awards Free Paint
Albert Lea Tribune: The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation awards $7,600 worth of free paint to local organizations through their annual “Picture It Painted” program.

National
Nonprofit Groups Receive Mixed Results in Obama’s Budget
The Chronicle of Philanthropy: The $3.5-trillion federal budget that President Obama has proposed for 2010 would affect federal programs in a variety of ways that affect charities.

Highlights from President Obama’s Budget Proposal
The Washington Grantmakers Daily: Seven articles about President Obama’s budget and how it will impact different nonprofits.

Michelle Obama Announces $50 Million Fund for Nonprofits
The Washington Post: Michelle Obama unveils Social Innovation Fund. Initiative to provide capital to support innovative nonprofit organizations and to help social entrepreneurs expand.

Philanthropy Adapts to the Obama Era
The American Prospect: One philanthropist reports feeling he has a “partner, not an adversary” in new administration. A reflection on philanthropy and its relationship with both past and current administration.

Charities Reap Benefits of Contests on the Internet
The New York Times: The opportunities for nonprofit groups to win money through contests are proliferating.

Target, Facebook Team Up and Let 10 Charities Compete for $$$
Star Tribune: Target Foundation asks facebook members to vote on distribution of $3 million among ten different charities.

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Conference blog keeps you in the loop

May 4, 2009

The national Council on Foundations’ (COF) annual conference began this morning in Atlanta.  COF’s president Steve Gunderson writes, “There is energy and urgency in the air. It’s a critical time for the country and the world. And it’s just the right time for the more than 1,300 people here to reexamine philanthropy’s place, today and tomorrow.”

Tight budgets may be preventing many from attending this year, but you can still join the conversation and gather insights on what matters in the field of philanthropy.

The Council launched a new blog, which my colleague Juliana Tillema introduced to you on her Philanthropy Potluck blog post April 30. The conference blog, RE: Philanthropy, provides a place for those attending to post reports and reflections on what they see, hear and think. What’s the talk in the halls? Amid all the changes in the economy and Washington, what really matters now?

The blogging team is a mix of expected and unexpected writers, established voices and next-generation leaders, and includes Minnesota connections such as Trista Harris, executive director of Headwaters Foundation for Justice, and Emmett Carson, former president and CEO of The Minneapolis Foundation and current CEO and president of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.  The blog may also include video.

This morning’s posts include contributors’ responses to the question “What one question do you think philanthropy needs to address?”

COF says the blog will continue beyond the conference. So, check out what your colleagues in philanthropy are saying. Post your own ideas. And join the conversation.

- Chris Murakami Noonan, MCF Communications Associate

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Happy Earth Day

April 22, 2009
Photo: ortizmj12

Photo: ortizmj12

I haven’t heard much about Earth Day this year, surprising as today is the 40th anniversary of its founding. I do remember lots of hoopla for the 20th anniversary, including a parade down Summit Ave. and a big rally at the Minnesota State Capital.

 

But maybe I shouldn’t fret and instead take this year’s lack of “events” as a good sign. In recent months, there’s surely been an uptick in green thinking, and environmentally responsible behavior finally seems to be ingraining itself in our habits. These developments are unquestionably better than a one-day commemoration.

 

Grantmakers continue to fund programs that help the earth. In our Giving in Minnesota research, we report on “Environment” grants that go to organizations that focus on the preservation and protection of the environment, botanical gardens and societies, urban beautification, and environmental education. And “Animals” grants that go to organizations that focus on the care and protection of animals, including wildlife, pets and specialty animals. About 5% of Minnesota’s grantmaking dollars went to these causes in 2006.

 

Minnesota’s five largest Environment/Animals grantmakers in 2006 were The McKnight Foundation, Bush Foundation, Cargill Foundation, Blandin Foundation and 3M Foundation and Corporate Giving Program. All are MCF members, and they continue to lead green giving in the state.

 

A month ago, The McKnight Foundation announced a commitment of $100 million over the next five years to support a comprehensive strategy to prevent dangerous climate change, by reducing heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions from key regions around the world.

 

On April 1, Blandin Foundation committed $7 million to the conservation fund for the Upper Mississippi Forest project. The donation represents the largest private donation toward a conservation project ever made in the state and will help protect 60,000 acres of wetlands and more than 280 miles of lake and stream frontage. The area includes wetlands in the upper watershed and primary tributaries to the Mississippi River.

 

Cargill made a voluntary but legally binding commitment to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions from its U.S. locations by joining the Chicago Climate Exchange®. The commitment requires the company to reduce emissions by 6% by 2010 (from a 1998-2001 baseline) and to achieve annual milestones along the way.

 

So, enjoy the day and do your part – today and everyday.

 

Susan Stehling, MCF communications

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In the Media

April 15, 2009

Roundup of media coverage of the world of philanthropy and nonprofits.

Economy:

Pohlad Foundation to Give $20 Million to Those Hit by Recession

Mpls./St. Paul Business Journal: The money will go toward small businesses and nonprofit services that meet families’ short-term needs and help them prepare for the future.

 

Foundations can be Smarter Investors
Inside Philanthropy: Foundations are missing an opportunity to shape social and economic change because they continue to operate as passive investors.

 

Nonprofits Increase ‘Gift Tax’ On Donors
The Wall Street Journal: A growing number of organizations are tapping donors for a “gift tax.”

 

Tough Times are Cause to Give More
NPR Marketplace: The economic fallout has hurt charities, and foundations have been tightening their belts, but some donors are giving more.

 

A Struggle to Slice Stimulus Fund Pie
The New York Times: More than 2,000 applications have poured into the National Endowment for the Arts, each seeking a piece of the stimulus pie.

 

Local:

 

Wells Fargo Donations Up 5% in 2008
Mpls./St. Paul Business Journal

  

Building a Foundation to Make a Difference
The Star Tribune: The Community Foundation for Carver County is working to become a resource for nonprofits.

 

Linking Younger Generations to the News through Social Networking Sites
editorsweblog.org: Two experiments, funded by the Knight Foundation, hope to get news to Facebook users.

 

Carbon Markets and Forest Practices Webinar now Available Online

A webinar funded by The Blandin Foundation is now available.

 

Don’t Volunteer: St. Thomas
Flixya: The Greater Twin Cities United Way and The University of St. Thomas created a video encouraging people not to volunteer.

 

Nonprofits Encouraged to Apply for Free Wireless Internet Accounts
NRP Digest: Minneapolis is seeking applications for 100 free wireless Internet accounts for non-profit organizations that provide free public computer access.

 

National:

 

Sharing in the USA
USA Today: A special philanthropy section features an article by Michelle Obama on the nation’s need for youthful idealism and more.

 

Confusing Web Sites Discourage Donors from Online Giving
The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Poorly designed web sites deter donors who would be willing to give online, suggests a new study.

Leave a Comment » | arts, community foundations, corporate, economy, environment, family foundations, fundraising, general operating support, government, in the news, individual giving, leadership, nonprofits, private foundations, technology, volunteers | Permalink
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McKnight Aims to Prevent Climate Change

March 19, 2009
Photo: ecstaticist

Photo: ecstaticist

The McKnight Foundation is embarking on a comprehensive, five-year strategy to prevent climate change.

“Decisions we all make in the next 10 years will affect the planet’s climate and its people for generations,” said Kate Wolford, foundation president. “Without immediate action, climate change will put at risk all those served by our programs. As a private foundation, McKnight has the flexibility and the resources to respond strategically to this extraordinary challenge.”

McKnight has long been Minnesota’s biggest giver to the environment. This new $100-million effort is aimed at reducing heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions from key regions and sectors around the world.

One major component of this effort is an initial $16 million for the new ClimateWorks Foundation, an international network of philanthropists, policy and clean technology experts dedicated to achieving low-carbon prosperity. The grant will help promote smart energy policies, ramp up deployment of clean energy technologies in areas where the most carbon pollution is generated, and help prevent deforestation in the world’s largest tropical forests.

Additional McKnight support will go to the Energy Foundation and policy reform for the Midwest. Last June, the foundation awarded nearly $4 million to support regional environmental efforts. Find out more about McKnight’s environment support at mcknight.org.

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