December 31, 2008
As 2008 draws to a close, the Foundation Center has published its annual review of philanthropy news over the past year:
From the historic candidacies of Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, to the credit crisis and implosion of the U.S. economy, to the spectacular Olympic Games staged by a rising China, it was a year to remember. And philanthropy was very much a part of it, doing what it has done best traditionally even as it sought to become more efficient, more effective, and more relevant to the networked global economy of the twenty-first century.
This special section takes a look at the economy, diversity, legislative news, global trends, noteworthy gifts, and more. The section ends with a look ahead at what’s to come in 2009.
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diversity, economy, government, in the news, international | 
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Posted by MCF Webmaster
December 19, 2008
Articles published about nonprofits and philanthropy.
Economy:
Local:
- Vikings Kick In $15,000 for Elliot Park Planning
Finance and Commerce: The team’s check is small, but symbolic: a first-of-its-kind donation for the team to local community planning and development efforts. The contribution matched a “Challenge Grant” from the Minneapolis-based McKnight Foundation.
- Team Approach Will Enable Lake Superior Zoo To Make Comeback
Duluth News-Tribune commentary: Local foundations supported the transition of the zoo from public to nonprofit management with substantial funding from the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation, the Northland Foundation and the Donald Weesner Foundation.
- MinnPost Gets Knight Grant for Local Reporting
MinnPost: The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation said they would help the nonprofit sites draw a larger audience by providing more local news, a key to their long-term viability.
National:
- New Retirement-Plan Regulations
Philanthropy Journal: Essentially, the new regulations for the 403(b) plans require more of a resemblance to corporate group 401(k) retirement plans. Employers will need to be more involved in the day-to-day aspects of how the plan is being administered and serviced.All 403(b) plans must come into compliance under these new regulations by Jan. 1, 2009, though there are some exceptions for church organizations.
- Wall Street Fraud Leaves Charities Reeling
New York Times: Charities that depended on foundations that have been forced to close have now added the Madoff scandal to the list of reasons that fund-raising has been crimped this fall.
- In Clinton List, a Veil Is Lifted on a Foundation
New York Times: Some of the world’s richest people and most famous celebrities handed over large checks to finance his presidential library and charitable activities.
- Starting Over, with a Second Career Goal of Changing Society
New York Times: A new Harvard yearlong program will train them learn how to be successful social entrepreneurs or leaders of nonprofit organizations focused on social problem.
- Grassley Targets Nonprofit Hospitals on Charity Care
Wall Street Journal: The proposed legislation would require nonprofit hospitals to spend a minimum amount on free care for the poor, also known as charity care, and set curbs on executive compensation and conflicts of interest.
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arts, economy, government, in the news | 
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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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Posted by MCF Webmaster
November 7, 2008
Lots of media clippings this week about nonprofits and philanthropy!
Election:
Economy:
Local:
- No Teacher Left Behind? Bush Foundation Looks At How To Improve Preparation Programs
MinnPost: One of the more intriguing ideas floated by foundation President Peter Hutchinson is having teaching programs keep education majors enrolled for four years after they graduate to receive ongoing coaching and mentoring.
- Schools Chief Makes Pitch To Donors
St. Paul Pioneer Press: A dozen local businesses and foundations have made new commitments to provide funding and other support to St. Paul schools as the district heads into a time of declining enrollment, financial shortfalls and rising academic challenges, Superintendent Meria Carstarphen said Thursday.
- Twin Cities Food Shelves Get Boost
Star Tribune: Emergency grants from the Greater Twin Cities United Way, The Minneapolis Foundation and F. R. Bigelow Foundation will help Twin Cities banks fill the gap as demand rises while donations fall.
National/International:
- The Latest Charity Shakedown
Wall Street Journal editorial: It’s been four months since 10 of California’s largest foundations agreed to hand over millions of dollars to “minority-led nonprofits.” That shakedown worked so well that Greenlining is taking its race gambit national. We hope foundation leaders will continue to stand up in the face of this onslaught from the race grievance industry. This exercise isn’t about helping the poor. It’s about greenlining the pockets of political activists.
- Kellogg Foundation Suspends Operations in Southern Africa
Philanthropy News Digest: Preliminary indications from a financial audit of its Pretoria, South Africa, office are that several hundred thousand dollars — and possibly more — may have been diverted illegally. A foundation spokesman said that all assets had been secured and that the foundation would cease financial transactions in the country until the audit had been completed.
- Some Philanthropists Are No Longer Content to Work Quietly
New York Times: A growing number of philanthropists’ foundations are spending increasing amounts and raising their voices to influence public policy — a marked shift from their traditional position.
- Americans for the Arts, Business Committee for the Arts to Merge
Philanthropy News Digest: The merger will create the largest-ever arts advocacy group in the private sector.
- Foundations Get Help Vetting Foreign Grantees
Chronicle of Philanthropy: A San Francisco nonprofit group has been picked to help private foundations in the United States ensure that recipients of grants to foreign charitable groups meet U.S. antiterrorism standards.
- Giving Circles
TIME Magazine: With the markets sinking, a lot of retirees may be cutting back on charitable giving along with their discretionary spending. But it’s still possible to effect a philanthropic impact by organizing or joining a giving circle.
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Posted by MCF Webmaster
November 5, 2008
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| ABCNews.com’s home page the morning after the election. |
The Chronicle of Philanthropy covered an Urban Institute event titled “What’s Ahead for Civil Society?” on Election Day. One panelist said that nonprofits need to “convince the new president [who was, at that time, not yet elected] and Congress to bolster the ability of charities to tackle the nation’s social problems” in light of the economic crisis.
Another panelist speculated that Obama’s tax proposals may help increase charitable giving. The Chronicle earlier profiled the nonprofit and philanthropy positions of the candidates; read more about Obama.
Updates: On Thursday, the Chronicle of Philanthropy posted a new story about what charities can expect under President Obama. Next week’s live chat will be a discussion of what the results mean for nonprofits and foundations. Submit a question now or check back Tuesday at 11 a.m. Central.
Join the conversation: How should the nonprofit world advise President-Elect Obama? Add your thoughts here or at philanthropy.com (the text at that link was written last week, to solicit advice no matter which candidate won, but the comment section is still open).
2 Comments | economy, government, nonprofits | Permalink
Posted by Crystal Colby
November 3, 2008
Tired of all the negative political ads and partisan bickering? Me too.
But last week I heard about a bit of cross-sector collaboration that gave me renewed hope and optimism. Bill Blazar of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Javier Morillo-Alicea of the Service Employees International Union Local 26 sat on the same stage and agreed wholeheartedly: Business and labor must work together for comprehensive immigration reform.
They were part of a day-long event called “Our Common Future: A Business Case for Immigration in Minnesota,” hosted by Neighborhood House and co-sponsored in part by MCF members The Saint Paul Foundation and The Minneapolis Foundation.
Keynote speaker was Tamar Jacoby, president and CEO of Immigration Works USA, a new national organization advancing immigration reform that works for all Americans – employers, workers and citizens. Her national perspective was reinforced by local facts. Minnesota State Economist Tom Stinson and Minnesota State Demographer Tom Gillaspy presented compelling data that showed that, without immigration, Minnesota will not have the human capital to fuel productivity, which is required for our future economic success.
I’m reminded of a few years ago when MCF and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits sponsored a joint conference themed “Common Ground for Common Good.” A lot of common ground on a sometimes divisive issue was discovered this week at Neighborhood House. Let’s hope advancing the common good comes next.
Join the conversation: How is your organization promoting information-sharing and cross-sector collaboration on society’s toughest issues? What surprising common ground have you found with others on the issues you care about most?
- Wendy Wehr, MCF V.P. of Communications and Information Services
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Posted by Wendy Wehr
October 24, 2008
Economy:
Local:
- Teen Challenge’s Petters Investments: A Wake-Up Call for Nonprofits
MinnPost: Minnesota Teen Challenge will try to rebuild its finances and credibility after apparently large investment losses in Petters Co., a company now being investigated for fraud. It’s a wake-up call for other nonprofits to review their investment policies and portfolios.
- Four Big Clients Sue Wells Fargo Over Investment Loss
Star Tribune: The Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Reinsurance Association, the Minnesota Medical Foundation, the Minneapolis Foundation and the Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi Foundation for Children asked a judge to find Wells Fargo in violation of state consumer fraud and unlawful trade practices laws and to pay unspecified damages and return several hundred million dollars in related securities.
- St. James Receives Town Meeting Grant
Mankato Free Press: A $15,000 grant from Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation will be used toward the completion of a “community-selected project” about entrepreneurs and experiential career education for students.
- A Poet Hooked on Rhyme, Reason and Recycling
MinnPost profile of one of The McKnight Foundations’ writer fellows.
National/international:
- Charities Urge Next President to Expand Giving Incentives
Chronicle of Philanthropy: As charities grapple with the economic crisis, their executives would like to see the next president take steps to promote giving and to strengthen the nonprofit work force, according to a report released by the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies.
- Nobody Does It Better
Wall Street Journal: Should the charitable tax deduction be reserved only for those organizations that can show they are directly serving “the poor and disadvantaged”? If the IRS begins micromanaging the charitable tax deduction, it is hard to know where it will stop.
- Post-Cyclone Aid Divides Myanmar Between the Helped and the Helpless
New York Times: Outside the delta, the list of those in need of food and medical attention in Myanmar is long and distressing.
- Wal-Mart Charity Chief: Nonprofits Must Team Up
Boston Herald: Instead of fighting for survival in an economic downturn, these groups ought to be looking for ways to work together while continuing their mission, Margaret McKenna said.
- Gates Foundation Searches Out Nontypical Research to Fund
Wall Street Journal: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will give $100 million in small doses to researchers doing novel medical-research experiments — part of a new way to use the Web to reach medical researchers who might be missed in a traditional grant-selection process.
- Gifts to Pet Charities Keep Lawmakers Happy
New York Times: During the first six months of 2008, lobbyists, corporations and interest groups gave approximately $13 million to charities and nonprofit organizations in honor of more than 200 members of the House and Senate.
- On Capitol Hill: Philanthropy Caucus
NonProfit Times: With staff turnover expected in the House, Senate and administration after the fall elections, a new Senate caucus will help to educate those on The Hill about the nonprofit sector.
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