Is philanthropy via TXT a fad or a revolution?

January 19, 2010

I heard a “fad vs. revolution” question posed on the radio this morning on the way to work. It was in reference to another topic, but it struck me, because I’ve been thinking this past weekend about all the various ways individuals are donating to the relief efforts in Haiti – via text messaging being the vehicle most prominently publicized.

Two men pause to send text messages on their smartphones.

Fad or future? What's your take on using SMS or texting to make donations?

I’ve been keeping my eyes open for any organization that is asking people to send in checks, but those appeals are almost nonexistent as most organizations are directing donors to their websites. A few are promoting phone numbers that take credit card donations, but these also are rare.

Is appealing for financial support via text messaging a fad or a revolution? How many more people will donate who wouldn’t have given otherwise, because it’s just a quick few punches with the thumbs and $10 is on its way? Preliminary numbers certainly point to the success of this appeal. If people give $10 via texting, but they would like to give more, will they? How?

Charitable giving is a $5.5 billion endeavor in Minnesota, according to MCF’s Giving in Minnesota, 2009 Edition research. Of this, 76 percent or $4.19 billion came from individuals. Over the past decade, charitable giving in Minnesota increased 67 percent, and the number of grantmakers in the state rose by more than 65 percent. In just a year, from 2006 to 2007, foundations and corporate giving programs increased their giving by 10.1 percent to $1.32 billion.

Has innovation or evolution in philanthropy contributed to this increase? What factors – technology, outreach strategies, messaging, donor-advised initiatives to name just a few examples – are redefining how and what we give? Which individuals and organizations are leading the way? These topics and more will be the focus of our spring issue of Giving Forum.

In the meantime, join the conversation on texting to support relief efforts in Haiti by commenting on this entry. I’m interested to hear others’ perspectives.

- Chris Murakami Noonan, MCF communications associate

Image CC Kiwanja

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Posted by Chris Noonan

Wow, Minnesota. You Gave to the Max, and Then Kept on Giving!

November 18, 2009

We here at MCF would like to take a moment to salute all those who participated in GiveMN’s Give to the Max Day — the donors, nonprofits, foundations, and the staff who made it possible.

The official results aren’t in yet, but according to the tracker at GiveMN.org $13 million dollars were raised for over 3,000 nonprofits in the state of Minnesota yesterday. We at MCF are fond of talking about the amazing generosity of Minnesotans to pretty much anyone who will listen, and it’s truly inspiring for us to see such an outpouring of that spirit of giving that we’re so proud to be a part of.

Give to the Max Day was made possible thanks to the generosity of The Saint Paul Foundation, The Minneapolis Foundation and the Bush Foundation who committed $500,000 in matching contributions to support community needs in Minnesota and to cover transaction fees so that 100% of all donations go to the nonprofit organizations. For information on the results of Give to the Max Day, stay tuned to GiveMN.org.

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A Reflection on the “All Stars Among Us”

September 21, 2009

Ever since the Major League Baseball All-Star game in mid-July, I’ve been thinking about the pre-game video. And, now that my beloved sport is reaching its regular season conclusion in the next couple of weeks, I thought I’d finally blog about my unexpected, impactful encounter with that six-minute video.

Did you see it? There I was, sitting on my couch waiting for Pres. Obama to throw out the first pitch. Instead, what came next from St. Louis were Presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton, Bush and Carter appealing to us to go beyond, to do good work daily, to volunteer. They highlighted the stories of five “All Stars Among Us,” individuals who were not intimidated by challenges, but inspired by the difference they could make.

What struck me about these stories is that these folks are ordinary people who are transforming their world in simple, extraordinary ways because they chose to act. Not just talk about needs and what ifs, but taking it upon themselves to step up to the plate and do something.

My colleague Juliana Tillema wrote a blog about her reflections and actions around the Sept. 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. A few days before that, I wrote about turning the word “philanthropy” into a verb. What is it about that word “do”?

Well, I’m trying to step up and do some sort of good work daily – whether it’s an organized activity or a spontaneous gesture. Opportunities abound. If you’re at all inclined to explore the possibilities for action, check out the website referenced in the All-Star video, http://www.serve.gov/.  Other appropriate names for this site could be do.org or act.com.

You get the point.

- Chris Murakami Noonan, MCF communications associate

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Posted by Chris Noonan

Philanthropy Isn’t a Verb?

September 8, 2009

Labor Day has come and gone. Summer’s over and the kids are back in school. The daily rigor of math tables and spelling and vocabulary lists has begun.

When those vocab lists start coming home, I wonder if “philanthropy” will ever be on the list. And if it is, how many of us would be able to spell it or pronounce it, and what would be the definition the teacher would expect students to memorize?

MCF co-produced a video in 2004 titled “Philanthropy Is.” Through “person-on-the-street” encounters, it becomes clear in the piece that some people have never heard the funny-sounding word before or thought about its meaning. Through interviews with donors, it also becomes clear that what philanthropy means to each donor is as individual as the donor.

Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines philanthropy as “goodwill to fellowmen; active effort to promote human welfare.”

Wikipedia states: “Philanthropy derives from Ancient Greek, meaning ‘to love people.’ Philanthropy is the act of donating money, goods, services, time and/or effort to support a socially beneficial cause, with a defined objective and with no financial or material reward to the donor.”

Neither of these definitions resonated with me. They lacked the passion, earnestness and commitment that I’ve come to associate with philanthropy.

What is most striking to me, though, is that philanthropy is not a verb. Aren’t verbs action words, and isn’t the very nature of philanthropy “action?” I’ve yet to meet a philanthropist or someone working in philanthropy who wasn’t all about “doing.”

Imagine using “philanthropy” as a verb.

Did you ever think you’d see the day when the more common usage of “friend” was as a verb? That must be wreaking havoc with teachers who have “friend” as a vocabulary word in their lesson plans!

Now that those funny-sounding words “google” and “bing” have become verbs too, how much action would it take by all of us to turn the tongue-twisting word – “philanthropy” – into a commonly used verb?

- Chris Murakami Noonan, MCF communications associate

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Posted by Chris Noonan

Do You Know Otto, Jay, Rose, Louis and Harvey?

August 25, 2009

When I heard recently that two 20-something cops didn’t recognize Bob Dylan, I knew the generation gap had become a giant crevasse.

Then I read about Don Hewitt’s death last week.  Who’s Don Hewitt?  Well, he was even older than Bob Dylan.  He produced the history-changing Nixon-Kennedy television debate, he almost single-handedly invented TV news, and by founding CBS’ “60 Minutes” he led us head-long down that slippery slope that turned news into entertainment.

So, if you don’t know who Don is, you should.  His legacy lives on every second of every day in our media-frenzied society.

Long-lived legacies play a central role in philanthropy, too.  If you’re a fundraiser (of any generation) in Minnesota, you ought to know about the founders of some of the largest foundations in our state.  For instance,

  • Otto Bremer, an energetic German immigrant whose concern for rural Minnesota lives on today.
  • Jay and Rose Phillips, a couple committed to charity and social justice during their lifetimes and beyond.
  • Louis W. Hill, the inspired founder of the Northwest Area Foundation.
Harvey Ordung, farmer and philanthropist, left half of his $9.3 million estate to nonprofits in Rock County.

Harvey Ordung, farmer and philanthropist, left half of his $9.3 million estate to nonprofits in Rock County.

Oh, and who’s Harvey?  That would be Harvey Ordung, the modest, simple-living, bachelor farmer who bequeathed almost $3 million to the Luverne, Minn., Dollars for Scholars organization.  Through a life well-lived and a charitable spirit, Harvey opened up a world of educational opportunity for future generations of kids in his community.

Nobody recognized Harvey as a great philanthropist.  But it’s not too late to remember him and others.  Yesterday’s trendsetters had crystal clear visions for the future.  Maybe looking back on their legacies will teach us how to narrow the generation gap and create a better world for ourselves and others.

Join the Conversation: Who’s your favorite philanthropist who was forgotten by time?  Who from today’s generation should be recognized for their current charity and vision for the future?

- Wendy Wehr, MCF V.P. of communications and information services

Photo CC Nic McPhee

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Posted by Wendy Wehr

No excuses: The 50+ers ramp up their giving

August 24, 2009

I can rattle off a myriad of reasons why those over age 50 might choose to cut back their giving: concerns about future income streams, limited spare time as they care for aging parents, their children’s college tuition expenses, rising health care costs and insurance premiums, and on and on. 

But, last week The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. announced the results of a volunteerism and charitable gift survey of the 50+ population.  The results showed that, excuses aside, this group is ramping up giving of both time and money.

In commemoration of The Hartford’ 25-year relationship with AARP, part of the survey focused on comparing AARP members with non-members.

Some of the findings:

  • 53 percent of consumers age 50+ participate in volunteer work, compared to 45 percent for those age 49 and younger.
  • Of those who volunteer, almost 14 percent of AARP members volunteer one day per week as compared to 7.5 percent of non-AARP members.
  • 76 percent of those over 50 give monetary donations to causes they support. This compares to 83 percent of AARP members over age 50, and 60 percent of those under age 49.
  • The causes most favored by the 50+ group include Alzheimer’s disease, social services, the environment and military support.  

- Chris Murakami Noonan, MCF communications associate

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Posted by Chris Noonan

I Freely and Openly Choose to Give

July 2, 2009
Photo by *Micky

Photo by *Micky

The choices are endless.

I could help the local girls softball association repair their catchers’ gear, the church youth group’s journey to New Orleans to rebuild houses, food shelf collections at my neighborhood grocery store, the picnic for families struggling with sarcoma, the small theater company’s edgy production of a work by an Asian American playwright.

Or I could support internationally renowned breast cancer researchers, a potter in South America via microfinancing, cleaner air worldwide, millions of the hungry and sick displaced by civil war or drought-ridden lands, or schooling for a youngster in Uganda.

Whether it’s across the street, across town or across the ocean, whether it’s one person or a multinational organization with hundreds of staff people, their passion to make the world a better place is what motivates them to pursue their mission and inspires us to give.

Among the freedoms we celebrate this weekend, let’s not forget that we Americans have the freedom to choose which of these passions we support and the extent to which we give.

Imagine how different our country would be if we could not freely and openly give.

In American Philanthropy Diversity: What It Means, Why It Matters, published March 2009 by The Philanthropy Roundtable, Naomi Schaefer Riley writes:

“The distinctive characteristic of American philanthropy is freedom. … However Americans want to help, they are at perfect liberty to do so. The result has been an awe-inspiring display of human ingenuity. The breadth, depth and variety of American charity has no historical precedent or contemporary parallel.

It addresses many thousands of causes, supported by many millions of donors, all of whom take it upon themselves to try to improve their communities in some small way. Such philanthropic diversity reflects the extraordinary creativity of free people deciding how best to give away their money.

It exists because countless individuals freely come together in pursuit of a vast variety of moral goods. Each of these associations has some charitable purpose; each has its own strategy. Each is unique, and each contributes to the rich mosaic of American philanthropy.”

So, choose to give a little or a lot, to some and not others, to give money or time. For me, the key is that I am choosing to give.

Happy Independence Day!

- Chris Murakami Noonan, MCF Communications Associate

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Posted by Chris Noonan

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