Insights and Trends with Patrick Troska

May 6, 2013

How much do you know about The Jay & Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota?

In 1944, Jay and Rose Phillips started the foundation to help those living in poverty and to fight discrimination. The foundation honors that legacy and continues to gives back to the community, even as it looks to new models of addressing the issues to accomplish its ultimate goal. We sat down recently with Patrick Troska, executive director, to learn more.

Watch the video to hear about the foundation’s new focus on impacting community issues and how it leverages its resources to do so. And look for more videos with Minnesota’s philanthropic leaders to come!

-Chris Oien, MCF web communications associate

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A Soul/Spirit Connection: Remembering Why Philanthropy Matters: Part II

April 17, 2013

ABFE-logo5By Karen Kelley-Ariwoola

Editor’s Note: Today’s post is the second of two parts written by MCF member Karen Kelley-Ariwoola, a Minneapolis Foundation donor advisor and community leader. She is the former Vice President, Community Philanthropy, at The Minneapolis Foundation, and a former MCF Board Chair.

Yesterday I wrote about my experiences at the recent Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE) conference, where I was led and taught by some of the best and the brightest Black professionals in philanthropy.

Today I’ll share how I was also lifted up by the special track of workshops for Black trustees who serve on foundation boards, as well as the annual James Joseph Lecture.

Equipping Black Trustees to Serve Their Community
The trustee workshops were part of “Leverage the Trust,” an ABFE initiative that equips Black trustees with support and tools to be excellent foundation trustees and represent the needs and concerns of Black communities in foundation deliberations and investments.

After serving many years on various nonprofit boards and chairing the MCF board for three years, I was honored to lead “Leveraging the Trust” with co-chair Anita Brown-Graham, a trustee of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in North Carolina.

In the workshops, Black trustees from around the country shared their experiences as foundation trustees and deeply explored the challenges and opportunities in moving philanthropy toward equity. I was honored to listen and learn from my peers and elders, and I will use their wisdom and experiences to help ABFE finalize a tool to strengthen the ability of Black trustees to serve with excellence and impact.

James Joseph Lecture: Invest in Early Education
Finally, the James Joseph Lecture given by Dr. Robert Ross, president and CEO of the California Endowment was the centerpiece of my weekend. Last year, I had the privilege of receiving this award and delivering the 21st annual lecture, the highest honor in Black philanthropy, and this year I was pleased to be on the other side of the podium, listening to Dr. Ross’ powerful message.

Troubled by the growing violence in our nation, this very busy foundation head took three months off to dive deep into better understanding causes and solutions. His lecture was an edge-of-your-seat recounting of the vivid conversations, tears shed, and revelations that emerged from listening and learning.

Read the full text of his speech “Enough and Now.” Dr. Ross noted three primary early warning signs that Black boys or young men are signaling for help: third grade reading, chronic school absence, and school suspensions or expulsions.

In response to these concerns he called for “greater investment in the early childhood years, reducing and or eliminating out-of-school suspensions; replacing unreasonably harsh discipline practices with restorative justice and other more accountable and effective policies; monitoring and reporting systems for chronic school absence; the incorporation of wellness, physical and social-emotional health into school achievement testing approaches.”

I’m sure these were not the kinds of recommendations most people expected to hear in response to violence in our communities. But those of us who work in community understand that these are the very kinds of investments that serve as protective factors for young children.

Dr. Ross also called for more people of color in philanthropy, noting that most foundation efforts focused on Black men and boys are led by people of color. In the absence of this diversity, he fears that much of the work focused on equity will not exist.

Dr. Ross closed by reminding us that if we truly “love” the black boys and young men in our community, then we are compelled to fight for justice on their behalf. “Love is justice.”

I could say much more about these three days that were jammed with networking, learning and discovering strategic tools to place Black communities on a path to healing. Though the snow in Minnesota is trying hard to hang on, I refuse to look back to the cold, dreariness of winter.  And I refuse to give in to the sense of hopelessness that often accompanies discussions of lifting the Black community out of its current condition.

I’ve received my annual ABFE elixir and am ready to face the work of building community in partnership with allies that share the commitment to strengthening Black communities.  Springtime brings my new resolve.

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A Soul/Spirit Connection: Remembering Why Philanthropy Matters, Part I

April 16, 2013

ari1By Karen Kelley-Ariwoola

Editor’s Note: Today’s post is the first of two parts written by MCF member Karen Kelley-Ariwoola, a Minneapolis Foundation donor advisor and community leader. She is the former Vice President, Community Philanthropy, at The Minneapolis Foundation, and a former MCF board chair.

Every year as the seasons change, I anticipate eagerly my spring ritual of attending the annual conference of the Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE), the largest convening of Black professionals in philanthropy.

For my nearly two decades in “formal” philanthropy, I attended ABFE to feed my soul, to be validated for my contributions to the field, and to celebrate those of my peers around the country. But most important, over the years I have been reminded that our work, which is often hard, messy and long-term, matters immensely. Each year I emerged, like the buds peeking out of the dirt, ready to face community-building with joy, new tools and a renewed sense of urgency.

This year my need for support and renewal was greater than ever — coming on the heels of a major job transition and following the recent untimely deaths of my sister and mother just a few weeks apart.

The ABFE conference exceeded my expectations. The conference theme, “Innovation + Investment = Impact,” drew hundreds of staff, CEOs, trustees, donors and others interested in creating positive and lasting impact in Black communities around the country. Attendees were sobered by the fact that just blocks from the downtown convention hotel, Chicago’s neighborhoods had been riddled with violence — particularly homicides of black adults, children and babies.

Philanthropic Strategies to Achieve Equity
Conference sessions aligned with ABFE’s Responsive Philanthropy in Black Communities (RPBC) framework. This agenda for change provides context about the historical and structural barriers to equity of Black communities, along with corresponding philanthropic and policy strategies designed to improve the condition of Black people and increase investments in Black communities. These strategies (primarily directed at grantmakers) include:

  • The engagement of Black communities in the design of effective strategies
  • A focus on systemic causes of disparities and building on the strengths of Black communities
  • Building leadership capacity in Black communities and strengthening their core institutions
  • The use of disaggregated data to inform planning and policy
  • Evaluation that is both quantitative and qualitative
  • Communication strategies that minimize negative images of Blacks in the media

One of the core concepts of the RPBC framework is the notion of “targeted universalism,” a concept that suggests that the whole community can benefit even as we focus to meet the needs of a specific group. A classic example that illustrates this concept is the “cut outs” in sidewalks: First designed to accommodate wheelchairs but universally used by runners, bikers, people pushing baby strollers, and those crossing the street at an icy Minnesota intersection.

Because Blacks, especially Black males and low-income Black families remain overrepresented on almost every negative indicator of wellbeing in this country, it makes sense that we should embrace targeted strategies to close the gaps, while also believing that our entire community will benefit by lifting up this part of the population.

Building on the RPBC Framework, the rich variety of ABFE sessions included:

  • Examining foundation finance and investments through an equity lens,
  • Preparing a pipeline of Black leadership in philanthropy,
  • An “Innovation Market” introducing unconventional and promising ideas that are taking shape in Black communities,
  • A “Donor Salon” that convened Black donors from community foundations around the country (me included!),
  • And numerous other powerful presentations on community development, educational equity, Black men and boys (including launch of a new website with resources on funders who care about this issue), and strategic communications to combat negative media portrayals of Blacks.

As if being led and taught by some of the best and brightest in philanthropy with whom I also share a cultural bond was not enough, I was also lifted up by the special track of workshops for Black trustees who serve on foundation boards and, of course, the annual James Joseph Lecture. Tomorrow I’ll write more about those experiences — and what inspired me the most as I returned back to Minnesota.

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Member Post: Why the Charitable Deduction Matters

March 27, 2013

hill1Last week, leaders from several Minnesota grantmakers, along with MCF President Bill King and Director of Government Relations and Public Policy Bob Tracy, traveled to Washington, D.C. for Foundations on the Hill.

This annual event is a special chance for grantmakers to engage federal policy makers on the field of philanthropy and what it means to the country and to local communities. This year, the charitable deduction was an especially hot subject.

Sherry Ristau, president and CEO of Southwest Initiative Foundation, shares with us here her experience at Foundations on the Hill and the importance of the charitable deduction.

For more on the importance of the charitable deduction to Minnesota, download this MCF infographic that we used on the trip.

“Will a new Congress change philanthropy?”

That’s one of the big questions facing community foundations and other philanthropic leaders as we look to the future. It was also a topic of critical conversation during my time at last week’s Foundations on the Hill.

The event, organized by the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, Council on Foundations and Philanthropy Roundtable – Alliance for Charitable Reform, brought leaders from the foundation sector to Washington, D.C. to help tell the story of giving and grantmaking throughout the country.

As I learned more about proposed policy changes, it became clear that there certainly could be big changes—and that the charitable deduction benefit is in jeopardy. As I visited one-to-one with key Congressional offices, it is clear we could lose this important incentive encouraging Americans to give. I am truly afraid of the unintended consequences of how our government is looking at the charitable deduction.

Many might question if it really matters — after all, there is a common misperception that the charitable deduction benefits only the wealthy. That’s just not the case. Let me be clear, the charitable deduction is not a loophole, it is a lifeline for the beneficiaries of our charitable giving including children, elderly, veterans, schools, homeless, those who have lost jobs, food shelves, those in the midst of a natural disasters and many more…including our rural communities.

According the Minnesota Council on Foundations, about one-third of Minnesota residents — at every income level — reported making contributions. Here’s the breakdown of giving by income levels:

  • 61 percent had income less than $50,000 and gave $346.6 million
  • 36 percent had income of $50,000-$200,000 and gave $1.6 billion
  • 3 percent had income more than $200,000 and gave $1.1 billion

But, I think the more important question we should be asking is, “Who’s really going to be hurt by these changes?”

If limits are placed on the charitable deduction, a national survey in 2012 by United Way Worldwide showed charities and the millions of people they serve could lose up to $5.6 billion. That would equal the entire budgets of The American Red Cross, Goodwill Industries International, Inc., YMCA of the USA, Habitat for Humanity, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Catholic Charities USA and American Cancer Society.

These seven organizations serve more than 50 million people combined — and ALL of them serve people in our southwest Minnesota regional community.

So, what can we as leaders do? I encourage us all to contact our Representatives and Senators in Congress and share why the charitable deduction is important to ALL of us and needs to be protected. If you’d like more information, visit www.foundationsonthehill.org.

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MCF Opens Search for New President

March 26, 2013

helpwanted1With current MCF President Bill King having announced his plans to retire as of June 30, the search is now officially underway for his successor.

The role of the MCF President is to enhance and expand the organization’s recognized leadership in the field of philanthropy at a time of major challenge and change from local to global levels.

As the primary spokesperson for the organization, the President frequently acts as the voice and representative of the organization, its members and of Minnesota’s philanthropic sector. The President manages a staff of employees and serves a membership of 170 Minnesota-based foundations and giving programs.

The responsibilities of our new President will include:

  • Champion and implement MCF’s strategic plan. Clearly articulate the organizational goals for financial and programmatic stability as well as growth for the future.
  • Motivate and inspire others to act by supporting and clearly articulating the organization’s strategic direction, mission and vision.
  • Develop excellent relations with member organizations. Recruit and retain member organizations. Continue to learn about evolving member needs, interests and ideas for change.
  • Support the staff in building and maintaining strong external relationships with members, volunteers, nonprofit leaders, civic leaders and partner organizations. With staff, find ways to excite and engage the “next generation” of philanthropists.

Qualifications include:

  • At least 10-12 years of related work experience is strongly desired, ideally from the fields of philanthropy, association management, nonprofit or community leadership.
  • A person of integrity and stature in the community with proven leadership experience, exemplary administrative management skills and a strong commitment to the mission, vision and values of MCF.
  • Demonstrated success in organizational leadership.
  • Knowledge of current trends and emerging models for member organizations and in the field of philanthropy.
  • Proficiency in the foundation and philanthropic community or the ability to quickly make connections in the community is important.

See the full job listing for more, and help us spread the word far and wide!

Photo cc Paul Townsend

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Nominations Open for the 2013 Minnesota Nonprofit Awards

March 15, 2013

2013awardsIt’s that time of year to help honor the great work done by nonprofits in Minnesota! The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and MAP for Nonprofits are seeking nominations for the 2013 Minnesota Nonprofit Awards, to be presented at MCN’s annual conference in October.

The Nonprofit Excellence Awards honor Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) organizations that are at least five years old. They are based on how closely a nonprofit aligns with MCN’s Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence. Only self-nominations are accepted for these awards, with input from the board required as part of the nomination.

The Nonprofit Mission Awards recognize outstanding contributions in:

  • Innovation
  • Advocacy
  • Anti-Racism Initiative and
  • Responsive Philanthropy

A selection committee will narrow the nominees to three in each category. Then, MCN member organizations and their staff will vote on the winners from the field of finalists.

See the website for more details about the awards, then send in your nominations! They’re due May 30 at 4 p.m.

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Five Things I Learned About Philanthropy at MCF

January 29, 2013
sjacobs_original

Stephanie Jacobs

After three years on the job, Stephanie Jacobs, MCF’s previous director of member services, said goodbye last week and will soon be the new program manager at Nonprofits Assistance Fund. Before she left we asked her to give us some of her biggest takeaways from her time at MCF, and we’re sharing them with you here. Best wishes to you in your new role, Stephanie!

1) Philanthropy can be your career.

When you talk to people who work in philanthropy, they often talk about falling into their jobs or being in the right place at the right time.  The people who work in grantmaking organizations come from all kinds of professional backgrounds – from nonprofits, corporations, schools, journalism, government and elsewhere.

Colleges and universities, such as Indiana University, have started offering degrees to prepare students for careers in philanthropy.  It remains to be seen if these degrees will lead to jobs in the field, but there is no doubt that elevating the level of study acknowledges the increased professionalism and rigor required to do the work. Philanthropists are professionals and are highly dedicated to their jobs and community.

2) Philanthropy isn’t easy.

In my role at MCF, I spoke with a lot of people who wanted to know how to get started in the field of philanthropy.  I usually replied by asking them why they wanted to work in the field.  Everyone had their own reason, but usually the answer came back to, “I’d like to be the one to give away the money.”  If only it were that simple. There are many benefits to a career in philanthropy, but like any other profession, it has challenges. You have to learn how to say, “No.”  All the time. To many worthy organizations. Because you can never shed your “foundation hat,” you must be aware of what you say and where you say it. There are always emerging community problems, with new challenges cropping out of old issues, and there is never enough money to meet every need.

3) Philanthropy continues to be a community of practice and learning.

Despite the increased level of professionalism and emerging degrees of study, most philanthropists still learn best practices from each other. This isn’t just about networking over coffee. They delve deeply into rich and substantive conversations, absorbing everything they can about issues they are working to solve and asking thoughtful questions about their approach.

4) Philanthropy is about mission.

People often think that philanthropy is about money. My biggest takeaway from MCF is that grantmaking professionals are as dedicated to their missions as nonprofits are. Like nonprofits, they are working with limited resources to move community issues forward. They are looking for partners to help tackle challenges that face their common constituents. In their search for answers, they will bring their best resources to the table.

5) Philanthropy can be empowering and catalyzing.

Philanthropy is at its best when foundations not only embrace their role as grantmakers, but also step into the field as conveners, facilitators, provocateurs and risk takers. I have seen foundations use their privilege to ask difficult questions of elected officials and community leaders about their decisions’ effects on the people they serve. And, I have seen them fund organizations that didn’t submit the best proposal, but did contain the glimmer of a great idea which led to amazing outcomes. I have seen them listen when communities come to them with problems and with solutions. And I have seen them build capacity in those communities, so they are soon able to address their own challenges. They are leaders and listeners — lifting up ideas and organizations in pursuit of the common good.

I saw many highs and lows of the work during my three years at MCF, but what I’ll remember and what I’m grateful for is when I saw philanthropy at its best.

-Stephanie Jacobs

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