Today the role of philanthropy is expanding and so are its responsibilities. Philanthropy Link is published by San Diego Grantmakers to help you meet the challenge. Our mission is to connect, inform, develop, and inspire a diverse group of foundations and corporations to stimulate effective philanthropy in the San Diego region. For more information visit www.SDGrantmakers.org.

Great Grants

The James Irvine Foundation
The Board of Directors of The James Irvine Foundation has approved and ratified $15.6 million in new grants to nonprofit organizations in support of its mission of expanding opportunity for the people of California to participate in a vibrant, successful, and inclusive society. For a list of grants approved, click here.

Grants approved include $1.38 million in grants from a new grantmaking resource at the Foundation, called The New Connections Fund, which was initiated earlier this year as a way to attract a more diverse group of grantseekers to the Foundation through an open application process. Grantseekers may apply to the fund online for grants of less than $50,000.

"The New Connections Fund will allow a broader range of nonprofit organizations to apply for Irvine support," says James E. Canales, president and chief executive officer of the Foundation. "Through this new Fund, we seek to support a wider range of projects throughout California that are aligned with the Foundation's current funding priorities."

Taken together with grants approved earlier this year, these grant approvals bring the Foundation's total grants for 2004 to $31.9 million, or approximately 57 percent of the total dollar amount expected for 2004, of $56 million. The Board approves the majority of Foundation grants on a quarterly basis.

Send us your "Great Grants"
Funders throughout San Diego want to hear about your great grants. Send your Great Grants to info@sdgrantmakers.org.

Some Facts About Compensation from the Council on Foundations

The Council on Foundations has prepared several resources to assist foundations in determining reasonable compensation for executives and trustees of foundations and nonprofits. The two main publications available from the Council's websites are:

Recommended Best Practices in Determining Reasonable Executive Compensation

Determining Reasonalbe Compensation for Foundation Directors and Trustees

The Council suggests grantmakers and other stakeholders in the philanthropic community keep the following in mind when considering compensation packages:

• According to a Foundation Center survey, less than one-sixth (3,228 or 16%) of the 20,002 foundations (with $1 million or more in assets or making grants of $100,000 or more) they surveyed in 2002 reported having paid staff. According to COF's 2002 Foundation Management Survey, of 705 foundations responding, 75% did not compensate board members.
  
  
• Given the extensive diversity of foundations in asset size, spending level and complexity of programs, and the different time demands required of executives and members of the governing board, no single formula defining reasonable compensation exists. What is reasonable depends on the facts and circumstances of each case.
  
  
• Under current tax laws, executives are prohibited from receiving unreasonably high salaries and other inappropriate benefits. If a foundation pays compensation that is excessive, the executive receiving the compensation and, in some cses, the board members approving it, are subject to penalties by the IRS.

Additional information pertaining to family foundations can be found in:
Board Compensation: Reasonable and Necessary? from the National Center for Family Philanthropy.


Philanthropy Facts
Information based on 2003 findings
(The Foundation Center and American Association of Fundraising Counsel)

Foundation Facts

• 65,000 foundations in the U.S.
• Nearly $477 billion in assets
• 2% of foundations have assets over $50 million
• 65% of foundations have assets under $1 million
  

Charitable Giving Facts

• Gifts totaled almost $241 billion
• Gifts increased 2.8% from 2002 (.5% adjusted for inflation)
• Highest growth rate since 2000
• Contributions estimated to be 2.2% of the GDP (all time high in 2003 with 2.3%)

Where the Nonprofit Contributions Come From

• Individuals 74.5% ($179.36 billion)
• Foundations 10.9% ($26.30 billion)
• Bequests: 9.0% ($21.60 billion)
• Corporations 5.6% ($13.46 billion)

Where the Nonprofit Dollars Come From

• Dues, Fees, and Charges 37.5%
• Government 31.3%
• Private Contributions 19.9%
• Other Revenue 11.4%
  

Where the Nonprofit Dollars Go

• Religion 35.9%
• Education 13.1%
• Unallocated 10.0%
• Foundations 8.9%
• Health 8.7%
• Human Services 7.8%
• Arts and Culture 5.4%
• Public and Social Benefit 5.0%
• Environment and Wildlife 2.9%
• International Affairs 2.2%
  

Upcoming Programs

Blurred Borders: San Diego and Tijuana
co-sponsored by the International Community Foundation

Cross-Border Health & Human Services Dialogue
November 11th, 8:15am-2:45pm

Post-Election Policy Update with John Edie
December 6th, 12:00-1:30pm, repeated December 13th, 12:00-1:30pm
Telephone Conference

NOVEMBER 2nd IS ELECTION DAY! With many implications for grantmakers, you are invited to join a timely OVERVIEW of possible legislative or regulatory actions related to philanthropy. This program is specifically for the country’s formal regional associations of grantmakers and their member foundation leaders. This national teleconference will be led by John A. Edie, former long-time General Counsel for the Council of Foundations, and current director in the Washington National Tax Services division of PricewaterhouseCoopers. John will provide his analysis on the key issues that could affect grantmaking institution, both in Congress and at the IRS or other regulatory agencies. He will also field select questions from participants. The program will be offered two times, at a program fee of $15. (Program is also offered December 13th, 12noon.)

Mark your calendars:

January 12th afternoon presentation
Rick Cohen, National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
Named to the Nonprofit Times Power and Influence Top 50 List in 2002 and 2003, Cohen is one of the most provocative speakers in our field. A credible research and prolific writer in the field of philanthropy, Cohen heads the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), a nonprofit advocating for increased philanthropic giving and access for disadvantaged disenfranchised constituencies. While you may or may not agree with all Cohen offers, he will certainly inspire a rich and intelligent discussion.

January 24th full-day event
From the Badlands to...
Expanding on last year's popular presentation, Navigating "The Badlands:" How to Thrive in Turbulent Times, Mary O'Hara-Devereaux, Ph.D. provides insights as to how to navigate the Badlands terrain with an updated context for operation. Dr. O'Hara-Devereaux will provide guidance for small group discussions which will lead to mini-presentations (by attendees) of creative ideas and innovative solutions. Co-sponsored by LEAD San Diego, The San Diego Foundation, and Sempra Energy

Child Welfare Services: Our Future at Stake
December 8th, 11:30am-2:00pm
Casey Family Programs

Two years ago the three California regional associations, the Foundation Consortium, and San Diego County's HHSA presented Bold Changes, a statewide effort to improve the welfare for our most vulnerable children. Significant work, locally and throughout California, have occurred since with a redesign of the state's child welfare system.

Join us to learn about policy and practice changes being implemented in the public sector, how these changes impact the organizations you support, and how they may affect your work. A variety of experts including Bonnie Armstrong, Foundation Consortium, Laura Spiegel, First Five Commission, Jorge Cabrera, Casey Family Programs, and Roseann Myers, Commission for Children & Youth, will answer the following questions:

• What are the priorities of the plan? How will the work look differently at an agency, City, and County level?
• Where are the gaps? What are the elements of the plan critical for success which the public funders cannot or are not funding?
  

Upcoming Funder Events

COF 2004 Winter Institutes
December 6th-8th
Washington DC

International Human Rights Funders Group Meeting
Building Human Rights Constituencies
January 10-11, 2005
San Francisco, California

Human rights and social justice leaders will discuss tools and
strategies for reaching and mobilizing new communities to claim their
human rights. On the second day, a panel of funders will share their
insights into best practices for funding work to build broader
constituencies for social justice and human rights at home and abroad.
For more information, contact Catherine Townsend, ctownsend@mertzgilmore.org.

COF Family Foundation Conference
January 23rd-25th
Miami, FL

COF 56th Annual Conference
Building Strong and Ethical Foundations
April 10th-12th, 2005
San Diego, CA

For questions or comments about SDGrantmakers or our Philanthropy Link visit www.SDGrantmakers.org or contact Julie Holdaway, 619/744.2180
Julie@SDGrantmakers.org.

Feel free to comment, suggest article ideas, or submit news items. Link@SDGrantmakers.org -- We're always happy to hear from you. Philanthropy Link is a service to San Diego Grantmakers members. Copies of past editions are archived at News You Can Use.

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