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

International Community Foundation
The International Community Foundation (ICF) continues to remain active connecting the dots between San Diego County and communities south of the border through the “Ties that Bind Us” Initiative. Some of their work is now being highlighted in a special British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World News Service Report entitled "Hidden Aid" focusing on cross-border remittances made by San Diego 's transnational migrant community to Oaxaca. The story will air on National Public Radio (NPR) on October 13th. It can also be heard via the web now at: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1620_hiddenaid/page3.shtml

The story highlights, among other things, an ICF grant made in cooperation with migrant farm workers from North County San Diego who wished to give back to their communities of origin in the Valle Central de Oaxaca. Collectively, 55 workers, all members of Carlsbad-based COCIO, donated $2,750, and ICF matched this 1:1 to establish a revolving loan fund that was administered by locally based non profit, Centeotl. Centeotl got an additional $2,500 from ICF to administer the loan program.

The first round of funding resulted in 12 loans totaling $5,500 and loans ranging from $500 to $1,500. By November 2003, 100% of the loans had all been paid back in full and resulted in several successful micro-businesses including new farms, a small convenience store and a flower growing business.

Learn more about cross cultural grants with SDG and ICF's Blurred Borders: San Diego and Tijuana featuring a November 3rd Hop on the Bus experience and November 11th Cross-Border Health & Human Services dialogue. For more information contact programs@SDGrantmakers.org.

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

Doing Well and Doing Good
Why a new golden age of philanthropy may be dawning

That patron saint of American philanthropy, Andrew Carnegie, believed that “the man who dies rich, dies disgraced.” He disposed of 90% of his vast fortune by the end of his life. Carnegie and John Rockefeller were the giants of what now seems a golden age of philanthropy, as the 19th century gave way to the 20th.

Now, another golden age may be about to dawn, and for similar reasons: inequality is a friend of philanthropy, and large fortunes encourage individual generosity. Bill Gates of Microsoft and Pierre Omidyar of eBay are today's Carnegies: successful entrepreneurs who are rebranding themselves as imaginative philanthropists.

And yet to predict another golden age requires a leap of faith. The latest figures published by Giving USA, an annual survey compiled by the Centre on Philanthropy at Indiana University, do indeed suggest that America's giving has risen: it has been 2% or more of GDP since 1998, following more than two decades below that mark, and last year total contributions were 2.2% of GDP, only a whisker below the all-time high of 2.3% in 2000 (see chart 1). But sceptics ascribe this recent rise to the dotcom boom, which caused an unexpected surge of wealth that has not yet shrunk back into line with the slowdown in the economy.

To read the full article from The Economist, click here.

Vote Smart on November 2nd
Learn about Health Care Ballot Propositions

On November 2, Californians have a historic opportunity to affect the future of the state's health care system by casting their vote on five ballot measures. HealthVote2004.org provides voters with facts and non-partisan analysis, as well as easy access to information on who supports and opposes the measures, who is paying for the campaigns, how much is being spent, results of statewide polls, and the latest news.

HealthVote2004.org is a collaboration between two non-partisan, non-profit organizations—the California HealthCare Foundation, an independent philanthropy committed to improving California’s health care financing and delivery systems, and The Center for Governmental Studies, which pioneers innovative uses of new technology to increase civic engagement in the democratic process.

To learn more, please visit HealthVote2004.

Upcoming Programs

Distinguished Speaker Event
California State Attorney General, Bill Lockyer
October 13th, 11:30-1:30pm
Manchester Conference Center, Bank of America Room
University of San Diego

Attorney General Bill Lockyer will provide insight into how grantmakers can provide valuable funding and needed services to our communities in a manner that complies with the law and basic principles of good governance and sound financial management.

This is an opportunity for San Diego Grantmakers to discuss the pending Nonprofit Integrity Act of 2004 (SB1262). It has been described as California’s nonprofit version of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, passed in response to the accounting and finance scandals surrounding Enron, WorldCom and other companies. As with Sarbanes-Oxley applied to nonprofits, SB 1262 is realizing its share of complexities.

Will this legislation help relieve charity distrust or will it simply add extensive and complicated changes to current law? While SB 1262 aims to increase accountability, will it also be burdensome for small charities?

Leslie Hine-Rabichow, San Diego Assoication of Nonprofits, will join the discussion to share SANDAN's perspective on the current environment on nonprofit accountability.

Please join us for this highly engaging and informative luncheon.

The State of Education in San Diego with Alan Bersin
October 28th, 11:30-1:30pm
Natural History Museum

Alan Bersin began service as Superintendent of Public Education in 1998. Bersin received his bachelor's degree from Harvard College, studied at Balliol College, Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and received his law degree from Yale Law School in 1974. He was a practicing attorney from 1975-1992 with the law firm of Munger, Tolles & Olson in Los Angeles.

Prior to his appointment as superintendent, Bersin served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of California for five years, during which time he also served as the Attorney General's Southwest Border Representative.

With proven leadership and having demonstrated himself in very important offices, but with no education background, Bersin was hired to reform San Diego's city schools. Six years into Bersin's reform efforts, what is the state of education in San Diego's city schools?

Join your grantmaking colleagues as Alan Bersin shares lessons learned and helps grantmakers support systemic change in education.

• What do we have to do to get our poorest, most challenged students to succeed?
• What are the challenges to replicating systems and moving change to scale?
• What are the lessons learned and how do they inform our grantmaking?

What does the future hold?

Lynn Liao from the LA-based Broad Foundation and Scott Himelstein of the William D. Lynch Foundation for Children join the discussion to share their respective efforts to dramatically improve K-12 urban public education.

Two opportunities to experience
Blurred Borders: San Diego and Tijuana
co-sponsored by the International Community Foundation

Hop on the Bus: Introducing Funders to Eastern Tijuana
November 3rd, 7:45am-3:15pm

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

San Diego Celebrates NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY
November 9th, 11:00am-2:00pm
Downtown Marriott

National Philanthropy Day is celebrated across the nation each year to recognize the important role that philanthropy plays in enriching our communities. This celebration allows us to honor the individuals and organizations whose gifts of time, talent and treasures strengthen the diverse richness of the San Diego community. For more information visit: www.afpsd.org.

Corporate Series: Employees as a Resource in the Community
November 10th, 8:30-10:30am
Qualcomm

Increasingly, large and small companies have assessed and expanded their workplace activities, including employee volunteerism. Employee volunteerism offers an opportunity to reinforce the company's commitment to worthwhile causes and brings about increased visibility in the community. It can be significant to building morale, fostering a spirit of teamwork among management and employees, and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders.

Is your company's volunteer program a strategic investment? Is it structured to support employee and business interests as well as the community?

Join us as Allison Kelly, Qualcomm, moderates a panel discussion at our second session of our Corporate Series programming exploring the key elements of successful volunteer program planning and learn how such programs are structured to support the business strategy. We will discuss:

• Trends and current practice in employee volunteer programs
• Structuring volunteer programs to support business, employee and community interests
• Distinct volunteer program models and the unique challenges and opportunities associated with each
• Common obstacles to successful program implementation and tactics for overcoming them
• Educating and communicating your programs throughout your organization
  Effective examples presented by local corporate colleagues

So You Want to Give...
co-sponsored by San Diego Social Venture Partners
November 17, 11:30am-1:30pm
UCSD

There are many ways to give.

Private foundation, donor advised funds, Social Venture Partners, giving circles, etc. etc. etc.
Which choice is right for you?

By giving to charitable and philanthropic organizations we exercise our support for the goals, the people, and the purposes we believe in. It is our individual response to human needs; an opportunity to give is an opportunity to be involved. It is caring and serving. Philanthropy gives our wealth meaning, and engages us as stewards in the betterment of society.

When properly designed, a giving program can achieve a wide range of valuable goals for you:

• It can provide for the future needs of your family. At the same, time, you can help to ensure a tradition and a sense of value for caring in your children, friends, and colleagues.
• It can provide for the long-term needs of the organizations and the people you want to help. An investment in people is one that continues in perpetuity. The income generated by the principal continues to make an impact for generations to come.
  

Join us as we discuss the various options of giving and hear a panel discussion of why different community members have made their particular choices.

Upcoming Funder Events

COF Fall Conference for Community Foundations
October 11th-13th
Minneapolis, Minnesota

National Network of Grantmakers Annual Conference
October 16th-19th
Miami, Florida

Grantmakers in the Arts Annual Conference
October 17th-20th
Cleveland, Ohio

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

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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