MEMBER SURVEY RESULTS & NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
This SDG IN DEPTH online publication is developed by San Diego Grantmakers
to keep you informed about special topics of interest to grantmakers. Our mission is to connect, teach, 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.
SDG Member Survey Results: "And the Survey Says..."
A detailed report and analysis of the findings of the recent SDG online member survey was prepared by Susan Myrland, Silvergate Consulting. Some highlights:
1) Networking is the single most important reason for membership.
2) The second most important task for SDG identified by survey respondents is to "strengthen the effectiveness of San Diego's nonprofit sector."
3) Veteran grantmakers are particularly interested in promoting grantmaking to the public, fostering collaboration and creating new grantmakers.
4) New grantmakers are most interested in receiving information on local, state and national philanthropic trends and needs.
5) There are opportunities for SDG improvement in the following identified areas:
- Strengthening the nonprofit sector
- Professional development
- Providing information on local trends and needs
- Representing/promoting grantmaking and corporate giving
- Initiating and facilitating funder collaborations.
6)
Less than half of our members attended 3- 6 programs in 2005. Lack of time is the primary barrier. Members desire dynamic speakers, practical information, hands-on learning and time for discussion with peers.
7) A searchable grants database ranked the highest of potential new services, followed by a monthly networking event.
8) The findings about "favorite educational program topics" showed no significant trends, demonstrating how diverse the membership of SDG is in terms of needs and interests.
9) Finally -- "SDG has come a long way from the quarterly lunch club of the 1970s, 1980s and much of the 1990s and is poised to become a meaningful contributor to the nonprofit sector in the San Diego region."
In late March the SDG board will conduct a review of these findings and design strategic next steps and initiatives for SDG. We'll keep you posted! If you have any questions about the survey results or would like to see the entire report, please contact
Nancy at (619) 744-2180 or nancy@sdgrantmakers.org.
C.J. and Dot Stafford Memorial Trust
Independent Foundation
Giving Areas: Education, Youth, Education
Mr. Jim Mulvaney serves as the Chairman for the C.J. and Dot Stafford Memorial Trust Advisory Committee. C.J. Stafford was a long-time friend, over 40 years, and a client for much of that time. The C.J. and Dot Stafford Memorial Trust has funded such worthwhile organizations such as St. Vincent de Paul Toussaint Academy, Voices for Children, Community Elder Care, Monarch School, Big Brothers & Sisters of San Diego County, Casa de Amparo, Family Health Centers of San Diego, and the Elementary Institute of Science. SDG welcomes C.J. and Dot Stafford Memorial Trust back as members after a brief hiatus.
Ellen G. and Edward G. Wong Family Foundation
Family Foundation
Giving Areas: Chinese cultural heritage, Children and Youth, Education, and Human Services
Ellen G. and Edward G. Wong Family Foundation was established in 2005. San Diego Grantmakers and the McCarthy Family Foundation were very pleased to work with the Wong family in helping provide information and guidance in establishing their foundation. The Wongs have been involved in providing scholarships and preserving Chinese cultural heritage.
Mission Federal Credit Union
Corporate Foundation
Giving Areas: Education, Financial Education
Mission Fed opened its doors in 1961 and has invested in philanthropy ever since. Originally chartered as a credit union to serve the educational community, Mission Fed remains active in supporting education and financial literacy efforts. It is a proud supporter of the San Diego County Office of Education, achieving "Wall of Fame" status by investing more than $100,000. Mission Fed also supports school districts, colleges and universities around San Diego County, including Poway Unified, San Marcos, Sweetwater Union High School District, San Diego Unified School District, UCSD, CSUSM, SDSU, USD, National University, and San Diego Community Colleges. The credit union also sponsors the Univision Radio School, The Key to Success program, which encourages Hispanic youth to complete their education.
In 1997, Mission Fed launched its Financial Education Program with the goal of improving the financial know-how of high-school and college students. Mission Fed and KPBS entered a partnership to increase awareness about this issue. Click here for more information about the partnership. The credit union also has a full-service, student-run branch in City Heights, operated by Hoover High School students and two credit union supervisory employees.Mission Fed hosts a long-standing annual benefit golf tournament that has raised more than $180,000 for schools serving homeless youth, such as the Monarch School. Mission Fed also supports the volunteer efforts of employees, and contributes to disaster relief efforts.
Nierman Foundation
Family Foundation
Giving Areas: Education, Jewish Continuity and Civil Rights
Paul and Jim Nierman’s grandfather started the Nierman Foundation over 40 years ago and four generations of the family have been involved. Currently the 2nd and 3rd generations of the family are on the board – and all the families live in San Diego. Some notable local funding projects you may have noticed: the Nierman Preschool at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center and the Nierman Challenger Learning Center at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center.
Paul Nierman currently serves on the board of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, for which he served as President for three years; he also serves on the boards of the Jewish Community Foundation, the USD Nonprofit Leadership and Management Program and the USD Center for Applied Nonprofit Research. When he is not volunteering in the community you are likely to see him sailing on San Diego bay. Deborah Horwitz, Paul’s wife, works for Elite Racing, organizer of San Diego’s Rock’N’Roll Marathon, as National Volunteer Coordinator. Deborah was the founder of EdUCate! (University City Foundation for Public Schools), and is a founding member of the San Diego Women’s Foundation. She also serves on the National Board of Governors of the American Jewish Committee and the board of SDSU Jewish Studies Program. Paul and Deborah have two adult sons whose participation in the Nierman Foundation is leading the way for the 4th generation.
Jim Nierman is CEO of Nierman Perlman Properties, Inc. a commercial real estate investment and development firm. Jim is a board member of the United Jewish Federation, an Advisory Board Member of the Jewish Community Centers, a committee member of the Endowment Leadership Institute, and the Real Estate Committee of the Jewish Community Foundation. Mary supports her children’s school, sports, and social activities. Jim and Mary Nierman live in Rancho Santa Fe and have three children who keep them very busy.
Bernys S. Nierman Levin serves as the President of the Nierman Foundation and Richard H. Levin is an active Trustee. Bernys and Dick have been active in the community in San Diego and in Chicago.
San Diego Union Tribune
Corporate Giving Program
Giving Areas: Children and Youth, Education, Family & Literacy
The San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego's major metropolitan newspaper, was established in 1868. The Union-Tribune also publishes Enlace, a weekly Spanish-language news publication, and operates SignOnSanDiego.com, the leading online source for local news, entertainment and classifieds. One of the key Union-Tribune community relations responsibilities is the implementation of a multicultural community involvement strategy that partners the newspaper with key multicultural events and organizations.
The Union-Tribune's corporate giving program is administered through the community and public relations department. Its mission is to:
• position the company as a good corporate citizen and to enhance the company's personal relationship and image with key organizations and segments of the population
• promote and support organizations that advance youth, family and literacy causes
• promote and support the company's brand, readership and major Circulation, News, Internet and Advertising initiatives through event sponsorship and community and public relations strategies.
The Union-Tribune's signature event is the Union-Tribune Race for Literacy. Now in its 18th year, the event will be held over two days, May 6 and 7, in 2006. More than 10,000 people will attend the 2006 event, with all proceeds benefiting The San Diego Council on Literacy.
San Diego Women's Foundation
Community Foundation
Giving Areas: One focus area each year
The mission of the San Diego Women's Foundation is to strengthen and improve women's capacities to engage in significant philanthropy in San Diego. Established in 1999, the foundation has since recruited over 265 members, granted over $848,000 into the community, and built an endowment fund of over $1,054,600.
Foundation members commit to an annual contribution of $2,000 for a minimum of five years. These contributions are then divided into the endowment and a pooled grantmaking fund, with a small percentage going toward administrative costs. Every year, the grants committee selects one of six focus areas: arts & culture, civil society, economic/employment development, education, health and human services, or the environment. The 2006 area is education, and the foundation seeks to fund projects addressing literacy, science, and/or technology for children ages 0-5 and/or in grades K-8. Members can have varying levels of involvement, from simply making contributions and voting on grant recipients, to serving on committees. SDWF assets are managed and invested as an advised fund at The San Diego Foundation.
The Westreich Foundation
Family Foundation
Giving Areas: Education, Literacy, Women and Children at Risk, Integrated Health and Wellness Management
The Westreich Foundation is having a deep and wide impact in the San Diego non-profit community. A sample of a few of Ruth and Stanley Westreich’s recent local grantees include the San Diego YWCA, Jewish Community Center, Words Alive, Casa de Amparo, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, Foundation for Women and Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation . They are also very generous supporters of the UCSD Cardiac Unit and the Johns Hopkins Otolaryngology unit in Baltimore, MD. And on top of all this Ruth is passionately helping to strengthen the entire nonprofit sector in San Diego by being instrumental in the development of the USD Center for Applied Nonprofit Research where Ruth serves as Chair of the Board. The Westreich Foundation recently provided endowment funding for the first tenured track professor to oversee the center. Ruth has also been heavily involved as an initial supporter of the USD Nonprofit Leadership and Management master’s and doctoral program.
In other arenas, Ruth is a talented mixed-media artist and a creative marketing expert that recently launched an interesting new venture called the 9th Element Group (a consulting firm specializing in the business of thought leadership. Their new business book, The Art of Original Thinking – The Making of a Thought Leader is just off the presses.) Stanley was one of the founding members of Capital One Financial and still sits on the Board of Directors. He is also a very successful real estate developer in Washington DC and New York. For a moving description of Ruth's path to philanthropy check out this clip on the Foundation for Women site.
Upcoming
Programs
Corporate Contributions Roundtable
Leadership in San Diego's Community Investment: An All Corporate
Members Meeting
March 23, 2006
8:00 am - 10:00 am
Location: University Club Atop Symphony Towers, 750 B Street,
Suite 3400, San Diego, CA 92101
Breakfast Roundtable
Women, Money & Values
Sponsored by the Jewish Women's Foundation and the Jewish Community Foundation
March 29, 2006
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Lawrence Family JCC, Jacobs Family Campus, 4126 Executive Dr, La Jolla
$36 per person; Seating extremely limited. RSVP directly to (858) 279-2740.
Network @ Noon @ Northern Trust
Networking Luncheon, hosted by SDG Member Northern Trust
March 30, 2006
12:00-1:30 pm
Location:
Northern Trust, 4370 La Jolla Village Drive, 10th Fl, San Diego, CA 92122
Lunch provided; parking validated.
Our Changing Future: Demographic Trends Impacting San Diego Funders
With speaker Beth Jarosz, analyst at SANDAG
April 5, 2006
11:30 am - 1:30pm
Location: Toby Wells YMCA, 5105 Overland Ave, San Diego, CA 92123
Lunch provided.
All programs are free for SDG members except where indicated.
To RSVP, please call (619) 744-2180 or email programs@sdgrantmakers.org.
For questions or comments about SDGrantmakers or our online
publications, visit www.SDGrantmakers.org
or contact Nancy Jamison, 619/744.2180
Nancy@SDGrantmakers.org.
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