SD Grantmakers Update
"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another." --Charles Dickens
In This Issue
Programs on Education, Women's Philanthropy, and Nonprofit Financials
Join us for these exciting SDG programs in October! RSVP today to programs@sdgrantmakers.org.
Two Models of Education Funding Collaboratives: Chicago and Connecticut, October 8
October 8, 2007
8:30-11:00am
Location: USD School of Leadership & Education Sciences, Mother Rosalie Hill Hall
Sponsors: San Diego Grantmakers, University of San Diego School of Leadership and Education Sciences, The San Diego Foundation
The Power of Women's Philanthropy
October 17, 2007
9:30-11:30am
Location: The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, 5951 Linea del Cielo, Rancho Santa Fe, CA
$20 per person (includes a light brunch)
Sponsors: San Diego Grantmakers, Jewish Women's Foundation, Rancho Santa Fe Women's Foundation, San Diego Women's Foundation and Foundation for Women, and program partner Women's Funding Network
Third Thursdays Breakfast Series (Nosh, Network, Knowledge)
The ABCs of 123s: A User's Guide to Nonprofit Financials
Oct 18, 2007
8:30-10:30am
Location:
The San Diego Foundation, 2508 Historic Decatur Road, SD, CA
Save the Date: Year-End SDG Member Reception with County Supervisors
Save the date (details to follow soon!):
Monday, December 3
5:30-7:30pm
Location: Junior Achievement BizTown
Celebrate the end of another successful year of grantmaking, mingle with fellow SDG members, and hear from San Diego County Supervisors Greg Cox and Ron Roberts as you check out the new Junior Achievement BizTown. BizTown is a life-sized interactive city that is designed to reflect San Diego's businesses, landscape, and architecture.
RSVP Today! SDG Annual Conference on November 8
By now you should have received your invitation for the 2007 SDG Annual Conference, which will be held on Thursday, November 8. Don't miss our most popular event of the year! This year’s conference, “Strategic Grantmaking: Inspiration to Implementation,” will be held at NTC Promenade and will feature inspiring and educational plenary and workshop sessions highlighting best practices, innovation, and collaboration. Click here for all the details on the conference, and click here (pdf) to download a registration form that you can print and send in. We expect the conference to reach sell-out capacity, so RSVP now!
Member & Community Partner News
YOUR ORGANIZATION COULD BE FEATURED HERE! Don't forget to let SDG know what's new with you, from grantmaking to awards, events, and more. We want to share the good news about all of our members. To submit an item for the newsletter, email nancy@sdgrantmakers.org.
SDG welcomes James Toy, a student at UCSD, as our new fall intern. Many thanks to our summer intern, Claire Hapke!
SDG members Kelly Prasser of Sempra Energy, Amy Berry of Cox Communications,
Lisa Peterson of Invitrogen, and Mechel Sylvia of Cymer will be on a corporate citizenship panel for the Association of Fundraising Professionals meeting on October 5.
Amylin Pharmaceuticals will be honored as Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation at National Philanthropy Day luncheon on November 14. Click here for the full list of honorees and for more information.
Casey Family Programs and the American Bar Association have partnered to create the newly launched Legal Center for Foster Care and Education in order to bring attention and legal resources to bear on the educational needs of children and youth in the nation’s foster care system.
The Fieldstone Foundation has begun its 2007 “Crossroads and Turning Points” Executive Leadership Series for nonprofits, which will be held in San Diego as well as Orange County and Utah. This year's theme is "Managing Leadership Transitions." NOTE: For more on leadership transitions, click here for Annie E. Casey Foundation representative Donna Stark's presentation at an SDG program on the topic in August.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is seeking nominees for its Community Health Leaders program, which recognizes efforts to expand health care to underserved populations. Click here for information.
The San Diego Human Dignity Foundation has named Tony Freeman its new Executive Director. Tony is not new to SDG, though, having previously led the corporate giving program at 10,000 RVs. Additionally, Development Manager Alex Sanchez is moving to San Francisco and thus leaving SDHDF. The foundation is hiring for an Operations Manager position--click here for details.
The San Diego Social Venture Partners funding focus for this year is serving the needs of the elderly in San Diego. They will be hosting an informational briefing for potential grantees on October 9 from 3-4pm at AMN Healthcare. The due date for LOIs is October 26.
Charitable Organizations and Diversity
On September 25, the House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee held a hearing titled “Charitable Organizations and Diverse Communities.” Chairman John Lewis (D-GA) expressed concerns about matching charitable resources with the needs of diverse communities. Issues addressed included increasing giving to organizations that serve low-income communities, whether Congress needs to study who makes charitable gifts and where those gifts are used, and what charities are doing to ensure that they can serve diverse communities in times of natural disasters. The subcommittee heard from representatives of The Urban Institute, American Red Cross, The Ford Foundation, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, and Greater Twin Cities United Way.
According to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA) said that he has reservations about whether donations to institutions such as art museums and universities should be given the same tax treatment as contributions to social-services charities that help the poor. Another Chronicle article notes that the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy says that foundations are not doing enough to support the needs of minority and low-income communities.
Here in California, the three regional associations of grantmakers (Northern California Grantmakers, Southern California Grantmakers, and SDG) are working collaboratively to conduct a Diversity in Philanthropy research project. This project will collect and analyze data on philanthropic giving to diverse communities throughout California to provide a benchmark by which philanthropic organizations can share and learn from each other. In the coming months, SDG members will receive a survey related to this research.
There is also a new initiative called The Diversity in Philanthropy Project, committed to increasing diversity through open dialogue and strategic action.
Materials from Outcomes and Evaluation Program
Our September Third Thursday program was entitled "Making Measures Work for You - Outcomes and Evaluation" and featured guest speaker Jennifer James, Vice President, Harder+Company Community Research. If you were not able to attend, click here for the Power Point presentation, and click here to download the helpful resource materials in the members-only section of the SDG website.
Developing a Grantmaker Travel Policy
With grantmaker travel coming under growing legislative and media scrutiny in the past few years, the development of a travel policy has become an increasingly important best practice for grantmakers. Click here for an article (made possible by the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers and its members, with valuable technical assistance provided by Andras Kosaras of the Council on Foundations) that covers the important issues to consider and key questions to address in developing an effective travel policy for your organization. It also features a resource list and links to sample travel policies.
MicroEdge: Discount Available and Conference Information
MicroEdge GIFTS Grantmaking Software - 10% Discount
Through this program, members of San Diego Grantmakers are eligible for a special 10% discount on GIFTS and Essential GIFTS new system sales or upgrades (through December 31, 2007). Contact MicroEdge at 800/899-0890 x 250 or solutions@microedge.com. For more on this offer, click here to download an information form. To learn more about the software, go to www.microedge.com.
2007 MicroEdge Solutions Conference
November 12–14, 2007
Miami Beach, FL
The 2007 MicroEdge Solutions Conference is an annual event attended over the course of 3 days by philanthropy professionals, foundation staff, corporate giving executives, technology experts, industry consultants and other industry leaders, including client presentations from some of the largest giving organizations in the world. Click here for more detailed conference information.
Washington Report
Senate Hearing on Hedge Fund Investments
The House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee hearing on charitable organizations and diversity wasn't the only hearing dealing with philanthropy this week! On Wednesday, September 26, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing to look into investments by nonprofits in offshore hedge funds. Click here for full coverage of the hearing. On a related note, Rep. Levin has announced that he plans to introduce legislation that will create an exception to the debt-finance rules that would allow all tax-exempt entities to invest directly in onshore hedge funds without being subject to unrelated business income tax (UBIT).
IRS Checklist on Executive Compensation
The IRS is providing foundation and other nonprofit officials a 16-point checklist to help them determine an appropriate compensation and benefits package for executives, board members and other insiders. Called a "Rebuttable Presumption Checklist," the document is designed to be filled out so nonprofit officials can take steps to compare their pay and benefit levels with similar organizations to avoid what the IRS calls "excessive compensation" which could trigger an IRS audit and possible penalties. Click here for more information.
IRA Charitable Rollover Act Update
Individuals across the nation have contributed more than $102 million through IRA Charitable Rollovers since they were first authorized as part of the Pension Protection Act of 2006. As enacted, the IRA Charitable Rollover permits IRA owners age 70½ or older to make direct gifts from their IRAs to qualified charities totaling $100,000 per year without suffering any negative tax consequences. The provision is set to expire at the end of the year unless Congress passes the proposed Public Good IRA Rollover Act (S. 819 and H.R. 1419). Passage would not only make it a permanent tax and charitable incentive, but would also expand its reach to even more charities and donors. COF has urged foundations to ask their lawmakers to support the bills. Rep. Susan Davis has signed on to be a cosponsor of the Public Good IRA Rollover Act (H.R. 1319). Sen. Dianne Feinstein is already a cosponsor of the Senate version, S. 819. While Sen. Dorgan (D-ND), a lead cosponsor, is optimistic about the bill, Dean Zerbe, senior counsel and tax counsel to Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Charles Grassley (R-IA), predicts that it may be difficult for lawmakers to find the money to pay for it.
To sign up for the COF Legislative Network and receive updates on the latest news from Washington, click here.
Grantmakers In Aging Conference Coming to San Diego
The Grantmakers in Aging Annual Conference will be held right here at the Omni Hotel in San Diego from October 31-November 2, 2007. This year's theme is "Breaking Away! Charting a New Course in Aging Philanthropy." The GIA Annual Conference brings together funders and leaders in the field to address trends and opportunities as they relate to aging and philanthropy. It is a great source of information for
grantmakers who are either active in or considering grantmaking in the field of aging. Deborah Szekely of the Szekely Family Foundation is the keynote speaker and Nancy Jamison of SDG is the moderator for the Closing Plenary Session.
More Philanthropic Headlines
The Atlantic Monthly: Philanthropy
This issue includes a selection of historical Atlantic articles on charitable giving (in honor of the magazine's 150th anniversary) as well as a cover story on Bill Clinton and others' work to create social change.
Financial Times: A New Era in Sisterly Giving
This article on women's philanthropy quotes Helen LaKelly Hunt, who will be the featured speaker at a "Women Giving Together" event in San Diego on October 17.
Financial Times: Squaring Local Issues with Giving Circles
This article reports on several giving circles and describes the phenomena. See also SDG's special newsletter on giving circles!
Chronicle of Philanthropy: Companies and Foundations Give $1 Billion for Katrina Aid
A Foundation Center report shows that corporate and foundation gifts account for about 14% of total private funding for hurricane relief efforts. The report notes that companies tended to direct support to immediate needs while foundations supported long-term recovery efforts.
New York Times: Foundations Find Benefits in Facing Up to Failures
This article details the relatively recent trend of foundations publicly owning up to failures to be more transparent and accountable (including SDG member The James Irvine Foundation), as well as to learn from these experiences.
Nonprofit Quarterly: Corporate Philanthropy 2007: Finding the Compatible Intersection (pdf)
This article describes the need to assess corporate philanthropic partnerships with nonprofits. It is reproduced with permission of the Nonprofit Quarterly, the magazine that promotes spirited nonprofit management. Copyright 2007. Subscriptions, back issues, article compendia, and editorial reprints are available online.
New York Times: Does Philanthropy Do Enough?
As summarized in the Philanthropy News Digest: With eight- and nine-figure charitable gifts becoming commonplace and the wealthiest Americans controlling a rising share of the national income, the debate over whether philanthropy does enough to ameliorate social problems is moving front and center.
Resources
Teleconferences
General Operating Support: October 9 and 16. Learn more about the issues foundations face in providing general operating support on a new teleconference series, sponsored by Grantmakers for Effective Organization (GEO) and the Forum of Regional Association of Grantmakers. This two-part series is based on the findings in GEO's newly released action guide, General Operating Support. The October 9 topic is General Operating Support: Making the Case with GEO Executive Director Kathleen Enright and Social Venture Partners Seattle Executive Director Paul Shoemaker, and the October 16 topic is From Theory to Practice: How to Provide Operating Support. $25 per teleconference for $40 for series. Click here to register.
Pre-Grant Due Diligence and the Pension Protection Act Webinar: October 30. FREE! Click here to register.
International Grantmaking: November 15. $25. Click here to register.
Stanford Social Innovation Review: Creating High-Impact Nonprofits
Conventional wisdom says that scaling social innovation starts with strengthening internal management capabilities. This study of twelve high-impact nonprofits, however, shows that real social change happens when organizations go outside their own walls and find creative ways to enlist the help of others. Click here for more information.
Foundation Governance
Click here for a special Center for Effective Philanthropy newsletter on foundation governance, including keys to board effectiveness and a report on board assessment.
Accountability: Assessing Performance to Enhance Community Impact
Click here for a guide that provides a complete overview of reseach conducted by GivingNet (previously known as Community Foundations of America) to offer community foundations ways to look at accountability through a variety of lenses.
Deeper Capacity Building for Greater Impact: Designing a Long-Term Initiative to Strengthen a Set of Nonprofit Organizations
This briefing paper (pdf), prepared by TCC Group with funding from The James Irvine Foundation, offers guidance for funders about how to plan, implement and evaluate long-term, capacity-building initiatives. These initiatives offer grantmakers an opportunity to increase their impact but they can also introduce much greater complexity into the grantmaking process. NOTE: speakers from TCC Group and The James Irvine Foundation will be at the SDG Annual Conference on November 8!
Bill Clinton: Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World
In his new book, President Clinton uses examples of citizen, foundation, and corporate activism to show how individual endeavors can solve problems in the world today.
Assessment to Action: Creating Change (CEP Conference Report)
Presentations by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation President and CEO Risa Lavizzo-Mourey and MacArthur Foundation President Jonathan Fanton discussing the role of strategy in achieving foundation impact are described in a new Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) report encapsulating its March 2007 conference.
In the Blogosphere: Charlie Rose's Philanthropy Discussion
The blog Philanthropy 2173 has a link to this discussion with Judith Rodin of the Rockefeller Foundation, Joel Fleishman (Duke University, author, The Foundation: A Great American Secret) and Matthew Bishop of The Economist.
Upcoming
SDG Programs
Click here for a complete listing of SDG Programs.
Adventures in Family Foundation Succession
October 1, 2007
10:00am-12:00pm
Location: NTC Promenade, 2640 Historic Decatur Road, San Diego, CA 92106
Sponsors: McCarthy Family Foundation, Patricia and Christopher Weil Family Foundation, and Toby Wells Foundation
Two Models of Education Funding Collaboratives: Chicago and Connecticut, October 8
October 8, 2007
8:30-11:00am
Location: USD School of Leadership & Education Sciences, Mother Rosalie Hill Hall
Sponsors: San Diego Grantmakers, University of San Diego School of Leadership and Education Sciences, The San Diego Foundation
The Power of Women's Philanthropy
October 17, 2007
9:30-11:30am
Location: The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, 5951 Linea del Cielo, Rancho Santa Fe, CA
$20 per person (includes a light brunch)
Sponsors: San Diego Grantmakers, Jewish Women's Foundation, Rancho Santa Fe Women's Foundation, San Diego Women's Foundation and Foundation for Women, and program partner Women's Funding Network
Third Thursdays Breakfast Series (Nosh, Network, Knowledge)
The ABCs of 123s: A User's Guide to Nonprofit Financials
Oct 18, 2007
8:30-10:30am
Location:
The San Diego Foundation, 2508 Historic Decatur Road, SD, CA
SDG 2007 Annual Conference
Strategic Grantmaking: Inspiration to Implementation
November 8, 2007
9:30am-4:30pm
Location: NTC Promenade, 2875 Dewey Road, SD, CA
Click here for more information about all of these SDG programs. All programs are free for SDG members except where indicated.
To RSVP, please call (619) 744-2180 or email programs@sdgrantmakers.org.
Other Events of Interest
Center for Effective Philanthropy: Beyond the Rhetoric: Foundation Strategy
October 10, 2007
San Francisco, CA
BoardSource Leadership Forum: Shaping the Next Generation of Governance
October 12-13, 2007
San Francisco, CA
Grantmakers for Education Conference
October 17-19
Tamaya, NM
SCG Fundamentals of Effective Grantmaking
October 19, 26, and November 9, 2007
Los Angeles, CA
Independent Sector Annual Conference
October 21-23, 2007
Los Angeles, CA
Business for Social Responsibility Conference
October 23-26, 2007
San Francisco, CA
California Association of Nonprofits (CAN) Conference
October 24-25, 2007
Los Angeles, CA
Association of Small Foundations Couples Philanthropy Retreat
October 25-26, 2007
Charleston, SC
Grantmakers in Aging Annual Conference
October 31-November 2, 2007
San Diego, CA
SANDAN 1st Annual Conference: Outlook and Trends in the Sector
November 1, 2007
San Diego, CA
2007 MicroEdge Solutions Conference
November 12–14, 2007
Miami Beach, FL
National Philanthropy Day
November 14, 2007
San Diego, CA
Foundations on the Hill 2008
March 4-5, 2008
Washington, DC
COF: Philanthropy's Vision: A Leadership Summit
May 4-7, 2008
Washington, DC Region
Today, the role of philanthropy is expanding and so are its
responsibilities. This online SDGrantmakers Update is published
by San Diego Grantmakers to help SDG members meet the challenge. Our mission is to connect, educate, 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. Copies
of past editions are archived here. Contact Nancy Jamison, 619/744.2180 or nancy@SDGrantmakers.org to suggest article ideas or submit news items, or if you no longer wish to receive these updates.
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