Issue No. 4

Welcome New Members!

  

Baird Foundation

(Milwaukee, WI)

 

Community Foundation of Abilene

(Abilene, TX)

McLaughlin Family Foundation
(Oklahoma City, OK)

 

 

Quick Links
 
 
2012 Foundations on the Hill
 
2012 Retreat for Foundation Trustees
 

  

 

2011 Salary Survey Data Now Available for CSF Members!

The Council on Foundations, the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, and CSF partner each year to collect salary survey data from within our region. The 2010 results are in. To review a summary of the salary survey for the CSF region, members may log on then visit the Resource Library and search for "2011 salary."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lynn Schusterman

 

 Kim Henry

Kim Henry 

 

Stuart Pickell 

Stuart Pickell 

 

LifeChange Ballroom 

LifeChange Ballroom, which introduces ballroom dancing to students, received $15,000 grant from Kirkpatrick Foundation.  

 

    Chapman

Dr. Sandra Chapman, chief director, the Center for BrainHealth demonstrates the one-of-a-kind brain table to T. Boone Pickens.  

  

Weather Station 

Mike Winters and

Dr. Robert Towery

stand by weather station.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Conference Wrap-uAC photop

Judging from your survey responses, the 63rd Annual Conference was a success. Conference participation totaled 343 registrants this year. And for the first time, CSF offered a Next Gen Scholarship which ten new foundation representatives took advantage of.

 

Conference attendees shared the following feedback: 

  • "I enjoyed the variety of information gleaned ranging from disaster planning, to mental health services, to changes with healthcare, to creating a simple communications plan."
  • "As always, there is something new and or helpful to take away from the conference every year. It is still the best way for me to expose the trustees of our foundation to a wide variety of issues without hammering them over the head with information. It is also the best way to train new trustees..."
  • "I enjoyed meeting other Next Gen attendees, and learning more about how other foundations are structured, their grant review process, etc."
  • "It was nice to meet so many representatives from private foundations that I've heard of. Now I have a contact for those foundations."

CSF has additional copies of Opening Plenary Speaker David Solie's CD Closing the Communication Gap with Our Aging Parents. Mr. Solie's pitch-hitting for the opening plenary address was a raving success! Contact the CSF offices if you would like one.

 

If you would like handouts from any of the conference breakout sessions, please contact the CSF offices. Also for those unable to attend Andrew Schulz's "Washington Update," a recording of this session  is available through the Podcast link from the Members' Only section of the CSF website.  Call CSF if you have difficulty accessing this recording.

 

Ben Jones, Henderson - Wessendorff Foundation, won the free 2012 Annual Conference registration as a result of completing the 2011 Annual Conference survey. Congratulations, Ben!

 

The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, site of the 64th Annual Conference, is now taking reservations for next year's conference (November 1 - 3, 2012). Reservations can be made at 1-866-837-9520 or 1-719-634-7711. CSF rate for standard room is $194 for a single or double.

 

Foundations on the Hill

Registration Now Open!

FOTH Postcard

 

Join the Conference of Southwest Foundation's 2012 delegation to Washington, D.C. to participate in Foundations on the Hill, an annual gathering of foundations from across the country designed to provide opportunities for learning and communicating with lawmakers on the important role of the philanthropic sector.

CSF's Foundations on the Hill (FOTH) 2012 activities will take place March 20-22, in Washington, D.C. (Tuesday through Thursday). This is the 10th year for the public policy event, where participants have the opportunity to promote the important role philanthropy plays in serving the public good.
 

Stipend Program
Stipends worth up to $1,200 of travel (air and ground) and hotel expenses will once again be available. Additionally, the recipient's regional association receives a $300 award to continue public policy and advocacy efforts on the ground. Applicants must be a member of the Council or a regional association and from an organization who has never participated in FOTH. The application and requirements are now available. Applications are due Friday, December 16.
 

2012 Las Vegas Philanthropy Summit 

Philanthropists and foundation staff and trustees in Southern Nevada are invited to mark your calendar for the Las Vegas Philanthropy Summit on March 1, 2012. Emmy-award winning musician, composer, author and philanthropist Peter Buffett will open the Summit.

Peter's inspiring book titled Life Is What You Make It, discusses his upbringing as the son of legendary investor Warren Buffett and finding his own path to fulfillment. Personal and revealing, instructive and intuitive, Life Is What You Make It is about following passions over conventions, transcending your circumstances or status, taking up the reins of your destiny, and living life to its fullest.

To bring the message of the book alive, Peter will present A Concert & Conversation with Peter Buffett, a 60-minute live music event that incorporates multi-media and personal stories. Peter ultimately conveys that it's one's values-and what we are able to give back to society-that shape and define us as individuals. Peter's integrity, candor and musical talent make for an uplifting and rewarding experience that resonates with everyone looking to lead a more fulfilling life and leave a meaningful legacy.

Additional speakers, scheduling and registration details will be forthcoming. Watch your email or contact CSF for the latest information.

Register Early for 2012 Community Foundation Fundamentals

 

For people in the early stages of their community foundation careers, as well as more experienced staff who have not had formal community foundation training and would like a review. This course is applicable to individuals from community foundations of all sizes.

 

Overview 

New community foundations staff and board members often find the most difficult challenge is understanding precisely what a community foundation is. Community Foundation Fundamentals is designed to help staff and volunteers quickly comprehend organizational essentials. This two-day course, created and led by experienced leaders in the community foundation field, covers topics including:  

  • history of the community foundation movement
  • basic information on governance, resource development and donor relations
  • key legal and legislative issues and information on grantmaking
  • community leadership and fiduciary responsibilities
  • Plus, this course provides valuable resources and enables participants to establish new professional contacts.

Hotel Accommodations
A special group rate of $129/night (plus tax) is available until Friday, February 17, 2012 at the Warwick Melrose Hotel, Dallas, Texas.  

View the complete agenda for the course.  

Register early, space limited.

Summerlee Foundation Adopting Bison
John Crain with Bison
John Crain, president of the Summerlee Foundation, speaks with the media.

Summerlee Foundation is adopting 11 bison who have been living in Deussen Park northeast Harris County since 1973.

 

They are being moved to the Medicine Mound Ranch, which is run by the Summerlee Foundation, in north Texas.

 

Current drought conditions affecting the grass they eat, and an increase in the general cost of maintaining them led to this change.

 

"Our foundation operates a sanctuary at that site, and we have bison there," said John W. Crain, president of the Summerlee Foundation. "We were invited to come down to the county and adopt the animals, and we couldn't say no."

 

The bison have been living on 9 acres of land. In their new home, the bison will have 6,400 acres of land to roam freely in a natural environment with 71 other bison on the ranch.

 

The Summerlee Foundation is transporting the animals at no expense to Harris County.

New Book Chronicles Life of Foundation Founder Jesse H. Jones

"Jesse Jones redefined Franklin Roosevelt's presidency, the New Deal and World War II mobilization," said Steven Fenberg, author of Unprecedented Power, a newly written biography of Jones. "If anything, Jones shows us that government can help people and make money at the same time." Now writer and producer of the Emmy Award-winning documentary film, "Brother, Can You Spare a Billion? The Story of Jesse H. Jones," Fenberg, tells the story of Jones for the first time.

 

As the public and media continue to draw comparisons between actions taken by President Obama and those of the FDR administration, Unprecedented Power offers a timely perspective on government use of economic stimulus. In writing Unprecedented Power, Fenberg had unrestricted access to the collections of Houston Endowment Inc.- the philanthropic foundation established by Jesse and Mary Gibbs Jones in 1937, as well as to the archives of the Library of Congress, the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, the Houston Public Library and an array of other sources.

Unprecendented Power is published by Texas A&M University Press.

Short Takes
 
Staff and Board Member Happenings
From early childhood programs to college graduation, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation impacts Tulsa area students along their educational journeys. The Tulsa Community College Foundation honored its Founder and Chair Lynn Schusterman and Vice President Stacy Schusterman for their dedication to education at the Vision in Education Leadership Award dinner Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011.
 
Former Oklahoma first lady Kim Henry has been named the spokeswoman for Oklahoma-based GlobalHealth, Inc. The company announced the move in August. GlobalHealth said Henry will help start a statewide teacher appreciation program that recognizes efforts by teachers to promote healthy lifestyles. Henry is a former teacher who was first lady from 2003-2011 while her husband, Brad Henry, served as governor. Kim Henry is executive director of the Sarkeys Foundation and serves on the board of directors for CSF.
 
On November 15, Jeanne Gillert, Hardesty Family Foundation, received the Pillar award from the Eastern Oklahoma chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The award was given at the "Change the World with a Giving Heart" annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon.
 
The NTSP Charitable Fund - a non-profit organization created by North Texas Specialty Physicians (NTSP), an independent physician association - has named Dr. Stuart Pickell as treasurer. Dr. Pickell will assume his position at the NTSP Charitable Fund this month.
 
Foundation News
The Flinn Foundation has awarded seven grants totaling $305,000 to Arizona arts and culture organizations to encourage strategies to increase participation.  The grants aim to help the groups generate additional earned revenue to endure economically challenging times.
 
Plans were announced November 9 at the Community Foundation of Abilene's annual luncheon to begin awarding grants to volunteer fire departments in a 10-county area. Rob Beckham, Community Foundation of Abilene board member, said helping volunteer firefighters is a natural fit. This year, the foundation has awarded more than $4 million in grants and scholarships to help local residents, nonprofits and programs.
 
An OU-led research team has received a $1.28 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to promote biofuel research. Laura Bartley, assistant professor in the botany and microbiology department, will work with researchers from Oklahoma State University and The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation to characterize various grass populations. The focus of the study is to improve output of energy from switchgrass plants and convert them more efficiently to biofuels.
 
The Kirkpatrick Foundation has awarded $1.25 million in large and small grants to Oklahoma nonprofits in the first three quarters of 2011. Granting roughly $1.8 million yearly to arts, culture, education, animal concerns and the environment in central Oklahoma, the foundation has made gifts this year to the Oklahoma Zoological Society, Lyric Theater , Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Individual Artists of Oklahoma and more than 50 others.
 
The Boettcher Foundation names scholarship winners every year. This year, there were five in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado and each of those students nominated a teacher who had made a significant impact on his or her life and education. Teachers were honored at a special gathering in Denver in early August.
 
Programs enhancing educational opportunities for youth and those providing services for the homeless and disadvantaged were among the major recipients of $10.5 million in grants to nonprofits in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming announced this week by the Daniels Fund. Grants are allocated to states according to percentages defined by Bill Daniels when he established the Daniels Fund.
 
The Center for BrainHealth-with support from donors who recently gave more than $2 million- is furthering brain research aimed at developing cognitive skills among adolescents and studying the impact of traumatic brain injuries in returning soldiers. Among other North Texas foundations, The Meadows Foundation gave $495,000 to support the BrainHealth Teen Reasoning Initiative and to study higher order cognitive development through a unique program called Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Training, or SMART, in war veterans.
 
Funded by the The Robert A. Welch Foundation and inspired by one student's career ambitions, a weather station atop Houston Baptist University has been tracking the campus climate since February when Dr. Robert Towery, professor in chemistry, and senior Mike Winters anchored the device on the roof of the Cullen Science Center for their ongoing research project. The station measures temperature, rainfall, humidity, barometric pressure and wind speed. "This is a treasure trove of data for one of the most severe weather years we've had," Towery said.
 
On November 8 the Texas High School Project (THSP), a public-private initiative of Communities Foundation of Texas, joined with Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and representatives from area school districts and institutions of higher education to announce the selection of North Texas as a pilot region for the Texas College Access Network (TxCAN). TxCAN is part of the National College Access Network (NCAN), created to establish a sustainable network of agencies and organizations working collaboratively to increase student access and success in postsecondary education.
 
In Tyler, Texas, during October an unveiling and dedication of a scale rendition of the historic Smith County Courthouse took place at the Discovery Science Place. Through the generosity of Texas Bar Foundation, Smith County Bar Foundation, Wolf Benevolent Trust and an anonymous donor, the new courthouse exhibit will give children and their families a better understanding of the judicial system and their rights and responsibilities under the law.
 
In October, Interfaith Community Services (ICS) in Tucson, Arizona opened their renovated 2,700-square-foot food bank. The $500,000 expansion project was made possible by donations and grants from over 200 individuals, business and foundations. Lead support was provided through a $150,000 challenge grant from the Wolslager Foundation and a Pima County Community Development Block Grant. ICS began construction on the food bank expansion July 2, to help fill an increase in need since the economic downturn. Since 2007, the number of people the ICS food bank helps has more than tripled.
 
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midland, Texas was awarded a $35,000 matching grant last month from the Abell-Hanger Foundation toward the new facility the nonprofit is working to build. That grant came in addition to a $100,000 grant from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation. The addition of a new 5,000-square-foot facility will allow Big Brothers Big Sisters to expand in areas such as allowing more space for activities aimed at big-little pairs. The organization works to host two activities per month to allow the children and adults who have been matched to strengthen their relationships.
Upcoming Programs
Visit www.c-s-f.org for additional details and registration!

 

Designed by experts in global philanthropy, the Institute is the field's new, standardized orientation geared primarily for staff and trustees of grantmaking institutions currently engaged or planning to engage in cross-border grantmaking. Some of the topics to be covered in the Institute include: understanding legal and regulatory issues; understanding relationship building, collaborations, and power dynamics; evaluating impact and incorporating new knowledge; investing in disaster relief and preparing yourself and your foundation for global philanthropy. CSF members may register at the Council on Foundations member rate.

 

December 7, 2011: How will the Federal Budget Impact the Poor? Webinar

The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, is tasked to develop a plan to reduce the deficit by "at least $1.5 trillion" by November 23, 2011. Success in crafting a deal will lead to a House and Senate vote, while failure to produce a plan will result in painful automatic spending cuts in 2013. Either way, advocates and service providers predict more pain for low-income and vulnerable citizens.This webinar for funders will provide an overview of the Supercommittee's proposal, outline the next steps and possible outcomes in the legislative process, offer insight into how these decisions will effect programs and policies focused on the poor and vulnerable, and discuss the role of philanthropy, key levers to address the challenges and guidance about what to watch moving forward. 

 

December 8, 2011: Discretionary Grants: Encouraging Participation... or Pandora's Box? Teleconference 

Family foundation boards that offer discretionary grants to their individual trustees and staff have a variety of reasons for doing so. Those who do not cite a number of potential barriers - both practical and philosophical - for this decision. Learn more in this wide-ranging discussion, featuring results from new research conducted by the National Center on the use of discretionary grants. Moderated by Susan Price, Consultant, National Center for Family Philanthropy, this call will feature the perspectives of two family foundation leaders who have carefully considered the value and challenges of discretionary grants.

 

December 12, 2011: Texas Network of Behavioral Health Grantmakers

A group of Texas foundations have formed the Texas network of behavioral health grantmakers. The first meeting is scheduled at The Meadows Foundation, 3003 Swiss Avenue in Dallas over lunch. The purpose of the group is to share information and develop effective strategies to support projects in the areas of mental health, substance abuse and co-occuring disorders. For more details or to RSVP, contact Zaneta Oliver at zoliver@mfi.org, or call 214-826-9431.

 

January, 12, 2012: Finding Common Ground, Valuing Different Views, Teleconference 

Families and foundation boards across the country wrestle with diverging values, various religions and different political persuasions. While always a concern, divergent opinions come into sharper focus as the nation heads into the 2012 election year. In this candid, behind the scenes look at two family foundations, presenters will explore strategies and techniques to promote civil discourse. 

 

January 18 - 20, 2012: Nonprofit Organizations Institute, Austin, Texas  

For the fifth year in a row, the 2012 Nonprofit Organizations Institute will be held in collaboration with The University of Texas at Austin Continuing Legal Education. Watch your email or this website for additional information.

 

February 26 - 28, 2012: Everything I Needed to Know...But Nobody Told Me:

A Retreat for New Foundation Staff

Plan to attend the 2012 New Foundation Staff Retreat! Join us at the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation Conference Center in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Watch your e-mail for more additional program and registration details!

 

March 1, 2012: Las Vegas Philanthropy Summit, Las Vegas, Nevada

Philanthropists and foundation staff and trustees in Southern Nevada are invited to mark your calendar for the Las Vegas Philanthropy Summit on March 1, 2012. Emmy-award winning musician, composer, author and philanthropist Peter Buffett will open the Summit.

 

March 5 - 6, 2012: Community Foundation Fundamentals

New community foundations staff and board members often find the most difficult challenge is understanding precisely what a community foundation is. Community Foundation Fundamentals is designed to help staff and volunteers quickly comprehend organizational essentials. This two-day course is created and led by experienced leaders in the community foundation fieldPresented in partnership with the Council on Foundations.  

 

March 20 - 22, 2012 Foundations on the Hill, Washington, DC

Join the Conference of Southwest Foundation's 2012 delegation to Washington, DC to participate in Foundations on the Hill, an annual gathering of foundations from across the country designed to provide opportunities for learning and communicating with lawmakers on the important role of the philanthropic sector. 

 

April 22 - 24, 2012: Trustee Retreat, Santa Fe, New Mexico 

CSF's 2012 Trustee Retreat will be held at the offices of the McCune Charitable Foundation. Hotel accommodations will be at the nearby Inn on the Alameda (call 1-800-289-2122 for reservations). Check the CSF website for additional details! The retreat will be facilitated by The Philanthropic Initiative.

 

April 25 - 27, 2012: Mid-Year Meetings & Programs, Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico

2012 Mid-year Meetings and Programs are set to be held at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya on the Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico (between Albuquerque and Santa Fe) from Wednesday, April 25, 2012 through Friday, April 27, 2012 (CSF room rate $129/night). 

About Us

The Conference of Southwest Foundations is a nonprofit membership association of grantmaking organizations that provides a forum for the exchange of ideas, experiences and expertise among grantmakers, and resources to enhance the ability of each organization to fulfill its charitable mission. We maintain a library of the resources required for effective, efficient and responsible philanthropy.

We offer a vibrant and collegial community of foundation staff and trustees, bound together by a shared interest and investment in the Southwest, where individuals can learn together and call upon each other for ideas, expertise and joint action, and where new and diverse voices are encouraged to contribute to and help shape the philanthropic conversation. 

Contact Us

Conference of Southwest Foundations

624 N. Good Latimer Expressway, Suite 100

Dallas, Texas 75204

www.c-s-f.org

ph. 214-740-1787

fax 214-740-1790