October 2012        
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The Charitable Deduction & Tax Reform: How Should Philanthropy Respond?
FPN President & CEO David Biemesderfer recently moderated a webinar hosted by the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers that featured Eugene Steuerle, one of the authors of a new study by the Urban Institute's Tax Policy and Charities project. The study offers some helpful food for thought about the future of one of the most prominent charitable giving issues that is likely to be part of any tax reform negotiations: the charitable contribution deduction.
    
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Headlines
  
Two Florida Community Foundations Receive Historic Gifts:
 
The Community Foundation in Jacksonville    Weaver Family Foundation Establishes $23.7 Million Fund at The Community Foundation in Jacksonville
Former Jacksonville Jaguars owners Delores and Wayne Weaver announced that they have dissolved their family foundation and made a $23.7 million donation to establish a donor advised fund at The Community Foundation in Jacksonville. The Weavers' latest donation makes them the largest benefactors in the community foundation's 50-year history.
       
Community Foundation of Broward    Community Foundation of Broward Receives $40 Million Gift From Philanthropist Mary Porter
The Community Foundation of Broward has received what is thought to be a county-record $40 million gift from the estate of prominent local philanthropist Mary N. Porter. The money will be added to the foundation's $100 million portfolio as an endowment so the organization can distribute $7 million annually to a variety of local organizations that provide services to Broward residents. The 98-year-old humanitarian Porter had been working with the foundation since 2000, doing charitable work with a wide variety of Broward nonprofits.
   
> Darden Foundation Releases 2012 Community Service Report, Partners on #GivingTuesday
The Darden Foundation showcased its commitments and impacts to the communities it serves through the release of its 2012 Community Service Report: "Ready and Willing to Serve." The foundation released its annual report as a founding partner in the inaugural #GivingTuesday campaign, a national movement that celebrates the giving season around the holidays and inspires people to take collaborative action on Nov. 27, 2012.
    
> Jim Moran Foundation Supports Housing Stability in Broward
The Jim Moran Foundation awarded the Broward Regional Health Planning Council, Inc. a $500,000 grant for a new Housing Stability Program that will help keep low-income families from losing their homes and assist those who are already homeless to quickly get back into safe and stable housing.
   
> Walt Disney World Helps Write Story of New Library in Celebration
Walt Disney World donated $150,000 to the Osceola Board of County Commissioners for its public library project in Celebration, set to open early next year.
    
> Health Foundation of South Florida Helps Expand Kids In Distress' Dental Clinic Service
The Health Foundation of South Florida awarded a $102,000 grant to Kids In Distress to expand service at its Wilton Manors dental clinic, which provides dental treatment to children otherwise unable to receive care.
    
> Gulf Coast Community Foundation Grants Target Big Projects in Hunger, the Arts
Gulf Coast Community Foundation earmarked up to $150,000 to conduct a major study of the region's hunger-relief system in partnership with All Faiths Food Bank and Feeding America, and $50,000 for the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art's Art of Our Time initiative.
     
> Community Foundation of South Lake Helps Provide Free Vision Screenings to 380 Students
     
> Jaguars Foundation Awards Seats to Jacksonville-Area Youth Through "Honor Rows" Program
     
> Charlotte Community Foundation Supports 11 Local Nonprofits
   
> More Floridians Sign the Giving Pledge
    
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Education Funding News
   
Paul Luna   Paul Luna: Philanthropy's Role in Advancing STEM Education Is Vital
In a recent commentary for Philanthropy News Digest, Paul Luna, President/CEO of Helios Education Foundation, described the vital role that philanthropy needs to play to ensure that America's students are scientifically, mathematically and technologically prepared for the global 21st century economy. "With opportunity on our doorstep, one of the greatest values foundations and philanthropists can offer is a shared voice around the critical importance of STEM education for students and the nation," Luna wrote. "Foundations, in particular, are uniquely positioned to help shape and encourage dialogue on the state and national levels, convene diverse groups around common goals, develop strategic partnerships, foster innovation, facilitate collaboration, contribute expertise, leverage public and private resources, and, when appropriate, bring proven practices to scale."
     
Learning to Finish Report   New Report Details District-Community Collaboration to Improve Duval County's Graduation Rate
A new report prepared by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund for the Learning to Finish collaborative looks at the five-year results of this public-private partnership to improve the public school graduation rate in Duval County. The report, "Learning to Collaborate," identifies key results of the collaborative: identifying and helping students at risk of not graduating, increasing and coordinating school district and community resources, and introducing multiple pathways to graduation. Due in part to these efforts, Duval County's high school graduation rate increased by 11 percentage points between 2007 and 2011. The partnership was led by The Community Foundation in Jacksonville, Duval County Public Schools, Jacksonville Children's Commission, Jacksonville Public Education Fund and United Way of Northeast Florida.
 
> Knight Foundation Grant Aims to Increase Understanding of Duval Education Funding
The Community Foundation in Jacksonville received a $102,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to increase public understanding about how education funding works in Duval County. The foundation will create a website to serve as a hub of information, interaction and engagement.
    
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Community Indicators
   
Kids Count   Percentage of Florida Children Living in Poverty Rose in 2011
One-quarter (25%) of Florida children were living in poverty in 2011, up from 23% in 2010, according to new data from the Kids Count Data Center, a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Florida ranked 36th in the nation for the percentage of children living in poverty, down from 34th the previous year. The foundation also reports that Miami had the third-highest rate of children living in poverty among the 50 largest U.S. cities (44%) in 2011, behind only Detroit and Cleveland, while Jacksonville saw the second-biggest increase in the child poverty rate between 2005 and 2011 (63%), behind only Las Vegas.
    
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People
    
Mark Constantine  
Mark Constantine
  
 
Sally Douglass  
Sally Douglass
  
 
Marlene Spalten  
Marlene Spalten  
> Mark Constantine, who has served the Jessie Ball duPont Fund in many capacities through the years, has been named the Fund's senior vice president, assuming responsibility for oversight and development of the Fund's grantmaking portfolio, program staff and fellows program, as well as continuing oversight of its program-related and mission-related investment efforts.
   
> Sally Douglass has announced her plans to retire at the end of the year as director of programs for the Jessie Ball duPont Fund. She will stay connected with the Fund through 2013, serving in a consulting capacity as senior fellow.
     
> Marlene M. Spalten has been named the next president & CEO of the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay. An experienced fundraiser and community activist, Spalten will move to the Tampa Bay area from Jacksonville, where she was executive director of Baptist Health Foundation and a vice president of Baptist Health, Jacksonville's largest community-owned hospital group. While in Jacksonville, Spalten served as chair of the board of the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida, and is the regional director-elect for the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy. She succeeds David J. Fischer, who retired in Dec. 2011 after seven years leading the foundation.
   
> Laura Spencer has been named chief financial officer for the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Spencer previously held key leadership roles at Tervis Tumbler Company, including CEO from 2006 to 2010. Before joining Tervis, she held financial positions at Kerkering, Barberio & Co. and Deloitte, Haskins and Sells.
     
> Jon Thaxton has been appointed director of community investment for Gulf Coast Community Foundation. He will work part-time until his term as Sarasota County Commissioner ends in mid-November, at which point he will become a full-time staff member. In this position, Thaxton will engage donors and community partners through initiatives in workforce, economic development and other Gulf Coast priorities that will result in systemic improvements throughout the region.
    
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Jobs
Recent job postings on FPN's Jobs Board:
    
> Director, Philanthropic Development, Orange County Public Schools, Orlando.
   
> Grant and Scholarship Administrator, Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, West Palm Beach.
   
> Grants Administration Professional, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Miami.
   
> Program Officer, Jessie Ball duPont Fund, Jacksonville.
    
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New Resources
 
OSF Report   New Report Calls for Renewed Philanthropic Commitment to Black Men and Boys
Pointing to structural inequities in education, health systems, housing, employment and criminal justice, a new report from the Foundation Center and Open Society Foundations calls for a renewed commitment to black men and boys on the part of philanthropy. According to the report, "Where Do We Go From Here? Philanthropic Support for Black Men and Boys," foundation support designated explicitly for black men and boys has risen modestly in recent years, from $22 million in 2008 to $29 million in 2010. The report reveals that education has been a top priority among foundations supporting black men and boys, garnering 40% of those grant dollars between 2008 and 2010.
   
> Report Offers New Insights Into Foundation Payout
A new Foundation Center report offers insights into actual foundation practices regarding the 5% payout requirement. Based on an analysis of about half of the 1,900 largest U.S. foundations, the report shows that most large endowed independent foundations paid out at or above the 5% required payout level during the 2007-2009 period, while nearly one in five foundations had payout rates at or above 10%. The report is intended to provide helpful, unbiased data to inform future policy discussions over foundation payout.
    
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Funding Opportunities
 
> Bank of America Charitable Foundation: Hunger and Critical Needs
Bank of America Charitable Foundation is inviting U.S. nonprofit organizations to submit funding proposals for local programs that address the critical needs facing low-income communities through emergent or "lifeline" services such as hunger relief, short-term supportive shelter and benefits access. Deadline: Oct. 8.
   
> Community Foundation of North Florida: John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Donor Advised Fund
The priority area of interest of the Community Foundation of North Florida's Knight Fund is to foster informed, engaged communities in the foundation's geographic area (Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor and Wakulla counties). Deadline: Oct. 26.
   
> Knight Arts Challenge People's Choice Award
South Floridians can decide which of five up-and-coming arts organizations should receive $20,000 as part of the first Knight Arts Challenge People's Choice Award. To vote, watch the nominees' videos at KnightArts.org/peopleschoice and then text to support your favorite. The nominees are: 6th Street Dance Studio, Arts Garage, FUNDarte, LAB Miami and Urgent, Inc. Voting ends Oct. 22.
    
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Welcome New FPN Members
   
> Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, Miami.
   
> Darden Restaurants, Inc. Foundation, Orlando.
    
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