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| San Diego Grantmakers Update | |
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"Pick something you love and don't spread yourself too thin."--Bill Gates, giving advice to philanthropists |
December 2009 | |
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SDG welcomes new member Bank of America.
Note: Bank of America recently announced grants for hunger-relief efforts as part of their expanded focus on basic human services in response to the recession. Additionally, Bank of America is hiring a San Diego Market Manager--click here for the job description. |
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Announcing New 2010 Programs
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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 mourns the passing of Sol Price, a dedicated philanthropist. Click here and here for Union-Tribune articles on his life and work.
The Cox Kids Foundation is accepting applications for Cox Heroes scholarships, available for San Diego County adults, military dependents and high school seniors who dream of furthering their education.
Rosemary George Straley of the George-Straley Foundation met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in DC in November to discuss support efforts for the Department of State's Global Women's Issues initiatives.
Time Warner Cable announced a five-year, $100 million commitment in conjunction with a White House-sponsored campaign to improve math and science education in the United States. |
Social Innovation Fund Releases Draft Guidelines
After allocating $50 million for the new Social Innovation Fund, the Corporation for National and Community Service released a draft Notice of Funds Available (NOFA) to guide the distribution of grants from the fund. The corporation expects to award approximately five to seven grants - ranging from $5-10 million - during the 2010 fiscal year. Grants will be made to "intermediary grantmaking organizations" that will then distribute smaller grants, and provide matching funds, to innovative nonprofits. The draft guidelines are open for public comment until January 15, 2010. Click here for related coverage. Additionally, several grantmaker affinity groups are hosting a conference call for grantmakers to discuss the guidelines on January 6 from 11am-12:00pm Pacific.
More News from Washington
In other legislative news, both the Tax Extenders Act of 2009 and the estate tax legislation, after being passed in the House, are awaiting consideration in the Senate. The Council on Foundations reports that because the Senate is unlikely to address these issues until work on health care is complete, it's possible that Congress will delay resolution until 2010, and then extend the provisions retroactively. |
Philanthropic Headlines
"For many charities, the holiday season has delivered a perfect storm comprised of funding cuts, increased demand for services, and an ever-widening range of clients seeking help against a backdrop of persistent economic woes, the Associated Press reports."
Philanthropy Journal: "Striving for the Optimal Overhead Goal""It is unfortunate that the cost-overhead ratio carries such strong meaning for donors. It is perhaps the most misguided method for determining effectiveness."
Tactical Philanthropy: "Using Your Head and Your Heart in Philanthropy""A growing number of nonprofit experts are urging donors to channel more of their money to high-performing organizations, with the goal of making philanthropy more effective.
But embedded in this movement is a worrisome concept - the idea that donors should give with their heads instead of their hearts."
"Experts say nonprofits are skillfully exploiting the tax code's broad and elastic definition of what constitutes such a charity, making it difficult for the Internal Revenue Service, which must bless them, to say no."
Wall Street Journal: "Giving: Tough Times, Tough Choices""A recent American Red Cross poll found that 20% of givers planned to reduce their contributions this year, though 62% were hoping to give about the same amount.
Yet with unemployment at the highest level in a generation, basic needs are greater than they have been in recent memory."
San Diego Union-Tribune: "Nonprofits Hit Hard by Recession""The recession has pounded San Diego's 9,700 nonprofit organizations, a reality that makes the holiday giving season critical for many." |
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Resources
Essentials of Foundation Strategy
The Center for Effective Philanthropy has released this new report, which
defines elements of strategic foundation leaders; characteristics of their plans, communications, grantmaking, and assessments; the need to back strategic plans with logic models; and challenges. Click here for Chronicle coverage of the report. Evaluation in the FieldThis Grantmakers for Effective Organizations and the Council on Foundations publication offers a brief overview of how grantmakers are looking at evaluation as a means of improvement. It is based on a review of the current literature on evaluation and learning, outreach to grantmakers that have made these activities a priority, and the work of GEO and the Council on Foundations to raise this issue more prominently among their members.
Why and How Funders Work Together
GrantCraft offers this guide on funder collaboratives, including approaches that work and challenges to face.
Supporting Our Troops, Veterans, and Their FamiliesThis California Community Foundation report (pdf) reviews the highlights, impact, and lessons of the foundation's Iraq Afghanistan Deployment Impact Fund grants to raise awareness of and help meet the needs of veterans and families.
SSIR: Outrun the Recession
This article offers seven "healthy habits" for nonprofits to survive the recession and beyond. |
 Join Us: Ensuring Healthcare & Biotech Workforce Success
San Diego Workforce Funders, a collaborative of San Diego Grantmakers, invites you to this important program:
Employers & Philanthropy Together: Ensuring Healthcare & Biotech Workforce Success
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
9:00am-12:00pm
Location: AMN Healthcare Auditorium, 12400 High Bluff Dr., San Diego 92130
We're bringing together the best minds in workforce development, healthcare and biotech to discuss how to leverage federal, state and local resources to create a better-prepared and more productive workforce, and increase employment in our region. Learn w
hat you need to know to make more impactful giving decisions and how collaborative efforts can leverage your funding.
For more information, contact Barbara Mandel Pache, San Diego Grantmakers Funder Collaboration Consultant. |
Special Program: "The Story of Stuff"
Join the SDG Environment Funders for this special program:
January 21, 2010
4:00-5:30 PM
Location TBD
Annie Leonard loves to talk trash. Using the same rapid-fire, fact-filled and humorous approach that made her film The Story of Stuff an Internet sensation, she will connect the dots and explain the real social and environmental costs of how we make, use, and throw away stuff.
With an eye on solutions, Annie will address how those engaged in environmental work and those supporting it can shift the conversation away from over-consumption. Additionally, she will explore how grantmakers and environmental advocates can play a defining role in transforming our environments, communities and economies to become truly sustainable and ultimately, change the story of our stuff. |
Operating in Uncertain Times: How Economic Conditions Have Affected San Diego County's Nonprofit and Philanthropic Sectors
Join us to hear about this new local research:
January 22, 2010
12:00-2:00 PM (Lunch served)
SDG: 5060 Shoreham Place, Suite 350, San Diego 92122
Recent economic conditions have led many nonprofit organizations across the country to find new and innovative ways of operating in an atmosphere where funds have been steadily declining. Now we have important information for San Diego highlighting the myriad ways that nonprofit leaders are adjusting to these changes. The USD Caster Family Center for Nonprofit Research conducted a study with nonprofit and philanthropy executives throughout our county, to find out how they believe recent economic conditions have impacted their organizations.
Come to a special SDG members-only briefing from the report authors. The presentation will be followed by a facilitated discussion about how funders can best support their nonprofit partners now given the realities they are facing every day. |
COF Family Philanthropy Conference
As you know, the COF Family Philanthropy Conference is coming here to San Diego from January 31-February 2, 2010. Early-bird registration ends January 7, so register soon! The event will feature several off-site sessions led by SDG members, including on at the Village at Market Creek, one at the International Community Foundation, and one about the San Diego border fence led by the Foundation for Change. |
Save the Date: Arts Funders Meeting
Calling all arts funders! Mark your calendars for a meeting:
Monday, February 1, 2010
12:00-2:00 PM (Lunch served)
Location: San Diego Natural
History Museum's Board Room
Your involvement is key to a successful outcome of providing support to arts and culture organizations and ensuring the vitality of the arts in our region. | |
| This online SDGrantmakers Update is published by San Diego Grantmakers to help SDG members meet the challenges of philanthropy today. 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. Copies of past editions are archived here.
Contact Nancy Jamison, 858/875.3333 or nancy@sdgrantmakers.org to suggest article ideas or submit news items. | |
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