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You're in the Driver's Seat
Take advantage of these member-driven services
 We hear you loud and clear! SDG has been collecting feedback from members like you for more than a year about what you value in your SDG membership and how we can help you get the most out of it. What did we learn? Basically, to let YOU drive the content while we facilitate the work and research, disseminate the relevant information, and activate the networks that will support your endeavors. To that end, here are some new and revamped "member-driven" opportunities:
Member-led programs. Is there an issue area or grantmaking approach that you're passionate about or that you want to learn more about with fellow grantmakers? Let us know and we'll support you and help you make an SDG program about it happen. Here are some guidelines about how to do it, and you can email Director of Member Services Phyllis Levine at phyllis@sdgrantmakers.org to get the process started. Member collaborations. You overwhelmingly told us that one of SDG's most important roles is that of a convener and facilitator of funders who are interested in learning together and leveraging resources to address a community need. So we're putting extra energy into this aspect of membership, including two new consultants to work exclusively with our member collaborations. Our two newest collaborations, focusing on military families and education, will be really getting off the ground this year. Jump to updates about our member collaborations below. Member learning communities. Want to get together periodically with like-minded grantmakers to share ideas and experiences? We'll happily handle the coordination. The kick-off of our new Corporate Philanthropy Learning Community, hosted by our corporate members on the Board, is on April 12... |
Upcoming SDG Events
Announcing three new programs!
 Corporate Philanthropy Learning Community
 April 12, 2012, 12:00PM-2:00PM
SDG Office
Several of SDG's corporate grantmaker members are leading this new "learning community" specifically to connect like-minded professionals and to tap their collective knowledge in the field of corporate philanthropy. Attendees will talk over lunch about what they need to help do their jobs better and create a new, more peer-driven way for SDG to serve as the hub of a very powerful corporate giving knowledge network. The meetings will continue periodically with the topics, frequency, and format to be created and agreed upon by members. And of course, there will be some fun food to help get the conversations going!
NCFP Teleconference: Diverse Voices in Family Giving
April 12, 2012, 9:00AM-10:00AM
SDG's family foundation members may participate for FREE!
New! Closing the Aspiration-Attainment Gap to a College Education
 May 3, 2012, 12:00PM-2:00PM
SDG Office
A new study, Building A Grad Nation, presents some pretty stark statistics about the ability of certain young adult populations to successfully pursue a college education. For example, only 9 percent of low-income students actually receive college diplomas, compared to an estimated 54 percent of students from wealthy families. This roundtable discussion will help grantmakers learn from each other's experiences helping to close the "aspiration-attainment gap" to college. Discusson topics will include college preparedness programs, scholarships, mentoring, college saving accounts ("IDAs"), and college retention programs, to name a few.
NCFP TELECONFERENCE: At the Wheel - Women in Family Philanthropy
May 10, 2012, 9:00AM-10:00AM
SDG's family foundation members may participate for FREE!
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Sate Senator Christine Kehoe |
New! California's Budget Challenges and Their Impact: A Conversation with State Senator Christine Kehoe
May 18, 2012, 10:00AM-12:00PM
Location TBD
Please join us for a conversation with State Senator Christine Kehoe about the challenges of the California budget. Senator Kehoe has served in the state legislature for twelve years, under two governors. She has served as the Chair of the Senate Appropriations committee, and as the Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore - the Assembly's second highest ranking leadership position. Speaking from her diverse experiences in state office, she will talk about California's longstanding budget challenges - and their current and future impact on our region and state.
NCFP TELECONFERENCE: Celebrating Milestones in Family Philanthropy
June 14, 2012, 9:00AM-10:00AM
SDG's family foundation members may participate for FREE!
New! Cultures of Caring and Giving: Our Diverse Philanthropic Communities
 June 20, 2012, 12:00PM-2:00PM
SDG Office
At San Diego Grantmakers, we respect the cultures of giving by all communities and strive to learn more. To that end, we invite you to join us in exploring how to engage with our Latino, Asian Pacific Islander, and African American communities in supporting philanthropic efforts to build a better San Diego and beyond. During this session, representatives from several national philanthropic affinity groups will share what they have learned about increasing high-impact philanthropic investment both from and for diverse communities. To set the stage for this discussion, take a moment to watch the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors video "I Am A Philanthropist: Diverse Voices in Giving," |
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This Month!
Council On Foundations 2012 Annual Conference
More than 1,000 people are expected to attend the Council on Foundations (COF) 2012 Annual Conference. Many will be flying in from around the country, but lucky for those of us in Southern California, the conference is only a short trip to downtown Los Angeles.
You may read all about the plenary and breakout sessions on the conference webpage.
Reduced Registration Costs for SDG Members!
Because of SDG's help in planning the conference, our members may register for any of the conference offerings (full conference attendance, day rates, optional events, etc.) at the COF member rates -- which could save hundreds of dollars in registration fees.
If you're attending, let's plan a gathering for SDG members! Email nancy@sdgrantmakers.org to let us know. We hear that folks from the Parker Foundation, Hitachi Foundation and Leichtag Foundation will attend - who else will join the fun?
Register online |
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In Case You Missed It
Reports from recent SDG programs
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Some planners of the Mayoral Forum, including SDG Executive Director Nancy Jamison. |
San Diego Mayoral Candidate Forum: Issues of Importance to the Nonprofit and Philanthropic Sector (March 26)
SDG, together with six other nonprofit support organizations, hosted a forum for candidates in the 2012 City of San Diego mayoral election that focused on the issues facing the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. More than 500 individuals attended, demonstrating the significance of this constituency to all four leading candidates. Moderators Scott Lewis of VoiceofSanDiego.org and Gloria Penner of KPBS asked questions about local arts and culture, the environment, and philanthropy's role in providing services, among other issues. We've got some pictures up (professional ones forthcoming), adn here's what the media had to say about the event.
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(LtoR) Foundation for Change Executive Director John Fanestil and Dr. Weber |
Post-Presidential Perspectives with Dr. Stephen Weber (March 7)
Several foundation trustees and CEOs gathered for this intimate reception and conversation with Dr. Stephen Weber, the recently retired president of San Diego State University. Dr. Weber touched on issues such as the state of education and opportunities for philanthropy to make an impact in our region -- all based on his unique leadership experience and contributions in the community.
 Volunteerism and Voice: Two Key Ingredients in the Recipe for Nonprofit Success (February 2)
Two esteemed nonprofit leaders -- Karen Baker, the first-in-the-nation state cabinet Secretary of Service and Volunteering for California and Jan Masaoka, the new CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CAN) -- met with us to discuss the role of volunteerism and voice in the nonprofit sector. Additionally, Jennifer Tankersley, president of the local consulting group NP Strategies, along with Laura Deitrick, director of the Caster Family Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research at the University of San Diego, presented research about the essential elements of a strong nonprofit infrastructure, as well as findings from the Caster Center's recent State of Nonprofits Quarterly Index report.
View photos and materials from these programs.
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Member News
■ The staff at SDG extends its sincerest condolences to member Rosemary George Straley for the loss of her husband Walt, as well as to former Board Member Valerie Jacobs for the loss of her sister Meg, a Jacobs Family Foundation trustee.
■ The San Diego Human Dignity Foundation just announced more than $140,000 in grants to local nonprofits.
■ Alliance Healthcare Foundation recently hosted two community events: an Innovation in Healthcare Conference (March 23) and Funding Forum 2012 (February 15). Follow the links for more information about both online, and view pictures from the March 23 conference on Facebook.
Read more Member News
Send us your news! We'd love to help promote your grants, programs, people, and more! |
 Member Collaborations
New Funder Collaboration Consultant hired!
SDG is excited to announce the hire of Jennifer James, vice president of Harder+Company Community Research, as our new Funder Collaboration Consultant. In this role, Jennifer will facilitate the Coming Home to Stay, Homelessness Working Group, Military Families Support Working Group, and Transition Age Youth Funders member collaborations. Jennifer brings tremendous experience in facilitation of nonprofits, funders and public entities as well as a passion for social change. Welcome, Jennifer!
New chair for Homelessness Working Group
After years of dedicated service leading the Homelessness Working Group (HWG), Mary Herron, a trustee of The Parker Foundation and SDG, is stepping aside and Anahid Brakke of the Leichtag Foundation is stepping up. The group is currently identifying ways to ensure that its Keys to Housing initiative continues to advocate for ways to prevent family homelessness.
Coming Home to Stay update
Coming Home to Stay (CHTS) continues its good work to help former prisoners reintegrate into society. The current recidivism rate for CHTS program participants is less than 10 percent -- compared to the more than 70 percent statewide average.
New! Education Funders
The next meeting of the Education Funders member collaboration will by May 8 from 2:00PM-4:00PM -- stay tuned for additional details. SDG is interviewing for an Education Funders Consultant position (described here) and is hoping to fill it soon!
Transition Age Youth Funders (formerly Child Welfare Funders)
In February, the Transition Age Youth Funders (TAY Funders) learned that a project to create a Transition Age Youth Academy, which they supported planning, would receive $5 million in public funding to not only support the original academy site in Golden Hill, but four additional TAY academies in the north, south and east regions of the County as well! The next TAY Funders meeting is May 2, 8:30AM-10:00AM at Casey Family Programs.
Read more about other SDG member collaborations. |
 Worth the Read
Opinions & Insight About Philanthropy
Connecting Trayvon Martin and philanthropy
In the aftermath of the tragic death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, Tamara Copeland, president of the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers, discusses how philanthropy must go deeper than discussions about diversity in staff leadership and in board composition to really tackle racial equity and social justice.
Addressing inequity in society and among nonprofits
Misplaced giving and the status quo: provocative opinions for philanthropists
Funder/grantee relationships
Paul Beaudet of Wilburforce Foundation wrote a three-part series of blogs about the complex relationship between funders and grantees for The CEP Blog.
How to be creative
Author and columnist Jonah Lehrer provides an evidence-based and hopeful message about creativity, one that can help donors and nonprofit leaders alike get to smarter solutions. He was also one of the keynote speakers at last month's GEO Conference in Seattle attended by SDG Executive Director Nancy Jamison.
Long-term giving means safeguarding donor intent
Some of the country's leading philanthropic institutions have strayed far from their founders' missions, the head of a leading donors' organization writes in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece.
Engaging individual donors
A post on the High Impact Philanthropy Blog makes the case that for institutional funders, engaging individual donors offers a path to sustaining the impact of foundation investments when foundation grant terms inevitably end. |
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 How Has SDG Helped You Lately?
"A vital, necessary and great program."
Irwin Zahn of the Moxie Foundation about the March 7 reception with former SDSU President Stephen Weber.
Thank you for being a member of San Diego Grantmakers. We are always interested in knowing what's working, what needs improving or new services to consider. Please share your thoughts, comments and suggestions by sending an email to michelle@sdgrantmakers.org. |
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Job Opportunity
The Board of Directors of the San Diego Association of Nonprofits (SANDAN) is seeking candidates to be considered for the position of Executive Director, The position is a half-time with the opportunity to grow. Candidates should send a cover letter, résumé and three references that can attest to the qualifications listed in the announcement to Tom Scott at info@sandan.org no later than 5:00 pm on Monday, April 16. |
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Other Non-SDG Philanthropic Events
