October 2014

In This Issue

Strong Leaders, Strong Teams

Cracking the Network Code

Member News

Stay Connected

Welcome to our newest members:

Brazos Education Foundation (Waco, TX)

Texas Access to Justice Foundation (Austin, TX)

Job Openings

Visit Philanthropy Southwest's Job Openings page.

Strong Leaders, Strong Teams

"Strengthsfinders was an eye-opening experience for me, offering fresh insight about the nature of my personal tendencies and positively influencing my approach to work and life in general. Its application to the annual conference planning committee was equally powerful as it taught us the value of harnessing our combined strengths for maximum productivity thereby highlighting Philanthropy Southwest's values of diversity, connectivity and learning."

- Karin Gerstenhaber, Director of Grants Management, Tocker Foundation

Can you strengthen your leadership when you are clear about what you do best? Can teams--staff, boards, coalitions, volunteers, etc.--work together more effectively and efficiently when they know the specific strengths of individual members and the team as a whole? Yes, says Cindy Pladziewicz, president of the Dallas-based Professional Development Perspectives. "Not surprisingly, there are extensive data showing that people who work within their strengths are more engaged, more productive and happier," says Pladziewicz.

A clinical psychologist, Pladziewicz will lead a session at the upcoming Philanthropy Southwest Annual Conference focused on using the Clifton Strengthsfinder� assessment to strengthen leadership and teams. Having worked with an array of individuals and teams in small-to-large for-profit and nonprofit organizations, Pladziewicz is a firm believer in the Strengthsfinder�. Read more of this article.

Have you registered?

We'd love to see you in Phoenix!

Visit the Annual Conference website to review the latest schedule, speaker information and information on planning your travel to Arizona. Use the register button below to access online registration.

The beautiful Sheraton Wild Horse Pass is situated adjacent to the Gila River Indian Community, just 12 miles from Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). Phoenix can be reached in just 20 minutes by car.

Cracking the Network Code

Dallas Program Focuses on Collaborations for Greater Impact

Cracking the Network Code: Impact through

Empowerment was co-sponsored with Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) on September 23, 2014 in Dallas, Texas. GEO's Vice President of Member and Partner Engagement Heather Peeler focused on the importance and value of embracing a network mindset, engaging with peers who have put such strategies to work and sharing challenges and success stories.

Local thought leaders Caroline Sabin (The Powell Foundation, Houston) and Regen Feron (Zero to Five Collaborative, Dallas) also discussed the importance of and value gained by embracing the network mindset to make successful collaborations more likely.

The Network Mindset encourages participants to focus on

Mission, not the organization
Trust, not control
Humility, not brand
Node, not hub.

Peeler noted that Collaborations can expand engagement opportunities, particularly for small staffed foundations. And one participant shared, "Participation in a collaborative can mitigate risk and allow greater responsiveness to salient issues of the day."

Resources from the seminar may be found here, including a link to GEO's recent publication, Cracking the Network Code: Four Principles for Grantmakers.

Will the America Gives More Act be Considered in the Lame Duck Session?

The U.S. Senate adjourned for the November elections without passing the America Gives More Act, a bill to promote giving to the work of charitable nonprofits in communities across the country.

In July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the America Gives More Act by a strong, bi-partisan vote. The legislation promotes giving back to communities by renewing and making permanent expired charitable giving incentives that promote donations of nutritious food to food banks, conservation of land, and contributions from individual retirement accounts directly to charitable nonprofits. The measure would also permit charitable deductions for the previous year up to April 15 and streamline the excise tax for foundation investment income.

Those who support this legislation should their tell Senators and Representatives while they are home for the elections that the America Gives More Act is must-pass legislation that they must enact before the end of the year.

Click here to see a list of sponsors and supporters of Philanthropy Southwest's 2014 Annual Conference.

SHORT TAKES

Member Happenings

Myrna J. Deckert, CEO of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation (El Paso, TX) will be awarded the Fred Rogers Leadership Award in Philanthropy for children, youth and families for 2014. Grantmakers for Children, Youth and Families (GCYF) gives this prestigious award annually in memory of one of the country's most beloved advocates for children, Fred McFeely Rogers ("Mr. Rogers"). This award recognizes outstanding contributions and leadership by grantmaking staff, trustees and donors in all fields of children, youth and family philanthropy. This year's award will be presented at GCYF's annual conference in Detroit, MI. Mrs. Deckert will receive a plaque and "The Trolley," an iconic symbol of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

The Kronkosky Charitable Foundation (San Antonio, TX) announced at the end of September that J. Tullos Wells has been named managing director of the Foundation. He succeeds Palmer Moe who retired in May. Mr. Wells is a senior partner in the San Antonio office of the global law firm Bracewell & Giuliani. Wells will remain "Of Counsel" with Bracewell & Giuliani. He has served in many leadership positions, including chair of the San Antonio Chamber. Read more.

The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health at The University of Texas at Austin is pleased to announce the appointment of national mental health advocates Chacku Mathai, CPRP, and Roderick K. King, M.D., M.P.H, to its National Advisory Council. The foundation's 10-member council offers critical guidance and expertise to staff on strategic direction, major grant initiatives and other projects that will dictate the trajectory of the foundation's impact in Texas. Council members have Texas-based or national expertise in mental health, consumer advocacy, public health, philanthropy and other fields related to the foundation's mission of promoting the mental health of all Texans.

Foundation News

Episcopal Health Foundation (Houston, TX) leaders announced a detailed plan to improve community health across 57 Texas counties. The plan was introduced during a presentation at Iglesia Episcopal San Mateo in Houston. The new $1.2 billion foundation believes its One Vision, Three Goals, Seven Strategies plan will help transform the health of families most in need through a different way of philanthropy. "Our goal is not just to fill the gaps inside the health system," said Bishop C. Andrew Doyle, the ninth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and chair of the Episcopal Health Foundation board of directors. "We're hoping to actually close the gap between where people are and a true community of health and wellness." Read more.

Northwest Assistance Ministries has received a $500,000 grant from Houston Endowment Inc. toward its Roots & Wings building campaign. The goal of the campaign is to raise $5,371,608 to build a new Retail and Training Center on NAM's property. This grant brings the total raised to nearly $3,500,000 since the campaign began in January 2014. The new Retail and Training Center will allow NAM to expand programs and services, particularly in the area of Workforce Development, and will provide a permanent home for its largest resale store. This center will empower the low-income families served to attain better quality of life through better paying jobs.

The Sid W. Richardson Foundation (Fort Worth, TX) recently awarded the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation $1 million for the maintenance of Cedar Bayou.

To read more member news continuously added to our website, click here.

UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Don't forget to visit Philanthropy Southwest's upcoming events listing.

About Us

Philanthropy Southwest actively promotes opportunities to exchange ideas, build relationships and advance philanthropic excellence. Founded in 1949, Philanthropy Southwest is the most enduring association of grantmakers in the United States, providing timely information and connecting colleagues across the region to help them thrive and succeed in their work. Philanthropy Southwest connects trustees and staff with foundations in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. We are dedicated to fostering a welcoming environment with members who generously help other members, working together toward a better future.

For more information, visit www.philanthropysouthwest.org

Philanthropy Southwest | 214.740.1787 | dawn@philanthropysouthwest.org

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