Welcome to our newest member:
McKenna Foundation
Wet Mountain Valley Community Foundation
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Outcomes-based Philanthropy Focus of Nonprofit Institute's Closing Session
by Lisa Trahan, Director of Communications, St. David's Foundation and Board Member, Philanthropy Southwest
How do you know if the funds you are investing are actually making a difference in the lives of those you are trying to reach?
The concept of outcomes-based philanthropy provides a framework for analysis and discussion. In a 2012 article for the Stanford Innovation Review, Paul Brest, former president of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation writes that "outcome-oriented" is synonymous with "result-oriented," "strategic," and "effective."
Attendees at the recent Nonprofit Organizations Institute sponsored by Philanthropy Southwest and UT Law learned how a major foundation is approaching outcomes-based philanthropy. Semonti Basu of the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF) says that in order to practice outcomes based philanthropy, you must first ask a lot of questions.
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Capacity Building: Foundation to Foundation
Modest Grant Positions Colleague Foundation for Success
 Foundations regularly provide capacity building support to nonprofit organizations, but it's less typical for foundations to support the growth and capabilities of fellow funders. "Institutional mentoring goes beyond promoting a sense of collegiality between two foundations," said Louisa McCune-Elmore, executive director of the Kirkpatrick Foundation and Board Member of Philanthropy Southwest. "It strengthens the abilities of both foundations to learn more about the communities they serve, reach out to new and different partners, and promote areas we're interested in."
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Will you be part of PSW's Delegation to Foundations on the Hill?
Join us March 17 - 19th
Foundations on the Hill is a two-day event that brings foundation leaders to DC for meetings with Congress about key issues of importance to foundations and philanthropy. This session, over 60 freshman members will join the 114th U.S. Congress. In addition, the ongoing conversation about tax reform makes 2015 Foundations on the Hill an important time for philanthropy to meet with federal lawmakers.
Learn more and register today.
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Meet. Engage. Learn.
Spring Summit Schedule and Registration Now Available
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TEGG Launches Webpage and Announces May Meeting Date
Formed in 1996, Texas Environmental Grantmakers Group (TEGG) is a loose federation of community, family, and corporate foundations, as well as a few individual donors, who explore the challenges and opportunities for environmental support in the state of Texas.
Philanthropy Southwest now provides administrative support for the affinity group and hosts a page on our website announcing the latest news and information.
Click here to visit the TEGG webpage.
The next TEGG meeting is scheduled for May 15 from 11-2 pm at the Center for Maximum Potential Building System in Austin, Texas. Mark your calendar and watch your email, the PSW events calendar or the TEGG webpage for registration details.
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Have Something to Share?
Philanthropy Southwest is very eager to include model policies (on investments, personnel, conflicts of interest, etc.), sample documents, or any other information you would be willing to share with other members via our online resource library.
Call us or e-mail [email protected] for more information.
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SHORT TAKES
Member Happenings
David Mendez will begin a two-year term as chair of the Houston Endowment board of directors in 2015. He has served as a director since 2006. Mr. Mendez will follow Linnet Deily. Ms. Deily will continue to serve as director. Mr. Mendez is head of the Middle Market Specialized Industries group at JPMorgan Chase and currently serves on the boards of Texas Children's Hospital and Central Houston and is a Board member of the University of Houston's Bauer College of Business.
The Simmons Foundation (Houston) Board of Directors has appointed Amanda Cloud as Executive Director, effective January 1, 2015. Amanda, formerly a Senior Program Officer for the foundation, follows Linda K. May, who retired December 31, 2014, and who will continue to serve as Board Chair for the foundation. Amanda currently serves on the board of Our Global Village, chairs the board of Texas One Voice, and is on the advisory committee for the Rice Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership. At the Simmons Foundation, she has served in leadership positions for the local Funders Together to End Homelessness chapter and the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative. Amanda graduated from The University of Houston with a B.A. in Political Science and holds a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Texas A&M University.
Foundation News
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Photo credit: Joel Sartore
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Kirkpatrick Foundation (Oklahoma City) invites those committed to improving the quality of life for animals-and the people who care for them-to attend the ANIMAL Conference at the Skirvin-Hilton Hotel on March 30 and 31, 2015. The ANIMAL Conference is an essential part of the Kirkpatrick Foundation's Safe & Humane initiative to make Oklahoma the safest and most humane place to be an animal by 2032. The two-day conference will bring together the brightest minds in animal care, science, journalism, research, and sustainability to convene, discuss, network, and learn more about current topics of animal wellbeing in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City. This conference will inspire attendees toward active compassion and significant progress in the quality-of-life of their communities. We welcome you to be part of this life, community, and state-changing event. Click here for additional details.
Prosper Waco has received a $1 million grant from the Bernard & Audre Rapoport Foundation (Waco) to kick off a pilot program focused on helping local high school students successfully transition to college. The initiative, dubbed Project Link, will give students at two Waco-area high schools individualized counseling and support to apply to college, as well as continued guidance as they work toward completing degrees or certificate programs. The four-year pilot is a collaboration between Prosper Waco, Texas State Technical College, McLennan Community College, and the La Vega and Waco independent school districts. Project Link will officially begin this fall.
Dallas Women's Foundation (Dallas) is launching a social media challenge asking girls of all ages to post selfies that don't focus on their looks, but rather highlight their unique talents, interests, goals and dreams. The challenge leads up to Dallas Women's Foundation's annual Gender in Media event in February featuring Rosalind Wiseman and Rachel Simmons. Read more.
Casey Family Programs (Seattle) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2015 Casey Excellence for Children Awards. These awards recognize outstanding individuals whose distinguished work, exceptional leadership and relentless dedication has improved the child welfare system. The honorees are selected in two categories: constituents (birth parents, alumni of foster care, foster parents and kinship caregivers) and child welfare leaders. Learn more.
To read more member news continuously added to our website, click here.
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UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
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