UPCOMING EVENTS
Unless otherwise indicated, to rsvp for any of these events, contact Madia Logan.

AGF Programs...

February 22, Funding Youth Civic Engagement Programs | This will be an informal session which will allow funders to discuss existing youth civic engagement programs, using materials supplied by various agencies. AGF has invited nonprofits with youth civic engagement programs to submit a brief overview of their program based on a template supplied by AGF. Group facilitators will be grantmakers who have funded the program being discussed, and they would explain what they saw as the strengths/weaknesses of the program. (Open to AGF Members Only)

Feb. 27-28, Council on Foundations and Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers sponsor Foundations on the Hill To date six members of AGF will be attending. For more information about how to register, visit http://www.foundationsonthehill.org/

March 22, Utilizing Baby Boomers | This program will involve a discussion of how the nonprofit sector can maximize the potential represented by Baby Boomers who will be undertaking major life changes in the next 20 years. ACF will also report out on the initial results of their Community Experience Partnership Grant from Atlantic Philanthropies. (Open to Nonprofits)

The Forum of Regional Association of Grantmakers Effectiveness and Accountability Educational Series Teleconference | This teleconference series, part of the Forum's Effectiveness and Accountability Educational Series, will feature John Edie of PricewaterhouseCoopers discussing critical issues pertaining to conflict of interest and self-dealing rules. The first session will cover the basics of conflict of interest, including definitions, types of conflicts, and best practices. The second session will focus on self-dealing and intermediate section rules, focusing on basic rules, transactions, disqualified persons, penalties, and exceptions. The third session will examine common problem areas and use real scenarios to explain how the self-dealing rule is applied in different cases.

Other Events of Interest...

Feb. 14-16, 2007, Grantmakers In Health Annual Meeting on Health Philanthropy Knowledge to Action: What We’ve Learned to Improve Health

Feb. 25-27, Council on Foundations Family Foundations Conference

Feb. 27-28, Environmental Grantmakers Association Federal Policy Briefing

Feb. 27-28, Council on Foundations Co-Sponsor(s): Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers Foundations on the Hill

Feb. 28-Mar. 2nd, Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers Forum Winter Conference on Advancing Regional Philanthropy

Mar. 8-9, Center for Effective Philanthropy Conference Assessment to Action: Creating Change, Renaissance

Mar. 19-21, Funders' Network for Smart Growth & Livable Communities Funders' Network 2007 Annual Conference

Mar. 26-28, Grants Managers Network 2007 Conference

April 3 - 5, Native Americans in Philanthropy - Native Philanthropy Institute & Emerging Leaders Summit (Scottsdale, AZ)

April 11-13, Global Philanthropy Forum 6th Annual Global Philanthropy Forum Conference

April 29-May 1, Council on Foundations 58th Annual Conference

NEWS IMPORTANT TO GRANTMAKERS

Governor Meets with Arizona Funders to Discuss Education
On Jan. 23rd, approximately 60 people met for lunch with Governor Janet Napolitano to learn more about the governor’s P-20 Council recommendations and to discuss how the philanthropic sector can support state efforts to improve education in Arizona. A summary of the council’s recommendations can be found at http://www.governor.state.az.us/P20/

Study Shows Nonprofit Hospitals Provide Better Care
Nonprofit hospitals with the most nurses per patient and the most advanced equipment provide better care than comparable investor-owned facilities in treating several common, serious ailments, according to a study. Nonprofit and government hospitals consistently outperformed the quality of for-profit hospitals in treating patients for congestive heart failure, heart attack and pneumonia, researchers said. The conclusions were based on data reported to government and private accreditation agencies analyzed by Bruce Landon of Harvard Medical School in Boston. The research, published in Archives of Internal Medicine, rekindles a debate over whether the nation's more than 700 for-profit hospitals offer inferior medical care. They provide 15 percent of U.S. hospital beds. Read Nonprofit Hospital Care.

Report on City and Suburban Poverty Trends Show Rise in Suburban Poor
In absolute numbers, there are now more poor people in the suburbs than in their city counterparts, finds a new report from The Brookings Institution. While numbers were about equal in 1999, suburbs had surpassed cities by 2005. The poverty rate remains much higher in cities, however, at 18.8 percent versus 9.4 percent in suburbs. The report points to significant regional differences. The poverty rate increased in both central cities and suburbs in the South and Midwest over the six-year period, while remaining steady in the West and falling slightly in Northeast cities. View Two Steps Back: City and Suburban Poverty Trends.

USEFUL RESOURCES

The Foundation: A Great American Secret — How Private Wealth Is Changing the World, Joel Fleishman (PublicAffairs: January 2007)
In his new book on American foundations, Joel Fleishman, head of a foundation-research program at Duke University, provides several case studies as a way to show grant makers and scholars why some projects have made more of a difference to society than others.

Mr. Fleishman and two research assistants at Duke, Scott Kohler and Steven Schindler, drew up analyses of 100 significant foundation programs started from 1901 to 2002. Mr. Fleishman included a dozen of them in his book. While all of the case studies examine successful or promising foundation programs, Mr. Fleishman's book discusses some failed efforts as well, although in less detail. All 100 case studies can be viewed online at http://www.pubpol.duke.edu/dfrp/cases.

Using your 990-PF to Communicate Effectively
Although foundations’ 990-PFs and 990s are being read increasingly by the media, government officials, nonprofits and other key stakeholders, foundations are often missing key opportunities to maximize their use of the form as a communications vehicle. This article details many steps your foundation can take to use your 990-PF or 990 to communicate more effectively and advance your transparency. To read the article, click here.

New Paper Measures Fiscal Capacity Across the 50 States
A new paper from the Urban Institute measures fiscal disparities across the 50 states by looking at each state's revenue capacity, expenditure need, and overall level of fiscal capacity. According to the study, Arizona ranked 38th in terms of fiscal capacity. The paper defines the fiscal capacity of a state as its revenue capacity relative to its expenditure need. Low fiscal capacity states may have less ability to weather economic shocks, the authors explain, a condition illustrated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama—the three states hit hardest by Katrina—are among the states with the lowest revenue capacity, highest expenditure need, and lowest fiscal capacity, the paper points out. Four of the top five states in the nation in terms of expenditure need are in the South (AL, AR, LA and MS), while all of the bottom five in terms of tax capacity are in the South (AL, AR, MS, OK and WV). Furthermore, Tennessee ranks last in the nation in terms of its dollar amount of revenue effort per person. For more information, go to http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/311384_fiscal_disparities.pdf.

The Top Ten Trends Impacting Metropolitan Areas in 2006 The Brookings Institution has compiled a list of ten noteworthy trends impacting metropolitan areas in 2006. At the top of the list is “For the first time in 2005 there are more poor residents of suburbs than central cities.” Also noted is the fact that, “The fastest growing metropolitan areas for minority populations from 2000 to 2004 now closely parallel the fastest growing areas in the nation.” See the full list at http://www.brookings.edu/metro/2006trends.htm.

EDUCATION RESOURCES

New Report Details Broken Promises to 34 Million American Kids “More than two-thirds of our children and youth – 34 million Americans between 6 and 17 – are not receiving sufficient developmental resources that put them on a path to success in adulthood,” says a new report from America’s Promise. They go on to say that meeting at least four of the five “America’s Promises” in terms of supports for children has been shown to nearly eliminate the academic achievement gap between white and minority students for ages 6-11, disparities in school attendance, disparities in drug use for 12-17 year olds and disparities in social skills. The five Promises are: 1) Caring adults; 2) Safe places and constructive use of time; 3) Health start and healthy development; 4) Effective education for marketable skills and lifelong learning; and 5) Opportunities to make a difference through helping others. View Every Child, Every Promise

Public Education's Role in Linking low-Income Kids to Opportunity The new policy brief, Opportunity in America: The Role of Education, evaluates the ability of public education to provide economic mobility for the nation’s middle and low-income children. According to the report, “At virtually every level, education in America tends to perpetuate rather than compensate for existing inequalities.” The research also outlines key actions to ensure that each child has access to the American dream through instrumental changes in preschool, K-12 and higher education. The paper advocates changing curriculum, providing the resources to hire highly qualified teachers and reducing classroom size at both the preschool and K-12 levels. The report also suggests providing more need-based financial aid, support services and pre-college preparation would enhance higher education access for students in the bottom income quartile. For more information click here.

Report Offers Insight on U.S. Business' Views on Education Reform The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently published, Education Reform: Insight into the Business Communities Views About the U.S. Education System, summarizing the responses of more than 500 business organizations on education reform. Among the finding, the business community supports education reform—35 percent of survey respondents believe additional education reforms are need and 46 percent of all respondents stated the need for additional reforms and funding. To increase accountability, 87 percent of the business community surveyed supported extending the No Child Left Behind requirements to high school. Seventy percent of the respondents also believed that schools should be measured on the growth of student achievement rather than the number of students passing an annual assessment. Click here for more information.

Articles Highlight Global Innovations to Education A new series of articles from the George Lucas Foundation periodical, Edutopia, highlights fresh ideas to address educational challenges from across the globe. The articles profile innovations in distance learning and broadband access from Australia, China and Rwanda and the non-medicinal solutions used to educate ADHD students in Israel. Australia uses laptops and high power wireless connections to educate geographically isolated, “Outback” students. Four days a week, students log in to participate in interactive lessons broadcast from the heart of central Australia. Click here to access other examples of international education innovations the article series, It Takes a Planet.

Case Studies on More Effective Education Grantmaking Grantmakers for Education (GFE) believes philanthropy, done wisely, can contribute solutions to the problems that prevent too many students from learning and achieving. In 2005, GFE identified eight principles that lead to greater impact in education. Now, to help donors and grantmakers reflect on specific principles that can ensure their grants lead to results, GFE is pleased to share five new case studies that consider the issues, challenges, and approaches of more effective education grantmaking.

The initial case studies include: The Chicago Public Education Fund's Master Teacher Initiative, The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Investments in Kentucky School Reform, The Donors' Education Collaborative of New York City, The Noyce Foundation's Every Child a Reader and Writer Initiative, and The PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning's Early Childhood Literacy Initiative

Each case study examines the decisions and challenges funders might confront when they integrate one of the principles in their work. Free copies of the complete case studies are available at www.edfunders.org.

Fordham Report Shows State Progress in Educating Low-Income Students The Fordham Report 2006 measures how well states are educating their neediest children. The report uses national achievement data to rank how well states performed in raising English, math and science test scores for all students, low-income students and ethnic subgroups during the past 10 to 15 years. The report also analyzes how effective the past decade of education reforms have been in boosting student achievement. According to researchers, “The top ten education reform states all made some progress...boosting the achievement their poor and minority students over the last decade or so.” According to this report, Arizona ranked first in terms of effective education reform efforts. For more information and to view the report click here.