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News & Notes is
a monthly email newsletter designed to keep the Arizona community updated on local
and national developments in the philanthropic sector. This service is provided
free of charge by the Arizona
Grantmakers Forum - please feel free to forward this on to your colleagues.
AGF July Program Summary
Clear Cut: The Story of Philomath, Oregon
July 20 | 11:00am - 2:00pm | Flagstaff Arboretum
 Sixteen funders from all over the state gathered at the beautiful Flagstaff Arboretum (left) to view the award-winning documentary Clear Cut: The Story of Philomath, Oregon, a film about the power of a large family foundation over a small logging community. The film was followed by a lively discussion about the the role of funders in their communities, as well as non-profits' dependence upon these funders. The group also discussed the issue of founder intent, and how to honor a founding trustee's vision after they are gone. If you would like more information on this excellent film, please visit www.clearcutmovie.com.
Upcoming Programs
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To reserve a seat
at any of the programs listed below, please email AGF's registration box at register@arizonagrantmakersforum.org (unless otherwise noted).
September 26 Valley Contributers Network Program Promoting Your Company's Good Works Without Seeming Self-Serving: Lawrence Moore, Ph.D., Director of Communications and Public Affairs with Motorola, will lead a discussion on effectively promoting your company's community service activities.
11:30am - 1:30pm, Location: University Club . Open to Corporations and Corporate Funders - contact Robin Hanson at (602) 667-4726 or robin.hanson@prudential.com.
October 4 Grantmaking, Governance, and More: What the New IRS Wants From Your Organization A discussion with Northern Trust Vice President Grace Allison regarding new governance initiatives, potential investment pitfalls, and guidance on new private foundation distribution rules. Ms. Allison will also review a recent IRS study on donor advised funds and supporting organizations. 7:30am - 9:00am, Location: Northern Trust, 2398 E. Camelback Rd., Suite 400 .
Thurs. October 25 Non-Profit Consolidation: Opportunities and Challenges in Arizona Co-sponsored by AGF and the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, this program will feature David LaPiana, a national expert on nonprofit collaboration/consolidation. Local leaders who have either been involved in nonprofit mergers or have studied the impact of this movement will also speak. 8:00am - 3:00pm, Location: Phoenix Country Club Open
to Non-Profits and AGF Members (details available soon at AGF and Alliance websites).
October 31 Teaching Children the Art of Giving Arizona Grantmakers Forum, in partnership with a number of other philanthropic and civic organizations around Arizona, will host a conversation with noted author Susan Crites Price. The event will provide participants with information to help adults teach children - from toddlers to teens - how to use their time, talent, and money to help others. We will begin taking RSVP's for this event on August 31, 2007. For more information, click here. 11:30am - 1:30pm, Location: Arizona Biltmore
Member News
Community Fdn. for Southern Arizona grants $60,000 to United Way
The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, a grantmaking organization and leading voice for innovative solutions in southern Arizona, announced a $60,000 grant to United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona for their work in Early Education/Literacy. This grant is a part of CFSA's Literacy Initiative, a lon-term strategic plan to help strengthen the network of literacy providers and grow partnerships among funders of literacy efforts in southern Arizona. To read more about this exciting initiative and related grant, click here.
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust 2007 Grantees
The second round of 2007 grantees was announced by Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust earlier this month. These grants ranged from $10,000 to $750,000, and provided support to programs in three areas: Helping People in Need, Protecting Animals and Nature, and Enriching Community Life. Congratulations to all 49 grantees! Please visit www.ninapulliamtrust.org to read more about the Trust.
Ronald McDonald House receives $50,000 from BHHS Legacy Foundation
Thanks to a $50,000 grant from the BHHS Legacy Foundation, families from Mohave County and surrounding regions who come to Phoenix for medical care for their children will be able to stay at Ronald McDonald House at little or no cost. The Foundation grant provides $25,000 a year for two years to assist these families. For more information about The BHHS Legacy Foundation, visit www.bhhslegacy.org.
Piper Trust Names New Director of Communications/External Relations
The Virgina G. Piper Charitable Trust announced August 20th the appointment of Jane E. Ferguson as Director of Communications and External Relations. Ferguson currently serves as the Director of Communications for the Minnesota Council on Foundations in Minneapolis. Welcome to Jane!
Announcements from the World of Philanthropy:
These five links are quick updates from the sector, meant to keep you informed of recent events. For more in-depth articles on philanthropy, see "News and Resources" below.
 Philanthropy News & Resources
Hot Job Market for Big-Gift Fundraisers
The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently hosted an online chat discussing the increasing demand and competition for experienced development staff. Senior fundraisers are increasingly demanding top salaries and benefits, incentives, employment contracts, and other rewards. Though positive for those in the development field, nonprofit organizations are suffering from this trend. Some nonprofits are spending excessive amounts on employee searches and high salaries, and others are forced to hire unqualified staff because they are unable to compete in the current job market. The Chronicle invited two experts to discuss this phenomenon, and what it means for nonprofits and fundraisers alike. Click here to read the full transcript of the discussion.
Majority of Individual Giving Misses the Poor
A study performed by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University recently determined that less than one-third of the donations Americans give to charities actually help underprivileged citizens. Approximately $19 billion out of the $250 billion contributed in 2005 went directly to charities that serve the needs of the disadvantaged. Click here for a more detailed summary of this report, or click the icon below for the full report.
 Patterns of Household Charitable Giving (43 pages, PDF)
$1 Billion Owed by Tax Exempt Groups
According to a congressional study, tax-exempt groups in the U.S. owe nearly one billion in unpaid taxes as of last year. Of these groups, approximately 85% are considered charitable organizations. The individual debts range from small discrepancies to tens of millions of dollars, with about 1,500 of the groups oweing more than $100,000. Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn., states that fraud and abuse cases need to be rooted out and dealt with, so that "the reputations of countless charities that do good work are not tarnished, and Americans can be sure their donations will be put to good use." Click here to read the full article.
Entrepreneurs Changing the Face of Charitable Giving
Fortune Small Business recently reported that entrepreneurial philanthropists are changing charitiable giving in America for the better. These include successful business owners who are used to being in charge and have learned to be extremely resourceful in the way they do business.
Though they may not give the same high dollars as Fortune 500 companies, these philanthropists add a hands-on approach that is not typical of "check-writing" large corporations. In addition, these individuals are not waiting until they retire - they are tackling social problems using the same skills and philosophies that turned them into successful business owners. The majority of the "new breed of philanthropists" are responding directly to the needs they see around them, keeping their giving relatively local. However, as companies expand into the global marketplace, energy is directed towards the poor in developing countries as well.
Founder of Foundation Source Dan Schley remarks that "capital offers tremendous leverage if you think about philanthropy as a business and expect a social return on investment." This philosophy is proving to be a popular trend and an effective means of charitable giving. Adapted from Philanthropy News Digest.
Board Stories: Have an Effective and Happy Board
Ruth McCambridge, editor of The Nonprofit Quarterly, discussed in a recent article the seemingly universal problem that every nonprofit faces at some point: Board Management. She looks at the issue from the angle of Board Member recruitment, contending that a successful Board member possesses a different set of characteristics than nonprofits are trained to look for (money, influential connections, specific expertise). Her article examines real-life stories from Boards of Directors to determine good and bad practices when recruiting new members. Click here to read Ruth's article (a free subscription is required). Below, there are two related resources to help nonprofits with their own Board Management issues.
Guide: What to Ask Every Prospective Board Member
Engagement Governance for System-Wide Decision-Making (PDF)
Funders Increasingly Willing to Acknowledge Failures
Several years ago, the idea of a foundation publicizing failed initiatives and grants was virtually unheard of. However, because of increased emphasis today on communication, transparency, and accountability, foundations are more likely to share their less-than-successful projects. Many times, this is done in a spirit of "lessons learned," giving feedback for the purpose of improving grantmaking. With the public scrutiny of the sector these days, foundations' credibility is questioned if all they talk about are their successes. For the full article, as well as examples of funders sharing failures in a constructive way, click here.
2007
Grants in Support of AGF
AGF
receives revenues from three primary sources: Dues, Program Revenues and Grants/Sponsorships.
We are grateful to the following members who, in addition to their dues, committed
to supporting AGF in 2007 with general operating dollars and/or program underwriting:
Leadership
Circle:
- Arizona Community Foundation
- BHHS Legacy Foundation
- Dorrance Family Foundation
- Flinn Foundation
- Helios Education Foundation
- Nina
Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
- St. Luke's Health Initiatives
- The
Lodestar Foundation
- The Rodel Charitable Foundation of Arizona
- The Stardust Foundation
- Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
Partners
Circle:
- APS
- Mr.
Tom Chauncey
- Salt River Project
Program
Hosts:
- Mr.
Tom Chauncey
- F2
Family Foundation
- Phelps
Dodge Corporation
- The Arizona Republic
- Southwest Gas
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