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.
Important AGF Contact Information Update!
Erin Dow is the new Manager of Member Services and Communications for AGF, replacing Lauren Bashaw who left in August. Erin can be reached at edow@azgrantmakers.org. Please update your records accordingly.
Program Summary
Meaningful Metrics for Measuring Impact
Grantmakers, especially those committed to addressing the root causes of social problems, struggle with the question: "how do we know if our charitable giving has a positive impact?" The Annie E. Casey Foundation, one of the largest foundations in the U.S., has been grappling with this question for a number of years. They have developed a results-oriented framework which they use to evaluate the impact of their various grantmaking programs. Bruno Manno, Senior Program Associate for Education at the Annie E. Casey Foundation discussed this framework and how the foundation has tackled the question of how to measure grant impact. A video of the September program is available for AGF members at the Members Only section of our website - click here to log in and then click on Resources.
Reviewing Nonprofit Financials: Identifying Red Flags
On September 25th, AGF presented a program with guest speaker Rob Leslie, CPA , Director of Nonprofit Services at Mutual of Omaha Bank. With his wealth of experience in working with nonprofits on financial statement audits, general business consulting, and compliance reporting, Rob was able to highlight some of the key areas for funders to consider when reviewing nonprofit financial statements. Rob covered a wide range of topics related to nonprofit financials, including key accounting terms, reading and interpreting financial statements, financial trends, red flags to look for, how to know if a nonprofit is gaining or losing ground, SAS 112 communication, and the new 990 Form for 2008. A video of the September program is available for AGF members at the Members Only section of our website - click here to log in and then click on Resources.
Upcoming Programs
For more information on any of the programs listed below, please email AGF at edow@azgrantmakers.org (unless otherwise noted).
The Green Effect: How Corporate Community Involvement is Embracing Environmentalism
November 5, 2008
11:00am - 1:00 pm
This webinar hosted by AGF and presented by the Donors Forum of South Florida will look at how businesses have responded to the widespread demands that they improve environmental practices. Dr. Linda Gornitsky of LBG Associates will discuss this trend and the findings of her firm’s latest research report, The Green Effect: How Community Involvement Is Embracing Environmentalism. This report includes unique environmental programs offered by 51 leading companies. Topics will include the corporate
response from an operational and community involvement perspective to the growing demand to go green, top trends in green community involvement, and three models for green community involvement. Click here for more details.
Governance/Administrative Best Practices
November 20, 2008
11:30am - 1:30 pm
Catholic Community Foundation
The focus of this program will be on addressing the range of policies and procedures that all nonprofits should have in place to ensure nonprofits pursue the highest standards for accountability and transparency. Ellis Carter of Fennemore Craig, P.C. will lead this discussion. Open to Nonprofits! Click
here for more details.
The 16th Annual Nonprofit Conference on Sustainability Strategies
"Philanthropy and Fundraising in a Changing World: Voluntary Action for the Common Good"
Sponsored by the ASU Lodestar Center
December 4 - 5, 2008
Desert Willow Conference Center in Phoenix
Click here to register.
What is Community? Voices and Choices for Sustainability
Sponsored by St. Luke's Health Initiatives
December 5, 2008
7:30am - 12:30pm
Phoenix Airport Marriott
To learn more, go to www.slhi.org and click on “What is Community?
Challenges of Philanthropic Leadership
December 11 , 2008
11:30am - 1:30 pm
Flinn Foundation
Joel Orosz, Distinguished Professor of Philanthropic Studies at Grand Valley State University and a nationally recognized authority on philanthropy, will speak about the challenges of philanthropic leadership. Open to AGF Members and other foundation leaders. Click here for more details.
Teleclasses
Technology in Corporate Philanthropy
November 19, 2008
12:00pm –1:00pm ET
Sponsored by the Council on Foundations
Technology challenges every front of our work—how we conduct grantmaking, where we direct grants, and what we expect of nonprofits. How do we stay ahead of the curve of technology, recognize its implications, and understand how best to use it? A Council legal staff member will be on hand to address legal concerns around technology in corporate philanthropy. Click here for more details.
Member News
Announcements from the World of Philanthropy
- U.S. Senate Creates Philanthropy Caucus
- Consumers Expect Companies to Keep Giving in Hard Times
- New Report Urges Foundation to Make Use of New Media
- Clinton Global Initiative Concludes with $8 Billion in Commitments
News and Resources
Congress Extends IRA Charitable Rollover; Foundation Leaders Delighted
The IRA extension was included in the $700 billion Emergency Economic Stabiliation Act passed by Congress on October 3. As enacted, the IRA Charitable Rollover permits IRA owners age 70 1/2 or older to make direct gifts from their IRAs to qualified charities totaling $100,000 per year without suffering any negative tax consequences since it does not have to be declared as income. Click here to read more.
How and Why do Arizonans Give?
The ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation recently released a report that provides an overview of household giving and individual volunteering in Arizona. The report presents a wide range of data including amount of giving, volunteer hours and reasons for donating broken down by factors such as household income, education level and ethnicity. Also included in the report is a profile of giving by the Hispanic/Latino community. Click here to view the report.
Leadership Is a Who Thing
Bridgestar offers a free nonprofit management job board, Hiring Toolkit, and e-newsletter to help you find your next "Who." Bridgestar is an initiative of the Bridgespan Group, a nonprofit 501(c)(3)organization. Click here to access these tools.
Despite Downturn, There is Hope for US Charitable Giving
According to researchers at Boston College's Center on Wealth and Philanthropy, charitable giving may not be affected as long or as much as some fear by the downturn in the economy. Click here to read more at MarketWatch.com.
Nonprofit Leaders Need to Master Changing Environment, Study Finds
Today’s nonprofit leaders need to master fluidity, complexity, and turmoil, a new report from Pittsburgh-based Dewey & Kaye and the Looking Glass Institute argues. Click here to read more about this report.
2008 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
- Flinn Foundation
- Helios Education Foundation
- The Lodestar Foundation
- Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
- Rodel Foundation of Arizona
- Stardust Foundation
- St. Luke's Health Initiatives
- Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
Partner's Circle
- Mr. Tom Chauncey
- Salt River Project
Program Sponsors
- APS
- F2 Family Foundation
- Fran Dickman
- McMiles Foundation