FN&C Now
Volume 5, Number 25 – June 25, 2004
FN&C Now is published by the Council on Foundations to keep you in the loop by sharing news between bimonthly editions of Foundation News & Commentary magazine (FN&C Now Web archive: http://www.foundationnews.org/now/index.htm ). Please feel free to forward this message to your friends and colleagues who might enjoy it.
IN THIS ISSUE
NEWS COVERAGE: Senate hearing on charitable issues; giving at highest rate since 2000; giving for the humanities slipped during the past decade
JUST PUBLISHED: Good public schools build local economies, study says; ten foundation leaders share lessons learned
AT THE COUNCIL: Advice on making a difference in Africa; Family Matters focuses on accountability; sign up for Breaking News
ON THE MOVE: James N. Crutchfield (Knight); John Bare (Blank Family); Pamela A. Peters (Florida Philanthropic Network); Brian Svendahl (Community Reinvestment)
NEWS COVERAGE
FINANCE HEARING: On Tuesday, the United States Senate Finance Committee began its inquiry into possible reforms in the nonprofit sector with a three-hour hearing that focused on state and federal regulatory enforcement and oversight, abuses among all nonprofits and governance reform challenges. A 19-page discussion draft authored by Senate Finance Committee staff served as the basis for the hearing. However, Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) emphasized from the outset that the reforms suggested in the draft were just discussion items. There was little mention of private foundations during the hearing, although some witnesses supported limits on trustee compensation and administrative expenses. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Mark W. Everson said that the IRS will shortly begin audits of about 400 private foundations, half of which will be full-scale audits (similar to audits of individual taxpayers) as part of a national research project. Talking points related to the hearing and discussion draft—including the statement from Council on Foundations President and CEO Dorothy S. Ridings—are online at http://www.cof.org/index.cfm?containerid=64 .
GIVING INCREASES: Last year individuals, estates, foundations and corporations gave an estimated $240.7 billion to charity—a 2.8 percent increase from the $234 billion donated in 2002 and the highest rate of growth since 2000, according to Giving USA 2004. Adjusted for inflation, 2003 giving rose 0.5 percent from 2002. The annual report on philanthropy, is published by the Giving USA Foundation, a public service initiative of the Trust for Philanthropy of the American Association of Fundraising Counsel (AAFRC). The study is researched and written by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. The complete report will be available in July. Read more: http://aafrc.org/press_releases/trustreleases/americansgive.html .
HUMANITIES FUNDING: Foundation support for the humanities slipped during the past decade, according to the first comprehensive study on the topic. Giving by the nation's larger foundations for fields such as art history, languages and linguistics, area studies and the humanistic social sciences increased from $134.1 million in 1992 to $335 million in 2002. As a share of overall giving, though, support for the humanities slipped from 2.5 percent in the early 1990s to 2.1 percent in 2002. The report, "Foundation Funding for the Humanities: An Overview of Current and Historical Trends," was prepared by The Foundation Center and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Read the report (PDF): http://www.fdncenter.org/research/trends_analysis/pdf/human.pdf .
JUST PUBLISHED
PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Investing in public schools now will have an payoff in economic development later, according to a new study from the KnowledgeWorks Foundation. The report, "Public Schools and Economic Development: What the Research Shows," by Jonathan D. Weiss, says high quality public schools can help make states and localities more economically competitive and increase residential property values. Read the report (PDF): http://www.kwfdn.org/ProgramAreas/Facilities/weiss_book.pdf .
JUST MONEY: A new book, Just Money – A Critique of Contemporary American Philanthropy, presents candid lessons learned and guidelines for the future from ten philanthropic leaders, including Michele Courton Brown, Dennis Collins, David Ford, Joel Fleishman, Peter Goldmark, Anna Faith Jones, Scott McVay, Steven Schroeder, Bruce Sievers and Adele Simmons. Edited by H. Peter Karoff, the book was published by The Philanthropic Initiative and is available at: http://www.tpi.org/karoffcorner/HPKbook_page.html .
AT THE COUNCIL
GRANTMAKING IN AFRICA: Recent developments in Africa provide growing opportunities for funders to support important fundamental changes occurring there. Making a Difference in Africa: Advice from Experienced Grantmakers, a new Council on Foundations publication, offers advice on how U.S. foundations and corporate grantmakers can support institutions both within and outside Africa that are sharing problems and seeking solutions for them. Purchase the book (Council members $25; nonmembers $40): http://www.cof.org/Publications/Detail.cfm?ProductID=3014 .
FAMILY MATTERS: The spring 2004 Family Matters focuses on accountability and includes an interview with Andras Kosaras, the Council's director of ethical practices and philanthropic outreach. The issue also includes describes how grantee surveys can improve accountability and a screening tool developed by the Council's Committee on Inclusiveness to help determine the inclusiveness and diversity of organizations applying for grants. Council members may read the issue (PDF), at: http://www.cof.org/files/Documents/Newsletters/FamilyMatters/2004/FMSpring04.PDF .
FREE NEWS SERVICE: Breaking News is a free, daily e-mail newsletter summarizing the top articles—mostly from national and regional newspapers—about philanthropy. Breaking News is available to Council members only. Subscribe by e-mailing your name, title and foundation name to media@cof.org.
ON THE MOVE
JAMES N. CRUTCHFIELD was elected to the board of trustees of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Read more: http://www.knightfdn.org/default.asp?story=news_at_knight/releases/2004/2004_06_18_crutchfield.html .
JOHN BARE will become vice president for Strategic Planning and Evaluation at The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation June 28: http://www.blankfoundation.org/news/newsrelease19.html .
The Florida Philanthropic Network hired PAMELA A. PETERS as executive director.
The Community Reinvestment Fund elected BRIAN SVENDAHL to its board of directors.
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last update: 6.28.04