FN&C Now

Volume 5, Number 29 – July 23, 2004 IN THIS ISSUE NEWS COVERAGE: Gates foundation to benefit from Microsoft dividend; MacArthur foundation grants to reduce weapons threats JUST PUBLISHED: Survey reveals unbalanced distribution of Los Angeles arts funding NOW ONLINE: Database of capacity-building resources expands AT THE COUNCIL: Foundation News & Commentary wins four APEX 2004 awards, including one for commentary by Council Board Chair Emmett D. Carson; sign up for Breaking News ON THE MOVE: Marie C. Wilson and Sara K. Gould (Ms. Foundation); Eileen Hershenov and Ricardo Castro (Open Society); Rose Dangerfield (Central Carolina) NEWS COVERAGE GATES DIVIDEND: Bill Gates, co-founder and trustee of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, pledged all proceeds from his share of Microsoft's one-time, special stock dividend to shareholders to the foundation. "The pledge today is recognition that our world, the nation and our region-now more than ever-can and should dramatically improve equity in health, education, and access to information and human services for vulnerable families," Gates said. As the company's largest shareholder, his share of the dividend is expected to be approximately $3 billion. Payment of the dividend is contingent on shareholders approving amendments to the company's employee stock plans this fall. Read more: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/AboutUs/Announcements/Announce-040720.htm . REDUCING THREATS: The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced four grants totaling more than $5 million to help reduce threats from nuclear, biological and space weapons. The funding will support training for scientific and technical experts working on security matters, development of new policy initiatives to reduce weapons dangers and timely advice to policymakers on such issues as nuclear proliferation and the dangers posed by biological weapons. Read more: http://www.macfdn.org/announce/press_releases/7_17_2004.htm . JUST PUBLISHED LA ARTS FUNDING UNBALANCED: A biennial study of corporate, foundation and government arts funding in Los Angeles County shows that community-based groups will suffer if current funding trends continue. The survey found that overall funding for the arts had declined significantly, and that four public agencies and six private foundations accounted for 75 percent of arts funding in 2002. In addition, large organizations received 72 percent of 2003 arts funding, up from 51 percent in 2000. At the same time, support for mid-sized organizations declined from 14 percent in 2000 to 5 percent in 2002. During the same period, funding to small organizations fell from 11 percent to 6 percent. Individual artists received only 2 percent of 2002 funding. The study was released by Southern California Grantmakers, which commissioned the survey in partnership with Los Angeles Art Funders. Read more or download the report: http://www.socalgrantmakers.org/Resources+/General+Resources/837.aspx . NOW ONLINE CAPACITY-BUILDING DATABASE: The Philanthropic Capacity-Building Resources Database (PCBR), a free resource from the Human Interaction Research Institute, had 40 program profiles added to it. The database now includes descriptions of 318 foundation capacity-building programs being carried out by various types of U.S. foundations. Database users may request a profile of any program, or conduct searches according to geography or type of capacity-building work. PCBR is funded by the John S. & James L. Knight, Ewing Marion Kauffman, Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer and Bruner foundations. The Benton Foundation is a non-funding partner. Access the database: http://www.humaninteract.org/pcbrdatabase.htm . AT THE COUNCIL AWARD-WINNING: Foundation News & Commentary won four APEX 2004 Awards for Publication Excellence in the following categories: For Columns & Editorial, Council Board Chair Emmett D. Carson's January/February 2004 commentary "Worst-Case Scenario or The Perfect Storm?" http://www.foundationnews.org/CME/article.cfm?ID=2740 For Feature Writing, Contributing Editor Roger M. Williams's July/August 2003 cover story "Riding the Roller Coaster at Packard" http://www.foundationnews.org/CME/article.cfm?ID=2554 For Magazine & Journal Design and Layout, Designer Lisa Bouaouid's work on the November/December 2003 special issue, "Grantmakers Using Technology" http://www.foundationnews.org/CME/index.cfm?IssueID=2671 For Media Kit & News Release Writing, former FN&C Managing Editor Heather Peeler for the magazine's media kit, "Reach, Influence, Impact" http://www.cof.org/files/Documents/FNC_Media_Kit/FNC2004mediakit.pdf . View the complete APEX winners' list (PDF) at: http://www.writingthatworks.com/A2004_Win.List.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 After nearly 20 years as president of the Ms. Foundation for Women, MARIE C. WILSON stepped down July 1 to devote herself to The White House Project. She is succeeded as president by foundation Executive Director SARA K. GOULD. Read more: http://www.ms.foundation.org/wmspage.cfm?parm1=169 . Wilson, now president emerita and senior advisor to the foundation's board of directors, received the 2002 Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking. Read more: http://www.foundationnews.org/CME/article.cfm?ID=1942 . EILEEN HERSHENOV stepped down as general counsel of the Open Society Institute and the Soros Foundations Network. RICARDO CASTRO is serving as Open Society Institute general counsel. The Central Carolina Community Foundation appointed ROSE DANGERFIELD director of development and donor services. SUBSCRIBE 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. To subscribe (it's free) to FN&C Now, send an e-mail to fncnow@cof.org . Questions or comments about FN&C Now? Contact Paula J. Kelly at 202/467-0261. To contribute a news item for consideration, please e-mail fncnow@cof.org . To unsubscribe, send a blank e-mail to leave-fncnow-4832R@int1.cof.org . To subscribe to Foundation News & Commentary, an award-winning magazine, please send an e-mail to fncsubs@cof.org , or visit our website at http://www.icnfull.com/cgi-bin/cobolscript.exe?cof/cofmain.cbl . Council on Foundations 1828 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 202/466-6512 webmaster@cof.org last update: 7.23.04