Council on Foundations: FN&C Now

	FN&C Now
	Volume 7, Number 29 – July 14, 2006 IN THIS ISSUE NEWS COVERAGE: Plans for Foundation Center think tank dropped; Nonprofit Congress exceeds 100 town hall meetings AWARDS ROUNDUP: Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation awards sabbaticals; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation names new health fellows JUST PUBLISHED: Report calls for increased foundation accountability and funding for progressive change; Family Giving News spotlights legacy grantmaking; study on youth grantmaking released ACT NOW: Submit nominations for Soros Justice Fellowships; register for conference on healthy children, youth and families ON THE MOVE: Gail S. Schoettler and Reverend R. J. Ross (Colorado Trust); Ann Sewill, Peter Dunn and Linda Wong (California Community); Ellen Haddigan and Tangie Murray (Rush Philanthropic Arts); Marvin I. Schotland, Angel Zapata, et al. (Southern California Grantmakers); Dee K. Mooney (Micron Technology) NEWS COVERAGE THINK TANK SHELVED: Plans for creating the Alexis Institute for Civil Society and Philanthropy at the Foundation Center have been abandoned. The announcement was made jointly by Lester M. Salamon, director of the Center for Civil Society Studies at Johns Hopkins University, who was to have led the institute, and Sara L. Engelhardt, president of the Foundation Center. The institute would have served as a prominent source of knowledge on the rapidly evolving field of philanthropy and civil society in the United States and abroad. Salamon and Engelhardt said they will continue to pursue collaborative activities that emerged in the course of their discussions about the institute. Read more: http://foundationcenter.org/media/news/pr_0607a.html . TOWN HALLS: Nonprofit leaders in 39 states and Washington, DC, have organized more than 100 town hall meetings in conjunction with the Nonprofit Congress, an initiative to unite nonprofits and strengthen the charitable sector. The meetings bring nonprofit leaders and their allies together to affirm values all nonprofits share, identify challenges nonprofits face and generate solutions. The results will be used to inform the priorities and goals of the Nonprofit Congress National Meeting in Washington, DC, October 16–17, 2006. Initial plans were to convene town halls in 30 states, a goal reached in April, but many states are holding multiple town halls and 56 meetings have yet to be held. Read more: http://www.ncna.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewPage&pageID=693&nodeID=1 . Nonprofit leaders unable to attend a town hall meeting may contribute feedback online at: http://www.nonprofitcongress.org/share.htm . AWARDS ROUNDUP SABBATICALS AWARDED: The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation awarded five nonprofit leaders in North Carolina grants of $25,000 each for time off from work for rest and rejuvenation. Winners are Catherine Ann Ahrendsen, executive director, A Helping Hand (Chapel Hill); Mary Tay Bynum, executive director, Homekeeping Mortgage Default Counseling (Greensboro); Dorothy Hunt, executive director, Life Line Outreach (Henderson); Alan McGregor, director of philanthropic programs, Southern Rural Development Initiative, (Asheville); and Leah Wise, executive director, Southeast Regional Economic Justice Network (Durham). The sabbaticals have been awarded annually since 1990, after Reynolds foundation trustees found that creative and inspired leaders in North Carolina's nonprofits were suffering burnout from the daily challenges of managing their organizations. The sabbaticals last from three to six months, with awardees spending their time as they choose, including traveling, working on special projects, or reading, relaxing, and reflecting. Read more: http://www.zsr.org/about/sabbatical-grants-awarded-by-z-smith-reynolds-foundation . Read "Spreading Your Wings with a Sabbatical," from the July/August 2004 Foundation News & Commentary: http://www.foundationnews.org/CME/article.cfm?ID=2933 . HEALTH FELLOWS: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation named seven health professionals as Health Policy Fellows for 2006–2007. Fellows are Guy Clifton, M.D., professor, Runnells Distinguished Chair and founding chair, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Health Science Center; Carmen R. Green, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology, director of pain research and management, University of Michigan Health System; Nancy Hardt, M.D., clinical professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine; Arthur Kellermann, M.D., professor and chair of emergency medicine, Emory University School of Medicine; Barbara L. Kornblau, J.D., professor of occupational therapy and public health, Nova Southeastern University College of Allied Health; Eugene C. Rich, M.D., Tenet professor and chair, department of medicine, Creighton University School of Medicine; and Howard Tuch, M.D., medical director, Long-Term Care Programs, Tidewell Hospice and Palliative Care. Each year, fellows leave their academic settings and practice responsibilities to work in a congressional office or the executive branch in Washington, DC. Following the one-year fellowship, fellows return home and assume leadership roles in improving health policy and management. The program is administered by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. Read more: http://www.rwjf.org/newsroom/newsreleasesdetail.jsp?id=10420 . JUST PUBLISHED PHILANTHROPIC CHALLENGE: The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy published State of Philanthropy 2006: Creating Dialogue for Tomorrow's Movements, which analyzes trends in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. The report challenges foundation and nonprofits to strengthen, redirect, and refocus their efforts to meet the material and political needs of the disenfranchised. State of Philanthropy 2006 features writings by sector leaders and experts from an array of advocacy and research organizations. Writings include "State of Philanthropy in 2006: A New Foundations Debate," by David R. Jones and David Campbell; "On Being Grounded: Perspectives from the New York Foundation," by Kevin Ryan, Adriana Rocha and Maria Mottola; "When a Grant Is Not a Grant: Fostering Deep Philanthropic Engagement," by Gwen I. Walden; and "What Philanthropy Owes Katrina's Victims," by George D. Penick. Find out more or purchase a copy: http://www.ncrp.org/press_room/index.asp?Article_Id=85 . FAMILY GIVING NEWS: The July Family Giving News offers steps families can take to ensure that they and their grantees realize their goals through legacy grants. As part of its continuing Profiles in Family Philanthropy series, the issue features the Friedman Family Foundation, a small foundation giving grants of $20,000 or less, whose mission is to support organizations attempting to end poverty. The foundation is committed to reflecting the family's values: a respect for the capabilities and dignity of all people, a belief in the power of ideas and in individual empowerment, a commitment to systemic change, a reverence for learning, faith in the ability to create a better world, and an obligation to the San Francisco Bay area. Subscribe or read more: http://www.ncfp.org/Email_Alert.html . YOUTH GRANTMAKING: Walking the Talk: Youth Engagement and Grantmaking in the National Capital Region (2001–2005) shows what youth and adults in the Greater Washington Youth Philanthropy Initiative have learned about engaging youth as grantmakers and community leaders over four years. The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region initiative is the greater Washington area's first regional youth grantmaking program. The report includes key findings, outcomes and practices; describes effective grantmaking from a youth perspective; and discusses how such grantmaking fits into the wider field of youth engagement. Download the report (PDF): http://www.cfncr.org/images/WalkingtheTalk.pdf . ACT NOW JUSTICE FELLOWSHIPS: The Soros Justice Fellowships support new and seasoned lawyers, advocates, grassroots organizers, activist academics, print and radio journalists, and filmmakers in implementing innovative projects that address the criminal justice priorities of the Open Society Institute's U.S. Justice Fund. The fund supports individuals through two programs: the Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowships and the Soros Justice Media Fellowships. The Advocacy Fellowships have two tracks. Track I supports new and emerging advocates with two to six years of advocacy experience. Track II supports seasoned leaders with demonstrated expertise and a minimum of ten years experience in their fields and five years of advocacy experience. Both tracks are 18 months long and may be implemented in conjunction with large or small nonprofits. Media Fellowships support mid-career and veteran print and radio journalists, filmmakers, and writers for 12 months. The nominations deadline is Wednesday, September 13, 2006, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Read more or make a nomination: http://www.soros.org/initiatives/justice/focus_areas/justice_fellows . HEALTHY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: Grantmakers for Children, Youth and Families invites you to its 2006 Annual Conference, September 24–27, 2006, in Los Angeles. The conference, "Healthy Communities: Strengthening Prospects for the Well-being of Children, Youth and Families," will provide a forum for exploring multi-layered program and policy initiatives and effective grantmaking strategies for improving the health and well-being of children, youth, and families. Conference sessions will be categorized into four tracks: cross-cutting issues, emerging issues, program, and policy. Early childhood, youth, and family populations will be evenly represented within each track. Register or find out more: http://www.dgimeetings.com/GCYF/index.htm . ON THE MOVE In January 2007, GAIL S. SCHOETTLER and REVEREND R. J. ROSS will become trustees of the Colorado Trust. Read more (PDF): http://www.coloradotrust.org/ repository/newsreleases/pdfs/2006/NR-newtrustees06-cm.pdf . The California Community Foundation hired ANN SEWILL as president of its Community Foundation Land Trust. The foundation also promoted Director of Gift Planning PETER DUNN to vice president of philanthropic services and Director of Civic Engagement LINDA WONG to vice president of civic engagement, communications, and administration. Read more: http://www.calfund.org/learn/Sewell_release.php . DEE K. MOONEY was named executive director of the Micron Technology Foundation. Read more: http://www.micron.com/about/news/pressrelease.aspx?id=D70B9854EFA2B68E . The Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation named ELLEN HADDIGAN board president and TANGIE MURRAY managing director. Southern California Grantmakers named MARVIN I. SCHOTLAND chair, ANGEL ZAPATA vice chair, CARL BALLTON treasurer, and VERA DE VERA secretary. Newly elected board members are ELISE BUIK, DANNIELLE CAMPOS, MAYA DUNNE, RAY REISLER, and LATONYA SLACK. SPECIAL OFFER The Council on Foundations has a special offer made possible through the Building Strong and Ethical Foundations program. New foundations can receive a half-priced non-member registration rate at any Council conference. In addition, they can also join the Council and receive half-priced membership dues. Your foundation may qualify—even if you've been grantmaking for several years. For specific eligibility information and more details, please contact the COF Membership Department at 202/467-0291. 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: 9.20.06