FN&C Now

Volume 7, Number 34 – August 18, 2006 IN THIS ISSUE AT THE COUNCIL: Council asks Treasury for clarification on charitable reform provisions in H.R. 4, provides resources on H.R. 4; changes to Council conferences are explained; sign up for Breaking News NEWS COVERAGE: Slate 60 conference will gather top philanthropists at Clinton library; Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation awards 2007 medal for research in entrepreneurship JUST PUBLISHED: Study shows nonprofit fundraisers feel charitable-giving climate has improved; report reveals changes in HIV/AIDS funding; book shows how philanthropy helped to repair postwar U.S.-Japan relations; book describes strategic giving as both art and science ACT NOW: Register for seminar for new foundation CEOs; sign up for conference on global public-private partnerships in education; submit a nomination for the Rasmuson sabbatical program or for the Aetna Voice of Conscience Award ON THE MOVE: Louise H. Bryson (Getty); Lori G. Raab and Judith McBride (Hartford); Katherine Torres Loflin (Knight); Joan Othieno (Minnesota Council on Foundations); Mark McGann, Elizabeth Sullivan and Kamina Newsome Young (Council on Foundations) AT THE COUNCIL CLARIFICATION SOUGHT: In an August 16 letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Council on Foundations requested immediate guidance on a number of complex and confusing issues arising from the charitable reforms and incentives included in the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (H.R. 4), which President Bush signed into law yesterday. These requests focus on the sections of the legislation creating new rules for donor-advised funds and supporting organizations, and on the provision addressing private foundation grants to supporting organizations. "We must provide legal guidance to our nation's foundations in order that they may fully comply with the intent of this new legislation," said Steve Gunderson, Council president and CEO. "Before we can do that, however, we're asking the Treasury Department to issue guidance in several key areas where provisions take effect immediately or are retroactive. H.R. 4 includes both the first-ever regulation of donor-advised funds and significant changes to the regulation of supporting organizations." Read the press release, the letter and other resources related to H.R. 4: http://www.cof.org/hr4 . CONFERENCES CONTINUE: Some Council members have expressed concern about the news that in 2008 the Council will break with its tradition of holding three conferences—the Annual Conference, the Family Foundation Conference and the Fall Conference for Community Foundations. Instead, in 2008, the Council will hold one gathering that will bring together experts from the entire global philanthropic community to develop a cohesive vision for the future of philanthropy. This groundbreaking event, Philanthropy 2008, will be held in Washington, DC, and will address key issues for all types of foundations and philanthropic organizations. In 2009, the Council will return to its traditional practice of holding three conferences. In the meantime, the Council invites you to plan to attend its 2007 conferences. The Family Foundation Conference will be held February 25–27 in Baltimore: http://www.cof.org/Network/content.cfm?ItemNumber=5344&navItemNumber=2301 . The Annual Conference, which is cosponsored by Philanthropy Northwest, will be held April 29–May 1 in Seattle: http://www.cof.org/Network/content.cfm?itemnumber=1734&navItemNumber=2303 . The Fall Conference for Community Foundations will be held September 17–19 in San Francisco. (More information will be posted online at a later date.) 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, as well as members and staff of our colleague organizations. Subscribe by e-mailing your name, title and foundation name to media@cof.org. NEWS COVERAGE TOP PHILANTHROPISTS: The William J. Clinton Foundation, the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and Slate magazine will cosponsor the first Slate 60 Conference on Innovative Philanthropy at the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas, November 12–13.The conference marks the tenth anniversary of the Slate 60, an annual list of the 60 Americans who give the most to charity, accompanied by an analysis of their contributions. Speakers will include former President Bill Clinton, CNN founder Ted Turner (who spurred creation of the Slate 60), and William H. Gates, Sr., co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Among the invited guests are Oprah Winfrey, Bill and Melinda Gates, Michael Dell, Pierre Omidyar, David Rockefeller, Michael Bloomberg, Warren Buffett, Peter Lynch and Steve Case. The gathering is expected to be a high-level exchange of ideas on the ways philanthropy can make a difference. The conference will be webcast and a special section of Slate will highlight innovations in philanthropy. Read more: http://clintonschool.uasys.edu/news/newsmgr/templates/article.asp?articleid=44&zoneid=2 . RESEARCH MEDAL: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation awarded its 2007 Kauffman Prize Medal for Distinguished Research in Entrepreneurship to Toby Stuart, a professor at Harvard Business School. Stuart is being recognized for his pioneering research into social networks and their effects on entrepreneurship, which suggests successful entrepreneurs need more than good ideas and intelligence. Established in 2005, the medal is accompanied by a $50,000 prize and is awarded every two years to one scholar under age 40 whose research has made a significant contribution to entrepreneurship. Read more: http://www.kauffman.org/items.cfm?itemID=728 . JUST PUBLISHED AIDS FUNDING: Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA) released U.S. Philanthropic Commitment for HIV/AIDS, 2004, which found that $345.7 million was committed to HIV/AIDS in 2004 by U.S.-based funders tracked by FCAA. The amount represents a 12 percent decline from 2003 due to fluctuation in HIV-related commitments by the biggest HIV-related funder, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (The change in Gates foundation grantmaking reflects normal fluctuation in grant flows rather than a change in its funding emphasis.) Among grantmakers other than Gates, HIV grant commitments increased by 20 percent between 2003 and 2004. The study also found that such commitments remained heavily concentrated among a relatively small number of funders, but that HIV-related giving by corporations increased substantially as a percentage of total giving and an increasing number of funders were addressing the international epidemic. FCAA's report was launched at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto. Download the report (PDF): http://www.fcaaids.org/documents/FCAA_2006_ResourceTracking_comp.pdf . FUNDRAISERS OPTIMISTIC: The Philanthropic Giving Index (PGI) reveals that nonprofit fundraisers think that the climate for charitable giving has improved since this time last year and that hurricane-relief giving largely did not affect other organizations. The PGI, released by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, shows that fundraisers' overall optimism increased 4.3 percent since this time last year and was up 3 percent from December 2005. Although a record 33 percent of those surveyed reported success with Internet solicitations for charitable dollars, respondents continue to rank it among the least successful fundraising techniques. The PGI, which is similar to a Consumer Confidence Index for charitable giving, surveys development executives and fundraising consultants representing a broad range of nonprofits semiannually, then charts their responses on a scale of one to 100. The survey was sponsored in part by the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy. Download the report (PDF): http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/giving_fundraising_research.html#PGI . POSTWAR PHILANTHROPY: Philanthropy and Reconciliation: Rebuilding Postwar U.S.-Japan Relations examines the critical role of civil society, and particularly of American and Japanese philanthropy, in rebuilding the U.S.-Japan relationship in the post-World War II period. Published by the Japan Center for International Exchange, the book provides case studies and discusses non-state actors in postwar U.S.-Japan relations, the evolution of U.S. foundations in Japan and the role of Japanese philanthropy. Read more or purchase the book: http://www.brookings.edu/press/books/clientpr/jcie/philanthropyandreconciliation.htm . STRATEGIC GIVING: In Strategic Giving: The Art and Science of Philanthropy, author Peter Frumkin contends that contemporary philanthropy is in need of a thorough rethinking of its underlying assumptions. Frumkin, professor and director of the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service at the University of Texas at Austin, says philanthropy should be seen as both a powerful way to meet public needs and a meaningful way to express private beliefs and commitments. He offers five essential elements for donors to consider when developing a philanthropic strategy. Read more or purchase the book: http://www.press.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/hfs.cgi/00/189025.ctl . ACT NOW NEW CEOS SEMINAR: The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University and the Council on Foundations are offering a three-day Seminar for New CEOs. New foundation chief executive officers can join their colleagues September 27–29 in Indianapolis to learn about key responsibilities of foundation CEOs and tools of the trade and make important contacts. Sessions and events will be facilitated by foundation executives and center faculty. Register or read more: http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/NewCEOSeminar.html . EDUCATION CONFERENCE: The Conference Board will hold a meeting on Global Public-Private Partnerships in Education September 11–12 in Washington, DC. The meeting will bring together business, government and NGO leaders from around the world for detailed discussions of programs and plans for investing in education on a global scale. Speakers will demonstrate how such programs are integral to corporate social responsibility needs, and will illustrate how these investments are critical to workforce preparedness around the world and to advancing the international marketplace. The meeting is being held in collaboration with the Academy for Educational Development, cosponsored by Intel Corporation and Merrill Lynch, and presented with assistance from Hewlett-Packard. Register or read more: http://www.conference-board.org/conferences/conference.cfm?id=1178 . NONPROFIT SABBATICALS: The Rasmuson Foundation is accepting applications for its 2007 Nonprofit Leader Sabbatical Program. The program offers executive directors and chief executive officers of health and human services agencies in Alaska time away from the office for professional growth and personal renewal. The foundation will award grants of up to $30,000 to cover the executive's salary and expenses during the sabbatical, which may run from two to six months. Applicants must be employed by a 501(c)(3) health and human services organization to be eligible for the grant. Tribal executives who spend more than 50 percent of their time managing health and social services are also eligible to apply. Applications for 2006 sabbaticals must be postmarked by October 1. Submit an application or find out more: http://www.rasmuson.org/index.php?switch=viewpage&pageid=112 . VOICE OF CONSCIENCE: The Aetna Voice of Conscience Award was created in memory of tennis great Arthur Ashe Jr., who served on Aetna's board of directors for more than ten years and was chairman of the Aetna Foundation at the time of his death. The award will be presented to a leader who emulates Ashe's selfless commitment to education, civil rights, and health and human services on a national level. The award winner will receive a $50,000 grant for the nonprofit(s) of his or her choice. The nominations deadline has been extended beyond July 15 and nominations will be accepted until further notice. Read more or submit a nomination: http://www.aetna.com/foundation/voice_conscience.htm . ON THE MOVE LOUISE H. BRYSON was named chair of the J. Paul Getty Trust. Read more: http://www.getty.edu/news/press/center/louise_bryson_appt_release06.html . The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving appointed Senior Philanthropic Services Officer LORI G. RAAB vice president for philanthropic services and hired JUDITH MCBRIDE as program officer. Read more: http://www.hfpg.org/matriarch/MultiPiecePage.asp _Q_PageID_E_395_A_PageName_E_NewsPubsPressReleases200608 . The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation named Community Foundations and Technical Assistance Program Officer KATHERINE TORRES LOFLIN as program director for Palm Beach and Bradenton, Florida. Read more: http://www.knightfdn.org/default.asp?story=news_at_knight/releases/2006/2006_08_11_loflin.html . The Minnesota Council on Foundations hired JOAN OTHIENO as research manager. Read more: http://www.mcf.org/MCF/about/mcfnews/othieno_060814.html . MARK MCGANN joined the Council on Foundations as administrative coordinator for the Philanthropic Leadership Group and ELIZABETH SULLIVAN joined as coordinator, member services for Corporate Services. On August 28, KAMINA NEWSOME YOUNG will join as coordinator in Strategic Communications. 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: 10.16.06