Predictions for the nonprofit sector in 2013…Gov. McDonnell wants TFA in VA schools…Call for nominations for outstanding foundations [News, 1.4.12]

January 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

NONPROFITS
- In case you missed it, it’s now 2013, which means it’s time for the annual round of predictions for the future of the nonprofit sector. Rick Cohen shares insights on how the sector will change over the next 12 months from a number of nonprofit leaders (NPQ, 12/20):

Terri Freeman of the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region (and WRAG’s board chair), says,

“We are looking at a significantly noticeable contraction in charitable giving in 2013…While I think people will continue to give, they will likely give less and be much choosier about who receives their charitable dollars.”

Mario Morino of Venture Philanthropy Partners says,

“The pending cuts in federal spending and tectonic shifts in the U.S. economy, workforce, and demographics will leave our society with less money for services at the very time we will have more demand for services from a broader swath of the population. These forces will hit home in 2013 with leaders in the nonprofit field, prompting them to do more to rethink, redesign, and reinvent their organizations and programs to meet these challenges.”

- Related: 5 Things That Will Change the Way Nonprofits Work in 2013 (Chronicle, 1/4)

- How Small Nonprofits Can Improve Their Fiscal Health (Chronicle, 1/3)

EDUCATION
- Virginia governor Bob McDonnell has put forth a package of education-related proposals, including allowing Teach for America to place teachers in Virginia public schools. (Examiner, 1/4)

- Across the country, education reform efforts and STEM programs garnered the most support from education funders in 2012. (Foundation Center, 1/2)

DISTRICT | Mendelson Shuffles Committee Assignments On D.C. Council (WAMU, 1/3)

AWARDS | The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy is seeking nominations of foundations for four awards: outstanding large private foundations, mid-size/small private foundations, corporate foundations, and grantmaking public charities. The deadline for nominations is February 1. More information available here.

Having finally jumped the bandwagon and started watching The Walking Dead, I found this video particularly interesting/ominous.

-Rebekah

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Jean Case on the value of pro bono service to nonprofits [In the News, 2.24.12]

February 24, 2012 By

PHILANTHROPY | Jean Case of the Case Foundation writes in the Post about how pro bono work can be even more valuable to nonprofits than corporate donations (WaPo, 2/23):

Every day, we’re seeing that more often than not, the most valuable asset a company can provide is their people, and those skills can have a much broader and more impactful reach through volunteering employees’ time to nonprofits in need of extra support. Simultaneously, companies can use these collaborations to create leaders and teams through professional development, to recruit new talent, and to design innovative products and services.

Related: WRAG’s Corporate Philanthropy Affinity Group will be visiting the National Veteran’s Transition Center in D.C. on March 7. [More information]

EDUCATION
- District seeks return of chartering authority (WaPo, 2/23)

- Arlington schools to increase class sizes (Examiner, 2/24)

TRANSIT | It appears that the District Department of Transportation might not actually have enough streetcars by the planned opening date for the new line on H St NE. (WAMU, 2/24)

ARTS/HISTORY | Here’s a cool slideshow of murals around D.C. that celebrate black history. Like a lot of these murals around the city, some of them will soon disappear as buildings are redeveloped. (DCentric, 2/21)

Related: The Story Behind U Street’s “Black Family Reunion” (WAMU, 1/27)

REPORT | A new report from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy calls for environmental funders to focus their funding on grassroots efforts in communities that are impacted by climate change and environmental degradation.

With application deadlines looming for some major funders in the area, here’s just what any procrastinating grantwriter needs!

Rebekah

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New report: Does nonprofit advocacy pay off? [News, 1.19.12]

January 19, 2012 By

ADVOCACY | A burning question in philanthropy: does funding advocacy actually pay off? A new study from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy says yes, it definitively does.

Advocacy by 110 nonprofit organizations over a five-year period has brought more than $26.6 billion in benefits to low-wage workers, communities of color, rural residents and other marginalized groups…

The report titled “Leveraging Limited Dollars: How Grantmakers Achieve Tangible Benefits by Funding Policy and Community Engagement,” found that every dollar grantmakers and other donors invested in policy and civic engagement provided a return of $115 in benefit.

Read: Full Report.

GIVING | The Carlyle Group’s David Rubenstein, who recently donated more than $17 million to the National Zoo and the Archives, has announced that he’ll donate $7.5 million to help fix the Washington Monument’s earthquake damage. (WaPo, 1/19)

WORKFORCE | Following up on yesterday’s article about job training funding, WAMU says that the city has frequently offered training for industries that don’t have a high rate of hiring. The city is now working to focus its training opportunities in “high-growth, high-demand” industries. (WAMU, 1/19) There goes my hope of being trained as a private eye for animals.

COMMUNITY | Rebekah attended the Consumer Health Foundation’s annual meeting last week, and says that keynote speaker Angela Glover Blackwell gave a powerful talk about the need for an equity-driven model of growth in our region and across the country. Here’s her recap of the event. (WG Daily, 1/19)

YOUTH
- Junior Achievement of Greater Washington announced that it has opened the brand new College and Career Center at its Finance Park thanks to sponsorship from Deloitte. Read more about the new center and the Finance Park – which teaches students critical financial skills. (Junior Achievement, Jan ’12)

- Fairfax Starts Domestic Violence Support Group For Children (WAMU, 1/19)

TRANSIT | Three Metro stories today:
- Metro may install shields on buses to keep drivers safe (WaPo, 1/19) And what about the passengers? If somebody bothers me on the bus, I just make really loud noises and wave my arms around in kung fu motions. It usually scares people away, although sometimes I just end up fitting in with the other people on the bus.

- Metro’s Silver Line to Dulles might not go to Dulles anymore. (Examiner, 1/19)

- Two Metro employees have been arrested for stealing thousands of dollars in coins. (Examiner, 1/19) To make up for the lost revenue, Metro has proposed another fare increase. No, just kidding! Not yet, anyway…

LOCAL | The Post’s Robert McCartney tackles a pressing regional controversy and has a wise answer. (WaPo, 1/19)

Ever wonder what Abraham Lincoln really looked like…in color? Here’s a cool photo gallery where artist Sanna Dullaway adds vibrant color to iconic black-and-white photos.

On a related note, here’s a picture of (brilliant) actor Daniel Day Lewis as Lincoln for Steven Spielberg’s now-shooting biopic. Day Lewis is known for staying in character for the duration of every movie shoot.

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