Private Philanthropy Update—February 2019
The beginning of a new year is an opportunity for reflection and goal-setting, and as we move into February, I am excited about the opportunities ahead of us. At the Council, we are working amidst boxes as we prepare to move back into the heart of Washington, D.C., in mid-February. We are also incredibly excited to welcome our new CEO in March and to celebrate the Council’s 70th anniversary at our conference in Miami in April.
The beginning of the year is also a time to announce new strategic directions and collaborations. Last week, the Public Welfare Foundation announced a refined strategic framework, in which they will concentrate fully on criminal and youth justice, deepening their focus to fewer intractable societal issues. Over the next two years, Public Welfare will transition to focusing on creating a transformative approach to justice that is community-led, restorative, and racially just.
Philanthropic partners across San Francisco also announced the creation of the Partnership for the Bay’s Future last week, which will work to advance the region’s future by solving its interconnected challenges of housing, transportation, and economic opportunity. The collaborative is supported by a broad mix of partners: the San Francisco Foundation, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the Ford Foundation, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Facebook, Genentech, Kaiser Permanente, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
Both of these initiatives reflect deep commitment to complex social issues, with a core focus on equity. At the Council, we are committed to exploring issues like these with our members in a variety of platforms, including at our upcoming conference in Miami. Please be in touch about your own strategic developments or other news so we can amplify your story to our broad network.
We look forward to waorking together to continue to strengthen the Council, our sector, and your work in 2019 and beyond.
Happy New Year,
Natalie Ross
Vice President, External Relations
Ph.: 703-879-0627
natalie.ross@cof.org
Legal Matters for Corporate and Private Foundations
March 7| Philadelphia
Led by Suzanne Friday, Senior Counsel and Vice President of Legal Affairs for the Council on Foundations, and Lindsay Mason, Director of Corporate Philanthropy, this workshop will address common legal questions on administering grants, board governance and charitable giving activities. Suzanne will provide technical and practical guidance on the complex rules and regulations impacting private and corporate foundations/giving programs.
Leading Together 2019 Conference
April 29-May 1| Miami
Leading Together 2019 is where thought leaders go to engage in provocative conversations about the issues, challenges, and opportunities facing philanthropy. Join us for:
- 2 PLENARIES and 3 LEADERSHIP IN ACTION CONVERSATIONS featuring dynamic visionaries who will inspire you and give you a renewed love for what you do.
- 18 CONCURRENT SESSIONS across four areas—Bridging Divides, Climate Impacts and Vulnerabilities, Inclusive Economic Development, and Philanthropic Practice.
- 3 PRECONFERENCE SESSIONS diving deep into hot topics such as leveraging advocacy communities in crisis, and new, innovative approaches to international grantmaking.
- 3 SITE SESSIONS to get you out in Miami and witness local philanthropy in action.
- 5 NETWORKING EVENTS curated to connect you to foundation leaders and other influencers.
UPCOMING: Preventing and Ending Homelessness by Removing Legal Barriers: A Partnership Taking Best Practice to Scale |Wednesday, February 20, 2019 - 2:00pm to 3:15pm ET | FREE to members
Hear how the Homeless Persons Representation Project in Baltimore serves clients experiencing homelessness—including veterans and youth in Baltimore and across the state—and learn about its role in informing national efforts with the American Bar Association, Equal Justice Works and federal partners to “cover the map” with legal services for vulnerable populations. Register Now
ARCHIVE: Telling Stories with Data | Available to members at No-Cost
Data visualization can help transform facts into impact. This webinar – which is geared toward both program and communication staff – features key lessons in communicating data that foundations can readily apply. Watch Now
NEWS & RESOURCES
John and Laura Arnold Join Other Billionaires in Move Away from Traditional Philanthropy via Chronicle via Chronicle of Philanthropy.
The Laura and John Arnold Foundation is changing its structure with launch of Arnold Ventures, an LLC.
Every Corner of the Nation: A Foundation Looks Off the Beaten Path for Innovative Ideas via Inside Philanthropy.
The J.M. Kaplan Fund’s J.M.K. Innovation Prize has been awarded to projects in the fields of the environment, heritage conservation and social justice from almost all 50 states since 2015.
Opinion: We need to fix implicit bias in philanthropy. Here's how. via Devex.
The unwritten rules of the social entrepreneurship funding landscape form a labyrinth of invisible barriers to capital, every decision influenced by unconscious bias.
Putting Critiques in Perspective in Pursuit of More Effective Philanthropy via Center for Effective Philanthropy.
Is growing critique of philanthropy ignoring importance nuance and context of the broad philanthropic sector?
