Grantmakers in Aging Conference To Be Held in Boston

by Posted in Events, Philanthropy

This continues as the year to be a grantmaker in New England, as another national conference will be held there in October.  Grantmakers in Aging will host their “Gaining Momentum for an Aging Society” conference from October 18-20 at the Westin Copley Plaza.

Here is the description of the conference:

Every year, the GIA Annual Conference convenes the top minds in aging. It is a place that inspires real and lasting change. We’ll come together for three days to discuss the latest issues, delve into possible solutions, and develop connections to help create widespread change for the future. We’ll cover the issues on everyone’s minds, including funding for age-friendly communities, the future of the home care workforce, and rural aging. Arguably our most diverse agenda ever, sessions range from artful aging and the power of storytelling, to equity in the Latino community, to why compassionate care is important. And don’t forget our offsite excursions! We’ll explore the Green House Model in Chelsea and the Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly to get a glimpse at how these innovative programs benefit older adults every day.

Registration and agenda

Cox Opens Four New Tech Centers in Rhode Island

by Posted in Children & Youth, Education, Member Highlights, Member News, Nonprofit Capacity Building, Philanthropy

GCRI Member Cox Communications and the James M. Cox Foundation’s $100,000 grants helped launch four new Cox Technology Centers at Boys & Girls Club in Cumberland, East Providence, Newport and Woonsocket.  The centers are part of a $650,000 initiative to create 22 new Cox Technology Centers across the U.S.

The new clubs will provide high-speed internet bandwidth, along with the equipment and educational resources required for the Boys & Girls Club’s computer program, including tablets, cameras, laptops and creative suite software.  The centers are intended to provide access to technology and training for children who may not receive either through their homes or school programs.

 

“The simple fact is this: club kids are learning in ways we never thought possible, and stand to benefit from advanced training and technology at an early age,” said Gene Bailey, director of organizational development for Boys & Girls Clubs of America in Providence Business News. “The investments made by the James M. Cox Foundation and Cox Communications will be felt for generations to come, as club members tackle new challenges both within our Technology Centers and beyond.”

Since 2002, Cox has contributed more than $250,000 for 11 Technology Centers at Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Rhode Island, and more than $1.5 million in cash and in-kind support for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Rhode Island and Connecticut. (Providence Business News, 8/2/17)

Rhode Island Foundation Awards Almost $500,000 in Place-Based Grants

by Posted in Arts & Culture, Basic Need, Children & Youth, Collective Impact, Education, Health and Wellness, Housing and Homelessness, Member Highlights, Member News, Philanthropy, Workforce Development

The Rhode Island Foundation awarded almost a half million dollars in place-based grants this summer, through its Community Grants program and Newport County Fund.

The Community Grants program provided $225,000 in grants to support work that ranges from creating performance spaces and urban farms to restoring playgrounds and historic parks.  The Foundation received nearly 130 proposals; 30 received funding.

“Our grants will create places to gather, build relationships and inspire new collaborations that will strengthen community connections all over Rhode Island, said Neil D. Steinberg, president and CEO of the Foundation.  Description of funded projects

The Foundation also awarded more than $270,000 to dozens of nonprofit organizations serving Newport County residents, through its Newport County Fund (NCF).  The grants will underwrite a host of activities ranging from job readiness training and after-school activities to preventing relationship violence and stocking food pantries.

“From enriching arts and educational opportunities for young people to underwriting critical health and environmental programs, we are proud to work with partners that are improving lives here,” said Neil D. Steinberg, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “We are grateful to the donors who make our support possible and the local men and women who keep us closely connected to the community.”

Established in 2002, the NCF has awarded more than $3.8 million in grants for programs and services for residents of Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth and Tiverton.  The NCF offered grants of up $10,000 in seven key funding areas: arts and culture, basic human needs, children and families, economic security, the environment, healthy lives and housing. In making the funding decisions, the Foundation worked with an advisory committee comprised of Newport County residents.  Description of funded programs

New Forum, New Opportunities for GCRI

by Posted in Forum News, Philanthropy, Uncategorized

WITH NEW NAME & VISION, UNITED PHILANTHROPY FORUM LEADS A NEW NETWORK TO ADVANCE PHILANTHROPY

GCRI has a new national affiliate, as the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers has unveiled a new name and new visual identity to reflect a transformed organization.  GCRI is now a member of United Philanthropy Forum, along with 60 regional and national philanthropy serving organizations, representing 7,000 philanthropic organizations across the United States.

“The Forum is creating a new kind of philanthropic network to lead change and increase impact in philanthropy,” said Forum President & CEO David Biemesderfer. “So we’ve changed our name and identity to more accurately reflect both the new organization that we’ve become today and the aspirations we share for a more united philanthropy field in the future. Our new identity reflects our network’s longtime spirit of generosity, inclusive nature, and passion for the common good.”

For the past 18 years, the Forum has led a vibrant membership network of 33 regional philanthropy-serving organizations (PSOs) working to advance, inform and support philanthropy. Over the past two years the Forum engaged in a collaborative and iterative visioning process, in full partnership with its national philanthropy partner organizations, to crystallize the Forum’s role in the philanthropy field. As a result, the Forum has implemented a new vision to be the place where philanthropy’s infrastructure comes together, integrating regional PSOs’ deep regional roots and connections with national PSOs’ deep content knowledge and reach in a more comprehensive and strategic way.

In January 2017, the Forum opened its membership to national PSOs, primarily national issue-based, identity-based and practice-based philanthropy affinity groups. In just the first six months under this new membership structure, the Forum has nearly doubled its membership, welcoming 27 new member organizations to its network. To date the Forum network is comprised of 60 regional and national PSOs representing more than 7,000 foundations and other philanthropic organizations—making it the largest network serving philanthropy in America.

“The strong initial response to our new vision and membership structure—far exceeding our first-year goals—demonstrates that we’re on the right track to meet an important need for philanthropy,” said Forum Board Chair Marissa Manlove, President and CEO of Indiana Philanthropy Alliance. “This is a moment in time for philanthropy to step up in new ways, and the Forum is doing its part to maximize philanthropy’s impact in our country.”

“This new name and identity perfectly fits with the Forum’s new vision, one which aims to create a more united field of philanthropy,” said Kathleen Enright, President and CEO of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations and Co-Chair of the Vision Design Group that guided the Forum’s visioning work. “Through the new Forum network, regional and national philanthropy groups can work smarter and better together, which is more important than ever. The re-envisioned Forum will lead to more thoughtful, strategic and comprehensive partnerships among our organizations with the ultimate aim of helping philanthropy be more effective.”

“We’re thrilled to be a member of the new Forum network,” said Forum Board Member Susan Taylor Batten, President and CEO of ABFE. “National philanthropy associations like ours now have a network to support our work and our professional development, and to better connect us to all of our colleagues. We’re more powerful together.”

The Forum is supported by dues and additional financial support from its members; and by current general operating and/or project grant support from The Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Fund for Shared Insight, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Newman’s Own Foundation and The Trustees’ Philanthropy Fund of Fidelity Charitable.

For more information on the Forum’s new name and identity, please visit www.unitedphilforum.org/newname.

 

Responding to Charlottesville

by Posted in Advocacy, Equity, Philanthropy, Policy, Resources

Response to Charlottesville

We are all grieved and angered by the violent, racist events in Charlottesville this past weekend.  What we saw on the Virginia streets was designed to instill fear, to divide and to breed hopelessness.

But the pain and anger on those streets are not the end of the story.  We know that in Rhode Island and across the country, there are individuals, groups, and nonprofit and philanthropic organizations steadfastly working to protect, empower, transform and grow safe, healthy, just and equitable communities.

This weekend illustrated that we still have much work to do, and we encourage GCRI members to look for ways to more fully integrate principles and values of diversity, equity, inclusion, humility, respect and compassion into their organizational practices, as well as their community initiatives.  To help you in that process, we have gathered a variety of Charlottesville responses and diversity/equity/inclusion resources.

The two primary umbrella groups within United Philanthropy Forum that support the sector’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work are:

Change Philanthropy
Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity

Both organizations have extensive resource hubs, and Change Philanthropy can connect you to a variety of identity-based philanthropy groups including:  Asian American/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE), Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy, Funders for LGBTQ Issues,
Hispanics in Philanthropy, Native Americans in Philanthropy and Women’s Funding Network.

Philanthropy/Nonprofit Responses to Charlottesville
Nellie Mae Educational Foundation CEO Nick Donahue (GCRI Member)
A Time for Gracious Anger, Nonprofit AF Column by Vu Le
Exponent Philanthropy CEO Henry Berman in Chronicle of Philanthropy
Lumina Foundation CEO Jamie Merisotis
Ford Foundation President Darren Walker
California Endowment President and CEO Dr. Robert Ross
Heinz Endowment President Grant Oliphant
Akonadi Foundation President Lateefah Simon
National Center for Responsive Philanthropy President and CEO Aaron Dorfman
Nonprofit Quarterly
Connecticut Council on Philanthropy Statement 
Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers Statement
CHANGE Philanthropy Statement
Funders for Justice Statement
We Must All Speak Out, Barr Foundation
Advance Safety, Defend Peace #Charlottesville, The California Wellness Foundation
Philanthropy Must Respond Forcefully to Charlottesville, Kresge Foundation
We Must All Do More, Lumina Foundation
A Statement in the Aftermath of Charlottesville, The McKnight Foundation
After Charlottesville, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
It’s Well Past Time to Condemn. It’s Time to Confront, Meyer Foundation
No Home for Hate, The Nathan Cummings Foundation
In Solidarity with Charlottesville, NRDC
Charlottesville, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Heal Charlottesville Fund
The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation has established the Heal Charlottesville Fund to support both immediate needs and longer-term reconciliation efforts. Depending on the level of resources available, the Fund will support Immediate Assistance and Stabilization, Acknowledgement, Community Dialogue and Reconciliation, Restoration and Healing, and Fund Leadership and Decision-making.

Equity Resources and Tools for Philanthropy

Change Philanthropy’s Resource Hub — Resources on equity, diversity, and inclusion
Responsive Philanthropy in Black Communities Framework (RPBC) created by the Association of Black Foundation Executives
W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation
Equity assessment quiz created by CHANGE Philanthropy with questions from the D5 Coalition and the Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity and resources to  advance equity
Bay Area Justice Funders Network’s A Framework for Social Justice Philanthropy — values, competencies, and practices to create a comprehensive framework for effective social justice philanthropy.
Grantmaking With a Racial Equity Lens — Focus on racial equity can increase effectiveness at every stage of the grantmaking process
D5 Coalition — Five-year coalition to advance philanthropy’s diversity, equity, and inclusion
Foundation Diversity: Policy and Practices Toolkit — Sampling of statements, forms, and templates developed and utilized by foundations to incorporate diversity and inclusion into both organizational practices and grantmaking
Racial Equity Resource Guide — Articles, organizations, research, books, media strategies and training curricula– aimed at helping organizations and individuals working to achieve racial equity
Diversity, Inclusion and Effective Philanthropy — Funder guide from Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors on more responsive and efficient grantmaking by combining the concepts of diversity and inclusion with basic due diligence
A Snapshot of Promising Practices Among Indiana Foundations — Snapshot of promising practices for advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in Indiana philanthropy

Generations of Generosity — Grantmaking within communities of color
Racial, Ethnic, and Tribal Philanthropy: A Scan of the Landscape — Innovative strategies, extraordinary and passionate leaders, and organizations that are creating pathways to engage the resources of their community for their community
Toolkit for Racial, Ethnic and Tribal Funds and Foundations — Key steps and reflections from existing funds and foundations in Black, Asian, Arab, Latino and Native-American communities
Engaging Diverse Communities — Broaden donor bases, services, and programs by reaching out to diverse communities
Supporting Immigrants and Refugees in Volatile Times: What Philanthropy Can Do, Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees Report
Advancement Project

Videos
Videos about Racial Justice, Philanthropy Northwest

Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers’ Putting Racism on the Table

Implicit Bias with Julie Nelson, Director of the Government Alliance on Race & Equity, Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society
Mass Incarceration with James Bell, founder and executive director of the W. Haywood Burns Institute
Structural Racism Theater: “The Pernicious Compromise” — Based sardonically on Masterpiece Theatre, introduces the viewer to concrete examples of structural racism and implicit bias, focuses on the timely topic of the Electoral College and its connection to the Three-Fifths Compromise
Other resources from Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers

Communications 
Having Uncomfortable Conversations: A New Communications Imperative, Communications Network
Speak Up: Responding to Everyday Bigotry — Developed by the Southern Law Poverty Center

Educator/Family Responses
White Supremacists Still Exist:  Here’s What White Parents Can Do About It, Huffington Post
Talking to Students About Charlottesville Violence and Racism, NEA

Collette Celebrates Founders Day with Service

by Posted in Uncategorized

GCRI member Collette celebrated its Founders Day with a variety of employee service projects.  Over 200 employees volunteered in projects including literacy kits with United Way, food sorting at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, book sorting and distribution for Books Are Wings, and food packaging for RISE Against Hunger.  Collette volunteers packaged 30,000 meals towards the company’s goal of 1 million meals for its 100th Anniversary in 2018.  Video

Rhode Island Foundation and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of RI Team Up to Recognize Nonprofit Excellence

by Posted in Corporate Citizenship, Employee Engagement, Events, Health and Wellness, Member Highlights, Member News, Member Sponsored Events, Nonprofit Capacity Building, Philanthropy, Resources for Community Organizations, RFP

Nonprofit organizations have until July 24 to apply for the Rhode Island Foundation’s 2017 Best Practice Awards. Winners will receive a $1,000 grant, a promotional video highlighting their work and tuition waivers for professional development workshops.

“This is a powerful way for nonprofits to showcase their innovative work while sharing achievements that have the potential to be of widespread value to other organizations,” said Jill Pfitzenmayer, vice president of the Foundation’s Initiative for Nonprofit Excellence (INE).

Sponsored by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, the annual awards program recognizes outstanding practices by Rhode Island nonprofit organizations in the areas of advocacy, communication, innovation, leadership development and collaboration. The application and full details are posted here.

Impacts of Tax Reform on Charitable Giving

by Posted in Advocacy, Family Philanthropy, Global Philanthropy, Philanthropy, Policy

What effect would the proposed tax reforms have on charitable giving? What would be the impact of allowing all taxpayers to take the charitable tax? How might these proposals impact tax revenue collected by the Treasury? New research commissioned by Independent Sector and conducted by Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy provides insights on these and others questions, and research highlights were shared during a recent webinar jointly hosted by the Forum and Independent Sector. This new research is designed to help educate and inform lawmakers as they consider tax reform proposals.

Download the slides or watch the recording

Immigration Workshop Available for Community Leaders and Practitioners

by Posted in Basic Need, Children & Youth, Global Philanthropy, Immigrants and Refugees, Philanthropy, Resources, Resources for Community Organizations, Uncategorized

Immigration lawyers from Roger Williams Immigration Law Clinic, Rhode Island Center for Justice and Rhode Island Parent Information Network will present a workshop on July 12, from 2:00-4:00pm, centered on the rights of immigrants and people who may be undocumented or unsure about their citizenship status, the rights of practitioners workingw ith people who are undocumentd, and to address any other questions people may have about immigration.  Presenters will cover the ways in which practitioners can, at best, protect their constituents, and at least, not endanger their constituents, and what healthcare and public benefits are available.  Dorcas International Institute and Economic Progress Institute are also providing resources, along with the Learning Community.

Panelists are:

  • Deborah Gonzalez, Immigration Attorney and Faculty at Roger Williams University School of Law
  • Jennifer Wood, Executive Director of the RI Center for Justice
  • Sam Salganik, Healthcare Rights Attorney at RIPIN
  • Bruno Sukys, Former Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services at Dorcas International Institute
  • Sarah Friedman, Co-Director of the Learning Community Charter School

 Topics include:

  • Understand the rights of your clients, constituents, patients, congregants.
  • Learn about immigration resources in Rhode Island.
  • Understand your rights as a provider serving foreign-born communities and how your organization can be prepared for any issues that may arise.
  • Get information about changes in immigration policy and its implications for our communities

Please share this opportunity with your grantees, community partners and others in the state who might benefit.  RSVP