Community Philanthropy Update — May 2017

April came and went, and it packed a punch. 

I am grateful for the 200 community foundation (CF) leaders who joined over 1,000 philanthropic leaders in Dallas, Texas, for the 2017 Annual Conference. Please take a look at the highlight videos, which feature many examples of the type of thoughtful, engaged dialogue that is needed in today’s world.

My time at the conference was invigorating. I especially enjoyed my one-on-one time with J.D. Vance, author of bestseller Hillbilly Elegy. We discussed the critical role community foundations play in ensuring no one is left behind — especially vulnerable children and families.

Now I’m turning my attention to the exciting Council programing of the summer and fall. Several of these events are highlighted below. Bookmark Community Foundations Updates in your browser to access the latest Council news and programs related to community foundations.   

Thanks for your continued leadership in community philanthropy. If you have questions about anything to do with community foundations, do not hesitate to reach out to me by email or at 703.879.0640.

Community Foundation Leader to Chair the Council’s Board of Directors

Javier Soto of The Miami Foundation has begun his two-year term as Chair of the Council’s Board of Directors. He is joined by four fellow community foundation leaders: Assistant Secretary Sherry Elise Ristau of Community Foundation of the Great River Bend and Members at Large Antonia Hernandez of California Community Foundation, Tony Mestres of The Seattle Foundation, and Randy Royster of Albuquerque Community Foundation.

Community Foundation Disruptions

At the Annual Conference, over 100 community foundation leaders joined the conversation about the community foundation field’s future during an enlivened concurrent session. The session was inspired by a recent paper, “Community Foundation Business Model Disruption in the 21st Century.”

I was joined by a powerhouse panel: paper author Kevin Murphy of Berks County Community Foundation, 2017 Distinguished Service Award winner Ronn Richards of the Cleveland Foundation, Betsy Constantine of Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, Javier Soto of The Miami Foundation, and Charlotte Williams of the Center on Community Philanthropy at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service.

Thanks to all who attended the session! If you haven’t downloaded your copy of the paper to share with your staff and trustees, consider doing so today. A discussion guide is included in the back of the paper, and I am eager to hear your reactions.

Watch: The Charitable Deduction in 90 Seconds

We tout the charitable deduction as a valued part of our giving, but did you know 70 percent of taxpayers can’t take the deduction? Watch this 90-second video to find out why. If you believe all taxpayers should be able to claim the charitable deduction by Tax Day 2018, spread the word on social media using #Giving100.

GuideStar Releases New Tool for You to Inform Local Giving

GuideStar Local Nonprofit Directory is a community-based nonprofit search and directory that can be installed in any website in minutes. It allows your community foundation to share information about your area’s nonprofits without investing in hardware and database maintenance. All search capabilities, updates, and maintenance occur behind the scenes at GuideStar.

With GuideStar Local, your community foundation can supplement local expertise and promote informed giving in your community.

GuideStar also continues to offer DonorEdge, its flagship service for community foundations.

Community Foundation-Related Events — Save the Date

Dan Templin of the Community Foundation of DeKalb County sent me a note following the 2017 Annual Conference, indicating it was a “really worthwhile conference…. My Board Chair learned a lot and enjoyed the networking, we had a good ability to connect offline about things, and it’s energizing to be plugged into the broader philanthropic landscape!”

But don’t kick yourself if you missed the conference — more opportunities await! If you work for a community foundation that’s growing in size and staff, consider attending the 2017 National Conference for Growing Community Foundations in Wichita, Kansas, October 1-3.

Those of you who have been in the field awhile like me may recall the days of an affinity group called CEOnet. It was an engaged group of CF leaders, and it will reconvene for a preconference retreat and session prior to the 2017 National Conference for Growing Community Foundations.

Plus, did you know there are extensive free resources and technical assistance for deploying and accessing broadband in your community? Broadband USA, a U.S. Department of Commerce program, is here to help. We’ll explore how in a webinar on June 15. Blandin Foundation and the Cleveland Foundation will join us to share their own successes with leveraging broadband.

Stay tuned!

• May 17, 2017 — When Corporations Come Knocking — Working with Corporate Donors and Employer-Related Funds
• June 15, 2017 — How Essential Is Broadband in Your Community?
• July 27, 2017 — Legal Matters for Community Foundations
• August 16-17, 2017 — 2017 HR Summit: Achieving Equity in the Workplace
• October 1-3, 2017 — 2017 National Conference for Growing Community Foundations
• October 12-13, 2017 — Endowments and Finance Summit (Save the Date)
• November 9-10, 2017 — CCFE Fundamentals — Boston, Massachusetts

We’re grateful for the support of our partner GuideStar, Inc. on this newsletter.