Embracing Better Ways of Operating
Investing in the Future of Young People Is Paying Off
In June, I had the pleasure of introducing four recent graduates of the Cleveland School District at the Cleveland Foundation’s annual meeting. We wanted to showcase top achievers to put a human face on the investment we’ve made in the future of Cleveland’s young people. These college-bound…
Mobilizing Business Champions for Children
What do Texas preschooler Owen Hernandez and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke have in common? As you’ll see during the Learning Lab<!--[if !supportNestedAnchors]--><!--[endif]-->, “Business Champions for Young Children,” at next month’s Fall Conference for Community Foundations in…
Funder Tools for a More Efficient Marketplace
Two years ago, the Foundation Registry i3 was a lifesaver for me.
I was working as a philanthropic advisor and was looking for an opportunity to lead a group of emerging philanthropists interested in education reform from talking about collaboration to taking action. The U.S. Department of…
Philanthropy Vital to Technology for Schools
The prevalence of computers in modern society has led to a greater need for technology-based curricula and wired classrooms for students of all levels. Top online PhD programs are now available, but some primary schools don’t have a single computer. As a result, companies and organizations…
The Creativity Conundrum In Educational Leadership
The Creativity Conundrum in Public Education Leadership
Many of the men and women who shaped the world over the course of history, from Mozart to Albert Einstein to Steve Jobs, have done so by thinking well outside the sphere of traditional education. Famously, each of these men had some issues…
Early Education Can Never Start Too Early
On April 18, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited Dubuque, Iowa to launch the Together for Tomorrow campaign. I was honored to share the stage with him and highlight the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque’s recent work on a third grade reading initiative with our school district…
Reporting on an “Audacious but Attainable” Goal
In 2009, Lumina Foundation set a goal: we wanted to help 60 percent of Americans obtain a high-quality postsecondary degree or be credential by 2025. We began reporting on progress toward the “big goal” in a series called A Stronger Nation through Higher Education. At the time, setting a national…
Sparking Questions and Making Us Think
For the past two decades, the James A. Joseph Lecture has been one of the intellectual high points of the Council on Foundations Annual Conference. The list of past lecturers at this Association of Black Foundation Executives event helps make the case, not just Ambassador Joseph delivering the…
Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation Annual 2011 Giving Totals $38 Million
Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation announced combined community giving of $38 million in 2011, compared with $36.8 million in 2010. The annual giving results were released in recognition of International Corporate Philanthropy Day, which celebrates business-community partnerships around the world.
“…
Tearing Down Boundaries with Passion and Enthusiasm
Ron Clark has 55 rules for the kids that he teaches at his school in south Atlanta each day. These rules cover everything from how to enter a room with poise to bringing a water bottle to class to how to be a graceful winner.
You may not know him, but hundreds of family foundation representatives…
Empowering Talented Professionals of Color
Prior to starting as a Proteus Fund Diversity Fellow, I spent five years in my hometown serving the city that provided me with the platform to become an educated professional of color. In returning to my hometown of New Bedford, Mass., to serve its youth, I saw that the promise of an excellent…
Finding New Ways to Open Doors
I work with the program team at a regional education foundation, where it is often my job to provide feedback to applicants who were not selected to receive grants. These conversations are always difficult, but sometimes they can be particularly hard. I may find myself talking to a district…
Beyond the Budgets
As boards of education across the country begin their 2012-13 budget processes, city residents should know that private investment in public schools is making a significant difference in helping children from low-income homes excel in school.
In Norwalk, CT, thanks to donations from people who want…
Collaboration Is Key for Minnesota’s “Race to the Top”
RACE TO THE CAPITOL
The call came to West Central Initiative early in the work day on Dec. 17: Minnesota was one of nine states chosen for the Department of Education’s Race to the Top early childhood challenge grant.
We greeted the news with excitement. West Central Initiative is part of a group…
How Volunteering Has Impacted Me to the CORE
by Elizabeth Douglass
July was an incredibly busy month for me this year. Not only did I marry my best friend, I also started working as a volunteer teacher for Computer Community Outreach and Education (Computer CORE), a nonprofit based in Alexandria, Va. Computer CORE is a place where low-income…
Grantmaking and Emergency Recovery: Ensuring the Show Goes On
by Sandra Macías del Villar
Emergencies are bound to happen. While there have been dramatic improvements in disaster preparedness and increased attention to mitigation, the outcomes of natural or man-made disasters are mostly unpredictable. In recent years we have seen a slew of catastrophes take…