Latest Posts

What is Philanthropy

June 29, 2016 12:29 am Published by michaelsaunders

Uncommon Communities Inititiative

November 16, 2016 6:48 pm Published by michaelsaunders

[The] Uncommon Communities [Initiative] is a community and economic development program [from the Rockefeller Institute] that marries the wisdom and methodology of celebrated community development expert Dr. Vaughn Grisham, professor emeritus of sociology and founding director of the McLean Institute for Community development at the University of Mississippi, with the award-winning Breakthrough Solutions partnership, under the direction of Dr. Mark Peterson at the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

This comprehensive program will produce a group of community leaders who are equipped to assess, plan, visualize and mobilize citizenry to work together in the areas of economic development, education and workforce development, and quality of life and place—the critical elements of thriving communities—with an aim to help them become vibrant and sustainable in the 21st century global knowledge economy.

Source: Uncommon Communities

Chronicle’s Philanthropy 400 Ranking Mischaracterizes Value of Donor Advised Funds

November 3, 2016 7:36 am Published by michaelsaunders

The Council on Foundations emphasizes the importance of donor advised funds as a philanthropic tool and their importance to the sector.

On Thursday, October 27, 2016, the Chronicle of Philanthropy released this year’s Philanthropy 400, its annual ranking of American nonprofits based on the private support they raise. The special report acknowledged a record year in giving, and named Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, the charitable giving arm of Fidelity Investments, the nation’s top charity by contributions received.

Having a sponsor of a donor advised fund (DAF) outraise mainstays like United Way is indeed a notable first and deserving of our attention and reflection. Our sector needs to keep pace with changing donor preferences, especially their motivations and preferred methods for giving.As such, this year’s Philanthropy 400 is dominated by articles and opinion pieces about DAFs, including those authored by known critics.

What’s missing is the voice of community foundations which as you know originated DAFs, the first one being created in 1931, to partner with philanthropists to provide immediate and long-term investment in the communities they serve.

Source: Chronicle’s Philanthropy 400 Ranking Overlooks DAF Value | Council on Foundations

Donor Advised Funds Explained

August 31, 2016 12:20 am Published by michaelsaunders

“For people whom charitable giving is a big part of their life, a donor advised fund is a way to do that more efficiently and often to save more in taxes than they might if they were just giving a check directly to the organization,” Green says.Donor advised funds allow for gifts of appreciated stock, real estate and business assets, and, of course, cash.

In his exploration of the “Philanthropic Revolution” for the Los Angeles Times, Jack Shakely, president emeritus of the California Community Foundation in L.A., asserts that the growing popularity of donor advised funds are a matter of economics.

“A million-dollar foundation can easily cost more to run than it gives away,” he wrote in March of 2014.

Source: The Rise of the Donor Advised Fund | SD JEWISH JOURNAL