Blog

Community Foundations Update - July 2016

Wednesday, July 13, 2016 - 3:47 pm

Brad Ward

In the heat of mid summer, what a great time to check out some Council resources and opportunities that I believe you might find useful (preferably in air-conditioned office, or better yet, on the beach while enjoying some r&r!). As always, please reach out to me with any questions or concerns. Thanks for everything you do in your community and for being a Council member.

Defending DAFs

Council President and CEO Vikki Spruill penned a letter to the editor of the Washington Post in response to a disturbing portrait of donor-advised funds (DAFs). More than 60 community foundations have added their names in support. I encourage you to read the Op-Ed to see how the Council is actively monitoring and responding to threats to philanthropy including DAFs. To signal your support, you can add your name via the Exchange or by emailing govt@cof.org.

Disaster Response and Coordination

Community foundations are frequently at the frontlines of disaster recovery. That has never been more apparent following the flooding in Texas and West Virginia and the shootings in Orlando and Dallas. These events are unfortunate reminders to us all that tragedy can strike anywhere and at any time. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Council to critically think about how to be prepared or respond and be sure to make use of our Disaster Philanthropy resources.

Meet your Senators, Representative

Summer recess in D.C. begins and that means your Senators and Representatives will be returning to their home states and districts. Now is the time to schedule a meeting with your member to speak with them about your foundation’s priorities and how they can help grow and protect charitable giving. Use our Advocacy Toolkit for talking points, templates, and more.

Questions and Answers

Whether navigating donor control or big ideas for your next grant cycle, the Philanthropy Exchange is a place for you to raise questions and explore pressing issues with your colleagues. The Council’s Philanthropy Exchange is home to five online discussion boards (CEOnet, Communications, Donor Services, Finance and Admin, and Program Exchanges) dedicated to community foundations. If you would like access or an online tutorial contact the Community Manager, Jodi Meier, at Jodi.Meier@cof.org.

Immediate Activities for Community Foundations:

Are you making grants for Economic Development? Take the survey by International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and Annie E Casey Foundation to improve this segment of granting: