[News 9/28/07] Loudoun Co. to ask nonprofits: Do you serve illegal immigrants?

[Va.] “Nonprofits may lose funding if they give illegal immigrants aid… County supervisors plan to ask nonprofit groups next week whether they check the legal status of people seeking help” (Examiner, 9/28). Officials say they will “not necessarily eliminate money” based on what they find out. (I don’t think that sounds very comforting, do you?) Chuck Bean of the Nonprofit Roundtable: “I just don’t think it’s a good idea for nonprofits and the people they’re serving.”

PHILANTHROPY
The Congressional Philanthropy Caucus “now has 25 members and will start meeting this fall, probably next month,” reports the Chronicle of Philanthropy (subscription). No lawmakers respresenting Greater Washington are members of the caucus. Co-chairs are Reps. Robin Hayes (R-N.C.) and Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio).

EDUCATION
[D.C.] The D.C. schools construction czar cites “gridlock in system,” asks D.C. Council  for power to oversee routine maintenance of school buildings. (If they don’t let him control ”routine maintenance” then I think we have to stop calling him a czar.) The article also reports that some D.C. schools will close next year. (WaPo, 9/28)

[Md.] Gov. O’Malley’s budget proposal would “curtail [school funding] increases called for under the state’s landmark Thornton plan. (WaPo, 9/28)

Watch “Gilbert Mead: A Celebration”

The Sept. 17 Kennedy Center tribute to Gil Mead is now online.
(RealPlayer required)

[News 9/27/07] ThinkMTV: What do you think?

“Charities’ Tie to MTV Angers Nonprofits” (NYTimes, 9/27)

Co-founder of TakingITGlobal.org: “We have often been told by funders, including some of those announced as underwriters of the Think site, that they don’t fund this kind of work.”
Founder of Idealist.org: “If Gates and others want to collaborate with MTV instead of Idealist.org or organizations like it, there is literally nothing I can do about it.”
Gates Foundation: “MTV has an unparalleled ability to reach out to youth.”
Case Foundation spokesperson (and WG Board member) Rich D’Amato: “[ThinkMTV] has the potential to help nonprofits engage with a big audience in new ways.”
CEO of YouthNoise.com: “Kids’ buying is often cause-related, so there’s huge advertising impetus for this…If anything is irritating to nonprofit social networks, it is that the motives here are truly mixed.”
Joel Fleishman, author of The Foundation (and guest speaker at Washington Grantmakers’ 15th anniversary conference): “A foundation has an objective to get something done, and if for-profits and nonprofits are working on it, the foundation might well choose the for-profit because it thinks the for-profit will be better at getting it done.” 

“The Power of Giving Circles: An Interview with Marsha Wallace of Dining for Women” (HaveFun*DoGood, 9/25)

Bill Clinton’s “eBay of Giving” (Economist, 9/25)

EDUCATION
[D.C.] Chairman Backs Reinoso for Schools Post (WaPo, 9/27)

True to your school…  Only 1.2 percent of over 5 million eligible children nationwide take advantage of ‘No Child’ offer to leave struggling schools for better-performing schools. (WaPo, 9/27)

Two great “health justice” events coming up in D.C.

Thurs., Sept. 27 - Consumer Health Foundation’s 12th Annual Meeting
Get a sneak preview of the groundbreaking PBS documentary, “Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?” and join the conversation on the ways social policy, growing economic inequality, and racism affect our health. [DETAILS]

CANCELLED- Weds., Oct. 10 - Funders-Only Briefing on National Health Care Reform: Building a Movement for Health Care for All in 2008 and Beyond. Hear from the experts! [DETAILS]

[News 9/26/07] Regional Conference: “Green as a Competitive Advantage”

“In an historic joint appearance, VA Gov. Tim Kaine, MD Gov. Martin O’Malley and DC Mayor Adrian Fenty will each discuss their vision for a “green” region, and how our community can work together” at the Greater Washington Board of Trade’s 2007 Potomac Conference (Oct 29-30). Lead sponsors include WG members Bank of America and the Meyer Foundation. (Wire, 9/25) 

EDUCATION
“D.C. schools groups adjust to overhaul” (Examiner, 9/26) - “One group adjusting to the new environment is D.C. Education Compact.” Donna Power Stowe: “It feels like a tremendous opportunity. Energy, will and desire is in a common place.”

“Prince George’s votes to move forward with community contract school plan” (Examiner, 9/26)

PHILANTHROPY
“Foundation grantmaking for ethnic minorities, impoverished populations and rural areas is either steadily declining or is not growing at the same rate as overall philanthropic giving, said the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) in its comments to the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight. … [Nonprofits serving diverse constituencies] compete with other tax exempt organizations such as universities, hospitals and art museums that are more popular among wealthy donors.” (Newswire, 9/25)

Profile: The elusive Chuck Feeney of Atlantic Philanthropies (NYTimes, 9/26)

[News 9/25] It’s College Awareness Week in D.C.

The “Double the Numbers” Coalition seeks to double the numbers of D.C. students who graduate from high school and college on time. A two-day college fair begins Thursday morning at the D.C. Armory (WaPo, 9/25 - scroll down) 

HEALTH
Tonight: A Forum on Mandatory HPV Vaccination in the Washington Region (.pdf), co-sponsored by WG member Washington Area Women’s Foundation. “For parents who still aren’t certain about vaccinating their 10- to 13- year-old daughters against HPV, this evening’s free educational forum at the Reeves Center… should provide some answers.” (WaTimes, 9/25)

PHILANTHROPY
MacArthur Foundation Gives Out ‘Genius Awards’ (NYTimes, 9/25) 

COMMUNITIES
NLC and LISC Announce Partnership to Support America’s Neighborhoods (Wire, 9/24)

It’s Hispanic Heritage Week, brought to you by FiestaDC, a regional coalition of more that 50 nonprofits and corporate/community/private sector leaders. (WaPo, 9/25)

[News 9/24] Monday Round-up

HEALTH
D.C. Councilmembers weigh whether or not to spend $79 million to save Greater Southeast Community Hospital. The WaPo Ed. board thinks they should. (WaPo, 9/23)

[Md.] With a recent survey showing that over half of adults in Montgomery Co. Maryland are overweight, the county considers mandatory nutrition labels and other options. (WaPo, 9/24)

PHILANTHROPY
Facebook philanthropy (DailyBruin, 9/23) - “Since the Causes [application] was launched on May 25, the Cause with the most members, “Support Breast Cancer Research,” has raised over $30,000 for the Brigham and Women’s Hospital.” (By the way, Facebook’s “Causes” application is the grown-up version of Project Agape, discussed here back in May.) 

“How Bill Clinton became a leading brand in the giving industry” (Economist, 9/20 - via PND). Related: Mycommmitment.org: Bill Clinton’s “cross between E-Bay and Facebook for the development and philanthropy community.” (FT, 9/23).

David Nasaw: “My greatest fear is that the growth of private philanthropy may be both symptom and cause of our weakening faith in democratic government.” (WaPo, 9/23) 

Lucy Bernholz: “Philanthropists Need Better Shopping Tools” (HuffPo, 9/21)

EDUCATION
“DC Schools Shift Ninth-Graders to High Schools” (WaPo, 9/23)

[News 9/21] Marriott Foundation funds “Hospitality High”

“New Hospitality High opens in D.C.” (WBJ, 9/20) - “The $3.2 million renovation at Roosevelt was made possible through $2.2 million contribution from the J. Willard & Alice S. Marriott Foundation [a Washington Grantmakers member]… The hotel association will continue to provide $100,000 each year — as it has since 1999 — for operating costs.”

PHILANTHROPY
“United Way of the National Capital Area changes methods… by trimming overhead and granting donors more say over where their money goes.” (WBJ, 9/21)

National Philanthropic Trust will hold its “Legacy 2007″ conference for philanthropists in Philadelphia on Fri., Sept. 28. (Wire, 9/17)

FUN WITH PERMITS
[Md.] “National Harbor Hits Snag Over Alcohol” (WaPo, 9/21) - Seems the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center is having a heck of a time obtaining a liquor license in Prince George’s County, “in part because… legislators who represent the National Harbor area refused to back the bill largely because it was sponsored by a delegate from a different part of the county.” Okay! None of this changes the fact that the Gaylord is scheduled to host the Council on Foundations’ “Philanthropy’s Vision: A Leadership Summit,” May 4-7, 2008.

A PAWN IN THEIR GAME
Since D.C. has no state university system, the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Program exists to give financial aid to college-bound D.C. residents. Seems fair–but not to U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), who has single-handedly changed the legislation to “bar families earning more than $1 million from participating in the program” (WaPo, 9/21). And THAT seems fair, too–until you realize that A) wealthier families living in states (including Oklahoma) still get the in-state tuition discount, and B) part of the reason this program was created was to encourage people to stay in D.C. Now wealthier families have a brand new incentive to leave D.C. (in addition to the incentive of, you know, wanting voting representation in Congress.)

National Harbor Fund grant proposal deadline extended

From the Examiner, 9/21: Prince George’s Community Foundation has extended the deadline for National Harbor Fund proposals from Oct. 1 to Oct. 15…. A total of $329,000 in grant funds will be distributed to nonprofits that provide cultural and enrichment opportunities for children, students and citizens.” [See Grant Guidelines]

The Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management

The 2008 application is now online. The Center will hold a free workshop on the application process on Thursday, September 27 from 9:30-11:00 a.m (register here) but attendance is not required to participate in the competition.