WG’s 2008 Year in Review [News, 12.22]

WE’LL BE BACK IN ‘09
Many thanks for reading and sending in tips this year. We hope to feature more voices here in 2009. If you’re too busy to run  your own blog, but find that you have something to say from time to time, drop us a line. Happy holidays!
> WG’s 2008 - Year in Review (.pdf)

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ARTS
A Shift in Funding for D.C. Arts (WAMU, 12/19) – “Corporations and government programs are pulling back on giving this year, leaving individuals and foundations to make up the difference.”

MADOFF
Local Toll Runs High In Madoff Collapse – “Losses to Nonprofits, Personal Fortunes May Top $1 Billion” (WaPo, 12/21)

GIVING
- Bleeding Heart Tightwads (NYTimes, 12/20) – Conservatives give 30% more to charity than liberals.
- Charles County Students Form Philanthropic Group to Aid Other Youths (WaPo, 12/21)
- Faith-Based Groups Step in to Address Needs (WAMU, 12/22)

Susan Raymond: “Time to look up” and spot opportunities

“Time to Look Up,” writes Susan Raymond, Ph.D. (12/18), urging nonprofits and foundations to notice current “opportunities masquerading as challenges:”

1) Consolidation - Is the “extraordinary organizational proliferation in the nonprofit sector” of the last two decades a good thing? 
2) Revenue diversification -  Now that the “$1 Billion Hedge Fund Guy” has left the building, an opportunity for social profit organizations to A) engage more people and B) find new sources of capital.
3) Huge reservoir of talent – It’s the upside of that unemployment number.

…and 4) Opportunites specific to foundations:

“Re-evaluate portfolios, form true resource-sharing collaboratives with other foundations to wring every last cent of value from grantmaking, renew communications with and engagement of communities in your work, reach out to new skills and perspectives and bring them into your foundation to become more entrepreneurial.”

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[ WGTV] Ms. Raymond addressed WG members in November, 2008. See: Thought Leaders – Susan Raymond, Ph.D. (Nov. 12, 2008) – “What do recent trends and a volatile economy mean for the future of philanthropy and our social profit partners?” [watch video]

“2008 set to be the worst fundraising year for charities in a decade” [News, 12.20]

Charitable donations take a hit in lagging US economy (AFP, 12/19) - According to an informal AFP survey, ”2008 set to be the worst fundraising year for charities in a decade”
> Survey: Fundraising confidence reaches new low (Nonprofit Times, 12/18) 

CORPORATE
Steven Pearlstein’s annual giving column (WaPo, 12/19) features several WG members.

EVALUATION
- Charity Rankings Giveth Less Than Meets the Eye (WSJ, 12/19) – Well, it’s like I’ve been saying…

MADOFF FRAUD
Say goodbye to the Picower Foundation (Boston Globe, 12/20), formerly the ”71st largest in the United States by assets.” Good grief.

ARTS
The Phillips Collection has received $23.5 million in recent donations, more than doubling the museum’s endowment. (WBJ, 12/19)

AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Opinion: In Downturn, Build Up Stock of Affordable Rental Housing (WaPo, 12/20)

STATE BUDGETS
With a new $127M shortfall, “The District now faces budget pressures similar to those in neighboring Maryland and Virginia… Maryland’s $2 billion gap represents more than 10% of the budget; Virginia’s $3 billion is about 4%.
> $38 Million Schools Cut Proposed for Md. Counties (WaPo, 12/20)

HUNGER
Food Banks Gain As Holiday Revels Are Trimmed (WaPo, 12/19)

A growing need for after-school programs in the District [News, 12.18]

OUT OF SCHOOL TIME
Commentary: “As more parents work longer hours or even a second or third job, CYITC’s Millicent Williams says there’s a growing need for after-school programs in the District.” (WAMU, 12/18)

CHILDREN & YOUTH
Report finds more children homeless in D.C. (Examiner, 12/18)

PEOPLE
Profile: Anne Corbett, Executive Director of the Cultural Development Corporation (Bisnow, 12/17). Corbett is a 2008 Meyer Foundation Exponent Award winner.

Whitman-Walker Clinic Announces Cuts in Programs, Staff [News, 12.17]

Whitman-Walker Clinic Announces Cuts in Programs, Staff (WaPo, 12/17) – “plans to close its Northern Virginia office, which serves 1,100 clients, and shutter an eight-bed residential addiction-treatment program in the District” … “Private donations are down 29 percent from last year.” CEO Donald Blanchon: ““The current state of the economy has forced us to make tough decisions…”

 Nonprofits strain: As need rises, donations drop (WaTimes, 12/17)

 Nonprofit Coalition Proposes Revolving-Loan Fund for Charities (Chronicle, 12/16)

 Bad Economy Means Fewer Toys for Poor (WaPo, 12/17) – Visit ToysforTots.org to help.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Affordable Housing Included in Ivy City Project (WaPo, 12/17 – scroll down) – 37 properties … “The developers chosen for the project are Mi Casa, Manna, DC Habitat for Humanity and MissionFirst.”

BERNARD MADOFF
Area Jewish Groups Take a Hit Financially (WaPo, 12/17)

EDUCATION
Pr. George’s Spending Plan Would Cut 900 Jobs, Close Schools (WaPo, 12/17) 

and finally, 
If you need a place to stay for inauguration week, a Frank Lloyd Wright home is available (WaPo, 12/16). Owner James Kimsey will donate the money to KIPP Charter School in DC. Just $100,000 and it’s yours! :)

Nonprofit 911 – a coalition to help Washington region’s charities weather crisis

 
> On Dec 15, 2008, a coalition of eight regional organizations convened “Nonprofit 911″ to bring over 500 foundation, nonprofit, business, and government leaders together to develop a plan of action that redefines how the nonprofit sector operates in this new fiscal reality. Visit the Nonprofit 911 Network to continue the conversation.

- Washington Coalition Formed to Help Charities Weather the Economic Crisis (Chronicle, 12/15) – “The foundation community understands that there’s a fragile social nonprofit sector that has become even more fragile,” said Tamara Lucas Copeland.
- Nonprofit Groups Forced To Do More With Less (NPR, 12/15)
- Local Nonprofit Leaders Meet to Address Recession (WAMU, 12/15)

BERNARD MADOFF
- Giant Wall St. Fraud Leaves Charities Reeling (NYTimes, 12/15) – JEHT Foundation and at least two others close their doors.
- Washington charity among Bernard Madoff victims (WBJ, 12/16) – The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington had $10 million invested with Bernard Madoff.

PEOPLE
- Changes at the Meyer Foundation – “Albert Ruesga has been named President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation.” “Kathy Freshley…has announced her retirement at the end of February 2009.”
- Interview: Annette Gantt, new president and CEO of the Earth Conservation Corps (Examiner, 12/15)

HOUSING
In D.C., Trying to Curb 10-Year Wait for Housing (WaPo, 12/16)

BUDGETS
Fairfax budget shortfall nears $650 million (Examiner, 12/16) – “$200 million larger than what officials projected six months ago”

In the News – Monday Round-up [12.15]

EDUCATION
- Charter schools make gains on tests (WaPo, 12/15) – “Headway by poor children linked to rigorous methods, ample funds.” ”Charters are a good way for us to learn what might be possible,” said Marie Groark, a spokeswoman for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which supports the city’s traditional public schools, D.C. Prep and other charters. [Full WaPo series on Charter Schools]
- Truancy in D.C. – Part 1 (WAMU, 12/15)

SCANDAL
- Boston donors bilked out of millions (Boston Globe, 12/13) – “Some of Boston’s wealthiest and most prominent philanthropists have lost millions of dollars”
- Madoff Arrest Sends Shockwaves Through Jewish Philanthropy (Forward, 12/12)

CHILD WELFARE
Maryland child advocacy group launches campaign focusing on youth health and education (WaPo, 12/14), on ACY’s “Maryland Can Do Better for Children” campaign. ACY is supported by various WG members, including the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Freddie Mac Foundation, and the Moriah Fund.

ECONOMY
Calls for Food, Utility Help Nearly Double in Fairfax Co. (WaPo, 12/13)

JUVENILE JUSTICE/YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
A Rosy View of Youth Crime (WaPo, 12/13) – in which Colbert King brings the stats.

HOMELESSNESS
DC to make homeless shelters more accessible (Examiner, 12/13)

In the News — Friday Round-up [12.12]

REGION SEEKS FED FUNDS
- Mayor will press for stimulus money (WaPo, 12.12) – “According to a GAO report, the District’s [unique] obligations translate into a ’structural deficit’ of $1 billion annually.”
- D.C.-area governments want federal funds for green projects (WBJ, 12/12)

HEALTH
D.C. proposal would ban nonprofit’s move to convert (BBJ, 12/12)

GRANTS
Wal-Mart foundation announces grants (wire, 12/12)

PSA: GOOD GIFTS
Case Foundation Introduces 2008 Holiday Online “Guide to Good Giving” (12/12) – Just in case you’re beginning to stress out.

WaPo editorial: Prince George’s nonprofits lack support [News, 12.11]

WaPo editorial: Economic downturn exposes insufficient support for Prince George’s charities(12/11) – There should be “an open and competitive forum in which nonprofits vie for county dollars. An impartial group, such as the Prince George’s Community Foundation, should be in charge of approving the grants.”
> See also: The Partnership for Prince George’s County

Family Charities Get Focused (WSJ, 12/10) – “moving from a scattershot to a rifle shot” – ” [T]rustees of [WG member] Hill-Snowdon Foundation firmed up the general mission statement they had created about eight years ago, [outlining] the foundation’s focus on low-income families and communities, particularly youth of color and no- and low-wage workers.”

Time for sacrifice on the part of foundations (Women’s Foundation Blog, 12/10)

Charity donation decline gives rise to innovation (WaTimes, 12/10)

HEALTH
Close to $51 Million In Health Grants Given (WaPo, 12/11) – “Sharon Baskerville, chief executive of the DC Primary Care Association, said its $29.7 million will go to the continued funding of its plan to establish community health clinics across the city.”

NATION’S CAPITAL
DC Appleseed report calls for infrastructure help from Feds (WAMU, 12/11) – (More from WaPo quasi-blog thing.)

EDUCATION – Gates Foundation to study ‘cash for grades’ (LATimes, 12/9)

AFFORDABLE HOUSING – Aid Applicants Criticize D.C. Freeze (WaPo, 12/11)

DONATIONS – $75 Million Bequest From Alumnus Is Georgetown’s Biggest-Ever Gift (WaPo, 12/11)

Google launching philanthropic partnerships with Fairfax County [News, 12.10]

Google “will launch philanthropic partnerships with Fairfax County Public Schools and with Reston Interfaith.” (wire, 12/9)

Charitable foundations faced with declining assets, change priorities (Baltimore Examiner, 12/9)

Editorial: Ford Foundation should liquidate itself and bail out its namesake company (WSJ, via the Chronicle) – What’s really eye-opening is the number of commenters on the Chronicle site and the WSJ site that think this is a great idea.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING
A potential meter fee increase in DC  could be used to restore affordable housing budget cuts. Jim Graham: “[W]hat motivates me to do it is that we have several key housing programs that serve poor people that are on the chopping block.”