Member eBrief - October 2016 | Connecticut Council for Philanthropy

Thursday, October 6, 2016

The power of good work . . . CCP updates >>

The power of good networks . . . Three-month program and meeting calendar >>

The power of good connections . . . Member news >>

The power of good ideas . . . New resources >> Trends and perspectives >>> Other events >>

The power of good people . . . Colleague news >>

The power of good work . . . CCP updates

Featured CCP Member Benefit - Connecticut Grantmaking Map >>

WHAT IF . . . every CCP member electronically reported their grantmaking to the Get on the Map campaign?

THEN ALL CCP members and their staff could see: where grantmaking dollars are going in the state, to what organizations serving which populations and to address what issues. Now, that is information we all want and need. So far, about one third of CCP members are on the Connecticut Grantmaking Map.

Did you know? United Ways and other non-foundation grantmakers -- like corporate giving programs -- may also participate. The Walker Group recently reported their grantmaking. So what are you waiting for? Check out the current Connecticut Grantmaking Map >>

Can't find your organization on the map? It's just two easy steps to join >>

Don't see your colleague organization on the map? Then send them the link and urge them to Get on the Map, too!

Value of CCP Membership

Find more "Great Reasons to Be a CCP Member" >>

Do you have a member value story to share? Contact Dee Goodrich, Director of Member Engagement, 860-525-5585.

Connecticut Working Cities Challenge Launched

The Connecticut Working Cities Challenge was formally launched in Meriden on October 4. This initiative by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston is in partnership with local and national funders, and the State of Connecticut.

The Connecticut Council for Philanthropy (CCP) is serving on the resource development committee and is the fiduciary for matching support from local funders. So far, 20 members of CCP have joined the partnership, committing $1,078,000 towards the $1.2M match goal. A total of $3.25M for the initiative will include support from the State of Connecticut and grants from national foundations.

Funding partners to date include: AVANGRID Foundation; Bank of America; Barnes Group Foundation; Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation; Boehringer Ingleheim Cares Foundation; Charter Communications; The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven; The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut; Community Foundation of Greater New Britain; Connecticut Community Foundation; The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; Eversource; Fairfield County's Community Foundation; Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; Hartford Healthcare; Hoffman Auto Group; Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford; The Kresge Foundation; Liberty Bank Foundation; Living Cities; Main Street Community Foundation; NeighborWorks America; New Canaan Community Foundation; Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation; Stanley Black & Decker; The State of Connecticut; Thomaston Savings Bank; Travelers Companies; United Technologies Corporation; Webster Bank; and Valley Community Foundation. (bold-CCP Members)

Photo caption (l-r): Connecticut Working Cities Challenge launch event with Webster Chairman and CEO Jim Smith; Kathy Luria, senior vice president, philanthropy at Webster; Catherine Smith, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development; President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Eric S. Rosengren; Peter Mosbacher, senior vice president, community development at Webster; President, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Linda Kelly; Lori-Anne Lawton, vice president, corporate CRA and fair lending officer at Webster; Tim Bergstrom, regional president for Greater Hartford at Webster; Dawn Morris, executive vice president and CMO at Webster; and Michael O’Connor, regional president for Greater Waterbury at Webster.

For more information about the Connecticut Working Cities Challenge, contact David Radcliffe, CT Working Cities Challenge Director, 617-784-0863.

Connecticut's Nonprofit Legal Mind - By Dave Davison

For many years I have looked forward to reading every issue of a quarterly newsletter called the Nonprofit Organization Report, from the law firm of Reid & Riege (CCP Member), prepared and edited by John (Jack) Horak. Don't let the prosaic title of the newsletter mislead you. It is entertaining, instructive, and erudite all at once, and an invaluable resource for anyone in the nonprofit field. The latest issue arrived a few days ago with a special announcement about Jack Horak’s retirement from the practice of law. Jack is a former CCP board member, and a very respected colleague in Connecticut’s nonprofit world. He founded Reid and Riege’s Nonprofit Organization Practice Area, and has provided legal counsel to many nonprofits in the state. On behalf of the board and staff of CCP I want to congratulate Jack on his distinguished career, and wish him well as he moves on to his new venture at The Alliance for Non-Profit Growth and Opportunity (TANGO). And I’m already looking forward to the next issue of the Nonprofit Organization Report, which I was glad to learn will be continued by Ed Spinella at the firm.

Call for Stories and Photos

The 2016 Giving in Connecticut report will be released in December and we'd like to highlight the data with stories and photos that illustrate the good work of your organizations. Specifically, we need:

1. Your story and an accompanying photo. Stories should be about your collaborations, initiatives and efforts to build a better Connecticut. Stories need to be condensed to 150-250 words, but we can link to a full story and additional photos on your or CCP's website.

2. Your photos to illustrate the impact of your funding efforts. Photos need to be high resolution in a gif or jpeg format and should include a caption and photo credit. Photos can be on any topic and can show your staff, trustees, donors, or grantees in action. Please, no photos of giant checks.

Send Materials to: Laurie Allen, Communications Manager, by November 15.

The Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report is Here!

We are pleased to provide you with reports from the Council on Foundations 2016 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report. Thank you to the 27 CCP members who provided information to this important survey. The survey collected data on compensation, staff demographics, and benefits costs across a wide range of positions and grantmaking entities, including organizations, federations, and community, private, and public foundations.

Customized Reports
CCP can access the Council on Foundations' benchmarking tool to generate customized reports for members who participated in the survey. These reports have proven to be helpful to many of you in planning, budgeting, and assessing your compensation staffing needs.

If you would like to know more about customized reports, contact Carolyn Giuliano, CCP Special Projects Manager, 860-525-5585.

The power of good networks . . . CCP programs and network meetings

Featured Program: Successful Structures >>

A Grants Managers Network presentation in partnership with CCP

Tuesday, October 18, 2016
10:00 to 11:30 am
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Auditorium, New Haven, CT

REGISTER >>

Join CCP members for a workshop in partnership with the Grant Managers Network (GMN) on the role of grants managers role in supporting organizational effectiveness. Participants will discuss promising structures and behaviors, including ways for operations and program staff to cooperate and support each other in their own setting.

Nikki-Powell-GMN PRESENTER: Nikki Powell
Communications & Practices Director, Grant Mangers Network

ABOUT GMN: Grant Managers Network's mission is to improve grantmaking by advancing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of grants management professionals and leading grantmakers to adopt and incorporate effective practices that benefit the philanthropic community.

Questions? Contact Carolyn Giuliano, special project manager, 860-525-5585.

Three-Month Program and Meeting Calendar

For questions about any of CCP's programs or Network meetings, contact Carolyn Giuliano, special project manager, 860-525-5585.

The power of good connections . . . Member news

Invitation to Justice Literacy Program

A Conversation with Civil Rights Attorney Juan Cartagena >>
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 12:00 - 3:00 pm, Graustein Memorial Fund
There are still some seats left for William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund's Justice Literacy program. Lunch will be served. Please respond by October 7.
Juan Cartagena is president and general counsel for LatinoJustice PRLDEF. He is a constitutional and civil rights attorney who has vast experience litigating cases on behalf of Latino and African American communities in the areas of voting rights, employment discrimination, language rights, access to public education for poor and language minority children, and housing.

Voter Engagement Toolkit

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, in collaboration with the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, Connecticut Community Foundation, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, MetroHartford Alliance and CCP, have launched a non-partisan voter engagement campaign, “My Hope. My Voice. My Vote.” The campaign uses social media, videos and graphics to remind people of just how good it feels to cast their vote, and provides useful information about voting in Connecticut.

Is your organization interested in amplifying the voting message?
Email hartfordfoundation@hfpg.org to gain access to videos, graphics, a posting schedule and call-to-action copy that you can easily share through your organization's social media channels. Read more >>

Early Childhood

Child Health and Development Institute, a subsidiary of Children's Fund of Connecticut, has released a new issue brief, Addressing Child Developmental Concerns Early. The brief discusses developmental monitoring and screening in early care and education settings. It highlights findings from surveys of parents and providers about State plans to strengthen Connecticut's capacity to identify and support children with and at risk for developmental delays.

Harnessing the Power of Philanthropy

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has issued a report and materials on the Workshop with Dr. Robert Putnam, Narrowing the Opportunity Gap in Connecticut: Harnessing the Power of Philanthropy. KJR Consulting prepared a two-page executive summary and detailed report of the afternoon's conversations, and a flyer summarizing the workshop. Conversations are underway to plan a follow-up convening in the coming months.

If you have suggestions or questions, contact Nancy Benben, vice president for communications and marketing, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, 860-548-1888.

Member Annual Reports and Newsletters

Connecticut Bar Foundation - Summer Newsletter >>

Children's Fund of Connecticut and Child and Health Development Institute - 2014 -2015 Biennial Report >>

United Way of Connecticut - Community Connection September 2016 >>

United Way of Greater New Haven - 2016 Report to Our Community >>

Member Blog Posts

Paul J. Aicher Foundation (Everyday Democracy) - The Decline of Civic Education and the Effect on Our Democracy >>

Perrin Family Foundation - Connecticut Youth Stand Up: Young Organizers Shining Through Dark Times >>

Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford - Two Pieces of Paper >>

Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut - The Public Option: An Idea Whose Time Has (Finally) Come? >>

Member Website Refresh

Aurora Women and Girls Foundation >>

The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation >>

Farmington Bank Community Foundation >>

Foundation for Community Health >>

Hartford Foundation for Public Giving - Early Childhood Collaborative >>

Member Audio and Video

American Savings Foundation - Financial Literacy Program >>

Children's Fund of Connecticut - Meyers Interviews on the Connection Between Social-Emotional Health and Early Literacy >>E

Fairfield County's Community Foundation - Blazing Trails as an Agent For Change in Fairfield County >>

Hartford Foundation for Public Giving - Metro Hartford Progress Points: 'Point' Made: Collaboration Key to Success of Region >>

The power of good ideas . . . New resources

The Dalio Foundation recently released their independent report, Untapped Potential: Engaging all Connecticut Youth, highlighting statewide challenges and opportunities. They have also launched a collaborative effort called the Connecticut Opportunity Project. Learn more >>

Innovations in Open Grantmaking, a new paper in GrantCraft's Leadership Series, sketches out the range and potential impact of innovations at every stage of the grantmaking process, and provides inspiration for more openly and effectively providing access to public money.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Putnam Consulting Group have published a field scan about equity in philanthropy, The Road to Achieving Equity: Findings and Lessons from a Field Scan of Foundations That Are Embracing Equity as a Primary Focus.

Asset Funders Network's new publication, Prison to Proprietor: Entrepreneurship as a Re-entry Strategy, examines the role of business ownership and entrepreneurship in helping formerly-incarcerated individuals navigate re-entry. The brief highlights several programs using business ownership strategies to equip formerly-incarcerated individuals with tools to support themselves, their families, and their communities.

The Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) and Center for Evaluation Innovation (CEI) have released a new research report, Benchmarking Foundation Evaluation Practices, which represents the most comprehensive data collection effort to date on evaluation practices at foundations. The report shares data on crucial topics such as foundations’ evaluation staffing and structures, investment in evaluation work, and the usefulness of evaluation information.

Grantmakers for Effective Organization's (GEO) newest resource, Strengthening Nonprofit Capacity: Core Concepts in Capacity Building, offers guidance on how to build trust with nonprofits, how to connect capacity building to grantmaking strategy, how to consider grantee readiness and how to assess the impact of capacity building.

Financial Coaching Census >>

Are you funding financial coaching initiatives? Are you a part of an organization that is delivering financial coaching? Then you'll want to lend your voice to the 2nd annual Financial Coaching Census, developed in partnership by the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Financial Security and Asset Funders Network. The insights you share will allow funders and organizations delivering coaching to better and more swiftly address the shifting needs of coaching programs, financial coaching practitioners, and financial coaching clients. Learn more >>

The power of good ideas . . . Trends and perspectives

What the Heck Does “Equity” Mean? >>

-- Stanford Social Innovation Review

Can the ‘Sharing Economy’ of Regionalism Reduce Income Inequality? >>

-- Connecticut By the Numbers

Self-Dealing & Family Foundations: What If the Brady Bunch Had a Foundation? >>

-- COF's Washington Snapshot

The power of good people . . . Colleague news

Welcome New Colleagues

The Rockfall Foundation is pleased to announce their new staff leadership; Robin Andreoli is the new executive director and Tony Marino, who has been serving as interim executive director, is the associate director. Robin has worked extensively in the non-profit sector over the past twenty-three years as an executive director, fund development officer, and grants consultant. She most recently was the Director of Marketing and Fund Development for Earthplace in Westport. Tony has been a part of the Rockfall Foundation for more than twenty years, serving as a Director and President of the Board prior to joining the staff as Operations Manager in 2011. Read more >>

Mary F. Crean has joined the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut as vice president of marketing and resource development, reporting to CEO and President Paula S. Gilberto. Crean will oversee the organization’s marketing, resource development and customer service areas, responsible for increasing donors, contributions, workforce partnerships and strengthening United Way’s brand.
“Mary is a valued addition to our team,” said Gilberto. “I am confident she will be an excellent leader as we engage more individuals and workplaces in raising the financial and volunteer resources for investment in the future of children and families within the 40 towns we serve.” Read more >>

The William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund is excited to announce that Kia Levey will be the first Equity Fellow. The Fellows Program was created to support our learning about racial and economic equity work in Connecticut and to provide a development opportunity for mid-career individuals interested in social justice philanthropy. A native of New Haven, Kia is deeply committed to igniting passions and unleashing the power of communities who are often silenced and ignored. Kia’s efforts toward this end has included working with the CT Juvenile Justice Alliance to coordinate statewide community panels focusing on the disproportionate discipline, suspension and arrests of students of color in CT schools. Read more >>

Colleague Happenings

CCP welcomes two new network leaders!

Mirellise Vazquez, executive director of the Tauck Family Foundation, is as a new tri-chair of the Fairfield County Funder Network. She joins Lucy Ball, executive director of the Lone Pine Foundation, and Juanita James, president and CEO of Fairfield County 's Community Foundation.

Jennifer Gifford, vice president of community resources for United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, joins Dawn Gifford, program officer for Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and Erin Haberman, director, community relations program officer for Travelers & the Travelers Foundation, in leading the Greater Hartford Funder Network.

Judith Meyers, executive director of Children's Fund of Connecticut and its subsidiary, Child Health and Development Institute, is one of four advocates "who have raised their voices for children" to be recognized at the Connecticut Voices for Children's "First for Kids Awards" on November 9. For more information >>

Other events >>

Find other organization's webinars/teleconferences and state, regional and national events, including CCP member's events. If you want your event listed, contact Laurie Allen, Director of Communications.

About the Member eBrief

The Member eBrief, is a CCP members-only electronic newsletter. Members receive the monthly publication to keep them current on upcoming CCP programs, member and colleague news, trends, and new resources. Members are encouraged to send press releases, public events, announcements, newsletters and colleague news to Laurie Allen, Director of Communications. 2016 Publication Dates: October 6, November 7 and December 5. 2017 Publication Dates: January 9, February 6, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5, July, 10, August 7, September 5, October 2, November 6 and December 4. Submission Deadline: Close of business one week before the publication date.

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Member eBrief - October 2016