US Charitable Giving Surpasses Pre-Recession Levels
Total charitable giving by individuals, bequests, foundations, and corporations increased to $384 billion in 2014, higher than pre-recession levels, and the 5th year in a row where giving went up, according to the Giving USA 2015 report. The 2014 total jumped 7.1 percent in current dollars and 5.4 percent when inflation-adjusted over the revised estimate of $339.94 billion that Americans donated in 2013. Although total giving has grown beyond its peak, Researcher Patrick Rooney, Ph.D. recommends a bit of caution in a Giving USA press release quote, "As three of the four sources of giving have not yet exceeded their previous peak levels, with only foundation giving reaching its prior high, it is still too early to tell if total giving will sustain above the pre-recession level." Giving USA is a collaborative effort of Giving USA Foundation, a public service initiative of The Giving Institute, and Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Read more >> |
Health, Family and Financial Security Deemed Essential in US Trust Study of WealthyThe 2015 U.S. Trust Insights on Wealth and Worth® study identifies what the wealthy consider to be important elements of a life well-lived, ranking health, family and financial security as essential. The findings are based on a nationwide survey of 640 high net worth individuals with at least $3 million in investable assets. Key findings include: - Health is the number one element to "a life well-lived." The wealthy almost unanimously agree (ninety-eight percent) that the most valuable asset they have is their health, and investing in health is as important as investing to build wealth.
- While the wealthy view money as empowering, seventy-five percent say their purpose in life would not change even if they lost their wealth.
- Eighty-six percent say that giving back to society is an essential or important part of their lives, with women and millennials driving interest in giving and investing for social impact.
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 First Long Island Sound Report Card Supported by Funders Collaborative The Long Island Sound Funders Collaborative (LISFC), a group of funders with missions that include protecting and restoring the Long Island Sound, supported the first-ever ecosystem health report card for Long Island Sound with $233,084 in funding. The Long Island Sound Health Report Card graded water quality in Eastern Long Island (an "A") through the Western Narrows (an "F") near New York City. A companion report card evaluating the ecosystem health of Norwalk Harbor reported a grade C+ for water quality. "With more than $17 billion annually in ecological and economic value, Long Island Sound is an important resource used in many ways by many people," said Hugh (Tripp) Killin, III, executive director of the Jeniam Foundation. "LISFC supported development of a report card because it will help guide actions we can take individually and as communities, across the region and in our own backyards, to improve the health of the sound." The report card was the first joint funding effort by LISFC who by pooling knowledge, expertise, relationships and funding, realized a greater impact with their collective efforts. Plans are underway to update the report regularly and to expand the number of harbor and embayment reports.
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State to Benefit From MacArthur Grant for Effective Justice Systems The State of Connecticut was one of 20 jurisdictions to receive a $150,000 grant and expert counsel from the MacArthur Foundation to create a plan that will lead to fairer, more effective local justice systems. The grants are a part of the Safety and Justice Challenge, the Foundation's $75 million initiative to reduce over-incarceration by changing the way America thinks about and uses jails. Connecticut will use the award to support Governor Dannel P. Malloy's Second Chance Society initiative to give non-violent offenders a better chance for job and housing opportunities. Read more >> |
Partnership With Harvard Will Create SEL Kits for Schools The Tauck Family Foundation is partnering with the Harvard Graduate School of Education to develop a social and emotional learning (SEL) toolkit to be used by kindergarten through fifth grade teachers and school staff to support students' healthy social and emotional development. The toolkit will include research-based, developmentally appropriate strategies for teaching, learning, professional coaching, and performance management for several of the Foundation's investees, including Achievement First Bridgeport Academy Elementary School. The SEL toolkit will also incorporate the Child Trends surveys, commissioned by the Foundation last year, to monitor students' skill development. Read more >> |
Fitness and Nutrition Program to Help Those Struggling with Mental Health/Substance Abuse A $25,000 grant from the Aetna Foundation to Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA) will support Leaves of Progress, a new program which aims to improve the health and wellness of adult clients who struggle with mental illness and substance abuse issues. The multi-faceted program will offer key strategies to inspire and empower its participants to lead healthier lives. Activities will include lessons on how to prepare healthy food on a budget and fun physical activity opportunities like Zumba, group walks and yoga. "Programs like Leaves of Progress can have a powerful impact in changing people's health for the better," said Garth Graham, M.D., M.P.H., president of the Aetna Foundation. "We are pleased to support CMHA's efforts to improve the health and well-being of the clients it serves." Read more >> |
Childhood Trauma Series Available In Print To make The Connecticut Mirror's "Starting Early" series of articles more readily available to policy makers, providers, parents and others who care for or work with young children and their families, Child Health and Development Institute of CT (CHDI) with funding from CHDI's parent organization, the Children's Fund of Connecticut has made the series available in print and downloadable form. The series, written by CT Mirror Reporter Arielle Levin Becker, focuses on how early childhood experiences, both good and bad, alter a child's life-long outcomes and affect the health of our collective communities. To order printed copies of Starting Early, contact Cindy Langer. You may also download a PDF of the series or read at CT Mirror >> |
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MORE FOUNDATION NEWS |
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Community Foundation News Links Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut Connecticut Community Foundation Hartford Foundation for Public Giving New Canaan Community Foundation Valley Community Foundation |
Member News Links The 1772 Foundation Comcast Connecticut Humanities Dime Foundation Farmington Bank Community Foundation
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation |
EVENTS and OPPORTUNITIES |
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Donor Communications
Wednesday, June 24, 10:00 am - Noon and 1:30 - 3:30 pm sessions, Warner Theatre, Torrington |
Open RFP: Diverse Consumers in Health Reform and Advocacy
Informational webinar: Monday June 29 Proposal deadline: Friday, July 24 |
Leadership Development Roundtable
Application deadline: Wednesday, July 15The ZOOM Foundation's Leadership Development Roundtable (LDR) is seeking Waterbury, Danbury, New Haven, and Torrington area emerging leaders. In its eighth year and with more than 140 alumni, LDR accelerates the development of emerging leaders working to effect social change in Connecticut. The LDR Waterbury Cohort sessions begin in September 2015. For more information and to apply >> |
Being Grounded in Philanthropy
Wednesday, July 15, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, CohnReznick Training Center, Hartford The Connecticut Council for Philanthropy (CCP) has invited elected and government officials, and their staff, colleagues and partners to participate in a skill-building session led by CCP President Maggie Osborn. The workshop is designed as an introduction for those new to the field of philanthropy and will strengthen a frame of reference for individuals seeking to augment their knowledge. The program is free; registration is required. For more information and to register >> |
Partners for Places - Round Seven
Application deadline: Monday, July 27The Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities' Partners for Places is a successful matching grant program that creates opportunities for cities and counties in the United States and Canada. The program strives to improve communities by building partnerships between local government sustainability offices and place-based foundations. This seventh round of funding will provide eight partnership investments between $25,000 and $75,000 for one year projects, or $50,000 and $150,000 for two year projects, with a 1:1 match required by one or more local foundations. For more information >> The recently announced Round Six - Partners for Places grants included $75,000 for Stamford, CT to activate the Stamford 2030 District, a high-performance building district in downtown Stamford with goals to dramatically reduce demand for energy and water resources and increase resiliency by 2030. Their matching partner is the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation. |
Leadership Enrichment for Advancing Professionals September 18 - November 6, 2015: Rolling applications (first come/first serve- maximum 12 participants)Following the success of last year's program, the Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut is again offering Danosky & Associates, LLC's Leadership Enrichment for Advancing Professionals (LEAP) for nonprofit leaders in the Northwest CT region. The eight-week program is designed to strengthen nonprofit leadership and internal systems. Matching grants for eligible participants are available by request. For more information and to register >> |
Sustaining Collective Impact: Finding Progress in ProcessLiberty Bank Foundation presented its annual forum for nonprofits and funders, Sustaining Collective Impact: Finding Progress in Process, on June 4. Keynote speakers were Greg Hills and Melissa Oomer from FSG Group, a thought leader in the collective impact arena. Breakouts focused on local collective impact initiatives, including the Middlesex County Coalition on Housing and Homelessness and the Coalition for New Britain's Youth. Download the program slide presentations and other resources >> |
PEOPLE |
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Community Foundation of Greater New Britain President Jim Williamson has been appointed to the Community Foundations National Standards Board, a supporting organization of the national Council on Foundations charged with accrediting community foundations across the country and fostering standards of excellence in community philanthropy. "This leadership position on the nation's premier standards board for community philanthropy speaks to Jim's outstanding integrity and leadership in community philanthropy, and is a feather in the cap for the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain," said Community Foundation Board Chair J. Leo Gagne. "We couldn't be more proud of Jim and the standards of excellence he brings every day to our work on behalf of the Greater New Britain community." Read more >> |
The Tauck Family Foundation has announced the appointment of Mirellise Vazquez as executive director. Mirellise joined the Foundation's staff in 2010 with a wide range of experience in international, governmental and non-profit organizations. From the beginning of her career, she has worked on behalf of youth, in the fields of child labor, education, and health to promote advocacy, policy, and program solutions.
As the Foundation's program officer/portfolio manager from 2013 to 2015, Mirellise was directly involved in launching the Foundation's current strategy to invest in the development of social and emotional learning (SEL) skills that lead to better life prospects for low-income children from Bridgeport.
Earlier this year, the Foundation's board named Mirellise interim executive director and since that time her confident and proactive leadership abilities have been instrumental in advancing the work of the Foundation. Read more >> |
The Tow Foundation is pleased to announce that Eileen Wiseman will join their team as Director of Strategic Initiatives on August 3, 2015. In this newly created role, Wiseman will manage the Foundation's existing Strategic Initiatives portfolio, which includes programmatic investments in cultural institutions, higher education, and medical innovation. She will also collaborate with the director of justice programs to support current and develop new cross-disciplinary projects, and research and manage new grants and program strategies. "We have known Eileen for many years through our close relationship with Long Wharf Theatre and are delighted that she will be joining the Foundation," stated Founder and Chairman Leonard Tow. "Her intellectual curiosity, vigor, and engagement skills will add measurably to the Foundation's activities in the areas of medicine, higher education, and justice." Wiseman has been the director of development of Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut since 2009. While at Long Wharf, she implemented the Global Health and the Arts series, and was crucial for the success of the capital campaign which funded the renovation of the Claire Tow Stage. Read more >> |
Tania DiCostanzo of Woodbury, Rachel Tway-Grant of Winsted and Sandra Zielinski of Harwinton have been named to the executive committee of the Women & Girls Fund of The Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut. "Our three new Executive Committee members possess skills and expertise that nicely complement the talents of existing committee members," said Barbara Dughi, Women & Girls Fund Chairperson. "We have a strong leadership group who are all dedicated to taking the Women & Girls Fund to the next level." Read more >> |
ABOUT US |
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 The Connecticut Council for Philanthropy is an association of grantmakers committed to promoting and supporting effective philanthropy for the public good. Council membership is open to foundations (private, corporate, community), business and corporate giving programs, public charity grantmakers, bank trusts, donor-advised funds and individual philanthropists. Associate and Professional Membership in the Council is open to professionals and organizations serving the philanthropic sector. The Council benefits the larger grantmaking community, the nonprofit sector and the public in Connecticut. For more news about philanthropy in Connecticut, go to the Council's News Room, Connecticut Philanthropy Digest archives and our blog, CTPhilanthropyNotes.org. News about Connecticut funders may be submitted to the Council for consideration. The Connecticut Philanthropy Digest is brought to you by the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy. Edited by Laurie Allen, Manager of Communications. |
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