 Annual Luncheon Recap 
More than 200 members and colleagues joined us on May 2 at the New Haven Lawn Club for the Council's annual luncheon to honor leaders in the field and to hear from Connecticut's newest leaders in philanthropy about the changing role of philanthropy. The Council invites you to join the conversation on our blog and discuss how you can lean into your role as a leader. Follow our blog, CTPhilanthropyNotes.org. In the coming months, luncheon speakers Lisa Walker from Newman's Own Foundation, David Addams from the Graustein Memorial Fund and Frances Padilla from Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut will also post their remarks on the blog. Other highlights of the luncheon included:  | | Janice Elliot of The Melville Charitable Trust; Lucy Ball of Lone Pine Foundation and Carlton Highsmith. |
Honoring the philanthropic achievements of The Melville Charitable Trust, Lucy Ball and Carlton Highsmith. You can read about their work HERE. Celebrating community foundations in Connecticut through the Governor's proclamation on the Community Foundations Centennial. You can view the proclamation and read about the good work of community foundations in Connecticut HERE.  a> | | Kim Healey and Sue Murphy. |
Welcoming new board leadership: Board Chair Sue Murphy, Vice Chair Judith Meyers, and Treasurer Chris Traczyk; and New Board Members: Amy Fry, Francis Padilla and Fahd Vahidy; and acknowledging outgoing board members: Immediate Past Board Chair Kim Healey, Andy Boone, Penny Canny, Barbara Fernandez, and Jack Horak. You can read about the board changes HERE. Thank you to all who supported us by attending the annual luncheon, we especially thank our sponsors! Click HERE to see a photos from the Annual Luncheon. back to top |
| Thank You 2014 Annual Luncheon Sponsors GOLD
First Niagara lNellie Mae Education Foundation SILVER
Bank of America l The Travelers Companies, Inc. BRONZE
BlumShapiro l eBenefits Group Northeast, LLC Stub Hub l The Walker Group |
Policy Brief Here is the latest news on public policy that is effecting the sector. Going forward we'll provide you with information and opportunities for action. You can also visit our website for Policy News and Advocacy Resources.div> NATIONAL UPDATE The Council co-signed comments submitted by Independent Sector on the IRS' proposed 501(c)(4) regulations and has spoken in support of extending and expanding the IRA Charitable Rollover. For an update from Independent Sector on legislation addressing the temporary tax provisions known as extenders, which include the IRA Charitable Rollover, click HERE. STATE UPDATE The state House and Senate have approved the following important pieces of early childhood legislation that are now heading for the Governor's office: - Office of Early Childhood - the Office, currently existing under Executive Order, will be codified into law.
- School Readiness expansion and rate increases - reimbursement for School Readiness spaces will increase to $8,670, the cap on competitive school districts will be lifted, and Alliance districts not already priority districts can participate in the School Readiness program. These changes will allow the Office of Early Childhood to add over 1,000 new School Readiness spaces this year, and over 4,000 by 2017. The rate increases will apply to Child Development Centers as well.
- Smart Start - a competitive grant program is created that allows school districts to apply for funding to create preschool spaces in the public schools in districts that have unmet need. Priority is given for low-income children. The Office of Early Childhood will design and administer the grant program.
- Early Childhood Program funding - the state budget approved by the House and Senate will increase funding for a number of early childhood programs including Care4Kids, School Readiness, child care licensing and inspection. The budget also provides continued support for crucial home visiting, health, and safety programs.
Connecticut's Legislative Commission on Aging listed many gains for Connecticut's Older Adults in a press release. Connecticut Association for Human Services (CAHS) recaps the legislature that helps move children and families from poverty to financial stability. Highlights from Connecticut Nonprofit Association's Legislative Wrap Up include: - Passage of the implementer bill (HB-5597) which included the social benefit corporation language [section 140-157] (previously in SB-23)
- Passage of the nonprofit hospital conversion bill
- The PILOT bill (tax-exempt institutions paying local property taxes) did not make it to the floor. But the issue is not dead; property tax reform will be the focus of the 2015 session.
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EPIP  Are you looking to hone leadership skills, build relationships, and learn and grow in your philanthropic involvement? Then you may be interested in joining Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) and helping to start the Council-sponsored Connecticut Chapter.
EPIP is a national network of foundation and social sector professionals -- over 700 professionals across 35 states -- with a mission to develop professionals who want to increase their leadership potential. Become a member of EPIP and you'll automatically be enrolled as a CT Chapter member. Consider the EPIP membership as an investment in your professional development. Sign up now! For more information, contact John MacArthur, 860-525-5585. back to top |
Family Philanthropy Resource  The Council is pleased to announce a new membership benefit for its family foundation members, including staff and trustees. Access is now available to the National Center for Family Philanthropy's Online Knowledge Center, a searchable digital library featuring a wide range of resources related to family dynamics, governance, grantmaking, and new trends in family philanthropy.
Monthly Family Philanthropy Webinars that feature presentations and conversations by experts and practitioners are also available. The next webinar, Navigating Leadership Transitions in Family Philanthropy, is on Thursday, June 12. Registration for this special benefit is required. If you are interested in signing up to receive the login information, contact Deb Werner, 860-525-5585. back to top |
News About Member Colleagues 
The New Canaan Community Foundation is pleased to welcome MICHELLE ERNST as their new Development Manager. Michelle brings nearly fifteen years of experience working for environmentally-focused non-profits including the New Canaan Nature Center to her new role.  MICHELLE KNAPIK will step into the role of Executive Director for the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation on May 12. Michelle will be transitioning from her current position as Program Director for Surdna Foundation's Sustainable Environments program. A lawyer by training, Michelle has worked in philanthropy for nine years and has served for more than a decade in local government, including working as the Director of Energy Policy for the City of Philadelphia. She also brings experience from grassroots advocacy, as well as service in the U.S. Navy.
 A review of KATE EMORY's work in the establishment of a social enterprise incubator and co-working space in downtown Hartford was featured in the Hartford Business Journal. Kate is the CEO of The Walker Group and reSET, the Social Enterprise Trust.
 EMILY TOW JACKSON, executive director of The Tow Foundation, was announced as a member on New York State Governor Cuomo's Commission on Youth, Public Safety and Justice. The Commission is to provide recommendations to modernize New York State laws, protect youth and ensure public safety.
 JUDITH MEYERS, CEO and President of Children's Fund of Connecticut and CHDI, testified before the Achievement Gap Task Force on April 17th about the importance of the promotion of social and emotional health beginning at birth and throughout the school years. She submitted CHDI's IMPACT report: "Improving Outcomes for Children in Schools: Expanded School Mental Health."
 CLARA MILLER, president of the F. B. Heron Foundation is featured in the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) blog post, Leaders of the 100% Club: The Compton and Heron Foundations on 100% Mission Investing
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Member News, Releases & Publications If you want to be featured here, send your press releases, e-newsletters, grant updates and other online communications to Laurie Allen.  Fairfield County Communty Foundation's new report, Healthy Minds Healthy Communities, deals with the issue of mental illness in Fairfield County. The publication discusses challenges, provides recommendations and actions steps and many resources.
 The Paul J. Aicher Foundation (Everyday Democracy) Executive Director MARTHA MCCOY's recent blog post celebrates a milestone for the foundation: 7 Key Lessons: 25 Years of Addressing Racism Through Dialogue and Community Change.
NEW MEDIA  Check out Connecticut Community Foundation's refreshed website.
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New Resources ASSET BUILDING  Asset Funders Network and Citi Foundation latest funders' brief, The Power of Credit Building; Strategies for Funders , authored by Credit Builders Alliance, demonstrates successful credit building programs and shares examples on how to integrate credit building into funding strategies that will result in better outcomes and return on investment. DONOR INTENT RACE EQUITY  W.K. Kellogg Foundation has released their new Racial Equity Resource Guide. The web-based, interactive resource guide provides individuals and organizations access to extensive learning materials and data on racial inequities, their impact on communities of color and the process for healing racial wounds so that communities can move forward together.
The Corporation for Enterprise Development's (CFED) Fact File, The Racial Wealth Gap is Growing, highlights the disturbing trend of wealth inequality between white households and households of color in the United States.  Hispanics in Philanthropy's new report, The Right to Dream: Promising Practices Improve Odds for Latino Men and Boys, is organized around five experiences that define social and economic equity for men and boys of color, which in turn highlight nine priorities that require our attention and investments in order to remove structural barriers to success and allow young Latino men to see a clear path toward a positive future.
EARLY CHILDHOOD NONPROFITS  Do you have questions about the advantages and disadvantages of forming a new nonprofit versus finding a fiscal sponsor? Trust for Conservation Innovation's (TCI) white paper, Fiscal Sponsorship: A 360 Degree Perspective, complements their earlier material on fiscal sponsorship, communicates the value that a good fiscal sponsor can provide to social impact projects, and highlights the evolution of fiscal sponsorship best practices over the past decade. |
Webinars Grantmakers in Aging (GIA) Why Create an Age-friendly Community? Tuesday, May 13, 2:00 - 3:00 pm National Center on Time & Learning
Live Webcast: Time for Teachers: Leveraging Expanded Time to Strengthen Instruction & Empower Teachers
Wednesday, May 14, 10:00 - 11:30 am
The report release event includes a discussion of the exemplary practices being implemented in a diverse group of schools across the U.S. to provide teachers the time and support they need to succeed. The panel features Roberto Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President and a panel of teachers and leaders, including Paul Toner, President of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, who will help launch this important policy discussion. Asset Funders Network
Building Assets through the Tax Code - Proposals for Reform
Wednesday, May 21, 2:00 - 3:00 pm
Explore ways to expand the financial security of low- and moderate-income families through reform of the U.S. tax code. The call will feature presentations from stakeholders deeply engaged in advancing a range of tax policy solutions, with a particular focus on the policy agenda emerging from the Tax Policy Advisory Group of the Asset Funders Network/Tax Policy Project. Council on Foundations and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Webinar Series: Leading Forward: Innovations in Philanthropy - The Practices and Opportunities of Big Data in Philanthropy
Recording is available from the April 3 webinar - Blurred Lines and New Approaches to Working with Business, Nonprofits, and Government
Thursday, May 29, 2:00 - 3:00 pm - Best Practices in Place-Based Philanthropy
Thursday, September 25, 2:00 - 3:00 pm
Local Liberty Bank Foundation Tuesday, May 13, Water's Edge Resort, Westbrook At Liberty Bank's annual forum for nonprofits and funders, hear how nonprofits both here in Connecticut and across the nation are creating social change by setting their sights higher and thinking out of the box!
WNPR's Health Equity FormHow Healthy is ConnecticutWednesday, May 21, WNPR Studios, Hartford The discussion will include findings of the Connecticut Health Care Survey funded by the Connecticut Health Funders Collaborative. The Connecticut Health Care Survey is a population-based assessment of the health and health care of Connecticut residents with a focus on patient perceptions and experiences. Funding for the Survey was provided by the Aetna Foundation, Children's Fund of Connecticut, Connecticut Health Foundation, Foundation for Community Health, The Patrick and Catherine Weldon Donaghue Medical Research Foundation, and Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut.
Connecticut Association of NonprofitsAnnual ConferenceThursday, November 6, Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford Save the date! Their keynote speaker is Ami Dar, founder of Idealist.org. Regional Social Impact Exchange Conference on Scaling Impact June 18-19, New York, NY National Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR)
Joint Affinity Groups Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP); Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE); Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP); Native Americans in Philanthropy; Funders for LGBTQ Issues; Women's Funding NetworkUnity SummitJune 6-8, Washington, DC Council on Foundations
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders June 17-19, Denver, CO
Youth Philanthropy Connect July 24-26, Anaheim, CA
National Center for Philanthropy September 24-26, Washington, DC
Environmental Grantmakers Association
Grantmakers in the Arts October 12-15, Houston, TX
Grant Professionals Association October 15-18, Portland, OR
Council on Foundations Grantmakers in Aging
Annual Conference October 22-24, San Francisco
Exponent Philanthropy (Formerly Association of Small Foundations)
Race Forward (formerly the Applied Research Center)
November 16-18, Seattle WA |
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