Member eBrief - November 2018

Thursday, November 15, 2018

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

The power of good networks . . . CCP featured programs >>

The power of good networks . . . Select opportunities for members >>

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

The power of good connections . . . Jobs in Philanthropy >>

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

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

  The power of good work . . . CCP updates    

More Data, More Networking, More Equity

Did you miss CCP's latest Giving Voice Blog? CCP President Karla Fortunato reports on CCP's survey of members and plans for 2019, including CCP's 50th anniversary year:

It's November! Fall is here, the leaves are changing, and at CCP, our team is working hard to plan for 2019. Next year's plans are deeply informed by the 172 members who participated in this year's annual survey. We asked. Seventy of our member organizations answered. We listened. We have big and small plans in the works for next year..... Read the full Giving Voice Blog >>      

Help CCP Ramp Up for Our 50th!

The Connecticut Council for Philanthropy turns 50 in 2019! Can you believe it? In 1969, CCP was founded as the Coordinating Council for Foundations. That same year, Neil Armstrong took mankind’s first steps on the moon. And Jimi Hendrix woke up America at Woodstock with his iconic rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. While CCP’s entry into the world was a bit less dramatic, our five decades of service is impressive as we’re among the longest-lived regional philanthropic serving organizations in the nation. CCP plans to mark our 50th anniversary by shining a light on members’ success stories as a way of telling our story and the story of philanthropy in Connecticut. Please send your story suggestions to Dee Goodrich, Director of Member Engagement.    

EPIP Recap

On October 12, 2018, CCP was thrilled to welcome Tamir Novotny, Executive Director of EPIP, to Connecticut for a lunch conversation with members. EPIP is a national network of emerging philanthropic professionals who strive for excellence and equity in the practice of philanthropy and many of our members have expressed an interest in learning more about the possibilities of hosting an EPIP chapter in Connecticut. Tamir discussed EPIP’s work, including their recent report, Dissonance & Disconnects: How Entry and Mid-Level Foundation Staff See Their Futures, Their Institutions, and Their Field, and engaged members in conversations about the importance of peer networks and how an emerging practitioners network could help members share resources, provide peer support, and encourage equitable leadership development in Connecticut.

Here’s what our members had to say:

“Tamir was a fantastic presenter… I think he conveyed really relevant and impactful information. I am happy to have heard about the survey and look forward to learning more.” – Mercedes MacAlpine, Program Assistant, Perrin Family Foundation

“A great discussion was had. Looking forward to learning more.” – Bilal Tajildeen, Program Coordinator, Connecticut Community Foundation

Many thanks to Tamir for leading such an informative and engaging conversation. CCP is excited about supporting the development of this peer network as we continue to look for new and innovative ways of supporting philanthropy in Connecticut. If you are interested in participating in EPIP, contact Esther Massie, Program Coordinator, 860-525-5585.

CCP Membership

In 2019, CCP will celebrate its 50th year of leadership in service of Connecticut foundations and grantmakers. We are grateful to have partnered with you to reach this milestone, and invite you to renew your membership so we may celebrate together in 2019. Membership renewal letters were mailed in late October. If you have a question about your CCP membership or member benefits, contact Dee Goodrich, director of member engagement, 860-525-5585. 

“I have learned so much from CCP over the years and built a great professional network through their many networks and programs. CCP also encourages me to lead a funder network and bring new ideas and resources about philanthropy to my peers. We learn a lot from each other and that helps all of us do our work better.”

Toral Maher, Senior Program Officer, Liberty Bank Foundation

 

“As the new CEO at the Children’s Fund of Connecticut, CCP familiarized me with the extensive philanthropic work occurring throughout the state. With the support of CCP, the Children’s Fund has also continued to band together with like-minded funders to strengthen our collective impact through the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative."

Jeff Vanderploeg, President & CEO, Children's Fund of Connecticut

   

Promoting Civic Engagement

  • CCP's new funder collaborative, the CT Funder Collaborative to Promote Civic Engagement works to strengthen democracy and community connections through investments in civic engagement. Recent learning meetings have included voter engagement and efforts to ensure a fair and accurate Census 2020. If your foundation is considering how it may engage, check out the Census 2020 Menu of Options for Funders. You can find this and other curated resources for Census 2020 on the Collaborative webpage >>
     
  • The Connecticut Civic Ambassadors Summit, Renewing Our Civic Culture, sponsored by Everyday Democracy and the Hartford Public Library, will feature a keynote by Doug Linkhart, president of the National Civic League, and a discussion with Maryam Elahi, president and CEO, Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, and a member of the CT Funder Collaborative to Promote Civic Engagement. Registration is free and lunch is provided

    DECEMBER 1: 12:00 - 4:30 PM: Hartford Public Library, Hartford        

  The power of good networks . . . CCP programs

FEATURED PROGRAM

CCP Webinar: Legal Representation for Immigrant Youth: What Funders Can Do to Help >>

Earlier this year, the Trump administration instituted a "zero tolerance" policy toward undocumented immigrants at the border. The policy has resulted in close to 3,000 children being separated from their parents after they entered the country together. The parents are handled through the legal system while the children have been sent to temporary shelters or sent to live with relatives. Unlike many across the country, Connecticut advocates were able to celebrate a victory this summer as a federal judge ruled that the forced separation of two children from their parents at the US-Mexico border was unconstitutional and they were reunited with their parents. This was largely possible because these children had legal representation from Connecticut Legal Services, a local nonprofit law firm. This policy and these Connecticut cases have shed a light on a long-standing problem in the justice system - a critical need for legal representation for immigrant youth and families.

Join CCP for a webinar to learn about the issues facing immigrant children and families in Connecticut, how NGOs are working to address them, and how funders can and are providing support.

When: Thursday, November 29
Program: 1:00 - 2:15 PM
Where: Webinar

PRESENTERS


Deborah Witkin
Executive Director
Connecticut Legal Services
Alexis Smith
Executive Director
New Haven Legal
Assistance Association
Jamey Bell
Executive Director
Greater Hartford Legal Aid

FEATURED PROGRAM

Improving Community Health and Health Equity Across the State >>

STATE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT MODEL (SIM) Health Enhancement Community Initiative
What would health look like in Connecticut’s towns and cities if leaders from health care, community organizations, government, schools, social services, and more worked together to prevent people from experiencing poor health and not just wait until people get sick to provide care? How could we help strengthen our communities if we collaborated across sectors and jointly strategized to improve community health and reduce health inequities across the state? What if we stepped out of our silos and created a collective vision to improve the health and well-being of Connecticut’s residents and then aligned our priorities and efforts to make that vision a reality? We invite you to join us for a roundtable discussion on cross-sector collaboration and to learn about an opportunity to create community-driven solutions to poor health, health inequity, and the growing health care costs in Connecticut.

When: Tuesday, December 4
Program: 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Location: Graustein Memorial Fund, Hamden

SPECIAL GUEST
Mark Schaefer, PhD
Director of Healthcare Innovation
State of Connecticut

 

GO TO ALL PROGRAMS and MEETINGS >>

For questions about any of CCP's programs or network meetings, contact Esther Massie, Program Coordinator, 860-525-5585.

GO TO OTHER ORGANIZATION EVENTS >>

CCP curates a list of local, regional, and national webinars and events. If you have an event to list, please send to ccp@CTphilanthropy.org.   

SELECT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS

RootSkills Conference >>

DECEMBER 7-8: College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA
New England Grassroots Environment Fund is holding its RootSkills Conference to create synergy among community organizers working towards environmental, social, and economic justice. Workshop sessions highlight trends, best practices, and solutions-based tools by and for community organizers. While the conference itself is full of great content, they particularly want to invite funders to the last Saturday session to discuss how to lower barriers to funding and center equity in philanthropic work, and hear questions, concerns, and feedback as they consider a community of practice for 2019. Download the Flyer to for details on the Funder sessions >>

Connecticut Public Service Executive Leadership Collaborative Workshops >>

CCP has joined with the University of Connecticut Department of Public Policy and eleven other partner organizations to create the Public Service Executive Leadership Collaborative. CCP members and their grantees receive substantial discounts to attend full-day and half-day public service professional development workshops in a shared learning environment with public sector and nonprofit professionals. You can register now and receive the discounted rate by selecting "Members and Grantees of Partner Organizations." Please feel free to distribute the Workshop Flyer to your grantees >>

The first full-day workshop will be:

DECEMBER 7: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM: UCONN Hartford Campus, 10 Prospect Street, Hartford
Performance Measurement: Getting Started and Advanced Toolkits for Towns and Nonprofits with Lyle Wray, Executive Director of the Capitol Region Council of Governments and Ron Schack, Principal of the Charter Oak Group. A light lunch will be provided.

Leadership Development Roundtable >>

DECEMBER 7: Application deadline
Help the Leadership Development Roundtable (LDR) connect with outstanding candidates by encouraging colleagues and friends to apply to one of two cohorts – Hartford Region and Fairfield County. LDR is committed to recruiting an inclusive pool of applicants diverse in gender, age, race, educational experience, and role. Ideal LDR candidates are nonprofit leaders looking for a collaborative, cohort-based, hands-on learning experience designed to enhance their ability to lead from whatever position they hold. Among LDR's program support are CCP members including: Fairfield County's Community Foundation, Graustein Memorial Fund, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Lone Pine Foundation, Newman's Own Foundation, and the Tauck Family Foundation.

Request for New AmeriCorps VISTA Projects in Connecticut >>

NOVEMBER 20: 10:00 AM: VISTA Technical Assitance Webinar (RSVP by 11/19) >>
DECEMBER 7: Request for Concept Papers deadline
The Connecticut Office of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) announced an opportunity to develop new AmeriCorps VISTA projects in Connecticut. The CNCS Connecticut Office seeks concept papers from innovative, high-performing, and outcome-driven organizations that share the VISTA mission of providing long term solutions to poverty. This Request for Concept Papers is open to organizations that are NOT current VISTA project sponsors. Please share this notice with your networks and contact the CNCS Connecticut Office at CT@cns.gov with any questions.

Help Establish National Giving Month >>

More than 8,851 individuals have already signed on to the NANOE's (National Association of Nonprofit Organizations and Executives) proclamation to establish a National Giving Month. Our U.S. Senators, Congressman, and the White House will offer a legislative resolution proclaiming December as National Giving Month upon receiving 10,000 signatures from people who believe in charity. The proclamation is a way to celebrate the donors, volunteers, corporations, foundations, and organizations who financially invest in nonprofits that provide critical relief to the hurting, hungry, and helpless; develop support for much needed social reforms; and improve every aspect of civil society including health, the arts, and education. Sign the Proclamation >>

  • Last year Americans gave $410.2 Billion to charity
  • One third (31%) of annual giving occurs in December
  • 12% of all giving happens in the last days of the year
  • 28% of nonprofits raise 50% of their funding in December         

  The power of good connections . . . Member news   

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

We welcome the Ridgefield-based Ritter Family Foundation, one of CCP's newest members. The foundation, established in 1996, funds in Fairfield County and outside of the state and is interested in a broad range of issues including economic development, equity and inclusion, and education. Kate Ritter is the executive director, and the board officers and members include: Bruce Ritter, Diane Ritter, and Tom Reynolds. You can find contact information in the Member Directory >>

We are also pleased to welcome the Ryan T. Lee Memorial Foundation into CCP membership. This New Britain-based foundation, founded in 2011, honors the enduring spirit of a special young man. The foundation funds college scholarships and support programs and activities that promote youth development, including a variety of student leadership initiatives. The main contacts are Daniel Lee, president and director, and board member James McNair, who also sits on the board of American Savings Foundation. Visit the Member Directory to learn more >>

MEMBER LEADERSHIP

CHDI 20 Years

As many of you know, CCP's past board chair, Judith Meyers, stepped down as president and CEO of Child Health and Development Institute in October 2017 and as president and CEO of the Children's Fund of Connecticut last month. This time allowed for a planned and thoughtful transition, with Jeff Vanderploeg assuming the leadership of CHDI a year ago and doing the same for the Children's Fund on October 1, 2018. Over the past year, Judith had the opportunity to reflect on her 20 years at the helm of CHDI and to capture those reflections in a new report: CHDI: Celebrating 20 Years of Improving Children's Health and Well-Being. The report tells the story of how CHDI has grown over time and made a difference in Connecticut.

Useful Toolkit for Health Care Enrollment

Connecticut Health Foundation developed a toolkit, Enroll Today! to Keep You and Your Family Healthy, providing suggested messaging, resources, and graphics that can be shared to educate and inform CT residents about the importance of enrolling in health coverage and the steps they need to take to get covered for 2019. It also provides information about staying covered and using health insurance.  Similar to last year, Connecticut-specific messaging will be important because some information used in national tools does not apply here. Connecticut does not use the federal exchange; state residents sign up for coverage through Access Health CT, www.AccessHealthCT.com.

Hartford Awarded a Partners for Places Grant

Hartford is one of six communities across the U.S. receiving funds for sustainability efforts that will help them better withstand the impact of climate change, prepare for natural disasters and engage local voices in planning and decision-making. The funding is made possible through the Partners for Places matching grant program, led by the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities (TFN) in partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN). Partners for Places pairs local governments with philanthropy to support sustainability projects that promote a healthy environment, a strong economy, and well-being for all residents. Hartford's grant will support green infrastructure efforts that will improve localized flooding and storm water management and create a more resilient city, including developing design specifications and scaling a program that encourages residents to redirect water from gutter downspouts to help alleviate sewer overflows, basement flooding, high water bills, and other issues. The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is the generous matching funder.

Partners for Places Round 14 RFP will be released on December 5, with proposals due on January 31, 2019. Learn more at a Round 14 Info Webinar on December 11 at 2 PM >>

Fiduciary Investment Advisors Honored

CCP congratulates Fiduciary Investment Advisors for winning the 2018 Best-In-Retirement Business IMPACT Award. The IMPACT Awards, established by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., honors advisors and firms that have advanced the industry through their visionary leadership, operational excellence, and innovative use of technology. Winners of each award category were recognized at the Awards Ceremony, where they received a trophy and a $15,000 donation to a charitable organization of the winner’s choice.

Fiduciary Investment Advisors selected $7,500 to go to YMCA of Greater Hartford and $7,500 for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston.

MEMBER REPORTS, NEWSLETTERS, & BLOGS

Children's Fund of Connecticut (Child Health and Development Institute) - Impact Report: Healthy Students and Thriving Schools: A Comprehensive Approach for Addressing Students' Trauma and Mental Health Needs >>

Children's Fund of Connecticut (Child Health and Development Institute) - Emergency Department Use by Connecticut Children and Youth with Behavioral Health Conditions: Improving Care and Promoting Alternatives  >>

Everyday Democracy - A Time to Talk: a Dialogue about Poverty, Criminal Justice and Race >>

Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation - Exhibitions on the Cusp: Issue #12 - Behind the Scenes: Organizing Exhibitions >>

United Way of Connecticut - September Community Connections >>     October Community Connections >>

MEMBER VIDEOS

Hartford Foundation for Public Giving - Nonprofit Support Program's Building Evaluation Capacity Program >>

  The power of good ideas . . . Trends and perspectives    

Kathleen Enright, Grantmakers for Effective OrganizationsNCRP has teamed up with the Stanford Social Innovation Review in Power in Philanthropy, a new series based on Power Moves: Your Essential Philanthropy Assessment Guide for Equity and Justice. The series will feature diverse perspectives from funders, nonprofits, and others on the three dimensions of power: building power, sharing power, and wielding power. It will reframe popular concepts in philanthropy such as risk, capacity building, and public leadership through the lens of power and equitable outcomes.

Power, Privilege, and Effectiveness: Are Funders Connecting the Dots?
by Kathleen P. Enright, President and CEO, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations

"To advance equity more effectively in collaboration with nonprofits and communities, grantmakers must share power with and leverage privilege for nonprofits and communities."     

  The power of good connections . . . Jobs in philanthropy

Find Jobs in Philanthropy >>

  The power of good ideas . . . New resources

CORPORATE
In the most comprehensive, industry-leading research of corporate societal engagement, CECP: The CEO Force for Good, in association with The Conference Board, found in their annual Giving in Numbers: 2018 Edition that companies have risen to elevated expectations and heightened community needs. With the growing recognition that a company’s business value is directly linked to their societal engagement, companies are allocating more to disaster relief efforts, giving fewer but deeper impact grants, and taking stands on pressing social issues.

 

 

DISASTER PHILANTHROPY
Foundation Center and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) released the fifth edition of their annual research report, Measuring the State of Disaster Philanthropy 2018: Data to Drive Decisions. The report draws from 12 data sources, including first-time analysis of contributions by non-U.S. donors, public charities, and smaller U.S. foundations. In total, the new report documents $30 billion in private, public, corporate, and individual disaster-related giving to address major disasters and humanitarian crises that affected millions globally in 2016.

 

 

EQUITY/JUSTICE
A new report from Prosperity Now and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), provides the first quantitative analysis to examine the racial implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and how these tax cuts reward existing white wealth at the expense of the economic security of households of color, poor households and a stalling middle class. The report, Race, Wealth, and Taxes: How the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Supercharges the Racial Wealth Divide, uses a microsimulation model developed by ITEP that generates tax estimates for a sample of representative taxpayer records. Of the nearly $275 billion within the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2018, $218 billion (80%) goes to White households. On average, White households will receive $2,020 in cuts, while Latino households will receive $970 and Black households receive $840.


NFG's Funders for Justice (FFJ) just launched DIVEST/INVEST: From Criminalization to Thriving Communities — a new toolkit website that provides resources outlining the connections between criminalization and our collective investments in housing, education, health, transportation, food security, jobs, and more. Check out the toolkit at https://divest.nfg.org/ if you’re interested in learning what actions you and other grantmakers, donors, and funder affinity groups can take to support communities in getting to their own vision of what a safe community looks like. Contact fundersforjustice@nfg.org for more information.

GRANTMAKING
Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEO) has several new publications. Strengthening Grantees: Foundation and Nonprofit Perspectives provides a comprehensive examination of foundations’ efforts to strengthen grantee organizations and leaders. The data reveals that foundations are not as in touch with nonprofits’ needs as they think they are, and that both foundations and nonprofits alike have a role to play in closing the gap between the support nonprofits need and the support foundations provide. The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving's Nonprofit Support Program is highlighted on page 24 of the publication.

CEP’s Understanding & Sharing What Works: The State of Foundation Practice finds that while the majority of foundation CEOs believe they understand well what is working in their programmatic efforts, more than 40 percent believe their foundation is not investing enough time and money in developing that understanding.  The report is accompanied by a series of in-depth profiles to further examine what foundations are doing to understand and share their work.

Grantcraft's new publication, Deciding Together: Shifting Power and Resources Through Participatory Grantmaking, illustrates why and how funders around the world are engaging in this practice that is shifting traditional power dynamics in philanthropy. Created with input from a number of participatory grantmakers, the guide shares challenges, lessons learned, and best practices for engaging in inclusive grantmaking. 

 

 

 

 Grantmakers for Effective Philanthropy (GEO) included a quote form Amarillis Pullen, program officer at the Perrin Family Foundation, in its new report, Get on the Balcony: How Grantmakers Can Ignite Change. The publication features helpful approaches for jump-starting a change initiative, drawn from the reflections of GEO members who have been tasked with assessing challenges and cultivating the conditions for a productive change process.

 

 

   

  The power of good people . . . Colleague news

Are you new to your organization or have you received a promotion, certification or award? Have you presented at a conference or event or have you published a blog or report? Send your news and a photo to: Laurie Allen, Director of Communications.

COLLEAGUE NEWS

Trust for Learning is delighted to announce that Ellen Roche joined the Trust as executive director at the end of October. Ms. Roche shares the Trust's passion for bringing ideal learning to all children, and is excited to learn from and build on their team’s momentum and Stephanie Miller’s indelible legacy. Ms. Roche has taught in the Washington, DC public and charter schools, and Ellen continued her strong commitment to inclusivity and racial equity as Director of Brand Strategy at Free Range and Lead Strategist at Provoc. In these roles, she partnered with dozens of foundations, businesses, and nonprofits, including with California Newsreel to develop digital experiences to complement The Raising of America, a documentary about early childhood care and education. She has led workshops and trainings around the country on storytelling and racial equity and recently supported the launch of a new, national movement called Racial Equity Here, through which more than 500 organizations across sectors have committed to clear, shared racial equity best practices. Read more >>
 
Read a farewell message from departing executive director, Stephanie Miller >>

Mehul Dalal, MD, has recently joined the Donaghue Foundation's Policy Advisory Committee. Dr. Dalal is the Chronic Disease Director at the Connecticut Department of Public Health where he oversees the Chronic Disease Unit that addresses a wide range of chronic disease prevention and control programs and policies in community and clinical settings. He co-chairs the Connecticut State Innovation Model Quality Metrics Council, serves on the Advisory Council for Healthy Connecticut 2020, and serves as the Vice Chair of the Connecticut Cancer Partnership.

The purpose of the Donaghue Policy Advisory Committee is to provide to the Trustees a standing group of individuals from various perspectives related to health care, philanthropy, or medical research to consider policy and program issues that are before the Foundation.  By presenting their opinions and examples of related experiences, the committee members assist the Trustees in carrying out the testamentary intent of Ethel Donaghue, who established the Foundation. Read more >>    

  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.

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