Is foundation giving fair?

Foundations are not doing enough to support the needs of minority and low-income communities, a nonprofit research group says.

The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy in Washington offered that assessment in anticipation of this afternoon’s hearing of the House Ways and Means subcommittee on oversight, which focuses on whether foundations and charities are doing enough to serve the needs of minorities.

U.S. Rep. John Lewis, the Georgia Democrat who chairs the committee, called the hearing because he believes the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina exposed gaps in the way the government and charities provide help to minorities.

Aaron Dorfman, NCRP’s executive director, said his organization’s analysis of foundation grant data shows that foundations are not doing enough to fill those gaps.

“Sadly, while there are notable exceptions, the numbers show that foundations generally fail to provide significant support for low-income communities, communities of color and other marginalized groups,” Mr. Dorfman said in his written testimony, which is available on the organization’s Web site. “Foundation grant making for ethnic minorities is low and is not growing at the same rate as overall giving.”

Why do you think this disparity exists and do foundations have a responsibility (moral or otherwise) to ensure that their giving benefits all populations in their community?

A dream come true for stats nerds

Data is often used to confuse rather than enlighten and that's why I like Hans Rosling's presentation so much. He has found a way to make overwhelming data clear.

From the Ted talks website:

You've never seen data presented like this. With the drama and urgency of a sportscaster, Hans Rosling debunks myths about the so-called "developing world" using extraordinary animation software developed by his Gapminder Foundation. The Trendalyzer software (recently acquired by Google) turns complex global trends into lively animations, making decades of data pop. Asian countries, as colorful bubbles, float across the grid -- toward better national health and wealth. Animated bell curves representing national income distribution squish and flatten. In Rosling's hands, global trends -- life expectancy, child mortality, poverty rates -- become clear, intuitive and even playful.

Social Venture Philanthropy

Great video on how venture philanthropy can help society deal with some of society's hardest issues. Also an interesting case study on how foundations can use YouTube to generate support for the work that they are doing in the community.

Everything I needed to know about being a program officer, I learned in Kindergarten

Adapted from "All I really need to know I learned from Kindergarten" by Robert Fulghum.

These are the things I've learned:

  • Share everything- Share your successes and mistakes with others from the field, it makes us all better grantmakers.
  • Play fair- Don't use the unequal power dynamics with grantees to your advantage, treat people fairly and even the playing field.
  • Say sorry when you have hurt somebody- Give grantees an explaination when they have gone through your complicated grantmaking process and still receive a no for their funding request, people deserve to know why and it's your job to tell them honestly and kindly.
  • Live a balanced life- learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some- Take time to really enjoy the community that you life in, not just as a funder but as a citizen too.
  • Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that- sometimes the best programs can't be explained with a logic model, be open to the wonder of that.
  • Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the styrofoam cup- they all die. So do we- Leave a legacy by the quality of work that you do in the community.

What other lessons did you learn in kindergarten that are applicable to the work that you do today?

Are you a New Voice?

Are you new to the field of philanthropy? Are you passionate about the impact that next generation leaders can make on the field? Then I'm looking for you. I am looking for a series of guest columnists to add new perspectives and new experiences to this blog. This can be a one-time article (maybe as a way to introduce some of my readers to your own philanthropy blog) or it can be an ongoing series of columns (especially if you have an expertise area that you would like to write about). Send in a 200-300 word article about any of the topic that this blog covers including: professional development advice, philanthropy news of interest to emerging leaders, managing up, or anything else that you think would be interesting. Send an email to tristaharris@gmail.com with the heading "I'm a new voice". Guest columnists will be featured in the coming months.