"No person was ever honored for what he received.
Honor has been the reward for what he gave".

Calvin Coolidge

Dear Friend,

A dear friend of mine, Milton Murray, who is a giant in the world of philanthropy (which has been his career since 1960), recently wrote an article "A Career in Philanthropy is Rewarding". Some excerpts from the article are well worth our time to ponder.
 
"The worker who finds satisfaction in the vineyards of philanthropy is also, to a degree, a professional in the field he or she is working in: teaching, medicine, engineering, or ministry. Although not qualified to lecture, perform in a hospital surgical suite, design a building or preach a sermon, the professional who obtains financial support for these activities is very much a partner to the respective professional". 
 
"If you are looking for an exciting career that will give you unlimited opportunities for service and satisfaction take a hard look at philanthropy. You probably will not be featured in headlines or become recognized as others are! So what, you know you are helping leaders lead".
 
Thank you, Milton, for your wisdom and your career in philanthropy.
 
Sincerely,
Douglas M. Lawson, Ph.D.

_____________________________________


Did you know?

 
SAM'S CLUB IS DONATING FOOD RATHER THAN CASH
Sam's Club, a subsidiary of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., is changing its policy of donating cash only to local food pantries to one of donating food. In coordination with America's Second Harvest, the largest food-bank in the nation, Sam's is rolling out the new program during the late summer of this year. At the same time, the Wal-Mart Foundation is donating $1.5 million to American's Second Harvest. Congratulations to Wal-Mart and Sam's club.
Wall Street Journal, May 1, 2008, p. D5
 
KOHLBERG KRAVIS ROBERTS IS GOING GREEN
In a new partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund, a non-profit advocacy group, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company is going to try to help improve the environmental performance of the many companies it owns. Kohlberg Kravis, with more than 825,000 employees and annual revenue of more than $185 billion, could have a huge effect on the environment with this incentive and at the same time put pressure on rival companies to follow their lead. We wish KKR the best in this new venture. We truly hope it succeeds.
New York Times, May 1, 2008, p. C1
 
MORE CHARITIES RECEIVING OPERATIONAL GRANTS
The tradition of most foundations and corporations in the past has been to make grants to non-profits for programs only and not for operational funding needs. This is slowly beginning to change. Some corporations such as Bank of America and foundations such as Edna McConnell Clark Foundation are already making some operational grants. Tips to non-profits on how to get operational grants include approaching grant makers as if they were investors in a business which, of course, has administrative and other costs. Other tips include the stressing of the benefits of operating support, pointing out the actual administrative costs, and being persistent. This is a new area for grant makers to explore and non-profits must be the leaders in this new financial journey.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy, May 1, 2008, p. 21
 
GATES AND BUFFETT FOUNDATIONS TAKE ON FOOD CRISIS
There is a food emergency sweeping across the poorer nations of the world with 100 to 130 million people at greater risk than they were eight months ago. The price of food worldwide is rising while at the same time some food crops such as corn are being used in many cases to produce ethanol. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation are attempting to find one solution to the world food crisis by launching a major effort to analyze and improve how we purchase food in the developing world to help poor farmers. We hope that this effort from the world of philanthropy will help.
Business Week, May 12, 2008, p. 21
 
TULANE UNIVERSITY BECOMES BIG ATTRACTION AFTER KATRINA
The strong interest from students across the United States who joined in the New Orleans recovery efforts while still in high school has caused the applications to Tulane to double this year from 17,000 to 34,000. It is probably the biggest jump in applications for any institution of higher education in America. What an influence volunteering has had on the lives of these young people. Tulane's president, Scott Cowen, summarizes this amazing turn of events: "We never envisioned, to be honest, there would be this positive of a change this quickly. The message of public service really resonated with students".
USA Today, May 2, 2008, p. 3A
 
LAST MAJOR SEPTEMBER 11TH CHARITY IS CLOSING
The Survivors' Fund, the largest charity established to help Washington-area victims of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attack, is closing. The fund raised $25 million from more than 12,000 area individuals and businesses. Most of the money has gone towards helping families pay bills, with smaller amounts paying for education costs and medical and mental-health needs.
Wall Street Journal, May 6, 2008, p. A2
 
MAGIC JOHNSON, A PHILANTHROPIC HERO
In 1991 Magic Johnson went public with his positive HIV status. At the same time, he created the non-profit Magic Johnson Foundation to help inner-city youths and to teach minority communities about HIV/AIDS prevention and health care. Recently Johnson was presented with USA Today's third annual Hollywood Hero Award. USA Today's president and publisher, Craig Moon, said this about Johnson's award: "The award is about someone who gives more than just their name or money. Magic is a man who gives his time".
USA Today, May 7, 2008, p. 2D
 
HOW TO GIVE GLOBALLY
Howard Weinstein, a retired 57 year old Canadian, has learned how to give globally through a non-profit company he has set up in Africa to make affordable hearing aids for partially deaf Africans and people in other underdeveloped countries. Thanks to donations from the Ashoka Foundation and the Oregon based Lemelson Foundation some 20,000 people in 30 countries are using Solar Aid brand hearing aids, chargers and batteries. Building on the success of this project, Weinstein is hoping to set up other non-profit companies in Brazil, Jordan, China and India.
Newsweek, May 12, 2008, p. 52
 
FOUR NFL PLAYERS FROM AFRICA RETURN TO HELP
A Giant, a Texan, and two Bears (all from Africa) have come back to their homeland to establish college scholarships, distribute HIV testing kits, dig water wells and outfit a youth soccer team. These philanthropic efforts (which they are doing jointly) have elicited these comments from the athletes. "It was amazing to see how a little can change a community's life. I came back on the plane thinking, man, there is so much work that needs to be done over there". And isn't it wonderful that they want to participate in that work.
New York Times, May 8, 2008, p. C21
 
U.S. BURMESE COMMUNITY RAISES FUNDS FOR BURMA AID
The Burmese community across America is busy raising cash to help people back in Burma who have been devastated by the cyclone that hit earlier this month. The U.S. Campaign for Burma, a Washington-based advocacy group estimates there are 100,000 Burmese living in the U.S.A. From Fort Wayne, Indiana; New York City; Amarillo, Texas; and Silver Springs, Maryland, benefit concerts and other fundraisers are springing up everywhere. A fundraising concert for the storm's victims will be held early next month in Los Angeles and San Francisco. For others wanting to help, we suggest donations to the American Red Cross online and through their phone line.
USA Today, May 8, 2008, p. 8A
 
TOWN & COUNTRY'S JUNE ISSUE DEDICATED TO PHILANTHROPY
We are not in the business of promoting magazines, but we suggest that anyone interested in philanthropy should read the June issue of Town & Country, which has as its theme "The Joy of Giving". No less than nine articles are dedicated to philanthropy with an additional special section: A Woman's Guide to Giving. Pamela Fiori's editor's letter entitled "Close Encounters of the Charitable Kind" is excellent, as well as the "On the Town" article on the philanthropic work of Justine Staman Arrillaga. Of all the articles, I was particularly drawn to the one which described Ashley Judd's most cherished role - humanitarian.
Town & Country, June 2008, entire issue.
 
CHILDREN AS SCHOOL'S FUND RAISERS
Have you heard the knock on your door recently and the laughter of little children? If so, you knew what was in store for you. A smiling face with a Willy Loman pitch - "will you buy this magazine, or pizza kit, or piece of jewelry and help our school?" 80% of American adults "supported" at least one school fund-raiser last year. And some say it is approaching 100%, whether a magazine-a-thon, bike-a-thon, or jump-rope-a-thon, we all have been asked to help. Is it good for children? At least one critic, Meghan Cox Gordon, says no. We tend to agree. Making our children into sales people for someone's product is not really a way to teach what philanthropy is all about.
Wall Street Journal, May 9, 2008, p. W11
 
LAND TRUSTS BENEFIT AS HOME AND RESORT DEVELOPMENT PAUSES
The Trust for Public Land in San Francisco, the North Shore Community Land Trust in Hawaii, and the Nature Conservancy in Virginia, among others, are benefiting from the fact that many real estate developers are backing out of their deals to buy choice pieces of land. The Trusts, which are all non-profits, are buying the land instead to be used as public parks and nature preserves. Future generations will probably never know that the real estate crisis in our time made it possible for them to enjoy the beauty of nature.
Wall Street Journal, May 9, 2008, p. B1 & USA Today, May 9, 2008, p. 3A
 
ADOLESCENT EXPERIENCES SHAPE FUTURE PHILANTHROPIC PARTICIPATION
Mark Ottoni Wilhelm, the founding director of the Center on Philanthropy Panel Study (COPPS), has concluded that family stability and income during adolescent years has a big influence on future philanthropic giving. Family instability during the adolescent years usually equates into reduced giving amounts in later years. Adolescents who grow up in low-income families are also less likely to volunteer as adults. The COPPS is ongoing, but the early data suggests some facts we all in the world of philanthropy need to take into account.
Philanthropy Matters, Volume 16, Issue 1, 2008, p. 6
 
VOL-UN-TOUR-ISM IS A GROWING NEW TREND
Traveling today with a purpose expressed through volunteering in a growing new trend that tour operators and others in the travel industry are jumping on in a big way. A Conde' Nast Traveler/MSNBC poll predicts that "voluntourists" in the U.S. will triple in the next six years. Conde' Nast Traveler has created the World Savers Contest, which will award a trip for two to a person who has dedicated all or part of a trip to charitable work anywhere in the world. To enter, log onto cntraveler.com/worldsavers.
Conde' Nast Traveler, May 2008, p. 290
 
DO CONSUMERS BUY FROM "SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE" COMPANIES?
Remi Trudel and June Cotte of the Wall Street Journal say yes. In a number of experiments they conducted, they found that consumers will pay more for products sold by a company that practices high ethical standards. This simple finding says a lot to the world of philanthropy. High ethical standards work in the for-profit world - they also work in the non-profit world. To find out more about these experiments with corporations go to WSJ.com/BusinessInsight.
Wall Street Journal, May 12, 2008, p. R4
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