D5 Releases Latest State of the Work Report and Highlights Work of Regional Associations

D5 has released the 2012 State of the Work Report which highlights the efforts of leaders in philanthropy over the past year who have worked to recruit new foundation leadership who more closely reflect U.S. demographic trends, increase funding within diverse communities, and become more transparent about data collection on issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the sector.

Innovative examples of efforts shared in the report include:

• A growing number of regional associations of grantmakers who are working to establish stronger links with diverse communities so that foundation CEOs, executives,and boards of trustees better reflect the nation’s diversity regarding race and ethnicity, gender, LGBT communities, and people with disabilities.
• The Association of Black Foundation Executives offering knowledge and practical tools to create successful funding strategies through its Responsive Philanthropy in Black Communities Toolkit.
• A partnership between Philanthropy Northwest, Native Americans in Philanthropy, and the Potlatch Fund that has created an opportunity for learning, better connections, and mutual trust to achieve more equitable funding strategies. 

A Quick Word with Dan Brady

Earlier this week, our own Communications Manager Dan Brady was interviewed over on the Communications Network blog. Here are some highlights:

How do you describe what you do to someone who doesn’t even know what a foundation is?
I’m part of a network of organizations that help support charitable work in communities across the country. We’re the problem solvers’ problem solvers.

The last time you learned something important from a communications colleague?
I learn all the time from our members. Nadia Lagani-Montiel at Philanthropy New York recently introduced me to Crowdbooster. It offers all kinds of stats about your Facebook and Twitter accounts, most of which you can find through other tools, such as Facebook Insights or HootSuite’s analytics, but Crowdbooster also tells you what time to schedule your updates based on when your followers are most active

To read the full interview, click here.

Recent Regional Releases

A round up of recent research and reports from regional associations of grantmakers.

Giving Study: A Look at Grantmaking of Private Foundations in the Southwest

Conference of Southwest Foundations has released their first study of private foundation giving. CSF initiated this study as an outgrowth of one goal of its long-range plan, to strengthen CSF’s role as a voice for philanthropy in the Southwest and as a way to make foundations in the region aware of the grantmaking by their colleagues.

Giving in Illinois

Donors Forum has released its latest regional giving study showing that although lagging behind foundations in other states with regard to asset growth, Illinois foundation giving outpaced U.S. foundations overall. The report examines data from 2010, the most recent full year for which data has been reported, and reveals the varying ways in which donors support nonprofits in the arts, health, human services, and several other nonprofit sectors.

Giving in Maine

Maine Philanthropy Center has released a new Giving in Maine report, which provides a snapshot of charitable giving patterns in Maine in 2010 (the most recent available data). The report reveals the varying levels of grantmaking to nonprofits in education, health, human services, environment, arts and several other sectors. It also details the state’s Top 20 Foundations and their total grantmaking in Maine.

Native Americans in Philanthropy Recognizes Philanthropy Northwest as Partner and Ally of the Year

Native Americans in Philanthropy recently hosted their 2012 Native Philanthropy Institute, and as part of its annual award ceremony, recognized Philanthropy Northwest as its Partner and Ally of the Year. The Partner and Ally Award was given for the first time this year and is designed to recognize non-Native organizations that demonstrate a leadership role in partnering with Native organizations.

Philanthropy Northwest was nominated by Tommer Peterson of Grantmakers in the Arts. “Philanthropy Northwest seemed like a natural fit, given their history. At the core of this was Philanthropy Northwest’s approach to learning about working in Indian Country,” says Peterson. He cites intentional efforts to begin a journey into Indian Country by listening and learning – by finding opportunities to partner with Native Americans in Philanthropy and Native leaders in a variety of ways, creating spaces for funders and Native leaders to develop relationships, and featuring Native-led programming, including conference sessions, over the years.