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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
5.06.2008 - 09:40am ET
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Smartlink.org Creates Blueprint for Effective Philanthropy in Tough Economic Times
Strategies for Community Giving Address Needs of Boomers, Family Foundations, Others
(CSRwire) Washington, D.C., May 6, 2008 - At a time when many in the community are
feeling the effects of a possible recession, Smartlink.org – a nonprofit online
resource of Community Giving Resource (CGR) that helps individual donors
and small foundations explore issues and give strategically within
communities - released guidelines for leveraging philanthropy to build
stronger communities. Smartlink.org's guidelines address the growing need
for reliable information for donors, driven by a sharp increase in family
philanthropy, the inter-generational
transfer of wealth, and the growing interest of maturing Baby Boomers
to give back.
"Whether donors want to leave a legacy, give back to their own communities
or simply provide for those in need, a growing number of individual donors
and small foundations want to be sure that they are investing in projects
that have a major impact in low-income communities," said Elizabeth
Myrick, project director, CGR/Smartlink.org. "Unfortunately, while they
want to take an active role in their philanthropy, they often struggle to
locate the tools and information to help them accomplish their objectives,
and can feel overwhelmed by the complexity and intensity of community need.
Through these guidelines and other resources, Smartlink.org is providing ideas for
donors - helping them develop a strategic giving plan and determine
how and where their donations will make the most difference."
In addition to the financial difficulties caused by the current economic
situation, cutbacks in private and government funding for anti-poverty
programs have contributed to rising poverty levels, with local programs
often hardest hit. CGR takes a proactive approach to reversing this trend
by educating small foundations and individual donors about ways to make a
positive difference. According to the 2007-2008 Foundation Operations and
Management Survey Summary, estimated assets for members of the Association
of Small Foundations was $67.6 billion, and these organizations awarded
166,685 grants totaling $3.07 billion in 2006. Almost two-thirds of the
grant dollars benefited local communities.
There are several key steps to developing an effective giving plan,
according to Smartlink.org, including:
Articulate your passion for giving - Why is giving important to you?
Consider the issues significant to you and your family. Determine your
values; what, how and to whom you want to give; and the impact you hope to
make. This is a critical first step in assessing which giving strategy is
right for you.
Prepare a mission statement - Articulate the core purpose of your
giving through a mission statement that contains your values, interest
areas and what you can offer.
Become informed about a community - Learn as much as you can about the
strengths and challenges of the community where you want to make a
difference. Conduct research, meet with community leaders, and conduct
site visits with community organizations. By learning about a community,
you can begin thinking about how you can make the most impact.
Develop a giving plan - Your giving plan will need to answer the
following questions: Where (specific geographic area or communities)? For
whom (the specific population that your giving will target)? For what
(particular issue, change or action, e.g. housing, education)? How long
(length of time you will initiate, evaluate and sustain your giving)? How
much (the staff and financial resources you will commit)? With whom (the
groups your giving program will support and work with to achieve results)?
Determine ground rules - Establish giving ground rules and practices
that match your passions with the unique needs and strengths of the
community where you want to have an impact.
Measure results - Assess the results of your giving and evaluate the
project by asking such questions as: Was the program implemented as
intended? What can be learned from what went well and what did not? Is the
strategy still relevant and viable? How can the program be improved? Did
the program reach the target population? Did the program achieve its
intended results?
In addition to providing guidelines and resources, Smartlink.org urges
donors to consider getting involved in other ways by volunteering, joining
a board and helping to raise awareness of an organization’s mission and
impact.
According to Myrick, "There is nothing like getting personally involved
with a community group to help you really learn about an issue and
increase your sense of satisfaction and impact."
About Community Giving Resource
Community Giving Resource (CGR) is a joint nonprofit project of The Aspen
Institute and the Neighborhood Funders Group. CGR’s mission is to
attract, engage, and sustain philanthropic investment in low-income
communities. CGR services help donors explore and implement successful
funding strategies that create change in communities. At the heart of the
Community Giving Resource project is a free, independent and informative
donor website, www.smartlink.org, with its in-depth
insight on community-based topics and successful giving strategies.
The Aspen Institute, founded in 1950, is an international nonprofit
organization dedicated to fostering enlightened leadership and open-minded
dialogue. Through seminars, policy programs, conferences and leadership
development initiatives, the Institute and its international partners seek
to promote nonpartisan inquiry and an appreciation for timeless values. The
Institute is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has campuses in Aspen,
Colorado, and on the Wye River near the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in
Maryland. Its international network includes partner Aspen Institutes in
Berlin, Rome, Lyon, Tokyo, New Delhi, and Bucharest, and leadership
initiatives in Africa, Central America, and India.
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