Minnesota Council on Foundations Blog - Philanthropy Potluck

I couldn’t help thinking about work as I leafed through the program at a Minnesota Orchestra concert last night. MCF members’ logos were prominently displayed throughout . . . General Mills, Target, 3M, United Health, U.S. Bancorp, Wells Fargo and more.  Some of these organizations rank at the top for arts funding in...

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The Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers has launched a new blog. The Forum’s Forum will be a collaborative space for sharing information about philanthropy. In addition to featuring original content written by Forum staff, the blog will post syndicated content from various regional association blogs, like our own Philanthropy Potluck from...

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Corporate givers are faced with special challenges — not only is the funding that they provide needed more than ever before, but they are also faced with the need to demonstrate to their boards how their actions are cost effective, and how giving decisions align with corporate needs and mission....

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As the application deadline for the 2010 Knight Community Information Challenge passed, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation released Reports From the Field: Place-Based Foundations and the Knight Community Information Challenge (pdf), compiling what it’s learned in the first two years of this five-year, $24-million endeavor. The foundation, which...

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Project Streamline, a collaborative initiative of eight organizations, led by the Grants Mangers Network, has released two new guides this week. These guides are a part of a series that’s intended to help increase the impact of grants by eliminating unnecessary procedures and paperwork for grantseekers and grantmakers alike. Grantseekers report...

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The torch at the Winter Olympics has been extinguished, and now that it’s pushing 40 degrees here in Minnesota, we can turn our thoughts to spring training and the anticipated arrival of another baseball season. With spring in the air, I thought I’d highlight the work of the Minnesota Twins Community...

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A magnitude 8.8 earthquake, the fifth biggest ever recorded, hit just off of Chile’s central coast on Saturday, February 27, at 3:30 a.m., according to the BBC News. The earthquake and ensuing tidal wave have already claimed more than 700 lives in Chile; and this number, officials report, is bound...

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The Minnesota Early Childhood Funders Network, an MCF member network, is calling for nominations for the 4th Annual “Nancy” Award.  To be presented at the Annual Nancy Latimer Convening for Children and Youth on June 24, 2010, the award recognizes outstanding contributions by individuals or groups to enhance life for young children...

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Duchess Harris, author and Associate Professor of American Studies at Macalester College, will be lecturing on black feminist politics in the age of Obama at the next installment of the UPstart Lecture Series on March 17 at the YWCA Midtown in Minneapolis. The mission of the series is to bring diverse...

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In the philanthropic sector, we talk a lot about making change.  “We are change agents.  We strive to make changes in the lives of others to improve our communities.” As much as we talk about making change, we also talk about how hard it is.  “People are resistant or slow to...

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