Just another Alan Graham story from another Alan Graham fan

I’m telling you, someday someone is going to write a book about Alan Graham, founder of Mobile Loaves and Fishes. No, a book isn’t right. Too flat.
They’re going to make a movie about him. He’s just that charismatic of a guy. But it’s beyond charisma; it’s the way he uses his brain.
Alan Graham has [...]

3 GivingCity stories I wish I could do…

I just don’t have the time. And I’d be happy to assign them but I just don’t have the money. So instead, these stories sit and wait. Would you believe I mentally sketch out GivingCity stories all the time? Very frustrating.
1. Giving Circles
Reportedly, giving circles are on the rise and proving to be very popular [...]

Austin drops from #5 to #11 in rate of volunteering

The good news is in 2008 30.7 percent of people in Austin volunteered. That rate puts the city at #11 among large cities in the United States. This is indeed a totally decent ranking.
The bad news is in 2007 35.3 percent of people in Austin volunteered, which put us at #5.
Did I also mention that [...]

More nonprofits, please.

I am learning every day. I used to think Austin had too many nonprofits. Now I think we need to encourage, support, and even nurture more.
A nonprofit is an opportunity for people to donate, volunteer, engage, and we need more of these opportunities, not fewer. Each nonprofit has something different to offer, just as every [...]

What it takes to have nonprofit collaboration in Austin

A successful collaboration or merger can seem like a miracle. As the former associate director of Community Action Network and a nonprofit consultant, Sam Woollard, a GivingCity contributor, has participated and lead the formation of a number of collaborations around  Central Texas.
“Collaborations and mergers are all about the timing,” she says. “Even if there’s a [...]

Are there too many nonprofits in Austin?

This article first appeared in GivingCity Austin #3 magazine. To download the entire magazine, click here.
The data referred to in this article can be accessed via Greenlights here.
The data is in – the Austin community has more nonprofits per capita than any other city in Texas. Now what should we do about it?
We demand efficiency [...]

For I Live Here, I Give Here – and for GC – patience

I go to church. There, I said it. I attend Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterianon William Cannon. I go to church for a lot of reasons, but the two biggest drivers are my children and the Reverend Larry Coulter.
Larry does exactly what I’ve always believed a church leader is supposed to do: He tells us what [...]

How does the stimulus package impact Austin?

Last month the Community Action Network – a partnership of 18 public, private, and nonprofit entities in Central Texas – hosted a learning session about how local government agencies will be spending the millions of dollars we might see in our community. More than 200 people filled the room to listen in; browse the links CAN [...]

5 Reasons Why We Still Need United Way

The recent news about United Way Capital Area having to lay off 10  employees is disheartening. UW runs pretty lean, and the people there work around the clock and even on weekends to accomplish their mission. When you work for United Way you take on a lifestyle, not just a job.
Andrea Ball’s story was on [...]

Thank goodness for Recognize Good, new Web site that lets you thank someone

See? I was just talking about this exact thing the other day: A public recognition site for volunteers. Except the RecognizeGood people have made a site with the potential for much more than that.
I’ve tried the site. First you register – name, city, etc – then you just fill out the thank you. You include [...]