New Philanthropists make their own way in Austin

The diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and ideas blows me away. But what all our New Philanthropists have in common is a commitment to Austin. They tend to work outside the traditional nonprofit structure, creating their own points of engagement or standing out among their peers for their dedication to their cause.

Some of them left lucrative careers for less lucrative pursuits. Some of them saw connection possibilities where others haven’t, and they worked hard to make them. Some of them applied their experience and skills to the more frustrating field of philanthropy because they saw how great the rewards could be.

We found these 25 people thanks to you. You submitted more than 80 nominations, and had we a bigger budget we’d include them all; their amazing stories are enough to fill the next 8 issues of the magazine. It took a solid week of research and head-scratching to whittle it down to these 25 incredible folks. And we can’t wait for you to meet them.

But I won’t tell you who they are now! How would I sell magazines if I spilled the beans?

Please watch for the next issue of GivingCity Austin, available here on April 5. And mark your calendars for Givers Ball III, our quarterly celebration of Austin’s growing philanthropy community, taking place at the Gibson on April 5. See you then!

What Austin philanthropists can do right now about the state budget cuts to nonprofits

Last night, Jason Sabo terrified a small group of philanthropists by describing the devastating effects of the budget cuts being considered by the current Legislature. Many of the cuts would put the neediest Texans in real life-or-death situations.

Sabo has been the United Ways of Texas man at the Capitol for more than 10 years, and represents the interests of nonprofits across the state. His message: Nonprofits need to decide and then focus on what’s most important to save, because we can’t save everything.

His talk was an updated version of the cover story of the current issue of GivingCity. Please read this story and share it with others. Thank you.

Here’s a link to download a PDF printable version of the story.

OR

Here’s a link to start reading the story right away in the magazine.

The more we know as a community, the smarter our decision-making will be. As Debbie Bresette, president of Austin’s United Way said last night, “Most people don’t want to come and hear this news.” But if you care about Austin, you must.

Have your day at the Capitol

Today is CASA Day at the Capitol, and here’s why this is important.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is taking a strong stand to stop budget cuts proposed for Child Protective Services, the agency charged with protecting children and caring for those in the Texas child welfare system and advocating for full funding for CASA.

Hundreds of CASA volunteers from across the state of Texas will gather at the Capitol to dedicate a memorial in honor of the 227 children who die from abuse and neglect each year in Texas. For more than 30 years, CASA has been speaking up for abused and neglected children in the Texas foster care system, often helping children who are in life-or-death situations. CASA programs recruit and train committed volunteers to help guide children through the foster care system and into safe and permanent home.

In our current issue, we have a story about Linda, a CASA volunteer who was assigned to Tim when he was just three years old. Linda has stayed by Tim (in photo, left) his whole life, protecting him from getting lost in the system and helping him become the productive and capable human being he is today.

We also have a story advising Austin nonprofits to step up to the Legislature and speak up for the children and people they represent.

There will be many more of these “Days at the Capitol” during this session. You don’t have to attend them to support the cause.

Send a letter or email today to your representative and let them know why they should work harder to keep these vital services intact. Just go to Texas Tribune to find your representative. Speak up for Austin this session.

GivingCity Austin Issue #6 January 2011

Inside the new issue:

Philanthropy at The Gate – Texas is short $27 billion and looking for philanthropy to pick up the slack. Now more than ever, Austin nonprofits must speak up.
A Fair for The Future — A Spanish-only education fair could be the key to Austin’s economic success.
Austin’s Angel – For parents of children who have passed away, Amy Allen is a a bright spot.
PLUS – Theatre Action Project, RISE, Philanthropy Day, Michelle Valles, Stephanie Fisher, Jason Sabo, nonprofit jargon, CASA of Travis County and more.

CLICK HERE to open the new issue now.

Thanks to Givers Ball sponsors, Give Realty and El Sol y La Luna.

Nominate a New Philanthropist

New issue available now. Click cover.

We’re looking for budding philanthropists, the Austinites who will help build a culture of generosity over the next decade.

These are not just people who give back, these are people who will be role models for the rest of us. They’re people Austin needs to take the lead; people who have the energy and vision, charisma and connections, and commitment to making this one of the most generous cities in the country.

NOMINATE A NEW PHILANTHROPIST NOW

We need your help to recognize and encourage the New Philanthropists. There is no age limit, but nominees must demonstrate the following:

1. Energy to be a leader in the local philanthropic community for the next 10 years or more.
2. Willingness to be interviewed and photographed for the magazine.
3. Availability to appear at photo shoot in early March 2011.

Nomination deadline: February 28, 2011.

Questions? Email Monica at monica@givingcity.com.

PROCEED TO NOMINATION FORM

*See the 2009 New Philanthropists

January 11: Next issue, next Givers Ball

The more I talk to people about Texas’ looming budget shortfall (projected to be between $14 and $24 billion) and its inevitable crushing of Austin – not just of local nonprofits because of the surge in demand and drop in support, but also of the local economy as state employees start to lose their jobs – the more I learn about it, the angrier I get.

But anger, fear and the related emotions are not productive reactions to the mess we’re in. So in that regard, the next issue of GivingCity Austin will offer productive, actionable things we can do to prepare and (maybe) avoid some of the devastation.

This issue is for Austinites who complain about the mess AND work to do something about it. So, you.

The launch of a new issue also gives us an opportunity to celebrate you, and specifically, the young and professional organizations that introduce philanthropy and civic engagement to hundreds of Austinites, usually over drinks and networking. Thank you.

Keep an eye out for the new issue announcement on January 11 (also first day of session), and join us that night for the Givers Ball. We’ve invited more than 30 YPOs, and we’re going to stir them up.

GivingCity Austin Givers Ball
January 11, 2011
6 – 8 pm
El Sol y La Luna
6th & Red River
Food, drinks and a special announcement
about our New Philanthropists issue

RSVP on Facebook

Not on Facebook? RSVP here.

Thanks to Austin Community Foundation

We’re on The Huffington Post!

A story about Rain appeared in the latest issue of 12 Baskets magazine. Photo by Austin photographer Jessica Attie

So grateful to Andrew Shapter for making us the subject of his latest blog post for The Huffington Post. See it here: “Need Inspiration to Give? Read Stories, Not Statistics.”

In that post, he writes about how stories rather than statistics inspire people to give. And he uses the two magazines I produce – GivingCity Austin and 12 Baskets for Mobile Loaves & Fishes – as an example of that.

Our goal has always been to highlight and help grow a culture of philanthropy in Austin. With 12 Baskets, we get to share the stories of area homeless people and the good folks who are trying to help them. With GivingCity we call out the good works people are doing in Austin and offer ways for you to get involved, too.

Please share these magazines via email, social media, word of mouth with whomever you think might need a little inspiration to give right now.

Thank you for your continued support!

How much should charity workers get paid?

Somewhere between “a living wage” and Dan Pallotta is the truth.

To ask a nonprofit professional – and in particular, those who actually have to work to earn a living – to make less money than their for-profit peers is to take advantage of their compassion and altruism.

People (not so much those who donate, because they tend to get it) who scold nonprofit professionals for whining about how little they make compared to their for-profit peers seem to believe that nonprofit professionals are content to suffer. Indeed, that they should have to suffer a little bit.

Consider these scenarios:

When your daughter is in the hospital with a long-term condition, and your family needs a place to stay nearby to be by her side, how much do you think the staff at the Ronald McDonald House – the staff person who’s helping your family get through this ordeal – should make compared to the concierge at Four Seasons?

When Hill Country Conservancy saves more than 5,000 acres of historic and environmentally sensitive land in Onion Creek from being developed into a shopping center, and works with environmentalists; federal, state and local agencies; developers; business leaders; and ranchers to secure that part of Central Texas for you and your grandchildren, how much do you think the Hill Country Conservancy lawyers should make compared to your average real estate attorney?

When we complain that too many of our children are obese, that they’re being fed too much junk food and playing too many video games, and we hear that the staff at the free People’s Community Clinic is teaching mothers about how to make their at-home meals more nutritious, how much should that staff person make compared to the franchise owner who’s opening yet another Church’s Fried Chicken on the East Side?

This is not about how much a nonprofit professional should get paid. It’s about what they’re worth.

I’m all for slacktivism after all.

Does this guy look like a slacktivist to you?

Oh, haters. I understand you. I am one, too — critical of anything that looks too cool, to0 simple or too clever.

I’m the one who coined the term “slacktivism” in the first place … well, I mean, I used it on this blog about a year ago, before it was cool. (Is it cool, yet?)

Back then I was worried that these acts of slacktivism were replacements for genuine engagement in social issues, and now I know better: They’re not replacements, they’re a part of something bigger.

Let’s take HelpAttack, for example. It’s  a new application that works with your Twitter account. You register with HelpAttack by connecting it with your Twitter account, pledging a penny or 10 cents or a dollar – any amount – per Tweet to any nonprofit organization of your choice. The system estimates how many Tweets you tweet per month and estimates what you might donate to that nonprofit per month, and even lets you set a limit just in case you find yourself in a Tweeting frenzy and wind up pledging your house away.

Simple? Yes. Too simple? Maybe. And your point is…?

“But these people aren’t doing anything! They don’t care about that organization! Why wouldn’t they just donate the money directly to the nonprofit? This makes them feel like they’re doing something — they’re not!”

Here are three reasons I think these actions are worthwhile.

1. Slacktivism is an entry point to philanthropy. For people who have never donated to a cause before, apps like these can be a simple way to start. Philanthropy has offered these types of opportunities for years; think about the Salvation Army’s red bucket or the Jerry Lewis telethon. What’s the point of making it difficult for people to make a donation? Remind me…?

2. Slacktivism is another way for people who already give and care about a cause to give even more. If I’m already a volunteer and I make an annual donation, why not tag on an extra 10 cents per Tweet? It’s simple to do and even kind of fun. Again, remind me why this is bad…?

3. Slacktivist enablers (yes, I just coined that term) bust their asses to bring you these “simple” applications. Have you ever met Alex Winkelman, founder of Charity Bash? She has every opportunity to spend the bulk of her time shopping, but she’s chosen to organize these parties that raise about $5,000 per month for charity. Yes, attendees just have to pay $10 at the door and look hot, but if you’ve ever organized an event with sponsors, entertainment and a beneficiary, you know what a ton of work it can be. Sure Alex is an enabler… an enabler that donates about $75,000 a year to local nonprofits.

And as for HelpAttack… I was actually asked by Dave Neff to serve on the board for HelpAttack, and I have to say I’ve learned more than I’ve given back (as usual). What I’ve learned is how much time, money, sacrifice and long nights it takes to create and launch these applications. Sarah, Dave and Ehren have every right to have ignored their idea for HelpAttack and pursued something sexier — like bringing the world another location-based application. (Yawn.)

But they chose to use their powers for good. In the meantime, they’ve taught themselves how to launch a new business, how to promote cause-oriented applications, how to partner with nonprofits and how to work together as a team. And, by the way, they’ll probably raise thousands of dollars for charity.

Too simple? Hardly. Worthwhile? Totally.

Nonprofit pros, do the best you can

Oh, it's not that bad. Our office is way less 1988 than this. Silly.

“Welcome to nonprofit world.” What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Like you nonprofit people have such a uniquely sucky work situation. Have you ever worked at an ad agency? For the state? At a start-up? In retail?! Work in one of those places, then give me a call and we’ll chat about what sucks.

Oh, but now…. Monica starting to get it. Monica understand. Monica stuff envelopes at work.

I know that sounds royal — surely any of you who know me, who know that I’ve had two or more jobs for 15 years, who know I’m a mother of two strong, willful children who enjoy experimenting with fluids that stain and insects with hair, know that I am not afraid to lick a few envelopes. The princess thing is not even what I’m talking about (also, we have an envelope-licking machine, thank goodness).

What I’m just now starting to understand is the frustration. The public perception that a nonprofit can and should operate with the lowest possible overhead can be utterly defeating. I can imagine how a nonprofit professional can spend half the day researching, planning and preparing for a high-impact project, and the rest of the day wondering how they could be so stupid and naive.

Suddenly the realization hits: Of course, you can’t get all that done in time! Nor could you possibly spend the money to get it done right! Oh well, just do the best you can. And get used to being overwhelmed.

That versus working at a drkoop.com sometime around 2001, say, where, when you said you had a great idea for a five-part story about Medicare, your boss suggested you hire a full-time reporter straight out of Medill. (Welcome to Texas, Eileen Smith!)

And don’t give me the collaboration suggestion. The fact is, that happens more and less than people think. And it doesn’t always work out.

Torquil says I have the unique ability to complain about everything, but with this post, I am trying to express my solidarity with the hardworking people of nonprofits. Where I work, in all honesty, it’s pretty great, even compared to drkoop.com because here I’m surrounded by smart people. (Burn! Not to Eileen. She’s obviously very smart. Taking my burn back.)

But to those of you who work — who are driven by the need to do good – at a nonprofit, I say, “I think I get it. You’re doing a great job.”