Moments in Philanthropy || August 2010


In this Issue

Madison Community Foundation New Funds
Save the Date: Economic Outlook Event Scheduled for October
MCF Honored for Area Hunger Relief Efforts
Madison Children’s Museum Opening Celebration
Youth Business Plan Contest Winners
Forty-four Children Have a Place to Call Home
Agency Executives Discuss Endowments
Things You May Not Know About Madison Community Foundation


Madison Community Foundation New Funds

Chris Funk Memorial Fund
Community Restorative Justice Endowment
Community Restorative Justice Fund

Save the Date: Economic Outlook Event Scheduled for October


Madison Community Foundation will be hosting an Economic Outlook event on Thursday, October 14, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at the Biopharmaceutical Technology Center (BTCI), 5445 East Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg. The speaker for this event will be Michael Strauss, Chief Economist of Commonfund, the primary investment advisors for Madison Community Foundation. There is no charge and no RSVP necessary for this event.

For more information, email Darcy Kobinsky, Officer Manager, or call (608) 232-1763.

MCF Honored for Area Hunger Relief Efforts

 
Second Harvest supporters with Governor and Jessica Doyle.

Madison Community Foundation was one of six supporters of Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin honored at the 19th Annual Governor’s Donor Recognition Reception, hosted by Governor Jim Doyle and First Lady Jessica Doyle at the Executive Residence in June. The event recognized those who made significant contributions in support of Second Harvest Foodbank’s mission to end hunger in southwestern Wisconsin.

“The Madison Community Foundation’s investment in Second Harvest Foodbank’s FoodShare Outreach Program sees incredible leverage, said Dan Stein, President/CEO, Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. “Their investment was immediately doubled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which estimates that every $5 spent in FoodShare benefits generates more than $9 in economic activity. Since June 2009, Second Harvest has submitted 1,449 FoodShare Wisconsin applications in Dane County, yielding $3,134,271 in local economic activity! Not only has this partnership ensured families facing hunger are getting the benefits they deserve, but our local economy has also reaped the rewards of the Foundation’s incredible investment.”

Madison Community Foundation has been a longtime supporter of Second Harvest Foodbank, providing more than 2.4 million meals to those facing hunger by grants to the Foodbank’s capital expansion and by gifts from component funds. In 2009, the Foundation’s grantmaking focus of basic needs allowed Second Harvest Foodbank to launch a FoodShare (food stamp) Outreach Program, including the start-up of a toll-free helpline, one-on-one application assistance and marketing of the service to potential applicants.

If you are interested in supporting efforts to fulfill basic needs, contact Paul Houseman, MCF Donor Relations Manager, at (608) 232-1763.


Madison Children’s Museum Opening Celebration

 
MCF staff helps ready Madison Children’s Museum for opening.

The Grand Opening Celebration for Madison Children’s Museum (MCM) on August 14 and 15 promises to be two days of action-packed fun. The spotlight will be on Dane County artists, young and old, whose works will highlight many of the organizational partnerships MCM has built with local arts organizations and community groups. Events include: a large parade, many different performances, programs, workshops, and demonstrations. The 1838 Log Cabin grounds will feature demonstrations of period blacksmithing, floor loom weaving, and woodworking techniques by folk artisans.

Madison Community Foundation has supported the Museum since its very early days, providing grants totaling over $471,000 for programs and infrastructure, including $150,000 for the current capital campaign. MCF also holds endowments for the Museum totaling over $1.78 million.

Visit the Madison Children’s Museum website for more information on the event and new facility.

To contribute to a Madison Children’s Museum endowment fund, visit this page or contact Paul Houseman, MCF Donor Relations Manager, at (608) 232-1763.


Youth Business Plan Contest Winners


Two years ago MCF provided a $30,000 grant to Wisconsin Technology Council to create a contest for talented and gifted Dane County youth to explore entrepreneurial principles and business leadership. The winners of the second annual Dane County YES (Youth Entrepreneurs in Science) Youth Business Plan Contest were announced July 21, 2010. The contest was open to public, private and home-schooled students in middle and high school in Dane County’s 16 school districts.

The grand prize winner was Nelson Auner, a graduate from Madison East High School, whose business plan is to launch “Babel Tube,” a foreign language learning program utilizing native speakers for peer tutoring. For his efforts he received a $2,000 prize. He plans to attend the University of Chicago in the fall.

 
Nelson Auner, winner of the 2010 Wisconsin Technology Council YES! Award
“Before I participated in the Dane County Youth Entrepreuners in Science,” explained Auner, “I knew nothing and thought that starting a business was a dreary and stressful affair. I learned that creating a business requires more creativity and perseverance than anything else. The entire process of brainstorming, researching and finally drafting an investment strategy was a deeply rewarding learning experience.”

Seth Sullivan was still in middle school when he found out he was a finalist for the second year in a row. Sullivan’s business plan was called “Neighborhood Net,” and was a social networking website for neighborhoods. Sullivan received a $1,000 prize, and will be a freshman in high school this fall.

"Coming up with an idea for the contest was only part of the challenge,” said Sullivan. “There are many other aspects of business that I hadn’t thought of before, like marketing and the customer base.  Thinking about this, doing research, and talking with people in those fields expanded my horizons."
The other two finalists were Kelsey Carter and Maxwell Mulroe, both 2010 high school graduates.

Carter’s business plan was called “Make It! Memories,” an interactive art studio, and Mulroe’s plan was “Game Galaxy,” a gaming outlet targeting buyers of new and used games, as well as gaming tournament players.

To learn more about Wisconsin Technology Council and programs, click here.


Forty-four Children Have a Place to Call Home

 

When the ribbon was cut to celebrate completion of The Road Home Phase 1 Housing & Hope Apartments on Vera Court, families were already settled into the 15 affordable housing units. Madison Community Foundation provided $50,000 to the capital campaign for purchase and renovation of the Phase-1 residential units for homeless families with children, and a $100,000 endowment for an on-site case manager to help the families overcome barriers and reach stability.

“We celebrated the fact that forty-four children have a place to call home,” remarked Rachel Krinsky, Executive Director of The Road Home. “Phase 1 is complete, sixty-two people who were formerly homeless now have a stable place to live, and all is going exceptionally well.”

The capital campaign for Phase 2 is $875,000 away from the goal of creating another 15 units of affordable housing for homeless families with children, complete with a second case manager.

If you would like to contribute to the Housing and Hope capital campaign, please contact Rachel Krinsky at (608) 294-7998.

Agency Executives Discuss Endowments


Madison Community Foundation currently holds over 900 funds, 244 of which are agency endowment funds supporting specific charitable organizations.
Access to a designated endowment affords a charity the ability to:

  • Provide a predictable level of funding
  • Reduce dependence on fundraising revenue  
  • Develop and implement innovative programs
  • Raise the profile and reputation of the organization

Ever wonder what the advantage of an endowment is over direct donations to an agency? Local charity executives with agency endowments held at Madison Community Foundation have much to say about the impact of endowment funds on their organizations. Rachel Krinsky, executive director of The Road Home Dane County, appreciates the stability afforded by a crucial endowment:

"The Forever Fund is a critical piece of our housing strategy. The regular distributions will cover the difference between the affordable rents we charge our resident families and the actual costs.  The Housing & Hope apartments are assured to remain affordable for decades, something we could not guarantee through annual fundraising projections."

Pam Smith, executive director of Dane County Humane Society (DCHS), is acutely aware of the advantages of not relying on fundraising alone for revenue. Distributions since inception of the fund add up to more than 100% of the fund value today. Pam explained:

"The annual distributions from our endowment have certainly helped Dane County Humane Society grow its service level while at the same time expand the number of types of programs offered in support of our mission, ‘Helping People Help Animals’.  10 years ago, DCHS more than doubled expenses as a result of moving to a new facility.  Having this fund’s distributions helped offset revenue deficits while the organization restructured and moved to a balanced budget that has been critical to the stability of the organization."

Barb Dimick, Director, Madison Public Library, has depended on endowments for program development:

"Endowment distributions are a welcome addition in providing necessary services in Madison’s community libraries, especially during these times of fiscal constraint.  Our endowments at the Madison Community Foundation have enabled us to reach out to various partners in the community to provide needed educational programs for both children and adults, to extend our literacy services to youth, and to add necessary collections, both books and computers, for the entire population.  Often, endowment distributions for particular branches enable much-needed upgrades and improvements to the facility, its collections and services."

When donors have the option of providing an endowment gift that will keep on giving well into the future or to fund the needs of the moment such as operations and program funding, they have the assurance that the agency has a comprehensive funding plan and expects to be around for a long time.

Barb Dimick also appreciates the wisdom of multiple funding channels:

"Endowments make a statement about the value of services over time, underscoring the importance of libraries to their communities.   People who give to endowments know that their gift will keep on giving, preserve services into the future, and maintain an important community asset. I think having an endowment at Madison Community Foundation stimulates more gifts to the Madison Public Library, as it indicates our commitment to leveraging partnership for prudent fiscal management of present and future resources."

MCF Staff is available to meet with representatives of charities to answer any questions about establishing a designated agency endowment fund.  Anyone can contribute to existing funds by visiting the MCF Give Now page, typing in the name of a fund, and following instructions on the page.

For more information, email Amy Overby, Vice President, Donor Relations, or call (608) 232-1763

Things You May Not Know about Madison Community Foundation

  • Madison Community Foundation receives over 230 gifts to memorial funds each year. The funds are distributed for a variety of purposes – scholarships, memorial gifts to charities, creation of endowments, etc. – at the discretion of the fundholders. MCF works swiftly and compassionately in times of need to help families and loved ones create memorial funds pay tribute to a loved one who has passed away.
  • Madison Community Foundation holds over 90 different scholarship funds. In 2009, MCF distributed over $224,000 to beginning and returning students for a wide variety of educational pursuits.  Those individual scholarship endowment and passthrough funds can be added to at any time by visiting the MCF Give Now page,  typing “scholarship” into the search field, and choosing from any of the funds listed. Or contact Paul Houseman, MCF Donor Relations Manager, at (608) 232-1763.
  • Madison Community Foundation holds endowments for each of the Madison Public Schools – 49 in all, for The Foundation for Madison's Public Schools. Annual income from the Individual School Endowment Funds is used to support creative and innovative projects not funded within the core school budget. A grants committee at each school supervises disbursement of the funds through an annual grant process. Grants committees look at their schools in a longer-term, more strategic way when deciding which grants to award. For additional information about the Foundation For Public Schools and how to become involved, please contact Martha Vukelich-Austin, President, at (608) 232-7820. To contribute to any of the school funds, contact Paul Houseman, MCF Donor Relations Manager, at (608) 232-1763.




  Facebook