Our friends at the Quixote Foundation have been spending time thinking about the Occupy Movement and what it means for foundations and the work that we do. Below, an excerpt: What do foundations have in common with the 1%? We’re organizations, not individuals, it’s true; but our raison d’être is using untaxed wealth to carry out the wishes of its “former owners.” As long as we stick to a few regulations, only the founders or their heirs and appointees can have a say in what we do. If this tax break can pay for itself by channeling riches into the public good, why is there no equivalent deduction for ordinary folks who make nonprofit gifts, unless they have sufficient income or assets to itemize? Why are foundations allowed to hold $672 billion in assets—often invested in companies that help create the problems our programs try to solve—while spending as little as 5% per year no matter how well our portfolios have performed? The Quixote Foundation has nine suggestions on how we can support the movement, besides spending beyond the 5% (what Quixote calls “spending up”). Here are a few examples – but click here to read the complete article. Support organizations that help the Occupy movement. The National Lawyers Guild links demonstrators with free emergency legal help. Ruckus Societyprovides training. The Funders Committee for Civic Participation can connect grantmakers with nonprofits helping in many ways, including sustained action on issues like corporate political power; and Resource Generation works with both […] Read more

TPW West is currently hiring for 2 positions: Intern Administrative Assistant  Read more

The Young Nonprofit Professionals Network recently surveyed over 1,100 emerging nonprofit leaders across the country. Conducted in Spring 2011, YNPN’s National Voice Survey tested several interventions targeting leadership development in the nonprofit sector. The full report was launched in the Fall of 2011 at Independent Sector’s NGEN conference. Click here to download the full report. We’d love to hear your thoughts – leave a comment below! Read more

“Data-driven & Doable – Frank Talk about Managing to Outcomes” Tuesday, November 29, 2011  6:00-6:30pm Networking and Refreshments  6:30-8:30pm Program  Location: 144 Second St, San Francisco This event is FREE! Register via Eventbrite. There are limited spots available. Data-driven & Doable is made possible by the Presenting Sponsor, Rosov Consulting, in partnership with StartingBloc Bay Area, Young Nonprofit Professionals Network San Francisco Bay Area (YNPNsfba) and EPIP Bay Area. The event is generously hosted by Rally at the RallyPad. About the workshop: Data-driven & Doable is a one-of-a-kind event bringing together young professionals and senior management from Bay Area nonprofits and foundations for a candid look at the managing-to-outcomes movement and its implications for emerging leaders. Managing-to-outcomes is about defining success, collecting data and using it to increase organizational effectiveness. In short, it’s about how you know that you’re making a difference.  The evening will combine elements of an interactive workshop and a film screening  featuring special guest host, Kate Robinson, director of the upcoming PBS documentary, Saving Philanthropy: Resources to Results.   Who should attend? General registration for this event is specifically intended for young nonprofit and foundation professionals. People are encouraged to attend who have personal experience (good, bad or in-between) with outcomes measurement, program management and/or evaluation. Read more

On Friday, November 4th, EPIP members gathered at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation in San Mateo to explore power dynamics in philanthropy, both between foundations and grantees, as well as within our own institutions. EPIP has developed a curriculum called Philanthropology™. As you might guess, the curriculum is the study of philanthropy, specifically as it relates to EPIP’s mission and values. There are four modules that comprise the curriculum. We looked at the third on Friday: Power Dynamics. I attended the workshop in two capacities, one as a staff member with EPIP who organized the whole day, and two as a steering committee member of the Bay Area EPIP chapter. I flit back and forth between these two perspectives, wondering how it was going for others who were attending, and actually participating myself. The questions posed at the beginning of the day helped to frame the discussion. How do we define power? How do we obtain power? How does that power affect the philanthropic landscape? How can you leverage your own power? How do you work with donors, with grantees, and with each other in a way that helps us all achieve our goals? Is there any way to get past the power dynamics that exist within our sector? Emmett Carson, President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, joined us at lunch, and we had the opportunity to hear his views on the subject. He shared sage advice: “Acknowledge that there is a power dynamic. Allow people to be […] Read more

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION: Wilburforce Foundation is a private, philanthropic foundation that exists to preserve the North American West’s irreplaceable biological diversity and ecological integrity. Our mission is to protect wildlife habitat in Western North America by actively supporting organizations and leaders advancing conservation solutions. We believe there are positive, achievable solutions to current challenges based on sound science, conservation policy, and community action, and we believe that conservation is powered by a hopeful vision in which wild places and wildlife thrive in harmony with human communities. ABOUT THE POSITION: We have an opening for a full-time Office Manager based in Seattle, Washington. The Office Manager will report to our Executive Director. Please review the position description for more information. Responsibilities: The Office Manager carries out the Foundation’s core workplace services. This work falls into five broad categories: 1) general reception, phones, and mail handling; 2) assist Wilburforce accountant with accounts payable and other bookkeeping duties, and handle contact with payroll and benefits representatives; 3) manage maintenance contracts and equipment inventories and ordering of office supplies; 4) assist Grants Manager with administration of grantmaking processes, and 5) provide general support to Foundation staff and Board as needed with administration, data management, event planning, and other functions. Qualifications: Minimum of a four-year college degree. Strong organizational and communication skills. Ability to work on multiple tasks simultaneously and to prioritize and follow up on urgent matters in a timely manner. Accuracy and attention to detail are essential. Excellent knowledge and skills of computers […] Read more

The EPIP National Board approves a new Mission and Vision. EPIP shares its first 3-Yr Strategic Plan. EPIP documents its unique value with a 10-Yr Impact Assessment. Learn more about our refinements to our mission and vision, strategic plan, and impact assessment. Read more

This opportunity is exclusive to dues-paying EPIP members. To become a member and to take advantage of this program, please visit www.epip.org. Membership is $150/individual. Please contact EPIP directly to discuss institutional membership opportunities. EPIP is proud to announce a brand new member service called the EPIP Effective Leadership Career Program, designed to increase emerging foundation leaders’ effectiveness and social impact. The program will offer year-round free career support to members AND will offer highly-subsidized 1-on-1 career counseling support to individuals working in philanthropy. Individuals will be able to purchase sessions and employers will also be encouraged to purchase packages of sessions for their staff to meet specific internal needs. The program is set to launch officially in early December 2011. To get you all excited about this program, we are very excited to offer FREE 1-on-1 counseling sessions to current EPIP Seattle members November 29 and 30 when EPIP Coach and Advisor, Russ Finkelstein will be in town! Russ met with over 70 EPIP members on the East Coast in October, is about to meet with 70+ CA-based members, and is looking forward to meeting with as many Seattle-centric members later this month – but space is limited to so you must sign up A.S.A.P. To schedule a FREE session with Russ, click here. AVAILABLE SESSIONS AND LOCATION: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29 & WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 @ THE CENTURY SQUARE CONFERENCE CENTER, ALKI ROOM (1501 Fourth Avenue, Suite 305, Seattle, WA 98101) Most importantly, don’t wait to sign up because […] Read more

EPIP Bay Area is excited to be partnering with EPIP National and Silicon Valley Community Foundation to present this upcoming program next week on November 4 2011. We hope you and your colleagues will join us! For more information or to register, please click HERE. Read more

Join EPIP Seattle at FareStart on Wednesday, November 16th for our annual “Careers in Philanthropy Luncheon”, featuring Audrey Haberman, the new Managing Partner of The Giving Practice and former Executive Director of The Pride Foundation. Audrey Haberman has happily worked in both nonprofit and philanthropic organizations for over 20 years. She is currently the Managing Partner of The Giving Practice, which is the non-profit consulting arm of Philanthropy Northwest. She servezd for the last 11 years as executive director of the Pride Foundation, which is nationally recognized for its innovative models of philanthropy. Prior to her work with Pride Foundation, she was the Development Director for the Women’s Funding Alliance. Audrey is an instructor for Philanthropy Northwest’s Best Practices in Grantmaking: Essential Skills and Strategies program. EPIP Seattle is committed to bringing emerging leaders together with seasoned professionals in our community to learn about their career paths and experiences in the sector. Past speakers in this series have included: Richard Woo, CEO of The Russell Family Foundation Ann Kelly, Partner, Global Philanthropy Group Charles Fields, former Program Officer at the Marguerite Casey Foundation Savitha Pathi, former Program Officer at The Seattle Foundation We are excited to host this luncheon at FareStart, an organization that provides a community that transforms lives by empowering homeless and disadvantaged men, women and families to acheive self-sufficiency through life skills, job training and employment in the food service industry. Over the past 19 years, FareStart has provided opportunities for nearly 5,000 people to transform their […] Read more