Weekly News Recap: April 9, 2021

Darren Walker: President of the Ford Foundation on 60 minutes

All of the un-exciting parts of a nonprofit have to be paid for; technology and infrastructure, paying the rent -- it is both arrogant and ignorant to believe that you can give money to an organization for your project and not be concerned about the infrastructure that makes your project possible. -- Darren Walker

SEASON 3 OF FUNDRAISING ASK ANYTHING

We have launched our third season of our popular Fundraising Ask Anything Zoom Chats. Our next session will take place on April 23: The triple whammy of a down economy, a depressed price of oil, and a global pandemic has changed how corporations give. In-person events are toast, corporate giving overall is down, and sponsors are asking hard questions. Is sponsorship dead? Or do we just need to change how we look at marketing partnerships? Join us as we hear from sponsorship experts and community investment professionals on what you need to be doing to win sponsors in 2021 and beyond. Why sponsorships are even more important during tough economic times?

Register here

SOME GOOD NEWS

A Photographer Captured the Moment a 98-Year-Old got to See Her Family After a Year Apart (Buzzfeed) #Beautiful "It's been a long year for the Uomoto family. As the coronavirus pandemic raged, nursing homes and assisted living facilities around the world shut themselves off to visitors in order to protect their vulnerable residents. That meant that for over a year, Mark Uomoto couldn't see his 98-year-old mom, Yoshia, in person at her Seattle facility except through a window"
Not Heading to Paris This Summer? The Louvre Has Digitized 482,000 Artworks (NPR) This is cool. "The entire collection is so huge, no one even knows how big it is. The Louvre's official release estimates about 482,000 works have been digitized in its collections database, representing about three quarters of the entire archive."
'Remarkable' Bow Valley Pack Sighting of 6 Wolves Lounging on Lake Minnewanka (CBC) BOW VALLEY STORY This makes me very happy. "'We were watching these wolves, and all of a sudden one stuck his face toward the sky, and he started to howl. And the wolves howled in,' Keating said. 'It's the quintessential Canadian wilderness experience that is really like none other, when you hear that call … these are real treasures to have in our Alberta backyard.'
Why Spotting a 'Forest Kitten' Can Be Challenging but Fascinating (CBC) ALBERTA STORY "First, despite the animal being referred to and looking like a forest kitten, it's actually called a pine marten. 'The pine marten, or American marten, is a member of the mustelidae family, which includes wolverines, weasels, mink, badgers and otters'"
87-year-old With Knee Replacements Takes More Than 3 Million Steps Around Calgary (CBC) CALGARY STORY #Inspiring. I hope I can be just like her at 87. "Calgarian Jean MacNaughton, 87, has taken things one step at a time during the COVID-19 pandemic — and 365 days later, those steps have really added up. MacNaughton has walked 10,000 steps every day over the past 365 days, and on Tuesday celebrated the one-year milestone the same day she got her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine."
Edmonton’s Lego Man Building a Social Media Empire (CBC) EDMONTON STORY #Nerd (but a cool #Nerd) "Six years ago, Jordan Forsythe bought a Star Wars Lego kit. Today, the Edmonton-based YouTuber known as Blocksie has taken his fascination with the building blocks and constructed a full-time job."

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

Darren Walker: How the Head of the Ford Foundation Wants to Change Philanthropy (CBS) My favourite quote: 'Generosity is more about the donor...justice implicates the donor.' "Imagine if your job were to give away upwards of $500 million a year trying to make the world a better place. That is the enviable -- or perhaps unenviable -- task of Darren Walker, president of one of this country's largest and most prominent philanthropies, the Ford Foundation."
Donor Engagement and Alumni Relations the Focus of New University of Lethbridge Vice-President Greenwood (University of Lethbridge) LETHBRIDGE STORY Congrats to Kathy and to UofL. "Kathy Greenwood, who has been at the forefront of several prominent and successful multi-million dollar fundraising and engagement campaigns for post-secondary schools throughout Western Canada, is the U of L's new vice-president development and alumni relations."
Greta Thunberg, Dr. Bonnie Henry to Receive Honorary Degrees From UBC (CBC) VANCOUVER STORY Great choices! "Climate activist Greta Thunberg and B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry will be among 18 people to receive honorary degrees from the University of British Columbia this spring."
Plans Underway for $25M Tribute Centre to Honour Humboldt Broncos Crash Victims (CBC) SASKATCHEWAN STORY "A $25-million tribute centre is being planned to honour the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash."
New CEO of Trinity Place Foundation Eager to Enhance Lives of Calgary Seniors (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORY Congrats to Jennie Deneka and to Trinity Place. "The retirement of CEO Lawrence Braul in December, after more than 20 years serving Trinity Place Foundation of Alberta (TPFA), meant the board under chair Susan Mullie had to find a replacement quickly to lead the organization during a time of real growth."
Generous Donor Will Match Any Donations Made For New RDC Student Bursary (Red Deer Advocate) RED DEER STORY #Aren'tMatchingGiftsGreat "More students will be able to afford post-secondary education thanks to an anonymous donor. Red Deer College has launched a student bursary fundraising campaign. The generous donor has committed a $500,000 donation to match gifts that are made to the new RDC Student Bursary Fund."
Giant Art Installations and Outdoor Performances Help Defrost Edmonton (Daily Hive Edmonton) "Downtown Spark hopes to help defrost Edmonton this spring and bring visitors to the downtown core with a series of events and exhibits scattered throughout the city centre. [...] The outdoor celebration of the change in season is composed of immersive cultural exhibits, extended outdoor patios, al fresco performances, and giant art installations."
Architect Douglas Cardinal on Building in Harmony with Nature (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "Douglas Cardinal is considered one of the most important Indigenous architects on Turtle Island. He designed his first building more than 50 years ago. Since then, he's received just about every award for his work, from being titled an Officer of the Order of Canada to being named "World Master of Contemporary Architecture" by the International Association of Architects."
Three-quarters of Oil and Gas Sector Jobs Could Be Displaced by 2050 in Move to Cut Emissions: TD Report (CBC) ALBERTA STORY "A report by TD Bank suggests up to three-quarters of those working in the oil and gas sector could lose their jobs over the next three decades as Canada works toward its greenhouse gas emission targets. Ottawa has set a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050."
Donor Darla Moore Writes Off USC After it Fails to Acknowledge her Mother’s Death (The Post and Courier Columbia) Umm..."University of South Carolina’s biggest benefactor, Darla Moore, says she regrets all her efforts for her alma mater after the school failed to acknowledge her mother’s death last week."

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

This 3-Step Morning Routine Will Help You Maximize Productivity (Post Graduate Survival Guide) My favourite is #1. I have been doing this since Christmas...it is truly lovely.
7 Traits of Profoundly Self-Aware People (The Ascent) I have been making huge progress on #2 and I pride myself on #3 but #5 and #6 need some work.
How to Solve Impossible Problems: First Principles Thinking (Growth Habits Lab) It is hard to spend the time but it is so worth it.
This Is How to Declutter Your Brain so You Can Achieve Higher-Level Thinking (The Ascent) How about you? Do you think better in the shower? I know I do.
12 Books to Read in 2021 to Help You Become Steve Jobs’ Definition of Smart (Mind Cafe) I love booklists where most of the books are books I have never heard of but would read in a second. This list meets that test.
This is Your Brain on Pandemic: What Chronic Stress is Doing to us (CBC) Yes. YES. This is so true.
Here Come Hot Desks and Zoom Rooms and Holograms? (New York Times) Some changes are here to stay.

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

Life-changing Bike Accident Inspires $21-million Donation to Sinai Health for New Initiatives, Including ICU Expansion (Globe and Mail) TORONTO STORY Nice gift from a grateful patient. "His experience inspired Mr. Kimel and his partner Kate Schatzky to give $21-million to Sinai Health for a number of initiatives, including $10-million for new space in the ICU, which will more than double in size and receive 20 new beds."
Colorado College Receives $33.5 Million Donation, Largest Ever From Individual Donor (Fox News) #Wow! "An anonymous donor made a $33.5 million estate commitment to Colorado College–the largest gift from an individual donor in the college’s 147-year history."
New St. Paul's Hospital Receives $4 Million Donation for Public Art (Vancouver Sun) VANCOUVER STORY Gifts of art are gifts of life. "Indigenous art by the first peoples of Metro Vancouver is expected to be part of a major public art program at the new St. Paul’s Hospital. The program is made possible by a $4 million donation by the Audain Foundation, one of B.C.’s top philanthropic organizations."

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

Welcome to our recap of the week's news, articles, and information of note. ViTreo Group Inc. provides this information for the benefit of our clients, associates, staff, partners, and stakeholders. The content is collected and curated by ViTreo partner Vincent Duckworth. If you would like to submit a link for consideration, please send an email to info@vitreogroup.ca

The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by ViTreo Group Inc. of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. ViTreo Group does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. All links are provided with the intent of meeting the mission of the ViTreo Group Inc. Please let us know about existing external links which you believe are inappropriate.

Vincent DuckworthApril 8, 2021Comment