Weekly News Recap: February 10, 2017
Canada's Diversity Gardens, as seen in this artist rendering, is the final major phase of the $200-million redevelopment campaign to revitalize and rejuvenate Assiniboine Park. (assiniboinepark.ca)
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close. -- Pablo Neruda
Love
- 34 inspiring love poems & quotes (Personal Growth) Don't forget. Valentine's Day is next week. Here is a little inspiration. 2/9/17
Books to read
39 Book Recommendations From Billionaire Charlie Munger that Will Make you Smarter (The Mission) "Charlie Munger is the billionaire business partner of Warren Buffett and the Vice Chairman at Berkshire Hathaway, one of the largest companies in the world." 2/9/17
7 Best Books That Will Radically Shift The Way You See The World (Be Yourself) Abundance and Sapiens are two that are high on my list. 2/2/17
News
MoMA replaces Picasso and Matisse with artists from countries affected by Donald Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’ (Independent) "New York’s prestigious Museum of Modern Art is taking a stand against President Donald Trump’s travel ban by replacing pieces by Picasso and Matisse in favour of artists who originate from seven Muslim-majority countries affected by the executive order." 2/8/17
University of Alberta launches website for Canada's 150th birthday (Edmonton Journal) EDMONTON STORY The website "aims to celebrate the creation of the Canadian Confederation with storytelling, illustrations, videos and featured events. [It] will include a list of experts who can speak on Canadian topics such as the Constitution, literature, indigenous issues, wildlife conservation and climate change." 2/3/17
Reaching the Summit for Mental Health and Wellness 2017 – The Second Annual Fundraising Campaign (PR.com) ALBERTA STORY "Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) Foundation and Calgary Health Trust are pleased to announce the Second Annual Reaching the Summit for Mental Health and Wellness fundraising initiative. The climb up Mount Farquhar is aimed at heightening awareness and raising funds for veterans and their families suffering for the devastating consequences of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other forms of mental illness." 2/3/17
Regina Métis artist to create 400 paintings for Edmonton bridge (CBC) EDMONTON STORY "The Regina Métis artist and associate professor of painting and drawing at the University of Regina is already starting to create 400 Indigenous-themed paintings to be installed in a walkway under Edmonton's Tawatinâ Bridge. The bridge serves as an extension to the city's LRT system with a footbridge underneath." 2/3/17
Uber CEO quits Trump's business advisory group amid immigration ban backlash (CBC) "The executive order is hurting many people in communities all across America," Travis Kalanick says. 2/2/17
Philanthropic personalities
- Philanthropy 50: Nike Mogul Tops Chart While Tech Giants Flex Charity Muscle (Chronicle of Philanthropy) "Overall, giving by the Philanthropy 50 was off in 2016. They donated a combined $5.6 billion, down from $7 billion in 2015 and $10.2 billion in 2014." 2/7/17
Trends and shifts
"A Big Gift Anywhere." Another Small Town Museum Nets a Big City Donation (Inside Philanthropy) A historic gift to the Ackland Art Museum at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (we shared this story in last week's recap) is yet another example of how "small town" museums are increasingly netting the kind of gifts that would make their big city brethren envious. In turn, these gifts raise a question for small cultural institutions everywhere about how to get in on the growing funding action. 2/8/17
Minefield: The Nexus of Corporate Philanthropy and Politics Just Got Far Dicier (Inside Philanthropy) Recent moves by Lyft and the backlash against Uber in relation to the U.S. travel ban are two examples of this nexus. 2/3/17
Philanthropic controversy
Centre shuts health mission gate on Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Economic Times) It is not often that you read about controversy surrounding the Gates Foundation. The government of India is shutting off ties between its National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) and the Gates Foundation due to concerns raised by members of the steering group of the National Health Mission and the Sangh-affiliated outfit centered around “conflict of interest issues” in the NTAGI-Gates Foundation relationship. There were questions about the Gates Foundation’s ties with pharmaceutical companies and the possible influence this may have on the country’s vaccination strategy. Global Policy Forum, an independent policy watchdog that seeks to promote accountability in international organisations, raised some of these concerns in a study in December 2015. 2/8/17
Why Ed Reform Funders Are Divided Over the DeVos Nomination (Inside Philanthropy) Good overview of one of the principal fault lines dividing education reform philanthropists. Also, an interesting data point disputing the widely held view that these "billionaires stick together." 2/3/17
Stats and facts
- Infographic: Population Projections, Immigration and Diversity, Canada and regions, 2011 to 2036 (Statistics Canada) Immigrants are our future (just like they were our past). 1/25/17
Design
- Apple’s Icons Have That Shape for a Very Good Reason (Hackernoon) Warning: For design nerds only. If you have ever wondered (unlikely) why Apple's products look and feel so fine, this article will help you unpack those deep questions. 1/24/17
Innovation
- VIDEO: Career Opportunity: Leader in Major Gifts (Calgary Public Library) CALGARY STORY Very innovative approach to recruiting a fundraiser. Personal. Engaging. Exciting. February 2017
Reports and studies
NCRP highlights community values in strategic framework for ed philanthropy (Education Dive) "In its 10-year strategic framework, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy condemns giving that ignores community expertise or gets in the way of infrastructure-building for social change." 2/7/17
Survey reveals donation predictions for 2017 (Charity Digital News) "A new survey by digital donations platform Givey has revealed that foreign aid charities receive the highest average annual donations of any charitable cause in the UK. That figure suggests average donations to foreign aid charities are higher than to others as just 26% of survey respondents said they would support such a charitable cause." 2/7/17
Large gifts
Rock Hall names new theater in honor of $9 million donation from Chris and Sara Connor (Cleveland.com) "The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced that it has received a $9 million donation from Christopher M. Connor, chairman of the museum's board and immediate past executive chairman of the Sherwin-Williams Co., and his wife, Sarah H. Connor. The gift [...] will help fund the Rock Hall's ongoing physical and programmatic reinvention, which it calls 'Museum 2.0.'" 2/9/17
Malone lands $1 million donation (IndeOnline.com) "The estate of Ann Leech, a former Canton City Schools secretary who had lifelong interest in fine arts and music, has donated $1 million to support Malone's music program." Malone University is a private, liberal arts college located in Canton, Ohio. 2/8/17
Eli and Edythe Broad add $1 million donation to further stem cell research (USC News) "Philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad have donated $1 million to support eight grants for early-stage stem cell research projects at three California universities including USC." 2/8/17
H-E-B to make $1 million donation to Driscoll Children's Hospital (KRISTV) "Driscoll Children's Hospital [in Corpus Christi, Texas has been] presented with a donation for $1 million from H-E-B for their $80 million expansion project currently underway." 2/8/17
Assiniboine Park gets $1M donation for diversity gardens, new petting zoo (CBC) WINNIPEG STORY One of the best zoos in Canada. Half of the money, donated by MacDon Industries, a Winnipeg-headquartered manufacturer of agricultural equipment, will go to Canada's Diversity Gardens. The $70-million gardens will feature various horticultural biodomes and a butterfly house. The other $500,000 will be dedicated to a new zoo exhibit where young visitors can enjoy hands-on interactive experiences and play. 2/6/17
$25M donation boosts UMN legal services for immigrants, refugees (Twin Cities Pioneer Press) Note that this is on the heels of a pilot project. "A $25 million donation to the University of Minnesota Law School will solidify a unique partnership between lawyers and students to provide free legal services to immigrants and refugees. The law school’s largest-ever gift comes from the Robina Foundation, whose money established the school’s Center for New Americans in 2013. After a three-year test, the foundation last summer committed to a large, sustaining gift." The Robina Foundation is a Minnesota-based private grant-making foundation that seeks to positively impact critical social issues by encouraging innovation. 2/6/17
US: Toys R Us supports K.I.D.S/Fashion Delivers with $100 million donation (Toy News) It is not often that we get a large gift story from Toy News. "Over the past 30 years, retail giant Toys R Us has donated over $100 million in donated books, toys, clothes and more to children’s charity K.I.D.S/Fashion Delivers." 2/6/17
$3M UNH donation to expand engineering laboratory (Idaho Statesman) "The University of New Hampshire is using a $3 million donation from anonymous alumnus to build a new engineering laboratory wing to support a recently created bachelor's degree in ocean engineering." The University of New Hampshire is located in Durham, New Hampshire. 2/6/17
Gifts Roundup: $25 Million Donation Boosts U. of Texas Medical School (Chronicle of Philanthropy) A roundup of recent notable gifts. 2/6/17
Notre Dame receives $25M donation for new music building (Hastings Tribune) "The University of Notre Dame says it has received a $25 million donation toward the new music building that is under construction at the school's football stadium." The donation comes from Helen Schwab and her husband, Charles, in honor of her brother, Joseph O'Neill III, a Notre Dame graduate and trustee. The new building will be named O'Neill Hall. 2/6/17
Carnegie Mellon receives a joint $16.5 million donation (The Tartan) "Carnegie Mellon recently received a joint $16.5 million donation from Professor José Moura, Professor Manuela Veloso, Adjunct Professor Aleksandar Kavcic, and Dr. Sofija Kavcic in the hopes of helping the University with research and education in engineering and data science." Carnegie Mellon University is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 2/5/17
New Hampshire Food Bank accepts $1-million donation (WMUR) "The New Hampshire Food Bank, located in Manchester, New Hampshire, has received an anonymous $1 million donation, most of it meant for its 430 partner agencies to help reduce costs." 2/4/17
Small College’s Art Museum Gets a Boost From a Huge Donation (Valley News) The gift, to The Colby College Museum of Art located in Waterville, Maine, comes from Peter and Paula Lunder, collectors with strong ties to Maine and the college. "In 2013, Colby’s museum opened a $15 million space to house a significant collection of the hundreds of works given by the couple. The new donation, along with money contributed to endow a new study institute, is valued at more than $100 million." 2/3/17
Billionaire to give $26m to Newcastle uni (Newcastle Herald) Friendship, it takes many forms. Jack Ma, the founder of the internet company Alibaba, will give US$20 million, or more than Australian $26 million, to fund a scholarship program in honour of a childhood friend. 2/3/17
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