Weekly News Recap: February 24, 2017
UofA Devonian Botanic Garden expecting new pavilion
It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.— J.R.R. Tolkien
Books to read
These 7 Books Are Necessary Reading for All Creatives (Product Hunt) Oh my goodness. Which one to start with? I am leaning toward "On Writing" by Stephen King but "Steal Like An Artist" looks intriguing as well. 2/22/17
Every Man Should Read These Life-Changing Books (The Mission) Not just for men. Ok, mainly for men. Still, some good ones here for all humans. 2/22/17
10 Book Recommendations For Adults… (The Mission) I am a sucker for good book lists. This is one. 2/14/17
News
Rising oil production will push Alberta economy to fastest growth in country in 2017: Conference Board (CBC) ALBERTA STORY Woot! This is very good news. 2/23/17
Devonian Botanic Garden expecting new pavilion (The Gateway) EDMONTON STORY "ViTrēo was proud to have worked with the University of Alberta on this project. "The pavilion is being planned with the intention of supporting a larger amount of guests — an Islamic garden is going to be constructed at the Devonian Botanic Gardens this summer which, according to garden director Lee Foote, will bring the centre from hosting 75,000 guests to 200,000 guests per year." 2/22/17
Revolution AI: How Edmonton is gaining ground as a research and innovation hub for AI (Financial Post) EDMONTON STORY Startups are working with AI in two ways: “They either have it as a core part of what they are doing; or they are amplifying what is being done already using machine learning to target the right people and product offerings. [Edmonton] has a large number of industries — oil and gas, finance, healthcare — with big problems to solve and the data and ability to use it." 2/22/17
MyHo renos move into second design phase (The Gateway) EDMONTON STORY "$134,000 will be taken out of the Students’ Union’s reserve to start the second design phase of the Myer Horowitz Theatre renovations." 2/18/17
Olympic Plaza brick app leads you to your Calgary '88 legacy (CBC) CALGARY STORY Crowdsourced donor recognition and stewardship. I love it. 2/18/17
STARS' reliance on lottery for funding a gamble, critic says (CBC) CALGARY STORY "For more than 30 years, Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service (STARS) has transported seriously sick and injured patients to hospital, helping to save their lives. Now, it seems as though STARS itself is fighting for its own life." 2/18/17
Philanthropic personalities
Advanced Professional Spotlight: Mike House (AFP eWire) One our best leaders. CEO of the Stollery Foundation. And he does soap-carving for fun. 2/22/17
How Melinda Gates' own history helped shape the billionaire's philanthropy. (Upworthy) "One of the wealthiest women on earth, Melinda Gates, recently opened up about an unexpected secret to her success: contraceptives." 2/16/17
Pizza and Philanthropy Delivered: A Reflection on Mike Ilitch’s Passing (Nonprofit Quarterly) More on the life and philanthropy of Mike Illitch. 2/15/17
Trends and shifts
Why Salesforce Has A Chief Philanthropy Officer (Fast Company) This! This is a trend I like. "[Salesforce] hopes to fix what [they say] is a fundamental hang-up in corporate giving: that generosity often seems market-dependent." 2/23/17
What We’re Learning About MacArthur’s Philanthropy Powerball Experiment (Inside Philanthropy) There are things to dislike with these large challenges ($100 million cash award) but there is also "a lot to like". We shared a story on this in last week's recap. Here is more on this 'experiment in progress'. 2/22/17
In Prestigious Awards, Another Sign That Philanthropy-Backed Journalism is Thriving (Inside Philanthropy) It's working folks. It's actually working. 2/22/17
Asian billionaires are finally feeling guilty enough to embrace philanthropy (LLNYC) Aside from the cheeky headline, this is an interesting and important trend. The quote from Michael Bloomberg is an added bonus. 2/22/17
Helping Philanthropy Be More Realistic About The Risks Inherent In Its Mission (Fast Company) Ever heard about the Open Road Alliance? Me neither. Apparently, they are a "philanthropic initiative that provides charitable or recoverable grants to groups who encounter the sort of 'unexpected roadblocks' that would otherwise cripple their ability to make change." Cool! 1/19/17
Life and career hacks
Exactly How To Spend The Last Hour Of Your Workday (Fast Company) Great four-minute read. "Wednesday: Work on your thought leadership." 2/23/17
How To Learn In 2 Days What Normally Takes 6 Months (The Mission) Benjamin does it again. Tangible useful hacks. Enjoy. 2/23/17
Adopting These Tough Nighttime Rituals Will Make You Insanely Successful (The Mission) I am onboard! Nighttime walks and reading for an hour are just two of my favourites. 2/20/17
Do You Really Need a Rest Day After Exercise? (Lifehacker) I have often wondered this myself. We do need rest but how much? 2/18/17
How Thomas Edison Described His Most Productive Days as an Inventor (The Mission) Thomas Edison was one of the most productive inventors in American history. This article talks about how he did it. 2/17/17
The Rise of AI Makes Emotional Intelligence More Important (Harvard Business Review) Your technical skill are not going to save your job but, it's likely that your EQ will. 2/15/17
How Tim Ferriss, Pat Flynn, and Mimi Ikonn hack their lives in 5 minutes a day (Mashable) Five minutes journalling. “'If you're stuck in the past,' explains Tim, 'that's depression. If you're stuck in the future, that's anxiety.' Rather than becoming 'obsessed with pushing the ball forward as a Type-A personality,' journaling is, in his own words, 'a therapeutic intervention.'" 2/9/17
This Flowchart Helps You Find Your Leadership Style (Lifehacker) What kind of leader are you? And...how can you use your leadership style to best advantage? 1/29/17
Reports and studies
- [Total Giving: The Philanthropy Outlook 2017 & 2018] (http://philanthropyoutlook.com/index.php/philanthropy-outlook/total-giving/) (Marts & Lundy) In a new study, the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, in partnership with the U.S. consulting firm Marts & Lundy, project steady growth in U.S. charitable giving over the next several years. The Philanthropy Outlook forecasts total giving, examines changes in giving by source, and highlights specific subsectors such as education, health, and public-society benefit. Total giving is predicted to increase by 3.6% in 2017 and by 3.8% in 2018. 2/22/17
Corporate social responsibility
Mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility in India: How Is It Working? (Nonprofit Quarterly) Looks like CSR is catching on in India albeit slowly. 2/17/17
Cause-related marketing (Canada Revenue Agency) CRA's recent circular on how to calculate, when possible, the amount for the tax receipt in cause-related marketing. 2/9/17
Lessons learned
4 Lessons Learned From a Stalled Capital Campaign (NonprofitPro) "Once construction is complete, your ability to raise capital funds will take a nosedive." True. 2/22/17
How NOT to fundraise! (Fundraising & Philanthropy Australia) Renata Bernarde says if you would like to obliterate your fundraising efforts you simply need to take these five steps. 2/20/17
Philanthropic controversy
- Porn with purpose: why retrofitting social responsibility never works in business (The Guardian) Some industries are just not positioned to do corporate social responsibility. Tobacco, arms merchants, and porn spring to mind. 2/20/17
Opinion
Why Are There So Few Male Fundraisers? (AFP eWire) Great article and some terrific insights. 2/22/17
Philanthropy’s Middlemen Are Getting Bigger and Have More Clout. Is That a Good Thing? (Inside Philanthropy) "The rapid rise of donor-advised funds has been one of the top stories in philanthropy over the past few years. Most of the biggest grantmaking organizations in the U.S. are now DAFs. The largest of these, Fidelity Charitable, moved more money last year—over $3 billion—than any foundation other than Gates. The other top DAFs, including Vanguard and Schwab, now give away much more annually than the Ford Foundation." 2/16/17
OPINION: THE FUNDRAISER’S DUTY TO ASK – A PHILOSOPHICAL RATIONALE (Critical Fundraising) Wow. We all know that, as fundraisers, we should ask for gifts but do we also know that it's our duty? Great treatise on why, as professional fundraisers, we are obliged to ask for a gift. 1/30/17
Large gifts
UCF athletics lands $5 million donation - largest in history by an alumnus (Orlando Sentinel) "The University of Central Florida athletics department received a $5 million pledge [from...] Ken Dixon, a real estate developer [and alumnus of the school.]" 2/22/17
Town of Richwood celebrates after generous donation to West Virginia (NBC) "[T]he Federal Home Loan Bank in Pittsburgh [has] donated $2.3 million to the communities in West Virginia. The communities in West Virginia have been recently devastated by flooding." 2/22/17
Covenant Foundation receives donation topping $1 million (NBC) The Covenant Foundation, Inc. says it has received one it's largest donations ever through the estate of Cecilia M. Weepie. The Covenant Foundation is located in Waterloo, Iowa. 2/22/17
Museum of History’s new exhibit receives $3M donation (Ottawa Citizen) CANADIAN STORY "The [Montreal-based] Rossy Family Foundation has donated $3 million to support the [Canadian] Museum [of History]’s new signature exhibition — the Canadian History Hall — and the development of related educational programming for students throughout the country. In recognition of the gift — the largest in the museum’s history — one of the hall’s three principal galleries will be named after the family." 2/21/17
Tipton Christian Academy gets $1.5 million anonymous donation for new building (The Leader) Tipton Christian Academy in Covington, Tennessee, has received an anonymous gift of $1.5 million to be used for a new building. 2/20/17
University receives two seven-figure donations (Pipe Dream) "Binghamton University received two seven-figure donations within the last two weeks, both in honor of professors who have served the University for many decades. The first donation was made by professor emeritus Tsuming Wu and his wife Grace Chin-Fa. Their donation will be used to create a fellowship fund that will benefit BU graduate students who pursue doctoral degrees in mathematics or the natural sciences. The second [...] donation was made by an anonymous donor in honor of the late professor George Klir, who passed away in May 2016." 2/20/17
Trustee donation allows enhancements for revamped athletic facility center (The Daily Northwestern) "A new multi-purpose practice facility will be added to renovation plans for [Northwestern University's] Welsh-Ryan Arena [...]. The renovation follows a $20 million gift from trustee Howard J. Trienens [...]. The facility will be named the Trienens Performance Center and will include practice space for volleyball, basketball and numerous other athletic programs, according to the release [...]." Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois. 2/18/17
NEAL MAKES LARGE DONATION TO BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS (Builder Online) "Pat Neal, CEO and chairman of the board at Neal Communities, and his wife, Charlene Neal, recently gifted $1 million to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County" Manatee County is in Florida. 2/17/17
UD receives landmark $60 million donation (ABC) "The University of Dubuque [has announced an] historic $60 million investment--with all the money going directly to students. It's a gift from the late Trustee Edward A. Babka [...] and his wife, Shirley. The new funds will go [...] into the Ed and Shirley Babka Scholarship Fund." The University of Dubuque is a Presbyterian university located in Dubuque, Iowa. 2/17/17
BUILDING FUTURES British housebuilder Steve Morgan gives £200MILLION to charity – one of the largest ever donations (The Sun) "Steve Morgan, founder and chairman of housebuilder Redrow, has donated a generous £200million to charity. The CEO gifted the cash to The Morgan Foundation, which funds thousands of charities and community groups, with a special emphasis on those which help families and children in desperate need." 2/16/17
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