Weekly News Recap: February 26, 2016


Calgary Zoo cancels glitzy fundraiser for at least 2 years

Guests get to know the wildlife at the Tusks and Tails fundraiser in 2013. The yearly event has been cancelled for at least the next two years. (credit: CBC)

News



Events, activities, and deadlines


  • Congress 2016 Call for Speakers AFP Toronto Congress 2016 will take place November 21 - 23, 2016. If you are planning to go, why not consider presenting? NOTE: DEADLINE FOR SESSION PROPOSALS IS MARCH 11, 2016(2/16/16)

  • AFP's Canadian National Scholarship Program—Apply Now! This program offers Canadian fundraising professionals working for charitable and non-profit organizations the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in fundraising. Financial scholarships, up to a maximum of $1000, are being offered. NEXT SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE IS MARCH 15, 2016 (2/25/16)

  • Call for Conference Session Proposals AFP's International Fundraising Conference 2017 will take place in San Francisco from April 30 - May 02, 2017. If you are planning to go, we encourage you to share what you know with others and think about presenting. NOTE: DEADLINE FOR SESSION PROPOSALS IS MAY 6, 2016 (2/24/16)


ViTrēo news



Philanthropic controversy



Stats, studies and facts



Trends and shifts


  • Holy Cow, This Community Foundation Is Exploding. Why Is That? Ever wonder which community foundation Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan use? Wonder no more, it is the Silicon Valley Foundation with assets of $7.3 billion. These assets make this foundation, by far, the largest community foundation in the U.S. Last year, it made 122,000 grants totaling $823 million. Crikey! (2/23/16)

  • Is Philanthropy Helping to Usher in an Age of Enlightenment for Psychiatric Research? In terms of the sheer level of giving to this area, it certainly looks like it. Very glad to see mental illness becoming an important problem to address. Please see related story on Ted Stanley (The Stanley Foundation) who gave $650 million to support research in the area of mental illness. (2/19/16)


Life and career hacks



Cool, fun, and inspiring


  • 10 Incredible Quotes To Guide Your Life. One can really never have too many quotes to work with. Happy Friday! (2/25/16)

  • 7 Ways To Instantly Feel 10X Better I have been there. Some days just suck! For those days, read this. Also, go find a place to lie down in public. (2/22/16)

  • NASA gets inundated with astronaut applications With films like Gravity, Interstellar, and The Martian, along with killing it in social media in the last few years, NASA has three times as many applications as their last hiring round in 2012. In case you are wondering, you have approximately a 1 in 1200 chance of being selected. Still worth it. (2/20/16)

  • Dodgeball: more learning curves than curve balls for Rick Mercer Rick Mercer was in Edmonton this past week for a segment on Dodgeball. Would you believe that Alberta has 300 dodgeball teams? I didn't even know that was a thing. ALBERTA STORY (2/20/16)

  • The Met Explains Its Controversial New Logo Contemplating a change to your logo is not idle business. That said, I have been involved in more branding discussions in the nonprofit sector than I ever thought I would be as a fundraiser. This case study is topical, instructive and, well, it is The Met after all. (2/19/16)


Philanthropic personalities


  • Independent Sector Names Education-Charity Leader as CEO Dan Cardinali named as CEO. "Independent Sector is an influential — if at times controversial — advocate for nonprofits, representing more than 500 [U.S. based] charities and foundations." There have been calls for Independent Sector to merge with the Council of Foundations. Also, the former CEO's pay packet topped $670,000. (2/23/16)

  • Which Australians are donating millions for good? Excellent overview of big philanthropy in Australia. (2/21/16)

  • Not Forgotten: Billionaire known for health philanthropy Theodore "Ted" Richard Stanley of New Canaan, Connecticut, died Jan. 3 at age 84. Mr. Stanley, over his lifetime gave over $825 million away to charity. Stanley and his late wife, Vada, were founders of the Stanley Foundation, deemed the largest nongovernment funder of research on mental illness. See related story in trends and shifts section of this recap. (2/20/16)


Tools and tricks



Opinion and advice



Large gifts



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