Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy- Seattle

"Take Me to TFN" Conference Scholarship Contest

2012-01-24T14:27:00.000-08:00

EPIP Seattle is officially opening the “Take Me to TFN!” Conference Scholarship Contest. One very fortunate EPIP Seattle member will win a full scholarship to attend TFN’s Annual Conference, which is coming to Seattle March 26-28, 2012, and will be featured on EPIP Seattle’s blog and TFN’s national website.

About the Conference: The TFN conference is a funder only conference designed by funders, for funders. The conference offers a mix of networking and active learning opportunities in a setting that fosters in-depth dialogue about the most complex issues facing communities today. It provides practitioners a chance to network, learn, and share alongside national and place-based funders from across the country that employ programmatic, policy, and civic engagement strategies to address issues of inclusion, equity, sustainability and prosperity in their funding. Past conference sessions have included topics like: Reinventing Community Narratives; Entrepreneurs, Immigrants, and Equity; Rethinking Urban Land Use; and Working with Government: The Promise and the Problems.

…And all you have to do TO ENTER is follow these 3 easy steps:

Read about The Funder’s Network & their Annual Conference on their website.
Write a 150-words-or-less essay (that’s only 3 short paragraphs, people!) on why YOU should be the winner of a full scholarship to the 2012 TFN conference, and submit your essay answer to epipseattle@gmail.com with the subject line “Take me to TFN!” by Friday, February 10, 2012.
Brush those pearly whites because if you are the lucky winner, we will shoot a brief video of you which will be posted on EPIP Seattle’s blog and promoted on TFN’s national website (just a little something-something to show your boss!). Don’t fret if you’re camera-shy; we’ll make sure you look & sound good! The video is a great opportunity to promote EPIP and EPIP Seattle to a larger philanthropic audience.

For more information and a list of Frequently Asked Questions, please download by clicking here. For any more questions, please contact Holly Powers, holly@trff.org or at 253.857.1666.

Remember, submissions are due on FRIDAY, February 10th!

3.26: EPIP Seattle & TFN Funders Mixer & Dinner

2012-01-24T14:23:00.000-08:00

In conjunction with the TFN conference coming to Seattle, WA on March 26-28, EPIP Seattle is planning a special funders mixer and dinner for all interested EPIP Seattle members. This will be a chance to mix and mingle not just with your fellow EPIPers, but with TFN conference attendees (i.e. a variety of funders from across the country visiting our beautiful Emerald City)!

The evening agenda will include an ice breaker, great food and drinks, and a brief “Get to Know EPIP” presentation by the EPIP Seattle Steering Committee. Please bring cash for your dinner and drinks, business cards to share with new friends, and wear your party pants because – hey – it’s EPIP!

In early March, keep your eyes peeled for an Evite from EPIP Seattle for this special event. You’ll want to respond fast because the first 5 people to RSVP will get a free drink on EPIP Seattle!

What: EPIP Seattle & TFN Funders Mixer & Dinner

When: Monday, March 26, 8:00 PM

Restaurant: Local 360 Restaurant, downtown on the corner of 1st and Bell. Local 360 sources all of their food within a 360 mile radius of Seattle.

Bring: Cash for your dinner/drinks & business cards to share.

RSVP: Evite coming in early March.

$500 EPIP National Conference Scholarships

2012-01-24T14:08:00.000-08:00

The EPIP National Conference is taking place in sunny Los Angeles, CA on April 26-28, 2012.

Are you eager to attend the 2012 EPIP National Conference but having difficulty covering your costs? Is your employer able to contribute towards your participation but not 100%?

If you are a dues paying member of EPIP in good standing you are in luck!

Apply to receive up to $500 to cover registration or travel costs by completing a short application here.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and EPIP Institutional Members have priority access to funds. Awards will be granted to Individual and Student Members starting Friday, January 27, 2012.

Great Opportunity for Next-Gen Leaders to Attend Foundations on the Hill!

2011-12-08T10:24:00.000-08:00

Foundations on the Hill is right around the corner and event organizers want YOU to attend! FOTH, the Council on Foundations' and the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers' annual legislative and public policy event, allows foundation representatives to get to know their elected officials and share the perspectives of those in philanthropy. A two-day event, FOTH includes advocacy training, meetings with representatives, and a special breakfast with remarks by members of Congress.

FOTH 2012 is March 21-22 in Washington, D.C., and the Council on Foundations and the Forum are offering very generous stipends to potential attendees to cover all or most of the costs of attending. And preference will be given to next-generation leaders...!

For more info, check out their guidelines. Apply soon - the deadline is Friday, December 16!

Foundations Hold Money for the 1%. How Can We Stand With the 99%?

2011-11-18T11:15:00.000-08:00

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 individuals and foundations to generate social change.
Support those who make the movement visible when big media looks the other way. Mother Jones covers Occupy demonstrations and gives practical information for engaging through events like Bank Transfer Day. Resources like the Center for Media Justice and MAG-NET ensure we can hear stories not covered by corporate news. Media Democracy Fund contributes money, strategy, and connection for the work these groups do.
Align our investments with our missions. Renewal is exceptionally smart about activating whole portfolios for social benefit, and PRI Makers Network fills in the how-tos.

Good in Theory, Problems in Practice: Young Professionals' Views on Popular Leadership Development Strategies

2011-11-17T12:04:00.000-08:00

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!

Job Opportunity: Office Manager at the Wilburforce Foundation

2011-11-09T11:51:00.000-08:00

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 and related business software applications.
Ability to work closely and effectively in a collaborative team environment and provide support to other staff as needed.

Skills needed:

Proofreading, time management, customer service, and process management, ability to laugh.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Willingness to be flexible with working hours at occasional peak urgent workload periods.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Applications should be submitted by postal mail or e-mail by Monday, November 21st. We will begin reviewing candidates then, but will continue to accept applications after that date until the position is filled.

Applications submitted by email should be sent in RTF, PDF or Microsoft Word formats. Please do not send applications by both postal mail and e-mail – one of the two will suffice.

Interested candidates should send their cover letter and resume to:

Jeanne Cragin

Wilburforce Foundation

3601 Fremont Ave N #304

Seattle, WA 98103

jeanne@wilburforce.org

Introducing EPIP's Effective Leadership Career Program

2011-11-04T13:47:00.000-07:00

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 space is limited and his days will sell out!

11/16: Careers in Philanthropy Luncheon featuring Audrey Haberman

2011-10-25T13:27:00.000-07:00

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 lives, while also serving over 4.5 million meals to disadvantaged men, women, and children.

To become a member of EPIP (only $150/year!) and to take advantage of deep discounts on registration fees at both the local and national level, please visit www.epip.org to sign up now!

Job Opportunity: Program Associate at the Wilburforce Foundation

2011-10-11T16:13:00.000-07:00

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 Program Associate position based in Seattle, Washington. The Program Associate will report to our Program Officer for Yellowstone-to-Yukon (Y2Y). Please review the position description for more information.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Applications must be received by postal mail or e-mail in Wilburforce’s office no later than 12:00 PM MONDAY, October 17, 2011. Applications submitted by email should be sent as in RTF, PDF or Microsoft Word formats. Please do not submit applications by fax, and please do not send applications by both postal mail and e-mail – one of the two will suffice.

Interested candidates should send their cover letter and resume to:

Paul Beaudet, Associate Director

Wilburforce Foundation

3601 Fremont Ave N #304

Seattle, WA 98103

paul@wilburforce.org

Wilburforce Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Foundation does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, gender identity, marital status, or any other classification protected by local, state or federal law.

For more information about the Foundation and its program areas, please visit the Foundation’s website at www.wilburforce.org.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Responsibilities: The Program Associate works closely with the Y2Y Program Officer to 1) Implement the Foundation’s conservation strategies for priority regions; 2) Participate in activities that further the Foundation’s understanding of relevant conservation issues, including convening or attending meetings, working with consultants, and undertaking specific research; and 3) Prepare and deliver reports or other presentations on timely issues to the Foundation staff, Board and to external audiences.

Specific Duties:

The Program Associate works closely with the Program Officer to:

· Implement the Foundation’s conservation strategies in priority regions

· Research issues, programs and organizations that are associated with conservation opportunities and/or threats in priority regions

· Review and analyze documents submitted by grantees, and assist in the preparation of written recommendations about grants and programs for consideration by the Foundation’s Board of Directors

· Support efforts to convene or communicate with grantees, funders, and other conservation partners, and facilitate the exchange of information, ideas and strategies

· Inform Foundation staff and Board of current conservation, philanthropic, economic, political or other issues that may have an impact on the Foundation’s strategies or grantmaking practices

· Develop and maintain strong relationships with grantees, funders and other potential partners to advance a conservation agenda in priority regions

· Assist in efforts to work with the Foundation’s capacity building service providers to assess, prioritize and address the capacity needs of individual grantees, or clusters of grantees, within priority regions

· Assist in the development and/or implementation of evaluation activities for the Foundation’s program activities, individual grants, or clusters of grants with priority regions

· Represent the foundation at conferences and meetings with grantees, foundations, government agencies or community officials

· Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications: A Bachelor’s or higher degree

Knowledge of and demonstrated commitment to conservation or environmental issues. Experience with conservation issues in the Yellowstone-to-Yukon ecoregion is preferred but not required

Outstanding written and verbal communication skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

An ability to work effectively and efficiently without a high level of supervision

Ability to organize and effectively handle multiple projects, meet regular deadlines with consistency and accuracy, work independently while within a team structure, and work under pressure with ease and humor

Basic understanding of the types of capacities important to nonprofit organizations, such as fundraising, financial management, governance, planning, evaluation, etc.

Ability to attend occasional evening meetings, and to travel for weekday and weekend meetings and conferences

Extensive experience with email and the Internet, and familiarity with MSOffice computer programs, including Word and Excel

The Foundation is a team-oriented work environment, and individuals who work for the Foundation are expected to demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities. All employees are expected to: perform with high standards of integrity; demonstrate maturity; listen actively; value self-understanding; exhibit deep commitment; use good humor; and communicate effectively.

WHO HAS THE RIGHT? expanding the rights of individuals, communities, and nature as a key strategy for sustainability

2011-09-29T16:26:00.000-07:00

This just in from our friends over at Sustainable Path:

WHO HAS THE RIGHT? expanding the rights of individuals, communities, and nature as a key strategy for sustainability

Much effort has been placed on establishing and enforcing environmental laws that define “safe” levels of toxic chemicals or require environmental disclosures for new development but do not, in the end, promote a healthy and sustainable world. Is this the most effective path to a better future? Given the past successes to expand human rights in achieving social progress, should we consider establishing the rights of people to an unpolluted body, the right to a healthy environment, the rights of local governments to prevent corporations from operating polluting or damaging businesses in their communities, and the rights of nature?

SPEAKERS:

Dr. Katherine Davies, Director of the Center for Creative Change, Antioch University
Thomas Linzey Esq., Executive Director of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund

LOCATION:

Downstairs at Town Hall

Eighth and Seneca, Seattle

SCHEDULE:

Reception: 5:30 to 6:30 pm

Seminar: 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Conversation: 8:30 to 9:00 pm

TO PURCHASE TICKETS FROM $5-$15: www.brownpapertickets.com (search for Sustainable Path Foundation)

FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.sustainablepath.org

QUESTIONS: 206-443-8464 or info@sustainablepath.org

Join the EPIP Seattle Steering Committee!

2011-09-14T15:50:00.000-07:00

EPIP Seattle is looking for new talented young professionals to join the Steering Committee and lead our local chapter's activities in 2012.

The Seattle EPIP Chapter Steering Committee oversees and coordinates the Chapters’ activities with the goal of strengthening the next generation of grantmakers to advance social justice philanthropy. The Steering Committee is currently led by two Co-Chairs and four general Steering Committee Members. Each chair has an opportunity to engage volunteers from EPIP’s local community of members and peers to support the chapter with activities and tasks.

Depending on the time of the year and the specific roles of members, time commitments will range from five hours of service in a typical month to ten hours in months when we are hosting a local event. The Steering Committee has one monthly standing meeting. On the first Tuesday of each month, we meet in person from 12:00-1:00pm. On the second Thursday of the month, we have a monthly happy hour event from 5:00-7:00pm. Meeting times and dates are subject to change based on the availability of a majority of Steering Committee members.

Here are just a few reasons why you should consider joining the committee:

Take a leadership role in Seattle by building and nurturing a space for learning and networking amongst our peers in philanthropy
Leadership development opportunities locally and through EPIP National include access to professional development funds and to a national network of professionals
Shape the local programming agenda of our chapter
Engage in and learn about potential service on EPIPs National Governing Board
Build your resume and make new connections to emerging and established philanthropic leaders throughout the region

Current EPIP Steering Committee Members include:

Dorothy Longbrake, The Longbrake Family Foundation
Laura Mapp, Henry M. Jackson Foundation (co-chair)
Zeke Spier, Social Justice Fund NW
Sarah Studer, Independent Consultant (co-chair)
Katrin Wilde, The Channel Foundation
Holly Wolfe, The Russell Family Foundation

For more information, please email Laura Mapp at mapp@hmjackson.org or Sarah at sarahstuder@gmail.com to discuss!

"Green Women, Healthy Voices" Community Event

2011-09-12T13:52:00.000-07:00

"The bottom line is that people just can't afford good food. So we don't buy the good food, we buy the cheapest food we know - the bad food - because it's cheap and affordable." - Violet Lavatai, Skyway resident & single parent

Join the Women in the Green Economy Project for the release of their report from their Southeast Seattle survey of low-income women and women of color about their needs and priorities for the green economy.

The issue of economic access to healthy foods has emerged as a top priority and as such, they have formed a grassroots "Food Access" committee to work on the issue.

Read more about Got Green and the project by clicking here.

WHAT: "Green Women, Healthy Voices" Community Event

WHEN: Saturday, September 24, 2011 12 - 2pm

WHERE: South Lake School, 8601 Rainier Ave S, Seattle

Job Opportunity: Administrative Assistant (Program & Evaluation) at the Marguerite Casey Foundation

2011-08-16T18:06:00.000-07:00

This just in from our friends at the Marguerite Casey Foundation:

About the Foundation

Marguerite Casey Foundation is committed to creating a diverse and multicultural work environment reflecting the families and organizations we support. We seek dynamic individuals who are intelligent, thoughtful and dedicated to social change. We believe that each member of the foundation's staff is crucial to fulfilling our mission and making change possible.

Overview

The Administrative Assistant (Programs & Evaluation) will provide administrative, clerical, and operational support to the program officers and evaluation officer. She/he will liaison between grant seekers and the program and evaluation officers to manage and enhance the flow of communication and information; handle special projects; and support the work of the program & evaluation team and the foundation as a whole.

Nature and Scope of Position

This is a full-time, non exempt position.
This position will assist the program officers maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information and work with internal and external partners to ensure the effective operation of the program & evaluation team.
This position will also provide support to general office operations as part of the foundation's overall administrative team.

Principal Responsibilities

Coordinate the flow of information between the program officers and grant seekers. Specifically, she/he is expected to:

Respond to correspondence from grant seekers.

Support the work of the program officers. Specifically, she/he is expected to:

Manage travel, meeting planning and logistics
Assist in the production of grant dockets, grant histories and other reports.
Research, write, edit, and check facts.
Prepare and assemble reports, documents, and other publications.

Required Qualifications

Seven years of experience working in an office environment.
Punctual and reliable.
Exceptional organizational skills, with the demonstrated ability to set and accomplish priorities.
Excellent written skills and attention to detail.
Demonstrated analytical, creative and anticipatory thinking skills; experience as a self-starter and sustained initiator.
Ability to work independently, exercise good judgment, meet deadlines, and complete projects to established standards.
Ability to work under pressure or stressful circumstances with a positive, proactive, can-do attitude; and the ability to remain flexible.
Strong interpersonal skills, including oral and listening communication skills.
Highly developed service orientation with the ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with internal and external audiences.
Sensitivity in working with individuals of diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and lifestyle backgrounds.
Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
May require occasional out of state travel.

Desired Qualifications

Familiarity with the field of philanthropy and nonprofit sector.
Familiarity with GIFTS, Foundation Power, Microsoft Access, or other database-management experience.

Interested and qualified persons are encouraged to send a resume and cover letter by August 24, 2011 to employment@caseygrants.org. Marguerite Casey Foundation is an EOE moving toward culturally competent and diverse workplace.

EPIP Attends InterTribal Canoe Journey Final Landing + Funder Tour

2011-07-27T23:57:00.000-07:00

On Monday, July 25, seven EPIP'ers joined 45 other local and national funders (including guests from the Northwest Area Foundation in Minnesota) and activists for the Potlatch Fund's annual funders' tour to three distinctly different tribal communities - and to witness the final landing of the InterTribal Canoe Journey at Swinomish.

The Potlatch Fund offers this tour to introduce individuals to both the successes and challenges faced by Tribal communities and aim to intentionally show the diverse nature of the Tribal communities and Native organizations that comprise Northwest Indian Country.

Though past funders tours have been blessed with wonderful weather, we traveled through thunder and lightening to reach our destination - only to have the sun pop out just as we were boarding our bus for the return trip to Seattle.

Below is a recap of our journey, courtesy of the Potlatch Fund:

We had the opportunity to see three distinctly different Tribal communities. Tulalip was created as a reservation as a result of the treaties of the 1850’s when a number of different Tribes and Bands were relocated to the land we toured. Tulalip has the most generous land base of the three Tribes we visited, and is also the largest community overall. The overall size of the community and the ongoing issues of trying to become one distinct Tribal entity as opposed to an imposed confederation are major issues for Tulalip.

Stillaguamish, re-gained federal recognition in 1976, and has had to purchase the vast majority of its land back through private land sales in order to best serve its members. We also heard that once land has been acquired there is the additional complexities involved in bringing the lands into “trust” so that they can be preserved in perpetuity.

Swinomish has more of a village feeling to its 2 square mile reservation which allows people to be able to easily move around, but also severely limits options for growth. The surrounding communities of Marysville, Arlington and La Conner are, likewise, very diverse with different economic bases and history of development.

The Potlatch Fund funded 32 of the Canoe Families that arrived in Swinomish on Monday - some who had journeyed from as far as California. The journey was profiled in The New York Times that very same morning - you can read the article here!

EPIP members Heather Miller (Potlatch Fund), Dorothy Longbrake (The Longbrake Family Foundation), Sarah Studer (EPIP Board of Advisors and Seattle co-chair), Katrin Wilde (The Channel Foundation) and Zeke Spier (EPIP Board of Advisors and Social Justice Fund NW) embrace the rain and enjoy the day!

YNPN (Young Nonprofit Professionals Network) is ALSO Recruiting Board Members!

2011-07-22T09:14:00.001-07:00

The Puget Sound chapter of YNPN is ALSO seeking folks to join their Advisory Board. This is a great opportunity for them to rebuild their chapter - we look forward to partnering with them in the future! See below for more information:

Want to join the YNPN Puget Sound advisory board? Great! Right now we need more board members to help lead the organization. Board service is a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. Before filling out the application form, please ask yourself if you have the time, energy, and passion to commit to all of the following types of activities for at least one year. Full-time students are not eligible for board memberships, but may serve on committees.

Preparing for and participating in monthly board meetings plus occasional committee meetings
Helping to recruit and train new board members and volunteers
Generously contributing personal and financial resources as circumstances allow
Making connections in the local nonprofit community for YNPN and our members
Click here to be redirected to the application page for more information.

YPIN (Young Professionals International Network) - Recruiting Board Members!

2011-07-22T09:08:00.000-07:00

This opportunity comes to us by way of our friends at the World Affairs Council. This is a great opportunity for any EPIP'er who is interested in working within the broader international community in Seattle!

The Board of the Young Professionals International Network (YPIN) of the World Affairs Council is currently seeking individuals to serve on our programming board for one year, starting in September. YPIN is a fun way to be active in the international community in Seattle. Board members gain valuable event planning experience and network with people in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors who work in international affairs.

YPIN is looking for creative, outgoing, and committed individuals to serve as General Program Coordinators (GPCs) on its 2011-2012 Board of Directors. We are also looking for people with marketing and communications experience to help grow our membership and get the word out about our events.

If you are interested in finding out more about this amazing opportunity, click here! Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 10.

Social Venture Partners: Brainerd Fellowship Opportunity

2011-07-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

This just in from our friends over at Social Venture Partners - Seattle. This is a great opportunity to participate with SVP and allows you to serve on their grants committee, attend their workshops and seminars, and to participate in their consulting projects with grantees. Application deadline is July 22nd at 5pm - more details online at www.svpseattle.org!

Social Venture Partners (SVP) is a network of accomplished individuals who combine financial contributions and professional skills with a passion for philanthropy. Leveraging our collective expertise and resources, we partner with and strengthen promising nonprofits for maximum community impact.

To ensure a strong, healthy network of people, SVP continually strives to increase the diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures represented in the organization. In this spirit, SVP invites interested individuals in King County to apply for a two‐year "Brainerd Fellowship." We wish to attract people that couldn't otherwise make the required financial commitment and that will add value to and find personal reward from SVP’s work. Past fellows have added a great deal to the work of SVP, particularly serving on grant committees where they brought perspective and insight that would otherwise have been lacking.

This two‐year Fellowship is intended to widen and strengthen the circle of partners involved in SVP. This fellowship is named in honor of SVP’s co‐founder, Paul Brainerd, and reflects his spirit and ethos. The fellowships are funded by current Partners, and cover the annual $6,000 partner contribution.

To read the full Fellowship description, please visit www.svpseattle.org.

Job Opportunity: West Coast National Organizer - Resource Generation

2011-06-17T10:52:00.000-07:00

Our friends at Resource Generation are hiring for a part-time West Coast Organizer - to be based in San Francisco - or Seattle for the right person! Details below - and the full job description can be found by clicking here.

Location: San Francisco, CA (possibly Seattle, WA)

The West Coast National Organizer is responsible for supporting and developing our west coast chapters through relationship building, strategy and leadership development with RG constituents in Seattle, the Bay Area, Los Angeles and emerging chapter cities in the western half of the country. This organizer will be part of the staff program team which is responsible for overall development of RG’s programs and national strategy.

Some travel required.

The position is 20 hrs a week, based in the Bay Area. The start date is June 6. There is an opportunity to continue and possibly increase hours depending on resources and mutual interest. Salary commensurate with experience.

Job Opportunity: Administrative & Grants Assistant, Bullitt Foundation

2011-06-16T10:55:00.000-07:00

The Bullitt Foundation requests applicants for an Administrative and Grants Assistant. The successful candidate will possess an undergraduate degree with a concentration on disciplines that are relevant to the Bullitt Foundation mission. Work or volunteer experience with some of the program interests of the foundation would be a plus. This is a good early career position for someone interested in a long-term professional engagement in environmental issues.

Please distribute this announcement to anyone you think would be a great fit. For the full job announcement, please see attached or visit our website: www.bullitt.org.

This is a full-time, exempt position located in Seattle. A competitive compensation and benefits package will be offered based on the successful applicant’s qualifications and experience.

To apply, E-Mail a resume and a writing sample to Amber Knox at grants@bullitt.org by July 5, 2011. No phone calls, please. Mailed or hand-delivered applications will not be considered.

Funders' Network for Smart Growth & Livable Communities: PLACES Fellowship opportunity

2011-06-13T15:21:00.000-07:00

The Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities is now accepting applications for its PLACES fellowship.

The PLACES fellowship is designed as a year-long fellowship program that offers tools, knowledge, and best practices to enhance funder grantmaking decisions in ways that are responsive to the needs and assets of low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. This fellowship is designed for professionals in philanthropy who are serving low-income neighborhoods and communities of color.

The application deadline is July 29, 2011. The fellowship begins in October 2011.

More information at www.fundersnetwork.org/participate/places.

Six Ways to Rock Your Career

2011-06-03T12:40:00.001-07:00

Six Ways to Rock Your Career - here is a quick digest of the pages and pages of notes that I took during last night's workshop with Trista Harris, Executive Director of the Headwaters Foundation for Justice, author of the New Voices in Philanthropy blog and author of "How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar: 50 Ways to Accelerate Your Career".

Don't try all of these at once! You can always come back to these - and the rest of the tips in the book as you move forward in your career! (Click panoramic image to enlarge)

1. Develop Expertise

Be the first to know about what is happening in your sector and that relates to your job - this will make you the "go-to" person and increase your value at the organization.
Do informational interviews with people in other organizations who do your job - build a network of such people so you'll know if you are getting paid a competitive salary compared to your peers.
Pay attention to gossip - now, this is not about SPREADING gossip, but it's always useful to know who is making a move, what's changing at an organization and where a position might open up.

2. Build your network

Attend conferences - but keep in mind that all of the good stuff happens in the hallway! Figure out how to sit on a panel or volunteer for the conference so you can capture the content without having to pay registration fees.
People should hear about you from other people - increase your visibility.
Feeling down about your job? Find a group of people who are excited about what they do and peer mentor one another.

3. Establish a Great Personal Brand

Consistency, clarity, authenticity - people should see you, talk to you, and talk about you as one person.
Be one person - your social media profile is permanent so think about the short-term need v. long-term cost of what you post.
Who you are needs to match the person who walks into the room.
Be yourself, but in the context of where you are working. Blue hair in a roomful of 65 years olds means you won't be taken as seriously, so figure out how you can be yourself and maintain your creativity while fitting in.
Never start a sentence with "Oh I just... (insert how you describe your job)". Start with "I lead (this or that project)" NOT what your portfolio includes.

4. Practice authentic leadership

Try leading a committee to gain leadership experience - that way, you can say you've managed people when asked at an interview.
Saying "yes" to projects that help raise your standing w/in the organization. "Stretch assignments" help position you in a different way.
Mentor somebody else!
The advice you give is often the advice you can use yourself.

5. Plan for Balance!

If you're burnt out in your job, what you're doing isn't worth much. Figure out what made you fall in love with your job in the first place.
Keep a file of Thank You notes to refer back to when you're having a tough day.
UN-VOLUNTEER / DON'T VOLUNTEER FOR FREE! You should be getting some new skills out of what you're doing!

6. Move on Up

Take a seat at the table. Have you ever been asked to sit along the sidelines? Make sure you get a seat up front.
Be paid what you are worth.
Keep track of your goals - purchase the Nonprofit Rockstar Workbook that can help you to prioritize what those goals may be.
Think 3-4 jobs ahead and consider the fact that what you're doing RIGHT NOW is a stepping stone to get there.

A Rockstar's Reading List

2011-06-03T11:57:00.000-07:00

One of the things I noticed during Trista Harris' presentation on 6 Ways to Rock Your Career was the number of leadership and nonprofit books she referenced. Part of the reason that she and Rosetta Thurman chose to write "How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar" was because so many of those books fall short in the "how to/do it yourself" instructions. I wish I'd jotted down all the books and articles Trista mentioned, but instead I asked her for her top 3 suggestions for anyone who is interested.

Here are Trista's three must-reads (linked to Amazon.com), plus another one that sounded good to me!

From Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... And Others Don't, by Jim Collins
The 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization, by John C. Maxwell
The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels, by Michael Watkins
Causewired: Plugging In, Getting Involved, Changing the World, by Tom Watson

And don't forget - you can also purchase How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar as an EBook for just $24.99 - as well as the supplemental WORKBOOK for an additional $9.99. Invest in yourself!

Emerging Practitioners as Change-makers in their Organizations: Brown Bag Luncheon

2011-06-03T10:03:00.001-07:00

How can you act “beyond the job title” to influence the way your organization works? Join EPIP Seattle for a brown bag lunch discussion (free for members and friends)!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Century Square Building - 3rd Floor Conference Center
1501 4th Avenue
12:00 - 1:30pm
RSVP now!

Holly Wolfe, Program Associate at The Russell Family Foundation will break down what successful change looks like with real-life examples and explore practical approaches to bring new perspectives to your institution.

This interactive, peer-learning, brown bag luncheon will dive into deeper issues: What change agendas in philanthropy are emerging professionals ideally positioned to address? What are the characteristics of institutions where emerging professionals can thrive? Where do we feel constrained? What responsibilities do we have to our organizations and to ourselves? What are we afraid of?

Together participants will: (1) share their experiences (2) identify common trends (3) workshop their challenges (4) and develop new solutions. The goal of this session is that each person will walk away with tangible ideas and peer support to take on a change agenda at their own philanthropic institution.

Bring your lunch and join in the discussion!

This event is free for EPIP members and friends. Please RSVP so we make sure to have enough seats!

Internship Opportunity with Resource Generation

2011-05-13T10:44:00.000-07:00

This is a great opportunity for the right person!

Get involved in RG by joining us at one of our offices (Seattle or New York City behind the scenes. The main opportunities for a summer intern include:

assisting in organizing and planning for our local and national
programs

working on enhancing and keeping up our database and communications
systems

supporting on the continued development of our Membership program and
National Action Projects.

We are a tight team of staff and leaders, so as an intern you will get to learn and work intimately with all our major program areas. You will be supported one-on-one by a staff member to develop your skills and knowledge of Resource Generation and the world of social change philanthropy and donor organizing.

Interns are asked to commit to 2 days a week (approximately 15 hours) for 3 months between mid-May and September, at our main office in either NYC or Seattle. We offer a small stipend to cover transportation costs. We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis. If we think you could be a good match with RG for this role, we will contact you to set up an interview, and may request a resume as-needed.

Questions? Email jobs@resourcegeneration.org.

RSVP Now to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar!

2011-05-13T10:12:00.000-07:00

EPIP Seattle is excited to bring Trista Harris, co-author of "How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar: 50 Ways to Accelerate Your Career" to Seattle for a dynamic workshop on building your professional development pathway and goals to acheive the career of your dreams!

Thursday, June 2, 2011
4-6pm

$10 - EPIP Members
$20 - non-members
RSVP NOW!

About the Workshop: 6 Ways to Rock Your Career

There’s no better time like the present to make progress on your career goals! In this information-packed workshop, you will learn six ways to advance your career, including expert tips on how to:

*develop expertise
*build a strong network
*establish a great personal brand
*practice authentic leadership
*plan for balance
*move on up

During the session you will learn how to create your own professional development plan to accelerate your career.

About Trista Harris:
Founder of EPIP Minnesota and Executive Director of the Headwaters Foundation for Justice, Trista is a leading voice for Generations X and Y, and seeks to create professional development opportunities throughout the sector. She has been featured on CNN and her work has been covered by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, the New York Times, Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal, Career Builder, and numerous social sector blogs. She writes about generational change in the foundation field in her blog, New Voices Of Philanthropy and is an international speaker on working across generations to create social change.

Trista Harris is also co-author of a first of its kind book that offers career advice beyond just getting your foot in the door of a nonprofit organization. How to
Become a Nonprofit Rockstar provides an accessible, do-it-yourself map of how to build a successful career in the nonprofit sector. As a result of reading this book, young professionals will be able to develop valuable nonprofit expertise, practice authentic leadership, and establish a strong personal brand.

A limited number of signed copies of “How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar” will be available at the event. To ensure that there are enough copies you must indicate that you are interested in purchasing a copy on your registration. Printed copies will be available at the discounted price of $20 (reg. $24.99 + s/h).

May Happy Hour

2011-05-06T12:02:00.001-07:00

Join EPIP Seattle next Thursday, May 12th for our monthly networking happy hour!

Where: The Diller Room

When: Thursday, May 12

Time: 5-7pm

Save the Date: Nonprofit Rockstar Tour Hits Seattle on June 2nd

2011-03-18T08:23:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce that EPIP Seattle is bringing Trista Harris, co-author of "How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar" to Seattle for an exciting workshop on how to build your career path in the nonprofit and/or philanthropic sector.

Trista Harris is the Executive Director of the Headwaters Foundation for Justice, author of the blog "New Voices in Philanthropy" and Vice-Chair of the EPIP National board of advisors!

Save the date for Thursday, June 2nd - more details to come!

About the book:

Do you feel stuck in your nonprofit career? Unsure how to take that next step? How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar is an accessible, do-it-yourself map of how to navigate the nonprofit sector and gives you the tools that you need to move from entry level to leadership. This book is designed for professionals who want to build meaningful and rewarding nonprofit careers. How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar is based on the authors’ experiences as well as interviews with nonprofit rockstars who have supercharged their careers. You’ll learn how to develop meaningful nonprofit experience, build a strong network, establish a strong personal brand, achieve the elusive work/life balance, and move on up in your career.

EPIP National Conference Highlight: Learning Tours

2011-03-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

Still trying to make the case to your employer about why you should attend EPIP's 2011 National Conference? How about the chance to visit local non-profits in Philadelphia and to engage with local funders who are supporting their work?

The conference will feature three learning tours - each described below!

Farm to Families: Exploring the role of urban agriculture, food access, and social justice opportunity in North Philadelphia

North Philadelphia is the second hungriest congressional district in the United States. The Farm to Families Tour will spotlight a set of multi-field partners organized to get affordable, healthy food from local farmers to families in this section of the city. Participants will learn about food access, nutrition programming, and policy work in Philadelphia, get details on the unique organizations collaborating to make Farm to Families happen, and learn about how one funder proactively structured the project to build strong working relationships among Farm to Families organizations. The tour will visit a local farm, a food packaging center, and distribution sites. Lunch will be prepared with food from Farm to Families farmers!

This tour will engage and visit with:

Why Youth Organizing Matters: How Youth Organizing can truly influence local policy and education reform

The Youth Organizing Learning Tour brings together three of Philadelphia’s youth organizing groups from three different areas of the city: Philly Student Union, Youth United for Change, and Asian Americans United. Tour participants will learn about and have the opportunity to provide insight on youth issues in Philadelphia—from city education reform to the local campaigns of each organization across the city. Participants will be part of a student-led workshop, will provide support to youth organizations through brain-storming sessions, and will tour a Philadelphia School.

This tour will engage and visit with:

The Arts in North Philadelphia: New and creative approaches to community renewal, citizen engagement and behavioral health research

The Arts in North Philadelphia tour will inform participants about how the arts are being used in the city as a vehicle for community empowerment and behavioral health. A visit with behavioral health providers will show how art is serving as a tool to engage patients with health services while reducing social stigma. Tour participants will also have the opportunity to speak with Yale evaluators about how they assess the impact of art interventions.

This tour will engage and visit with:

Job Opportunity: Program Associate, Jane's Fund, The Russell Family Foundation

2011-03-09T03:53:00.000-08:00

The Russell Family Foundation has re-opened our hiring process for the Program Associate with the Jane’s Fund Team. This position was originally announced in December and now is open from March 8, 2011 through April 11, 2011.

Jane’s Fund supports grassroots leadership in Pierce County through a two-year fellowship program operated by the Foundation. This entry to mid-level position is both administrative and programmatic in nature and will play a vital role in the Jane’s Fund team.

CLICK HERE for more information!

An individual who exercises exceptional attention to detail, initiative and sound judgment…

To join a small team of colleagues as the Program Associate for the Jane’s Fund Program…

To serve as support for the program, providing excellent customer service to internal and external partners….

To work in a team-oriented environment as the administrative ‘glue’, while maintaining a sense of humility, humor and service…

To pursue special assignments requiring curiosity, research, verbal & written communications, and critical thinking skills…

With a work style consistent with collaboration, accountability and honoring diversity.

This employment opportunity is with The Russell Family Foundation in Gig Harbor, Washington, recognized in the Puget Sound region for:

Its philanthropic grant programs supporting grassroots leadership, environmental sustainability and global peace.

Practicing sustainable business principles including operating in a LEED certified green building and environmentally-focused investing.

A unique organizational culture emphasizing exceptional team work.

The pay range for this entry- to mid-level position is $35,000 - $50,000.

Job Opportunity: Program Manager, Communications & Corporate Services - Philanthropy NW

2011-03-09T03:48:00.000-08:00

Philanthropy Northwest is now seeking qualified candidates for an important (and fun) job- Program Manager, Communications & Corporate Services. Please visit their Job Bank or homepage for an on-line version.

The position is responsible for two key areas - communications and corporate services - with a primary focus on communications. This position is perfect for individuals with stellar communication (written, oral, electronic, social media) skills; success in event planning and project management; a responsible and professional work ethic; and enthusiasm for the mission of Philanthropy Northwest and philanthropic field in general. Cover letters and resumes will be accepted until March 18^th, with the goal of having the staff member start by mid-May.

Click here for more info!

Job Opportunity: Development Director, Women's Funding Alliance

2011-02-14T11:32:00.000-08:00

Women’s Funding Alliance is seeking a dynamic individual to lead its development team. This senior-level position manages a talented group of individuals and works alongside great co-workers. This is a great opportunity for the chosen candidate to make a positive impact in the lives of women and girls.

Our ideal candidate is a self-starter professional who has a passion for and history of working with issues affecting women and girls. She/he will bring a highly developed set of fundraising and

relationship-building skills to the organization, including a firm understanding of various fundraising methodologies, direct donor experience, and a proven track record of general development success.

She/he is a polished professional who is able to work as a peer with major donors and be an articulate spokesperson for the organization. The ideal candidate must be able to balance strong, visionary strategic thinking with the reality of “working in the trenches” to get the job done. S/he ideally must be a conscientious risk-taker who has strong organizational skills and who recognizes the value of planning and analysis balanced with strategic action.

To view the full job description, please visit: http://www.wfalliance.org/joinus/WFA_DirectorofDevelopment_Feb2011.pdf

Job Opportunities with Resource Generation

2011-02-14T11:29:00.000-08:00

Two great job opportunities with our friends at Resource Generation!

Two Job Opportunities with Resource Generation

 Resource Generation (RG) organizes young people with wealth to leverage resources and privilege for social change. Through community building, education and organizing, we help young people with wealth bring all they have and all they are to the social change movements and issues they care about. Key programs and resources include a developing network of local chapters, national conferences, delegations, action projects and publications.

Family Philanthropy Organizer

Job Description

The Family Philanthropy Organizer will support the successful development of the RG Family Philanthropy Program. This is a 15 hour a week part-time position that runs from March 1 - June 30. There is an opportunity to continue and possibly increase hours depending on resources and mutual interest. This position will be based in New York City or Seattle, salary based upon qualifications (includes benefits).

For the complete job description and how to apply please see the "Jobs & Volunteer Opportunities" page on our website.

Development and Administrative Coordinator  

Job Description 

The development and administrative coordinator is responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing Resource Generation’s fundraising strategies in partnership with staff and board. The coordinator is also responsible for carrying out basic administrative duties of the organization. This 30 hour per week position will be based in New York City salary based upon qualifications (includes benefits). The start date is as soon as March 1.

This position is 30 hours a week and includes an excellent benefits package.

For the complete job description and how to apply please see the "Jobs & Volunteer Opportunities" page on our website.

Pacific NW Global Donors Conference - April 1&2

2011-02-09T07:50:00.000-08:00

The 2011 Pacific NW Global Donors Conference will be held on April 1-2, 2011 at the Red Lion Hotel in downtown Seattle. This conference is designed expressly for Northwest grantmakers and philanthropists active and/or curious about global philanthropy.

The conference will:

Provide insights and education on many of today’s most significant global issues- including agriculture, climate justice, human rights, technology and more…
Explore best practices in international grantmaking and increase your confidence as a grantmaker
Connect you with the growing community of global philanthropists in the Pacific Northwest

Below is a list of conference highlights:

Regional Briefings on 5 geographic locations
Plenary sessions on climate change & agriculture
16 workshops on issues and grantmaking practice
Keynote speech by Greg Carr
Reception & Networking opportunities

Early-bird Registration ends on February 28, 2011 - register now!

Job Opportunity: Giving Administrator at REI

2011-02-08T15:54:00.000-08:00

Thanks to our friends at REI for sharing the job announcement for a Giving Administrator. Details below. To apply online, click here.

Job Description:

Is it important to feel good about where you work? We think so. At REI, we have a workplace where you can be yourself, be heard and be respected while having a job that challenges you. We all share an interest in the outdoors, and also share a commitment to taking care of the natural places where we play so they're around for generations to come. It's all part of the REI mission to inspire, educate and outfit for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship.

The Giving Administrator is responsible for implementing and administering corporate programs to engage employees, members and customers with outdoor volunteer stewardship. The Giving Administrator will ensure the efficient and optimal performance of philanthropic efforts to meet program goals. The Giving Administrator’s work will support REI’s organizational commitment to stewardship of the outdoors. Models and acts in accordance with REI’s guiding values and mission.

Qualifications :

· 3+ years of professional experience in communications, grant-making, non-profit management or a related program area.

· 3+ years of proven project management and budgeting experience; achieving organizational goals and demonstrating success through quantitative and qualitative measures.

· Prior experience and familiarity with non-profit organizations, preferably relating to development, capacity-building, operations, volunteer programs and financial needs.

· Strong knowledge and demonstrated expertise in social media communication.

· Actively participates and collaborates with others on one's own team and across REI for the achievement of business goals.

· Flexible in one's viewpoints and positions in order to support the direction taken by others at REI.

· Uses business knowledge, innovative thinking, and sound judgment in the solution of problems or the pursuit of business opportunities.

· Consolidates information from various sources including feedback from others to reach sound decisions.

· Executes effectively by using resources efficiently, meeting deadlines, and keeping others informed of work plans and progress toward goals.

· Clearly conveys and accurately receives information by a variety of methods and in various situations.

· Builds rapport with all kinds of people inside and outside the organization.

· Challenges the status quo, champions change and influences others to change

Take our Survey!

2011-01-12T13:40:00.001-08:00

EPIP Seattle members and friends are invited to take our short survey which will help us to determine our programs for 2011.

Click here to take survey

Complete the survey and share your name/organization and email address, and we'll enter you to win a $25 gift certificate to The Triple Door - the location of our February 10th Happy Hour!

You don't need to be present to win, but we'd love to see you there on Thursday, 2/10/11 from 5-7pm. Happy hour prices end at 6pm, so don't be late!

Click here to take survey

Scholarships Available for EPIP's 2011 Conference

2011-01-12T10:58:00.001-08:00

Apply now for a $500 scholarship through EPIP's "Next Generation Fund" to attend the 2011 EPIP Conference in Philadelphia!

Process and Deadlines:

Applications will be reviewed and approved on a rolling basis however Institutional Members will be given priority access to the scholarship funds. If you are an Individual Member applying for support, you will receive notification from EPIP beginning Friday, January 28, 2011. The online application will remain open until all funds have been distributed to members.

Visit www.epip.org for more information, and let us know (epipseattle@gmail.com) if you'll be attending. We have a strong contingent of folks planning to attend (10 and counting!) so keep us posted!

Job Opportunity: Conservation Science Program Officer, Wilburforce Foundation

2010-12-22T14:41:00.000-08:00

Applications are due on January 26, 2011 for the Wilburforce Foundation's Conservation Science Program Officer. Click here for the full job description.

The Conservation Science Program Officer is expected to work closely with
the Foundation’s Conservation Science Advisor, Foundation staff, and with
scientists, grantees, policymakers and consultants to effectively carry out the
Foundation’s Strategic Framework. The Program Officer’s work falls into four
broad categories: 1) developing and implementing the Foundation’s
conservation science goals and strategies; 2) asserting leadership that
furthers the Foundation’s interests in conservation science issues; 3) advising
and collaborating with Foundation staff and grantees; and 4) preparing and
delivering reports or other presentations to the Foundation Board, staff and
external audiences.

Job Opportunity: Program Associate at The Russell Family Foundation

2010-12-08T07:53:00.000-08:00

Position Announcement

Jane’s Fund Program Associate

WANTED

An individual that exercises exceptional attention to detail, initiative and sound judgment…
To join a small team of colleagues as the Program Associate for the Jane’s Fund Program…
To serve as support for the program, providing excellent customer service to internal and external partners….
To work in a team-oriented environment as the administrative ‘glue’, while maintaining a sense of humility, humor and service…
To pursue special assignments requiring curiosity, research, verbal & written communications, and critical thinking skills…
With a work style consistent with collaboration, accountability and honoring diversity.

This employment opportunity is with The Russell Family Foundation in Gig Harbor, Washington, recognized in the Puget Sound region for:

Its philanthropic grant programs supporting grassroots leadership, environmental sustainability and global peace.
Practicing sustainable business principles including operating in a LEED certified green building and environmentally-focused investing.
A unique work culture emphasizing extreme team work.

The Russell Family Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. For a detailed position description, visit: www.trff.org Resumes accepted via janesfund@trff.org from December 2, 2010 through January 10, 2010. If you have questions you may either email janesfund@trff.org or call (253) 857-1689 and leave a message. Someone will respond to your email or phone call at the earliest opportunity.

Free Webinar: Map Your Way to Strategic Philanthropy

2010-12-08T07:44:00.000-08:00

Map Your Way to Strategic Philanthropy with Philanthropy In/Sight®

Today more than ever, foundations are seeking to leverage their philanthropic investments, maximize their donations, and foster strategic, high-impact giving programs. In response, the Foundation Center has created Philanthropy In/Sight®, an interactive mapping tool designed to help grantmakers make informed decisions about domestic and cross-border giving.

Please join us on Wednesday, December 15, at 2:00 pm EST, for a free online webinar hosted by a Foundation Center expert on how you can map out your strategies for success with this powerful tool. By observing a real-time demonstration of its features and participating in Q&A sessions, you'll learn how to use Philanthropy In/Sight to increase your knowledge of the philanthropic field, find funding partners, identify potential grantees, assess funding needs, and tell the story of your philanthropy. This 60-minute webinar will cover how users can:

Plot the locations of grantmakers and grant recipients on Google maps and view detailed information about their activities and grants awarded and received
View aggregated grantmaker and grant data by country, state, county, city, metro area, congressional district, ZIP code, and school district
Overlay grantmaker and grant data with demographic, socio-economic, and other data

Space is limited, so don't delay. You won't want to miss this special opportunity.

To register for this webinar, please visit the following page and complete the registration form:

http://foundationcenter.org/pins/12-15-10_webinar.html

Questions about this webinar? Please e-mail dlc@foundationcenter.org

25 Blogs for Students of Philanthropy

2010-11-21T20:59:00.000-08:00

Check out this great list of online resources for students of philanthropy (and any practitioner in philanthropy!). Twenty five great links on how to find an organization to support with your own personal giving, volunteering & caring, and news in the field.

What would you add to the list?

Making a Living or Making a Life? (wise words from Richard Woo)

2010-11-08T09:03:00.000-08:00

Twenty-five emerging practitioners in philanthropy, students, and friends of EPIP gathered on Wednesday, October 25th for an EPIP Seattle "Careers in Philanthropy" luncheon at TASTE at the Seattle Art Museum. Our special guest and speaker was Richard Woo, CEO of The Russell Family Foundation.

Many guests attended the luncheon because they had heard Richard speak in the past and were inspired, were seeking advice and guidance from a seasoned leader in the field, or were curious to find out just how one could make a transition from a sex educator in the Bay Area, to working at the Levi-Strauss Foundation and eventually becoming the Executive Director, to becoming the CEO of a family foundation. All these questions and more were answered in a very candid discussion about Richard's personal and professional journey from Las Banas, California, up the coast to Tacoma, WA.

Richard's personal statement for the EPIP luncheon was to "inspire the next generation of philanthropoids by sharing my personal quirky story". His journey was displayed graphically in the form of a map created by Zac Russell, an intern at The Russell Family Foundation, who is a trained graphic facilitator. Zac and Richard collaborated to create a blank map for each participant at the luncheon to map out their own journey - or rather, a "GPS: Global Personal Search" map.

As we traveled up the coast with Richard, many of the lessons that he learned resonated with me, and mirrored in my own journey through philanthropy. For example, Richard worked for several years in a job that he knew he didn't like: "that is when I learned that my pain tolerance was directly related to my risk tolerance". I have felt the pressure to stay in a job that I knew I didn't enjoy, was no longer able to do well, but stayed because my fear of what was ahead of me. In Richard's words, "Sometimes you have to let go to see what's to come."

If you find yourself in that position, Richard's advice is simple and sound: "Once you figure out what you want to do, you have to tell people. People want to help you and take pride in your success". That was how Richard found himself leaving the Levi-Strauss Foundation and moving to Tacoma, WA to work for a family foundation.

One of the most inspiring parts of the luncheon was when staff members from The Russell Family Foundation shared what is like to work for such an inspiring leader and storyteller. TRFF has a commitment to life-long learning, and staff members are supported, challenged, and celebrated in their growth. "The culture that Richard brings to the foundation is more transparent. We are truly a team. Richard taught me not to hide my mistakes and attempt to look competent if I am struggling".

For more pearls of wisdom from the luncheon, follow @EPIPSeattle on Twitter for a more a real-time recap of the event.

Many thanks to Richard Woo for spending the afternoon with EPIP Seattle, and to the staff members of TRFF for helping to put together such a successful event. If you'd like more information on EPIP Seattle's Careers in Philanthropy luncheons, email epipseattle@gmail.com.

Past speakers have included Ann Kelly of the Global Philanthropy Group and Charles Fields (formerly of the Marguerite Casey Foundation).

Guest Post by Richard Woo: Walking the Labryinth

2010-10-15T07:25:00.000-07:00

In preparation for EPIP Seattle's upcoming Careers in Philanthropy luncheon, we are posting blog entries by our guest, Richard Woo, CEO of The Russell Family Foundation. Register now for the 10/27 luncheon - space is limited!

Recently on Whidbey Island, Washington I had occasion to walk a labyrinth carved with stones into a grassy meadow on the grounds of the Whidbey Institute. Here are some reflections from that walking meditation.

As I walked the labyrinth, I noticed I was only able to relax my muscles for two to three steps before becoming aware of the creeping hunch of my shoulders and neck. Again, I would let the muscles drop for a few more steps before unconsciously tensing.

I realized that part of the tension was caused by the weight of my head pitched over my toes concentrating on each footstep through the stone-lined path of the labyrinth. This was how I had walked the labyrinth during my first visit—head down, eyes glued to the path, concentrating on a decidely inner experience.

As an experiment, I lifted my head and cast my eyes out beyond my immediate path to the landscape surrounding the stones. As I did so, I felt the tension lessen in my shoulders. I was less certain of my footsteps but accepted that I could trust my agility to recover from any misstep. With my head raised and eyes aimed far forward, I found myself concentrating on a wider and deeper peripheral view in order to help navigate the foot path. I began taking notice of the bare trees, sloping hill and gray sky around me, rather than the individual stones and trampled grass at my feet.

It struck me that this way of seeing the world was a simple metaphor for two joys in my life: 1) downhill skiing, and 2) my work.

I have skied since my teens and I am still trying to break through to new skill levels. I noticed some time ago that I ski much better when I look my way down the hill with my vision directed 20 feet ahead, rather than nervously watching the front tips of my skis. Watching those ski tips comes from fearing whatever bumps or turns are right under me. This is caused by the occasional uncertainty of my abilities—the kind of tedious micro-managing you might do at work, if you didn’t trust that others could do as well.

But skiing in this micro-managed way is counter productive. The fact is, I am moving so fast downhill that whatever obstacle is at my ski tips is already too far gone to anticipate. It also means I’m not seeing far enough ahead to self-correct for the bump that I actually can do something about. So in fact, keeping a short view is self-defeating, when the broader, long view is what is required. If I ski with the long view and trust that my body and knees will intuitively adjust “up, down or sideways” for what immediately arises, I am better able to cruise the mountain and enjoy the scenery!

Hmmmmm, short view and long view, that brings me to that second joy—my work. While it’s often easy and seductive to surrender to the short view at work such as ticking off boxes from the daily To Do List or scrolling through endless emails—that is the equivalent of “watching my ski tips.” Ultimately, I am better served by the strategic long view. My primary role in the organization is to keep my head up, eyes forward and pay attention to the changing landscape—trusting that my capable colleagues will use their intelligence and agility to negotiate the immediate obstacles and opportunities that arise. With a balanced team approach, the foundation is better able to meet the daily demands of grantmaking, while anticipating the evolution of our communities.

What mysteries are revealed in the labyrinth.

Funding the Future: Reflections on the PNW 2010 Conference

2010-10-12T19:57:00.000-07:00

By Heather Miller, Program Coordinator, Potlatch Fund

In the future, philanthropy will… This unfinished statement was presented to the attendees at the Philanthropy Northwest 2010 Conference. We each received a piece of paper with this statement printed across the top and were asked to complete the sentence. As I looked across the room and reflected on the sessions I attended I realized there were many ways to complete this statement.

In the future, philanthropy will… focus less on metrics and more on giving for the sake of giving. I would have completed the statement in this way after attending the session “Are Metrics Getting Out of Hand?” The presentation and discussion focused on the use or over-use of metrics in foundation giving. Much of the discussion in the room focused on the idea that we in Foundations often stress the importance of metrics to our grantees and force them into providing statics and measurements that can distract from their programming work. Bruce Sievers, the panelist highlighted the fact that metrics should be viewed carefully and should help both Foundations and their Grantees create tools that can tell the story of the work being done that is useful to both organizations. One book that I will be checking out from the library that was highlighted in this session was Charles Seife’s, “Proofiness”. This book shows how numbers can be interpreted for their own purposes and since we have such faith in numbers, these statics often go unquestioned.

In the future, philanthropy will… be led by more people of color! I finished the statement in this way after participating in the off-site visit to the Lummi reservation. On the 30 minute tour around the reservation, we learned about some of the exciting work happening in the community. We saw the new sidewalk that the community organized and spoke up for in response to the number of traffic related deaths. We explored the canoe shed that houses the racing canoes that help youth reconnect and relearn their traditions, songs and culture. The tour ended at the Tribal College which currently serves community members reach their higher education goals. The programs in this community are creating new leaders. I hope that philanthropy will recognize this new, up and coming talent and provide jobs as well as learn from their ideas and experiences.

In the future, philanthropy will… include voices from all age ranges. As I looked around the room I felt this was the most appropriate response to the statement. I was in no way the youngest person in the room but was surprised by the lack of age diversity represented. I must admit that I was surprised by the number of “next generation” folks in attendance but still felt like the minority. A few of our faces were seen in each session and our voices were quiet but heard. Foundations are recognizing that we do have a seat at the table. My overall sense is that people are open and we will be asked to participate in many more conversations. Zeke (Spier, Executive Director of Social Justice Fund NW) mentioned that he highlighted EPIP in his panel session and I received many questions from others wanting more information on what we do here in the Seattle area.

These are a few of my reflections on the future of philanthropy but I encourage you to think further on this topic. Where will you go in philanthropy? What changes do you want to see? In the future, philanthropy will…

Snapshot: EPIP at Philanthropy NW's Annual Conference

2010-10-12T18:03:00.001-07:00

EPIP Seattle-ites at Philanthropy NW's annual conference in Semiahmoo, Washington.

From left-to-right: Zeke Spier, Executive Director of Social Justice Fund NW; Heather Miller, Program Coordinator, Potlatch Fund; Janelle Zakrzewski, Program Manager, Corporate Services, Philanthropy NW; Karyn McKelvey, Consultant.

Read Philanthropy NW's conference blog and check out @EPIPSeattle on Twitter to catch up on all of the conference tweets, courtesy of Karyn McKelvey!

Job Opportunity: Analyst with Global Philanthropy Group

2010-10-12T16:26:00.001-07:00

Here's a great job opportunity for the right person from the Global Philanthropy Group. You may remember that Ann Kelly joined the EPIP Seattle group for a Careers in Philanthropy luncheon last fall and spoke about her path to philanthropy and the development of GPG.

The complete job description can be found here - an excerpt is below.

The Global Philanthropy Group advises the world’s leading philanthropists. We work with high net worth individuals, charitable foundations and corporations to design and implement highly-leveraged philanthropic strategies. Our management expertise and proprietary network of global experts help our clients achieve lasting, meaningful results.

Global Philanthropy Group’s experience encompasses pressing global issues including economic development, education, poverty, HIV/AIDS, disaster recovery and redevelopment, refugees, microfinance, water, global health, immigration, orphans, foster care, global trade, malnutrition, climate change, green building, malaria, conservation, crimes against humanity, genocide and childhood obesity.

The Analyst plays a key role in the Global Philanthropy Group’s team-based approach to addressing our clients’ philanthropic needs. The Analyst is responsible for providing support to GPG senior management in the strategic development and implementation of client projects.

The ideal candidate will possess strong strategic analysis, management, communications and implementation capabilities. S/he will provide critical senior staff counsel by ensuring smooth and effective coordination of all client work-product and other cross-company projects and
initiatives.

Additional Analyst responsibilities will include:
Oversight and direct contribution in managing priorities and client projects internally and externally;
Relationship management including organizing content in preparation for key meetings; supporting client work by prioritizing, managing and tracking critical relationships and preparing presentation materials forinternal and external audiences;
Conducting research, providing analysis, and building issue expertise in support of client projects;
Writing speeches, talking points, research briefs, editorials, and client-ready presentations, based on understanding of client goals and strategic direction;
Managing a handful of key special projects as identified by senior management team from time to time.
Successful applicants may come from a variety of backgrounds and will demonstrate the following qualities:
Experience in a public relations, political campaign, operational or strategic planning environment;
Superior oral and written communication skills
Strong interpersonal skills
Demonstrated ability to target critical business problems and apply appropriate decision-making
Skilled in group problem solving and working to resolve problems with complex concepts in a dynamic setting
Outstanding organizational and project management skills; must be able to take rough concepts and develop concrete work plans
Ability to successfully multi-task and drive complex projects to completion in a timely manner, across varied stakeholders, with outstanding attention to detail and sense of urgency
An ability to conduct independent primary and secondary research
Computer proficiency – Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Intellectual curiosity
Ability to thrive in a dynamic, driven, start-up environment
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally
Ability to manage confidential information and situations with efficiency, flexibility and diplomacy, while cultivating trust within the team
A minimum of a bachelor’s level education in combination with significant leadership experience; graduate level degree (business, economics, government/policy, etc) preferred
A passion for philanthropy, with experience in specific issue areas preferred

Guest Post by Richard Woo: Placing a Name

2010-10-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

Placing a Name

by Richard Woo

As I was preparing to join Bill Ruckelshaus and Daniel Kemmis in the opening plenary of the Philanthropy Northwest Conference about Puget Sound and the importance of place in philanthropy, it occurred to me that part of my own identity was place-based.

I am fourth-generation Chinese American. Being bi-cultural, I have both an English and a Chinese name. Although my parents were humble people, they gave me the bodacious name of Richard, which is derived from the Germanic language and means "powerful leader," as in Richard the King of England. My grandfather chose my Chinese name Woo Gwa Ming. Before I explain that name further, let me share a little about my family history.

My grandfather, Joseph Woo, was an asparagus farmer in the early 1900s in the San Fernando Valley just north of Los Angeles, California. He was the father of 19 children, including my father, William, who was the first born son. My dad often said jokingly that "grandpa had all of us kids to avoid hiring farm workers." In fact at age 17, my father was forced to leave high school before graduating to run my grandfather's cotton farm in rural Central California, 500 hundred miles away. In the 1950s my brother and I were born and raised by our parents, William and Patricia Woo, in that small Central Valley farm town. Oh by the way, I am the first born son.

While I try not to subscribe to the hierarchy attached to one's birth order or gender, there is no denying the influence of those forces in both traditional and contemporary society. So too is the power of place. And therein lies the meaning of my Chinese name, Woo Gwa Ming.

Woo is my last name, which is stated first in identifying oneself. Gwa means "of the country," which was my grandfather's way of placing my name in the context of a farming landscape. Ming translates to "great leader" in Cantonese, the particular Chinese dialect of our family. So my place-based Chinese name is "great leader from the country."

Birth names can be powerful symbols both for the givers and the recipient. Apparently, my ancestors held high expectations for me. While they are no longer here to witness what I am doing with my life, I believe they would appreciate my efforts to live into the name they gave me and the places it’s taken me, including Semiahmoo and the celebration of regional philanthropy.

Resource Generation Family Philanthropy Fellowship - Apply now!

2010-09-28T22:28:00.000-07:00

Here's a great opportunity for the right person from our friends at Resource Generation:

Want to learn about social justice, family philanthropy and national organizing, all while helping Resource Generation organize young people with wealth?

Introduction
Applications are now being accepted for Resource Generation’s Fall Fellowship program. The initial position available and advertised below is for the RG Family Philanthropy Fellow. This position is located in Seattle, the Bay Area or NYC. A small stipend is available if needed.

Background
Resource Generation (RG) organizes young people with wealth to leverage resources and privilege for social change. Through community building, education and organizing, we help young people with wealth bring all they have and all they are to the social change movements and issues they care about. Key programs and resources include a developing network of local chapters, national conferences, delegations, action projects and publications. Find out more and check us out at www.resourcegeneration.org.

Fellowship Program
RG is looking for motivated individuals to form our inaugural fellowship team. Each fellow will have the chance to work alongside an RG staff member on a specific topic area. Fellows will gain invaluable experience in the field of philanthropy, social change organizing and many facets of non-profit work.

Eligibility
These are ideal positions for students or recent graduates, though all individuals are eligible and encouraged to apply. Fellows will receive supervision and support but should also be comfortable working independently. The schedule is flexible and we are happy to accommodate requirements for academic credit. Fellows can request a small stipend as needed.

Position Summary: The Family Philanthropy Fellow’s main responsibility will be as lead coordinator for the 2011 Creating Change Through Family Philanthropy (CCTFP) Retreat. The CCTFP Retreat is for young people who participate in their families’ philanthropy and are committed to progressive social change.

Responsibilities include:
Supporting retreat planning committee
Coordinating logistics for participants, presenters and on-site
Updating and maintaining retreat website
Managing creation of retreat materials
Tracking and managing retreat registration
Advising on strategy for RG Family Philanthropy Program
Data entry into Salesforce database for Family Philanthropy Program

Qualifications:
An interest in family philanthropy, social justice, and organizing
Strong communication and organization skills
A willingness to perform administrative tasks with enthusiasm and attention to detail
An understanding of the importance of confidentiality

Helpful skills:
Retreat or Conference Planning Experience
Familiarity with Salesforce, Microsoft Office Suite, Google Docs, Facebook, Twitter

Dates and Hours: October, 2010 - End of May, 2011. 7-14 hrs/week.

Please send a resume, cover letter and available work hours mike@resourcegeneration.org by October 4th.

Walking the Walk With Wit & Wisdom: EPIP Member Briefings

2010-09-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

Special Opportunity for EPIP Members!

This three-part video briefing series will feature three philanthropic leaders who are deeply motivated by a quest for social justice and equality in the United States. It is with great conviction, belief, and dedication that the tradition of progressive American philanthropy continues today - and is so strongly exemplified by the work of these foundation leaders. By dedicating their careers to the practice of philanthropy - or rather "the love of human kind" - these professionals have learned what it really means to make a difference in the lives of others.

These sessions will feature:

Mark Constantine, author of Wit and Wisdom: Unleashing the Philanthropic Imagination; Vice President for Strategy, Policy and Learning, Jessie Ball duPont Fund;
Karl Stauber, President and CEO, Danville Regional Foundation;
Date: Thursday, September 30, 2010 / 9am-10:30am PST
Linetta Gilbert, Senior Program Officer, Ford Foundation
Date: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 / 12pm-1:30pm PST

Gayle Williams, Executive Director, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation
Date: Thursday, November 11, 2010 / 12pm-1:30pm PST

Join us as we explore the themes of race, democracy, and justice within the context of modern-day philanthropy. And ask the questions that you want to ask!

To learn more about these practitioners before the video conversations, please read the corresponding interviews in EPIP's book, Wit and Wisdom: Unleashing the Philanthropic Imagination.

In order to simulate an intimate conversation with our distinguished speakers, this 3-part series will be hosted online using a brand-new video streaming platform called Watchitoo. Current dues-paying members who RSVP will be privately invited via email to join these three sessions - and participants will then have the opportunity to watch the program in real-time, and converse with the speakers and their fellow participants using private and public messaging tools.

If you have a webcam & microphone attached to or built into your computer, you will be able to speak directly to the featured philanthropists as if we were all sitting in the same room!

Small Change: Why Business Won't Save the World

2010-09-27T14:57:00.000-07:00

Join EPIP Seattle on Monday, November 1st for an exciting afternoon of debate around the topic of "philanthrocapitalism".

EPIP SPIP Seattle is bringing Michael Edwards, author of Small Change: Why Business Won't Save the World and former Ford Foundation Director out west for a coastal tour which includes Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

Edwards, currently the Distinguished Senior Fellow at Demos, has generated a provocative conversation on the topic of "philanthrocapitalism", calling in to question its impacts and ethics. In his recent book, Edwards challenges the idea that the market is capable of solving social inequities. Social change is incremental and takes authentic commitment, he argues; it isn't something that can be supported by a bottom line approach.

Please join EPIP Seattle and friends on Monday, November 1st at the University of Washington's Parrington Hall to hear an exciting panel of speakers (in development) launch this important conversation in our local philanthropic circle.

4:00 - 5:30pm - Panel

5:30 - 6:30 - Reception, book sales and signing

Register NOW to be part of this discussion. Registration for this event is free for all dues-paying EPIP members, members of the Social Justice Fund NW, and University of Washington's Evans' School of Public Affairs students.

Non-member registration is $10.00.

EPIP Seattle would like to thank our generous sponsors for supporting this event. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please email epipseattle(at)gmail.com to discuss how you can support this event.

Social Justice Fund NW
Nancy Bell Evans Center on Non-Profits & Philanthropy, Evans School of Public Affairs, UW
Henry M. Jackson Foundation

Careers in Philanthropy: Making a Living or Making a Life?

2010-09-19T16:19:00.000-07:00

We invite you to join EPIP Seattle for a "Careers in Philanthropy Luncheon" featuring Richard Woo, CEO of The Russell Family Foundation.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

11:30-1:30pm

TASTE at the Seattle Art Museum

$10 EPIP-members / $30 non-members - click here to register!

"Making a Living or Making a Life?"

Richard Woo, CEO of The Russell Family Foundation, will share personal stories about his professional life in the non-profit, business and philanthropic sectors that illustrate the unpredictable power of career choices. His mentor once jokingly described Richard's professional past as "checkered" including stints as a sex educator in Chinatown, as a corporate social responsibility specialist and now as a family philanthropoid. Join Richard as he connects the dots between the far flung points in his work-life. In the conversation that follows, Richard will hand over the pencil to you—as you connect the dots along your own professional journey.

When he’s not speaking at EPIP events, Richard serves on the board of the Council on Foundations and Philanthropy Northwest, the leadership committee of the More for Mission Campaign and Seattle University’s Visiting Committee for the Masters in Nonprofit Leadership. Before joining The Russell Family Foundation in 2000, Richard spent 12 years working at Levi Strauss & Company, where he served three years as Executive Director of the Levi Strauss Foundation.

Current dues-paying EPIP members are invited to join us for lunch for only $10.00. Non-members registration is $30.00.

To become a member of EPIP (only $100/year!) and to take advantage of deep discounts on registration fees at both the local and national level, please visit www.epip.org to sign up now!

Trading Power: Dinner & Discussion with Dori Kreiger

2010-09-06T14:31:00.001-07:00

Join EPIP Seattle on Tuesday, September 28 for dinner and a discussion with Dori Kreiger, Managing Director of Family Philanthropy Services at the Council on Foundations.

Dori will be in town on her way to Philanthropy Northwest's Annual Conference at the Semiahmoo Resort, and is stopping by to speak with the Seattle EPIP chapter about "Trading Power: 18 interviews with philanthropic leaders who talk about what the next generation has to offer in exchange for what seasoned leaders can provide", a publication by the Council on Foundations along with partners 21/64, Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy and Resource Generation.

As the Council on Foundations has worked to both broaden services and enhance options for Next Gen leaders, basic questions about increasing Next Gen representation in leadership positions across philanthropy surfaced again and again: Why? How? Who? When? What would it look like? Trading Power, the outgrowth of interviews with more than 15 seasoned and next generation philanthropic executives and trustees, offers candid insights worthy of action.

We invite you to join us for dinner at the Philanthropy Northwest offices on Tuesday, 9/28 for a discussion on increasing the next-gen representation in the philanthropic sector.

Please RSVP by emailing epipseattle(at)gmail.com. Space is limited, and priority is given to individuals who are not attending the Philanthropy Northwest conference!

Dori Kreiger is the managing director for family philanthropy services. She is responsible for providing strategic direction, a public voice, and hands-on management for the Council’s largest single membership constituency. Dori has worked with increasing responsibility in philanthropy for over ten years assisting individuals, families, corporations, and independent foundations achieve their philanthropic goals. She joined the Council in 2005 as Program Manager and then moved to Director of Community Foundation Services. She brought a unique perspective to the Council, having worked for seven years at The Community Foundation Serving Richmond & Central Virginia in the program, finance, and donor services departments. She has also worked in the American Red Cross National Headquarters. Dori has served on the boards of several nonprofits and was an inaugural class member of the Southeastern Council of Foundation’s Hull Fellows Program. She holds a bachelors degree from James Madison University.

Who's In Charge Here? Retaining the Next Generation in Philanthropy

2010-07-26T09:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Katrin Wilde for forwarding this article along. You can read the full version by clicking here!

By Tuti Scott, President and Founder of Imagine Philanthropy, an international consulting firm.

10-May-2010

Baby boomers are hanging on, and next generation leaders are waiting -- and waiting -- their turn.

According to Trading Power, produced in partnership with the Council on Foundations, Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies' 21/64, Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy and Resource Generation, this is the first time in history that society is experiencing a delay in leadership transition, as people live longer and retire later. The economic recession has further delayed retirement plans, leaving baby boomers in positions that even they expected to have left by now. And some seasoned leaders are turning to a model of "leadership expansion" rather than "leadership transfer," sharing leadership duties with younger employees. Some retain an executive emeritus role. Others take a sabbatical while potential successors serve in "acting" capacities.

In each instance, the elder leader needs to respect new ideas coming from his or her younger partner, according to the report. If the philanthropic sector fails to tap the next generation's skills and knowledge, the emerging leaders will simply move on to sectors that will.

But would younger workers stay put, even if they had a clear path toward a leadership position? The Pew Research Center's ongoing study, The Millennials, contrasts the attitudes of generation x-ers and millennials with that of aging boomers. Pew finds that expectations about career advancement differ between younger and older workers; millennials in particular are accustomed to the idea that they will -- indeed, must -- find their own path of career advancement. In other words, they may jump among organizations and sectors.

Click here to read more!

Seattle International Foundation seeks social media/research intern

2010-07-20T08:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a great internship opportunity from the Seattle International Foundation:

Seattle International Foundation (SIF) was founded as a supporting organization to The Seattle Foundation for the purpose of increasing and enhancing international philanthropy and development efforts from the Pacific Northwest and to serve as a resource to our community.

SIF is looking to bring on a Social Media Strategy and Program Support Intern. Ideal candidates have experience with social media, are able to write and conduct research in Spanish. A stipend may be available, depending on the candidate's experience.

A full description of the position can be found on Idealist.org. Please email a resume and cover letter to Michele Frix at mfrix@seaif.org. You can reach Michele by phone at 206.547.9335.

For more on the Seattle International Foundation, their grantees, and news, check out SIF's website, blog, and follow them on Twitter!

Opportunity: Social Venture Partners Brainerd Fellowship:

2010-07-19T09:48:00.000-07:00

Here's an opportunity from Social Venture Partners for their Brainerd Fellowship program- a 2-year funded partnership within SVP.

Click here for a full description of the fellowship and details on how to apply.

The deadline was last Friday, July 16th, but give them a call and it looks like they'll give you until Wednesday to get your application in!

This is a great opportunity for emerging leaders in the non-profit and philanthropic sector who may not otherwise be able to afford to join Social Venture Partners and who will find personal reward in participating with SVP.

Reflections on Philanthropy from Today's Leaders: Diana Scearce on Social Change with a Network Mindset

2010-07-12T15:17:00.000-07:00

Here is an upcoming (free) opportunity through Philanthropy NW:

Date: 8/4/2010

Time: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Location: Seattle, Washington

Registration: Register for this event

Cost: There is no cost for this program.

Location: The 2100 Building, 2100 24th Avenue South, Seattle WA 98144

Who Should Attend: This program is open to both Philanthropy Northwest Members and Nonmembers.

*************************************************************

Social media is transforming the way we build, access and work with networks – with the potential for powerful results. Networks help strengthen community ties, spur collective action, coordinate services, and foster breakthrough innovation. However, using networks to effect social change requires new ways of working, like distributing leadership, increasing transparency and experimenting with new funding models.

This session will address questions grantmakers and community leaders are asking themselves as they experiment with social change networks, such as:

What does it mean to lead with 'a network mindset' ?
How can organizations and foundations activate and support networks?
How do you assess the impact of networks?

Speaker Diana Scearce will draw on insights captured in her article, Working Wikily (Stanford Social Innovation Review, Summer 2010) and the learning gained from The Monitor Institute’s ongoing work with a community of practice for network funders.

Presenter: Diana Scearce is a senior consultant with the Monitor Institute, where she works primarily with networks and multi-stakeholder groups. Her work combines experience with strategy, scenario thinking, experiential learning design and facilitation. Prior to joining the Institute, she was a scenario practitioner with Global Business Network.

Co-sponsored by: Social Venture Partners, The UW Evans School's Nancy Bell Evans Center on Nonprofits & Philanthropy and Washington Women's Foundation. Special thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Summer of EPIP Love: The Goal

2010-07-12T14:31:00.000-07:00

Flashback to the 60's, right? We're re-inventing the 1967 Summer of Love and making it all about EPIP!

EPIP Seattle is proud to take part in the EPIP Summer of Love - an effort to raise $30,000 in new donations to triple a new $15,000 challenge grant to EPIP from the Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock. Thanks to gifts from our Board and committed EPIP members, we already raised $14,150 in June – nearly half our goal.

The Veatch grant will allow us to continue to expand the benefits EPIP offers you and build upon your participation. But we need your help. Show your love for your generation -- and for the EPIP movement: Make a financial contribution by clicking here.

If your organization matches employee contributions or is interested in making a contribution toward this campaign, please let us know how we might take advantage of these great opportunities. To discuss the Summer of Love, call EPIP headquarters at (212) 584-8249.

We put every dollar to work for members. Your donation will drive programs that build EPIP’s internal strength and impact on our field.

Now is the time for Seattle to show our strength! Become a member! Renew your membership and make an additional gift!

EPIP Seattle's new "library"

2010-07-12T10:23:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Deb Wolf for her contributions to EPIP Seattle's growing library. One of the benefits of being an EPIP member is having access to a variety of different books, reports and papers, so we can each build our own philanthropic libraries!

Some of the new titles include:

Outcome Funding: A New Approach to Targeted Grantmaking

Gude to Funding for International and Foreign Programs

National Guide to Funding Community Development

We will sort through the stack (pictured above) and will house our growing library in the offices of Philanthropy NW. Next time you're there, check them out!

Every dues-paying EPIP member should have a copy of Wit & Wisdom: Unleashing the Philanthropic Imagination, and EPIP National Conference attendees each picked up a copy of Working Across Generations by Frances Kunreuther, Robby Rodriguez and Helen Kim. Several of us also purchased Grassroots Philanthropy by Bill Somerville, which we're happy to lend to anyone who is interested!

Summer of EPIP Love: July Happy Hour

2010-07-09T09:29:00.000-07:00

To help kick off the EPIP Summer of Love, EPIP Seattle hosted our July summer happy hour on the Terrace Garden patio at the Red Lion Hotel in downtown Seattle last Thursday night. 17 people braved the 90+ degree weather for some cool drinks and great conversation, including a recap of the U.S. Social Forum, which several EPIP members attended in Detroit a few weeks ago.

We were also gifted with the beginnings of an EPIP library! Many thanks to Deb Wolf for collecting over 20 books on a variety of philanthropic topics for our members to use. We will be taking an inventory of these books and publishing the list later today. Books will be available at the Philanthropy NW offices for use by our members.

Stay tuned for more information about upcoming EPIP events and opportunities!

EPIP Strategic Planning Retreat: recap and reflections

2010-06-25T06:36:00.000-07:00

I (Sarah!) recently participated in the EPIP Strategic Planning Retreat at the Idealist.org offices in NYC a few weeks ago, which brought the EPIP Board of Advisors together with staff and other chapter leaders for two full days of intense processing and planning. Here are some of my reflections and takeaways that I posted on my personal blog... check it out!

As a relatively action-oriented person, I was dismayed when we were immediately informed that "strategic planning only begets more planning"- and that we were not going to come up with any answers. I prefer answers, tasks and action and don’t necessarily love process, so it was going to be tough. We were asked to embrace and lean into the discomfort that goes along with addressing the issues and challenges that we face as an organization, rather than shy away from it- which I’d already planned to do because if there is one thing I’ve learned in the last five years, there’s absolutely no sense in waiting around for people to arrive at the right decision- especially if they’re making a series of wrong ones along the way...

In the end, I really appreciated the process we went through and although it was really tough sometimes and I hated hated hated some of the exercises that we had to slog through, I was kind of astounded and proud of our work when we arrived at the end of the long two days. We had worked from the abstract (thinking about factors that are working for and against us in the sector and how they affect the three parts of our mission) to addressing the challenges of having a staff of three (or two, in a month) and factored in our communications, board leadership and development, and the entire structure of the organization- all through of series of interesting exercises that kept us moving and engaged for the duration of the time.

We were joined by a lunchtime panel of EPIP "alumni", including:

Molly Schultz Hafid, Founding Steering Committee Member- EPIP NYC, Two-Term Alumnae of the EPIP Board of Advisors, and Program Officer at the Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock
Sandra Balaban, Founding Alumnae- EPIP Board of Advisors, Alumnae, EPIP Organizing Committee, and now with the New York City Board of Education
Toya Willford, Former Chair- EPIP NYC and Program Director at the Brooklyn Community Foundation
Chad Jones, Alumnus, EPIP NYC Steering Committee (and former Seattle EPIP member)

I Tweeted my way through this panel of speakers, so make sure you're following @EPIPSeattle on Twitter for a live recap of their discussion.

In conclusion, it was a really great trip to the East Coast and I look forward to seeing what kind of recommendations come out of it. I really enjoyed working with our facilitator, Gita Gulati-Partee, who has been working with EPIP for several months conducting stakeholder interviews with the Board of Advisors, staff, chapter leaders, members and alumni. Check out OpenSource Leadership Strategies for more about their services!

Last Chance: Final Cycle for PDF Scholarships for 2010

2010-06-08T15:36:00.000-07:00

The deadline for the final cycle of Professional Development Fund (PDF) scholarships is right around the corner! Applications are due on June 18th by 5pm EST and can be downloaded from www.epip.org. As a former PDF scholarship recipient, I highly encourage people of color working in our local philanthropic community to take advantage of this opportunity. My PDF scholarship allowed me to attend the Chapter Leader Gathering in Detroit in 2009, which was one of the most useful professional experiences I have had.

More information from EPIP is below. Please contact Sophia Silao, Associate Director of EPIP with any questions.

Have you always wanted to attend a national conference but couldn’t afford to go?
Would you like to deepen your understanding of a specific topic and strengthen your skills as an effective grantmaker?
Are you looking to connect with other young leaders of color in philanthropy?
EPIP is now accepting applications for the 2010 summer cycle of the Professional Development Fund (PDF).

Generously funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, EPIP’s Professional Development Fund awards young philanthropic leaders of color up to $1,000 to attend a conference, gathering or training of their choice. Since its inception, the PDF has awarded close to $56,000 to promising young leaders from different sectors of philanthropy -- from public, private and corporate foundations to foundation affinity groups and philanthropic support institutions. In turn, awardees attended conferences sponsored by such organizations as EPIP, the Council on Foundations, Neighborhood Funders Group and the Environmental Grantmakers Association.
THANK you … for an incredible conference and one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. On the plane ride back to NYC, I was so energized and inspired that I wrote up PAGES of notes, thoughts, take-aways, and to-dos! (Hoping to maintain this momentum for as long as possible.) (PDF awardee ’10)
PDF awardees are also invited to the PDF Gathering, a national convening focusing on skills development and the exploration of racial equity and social justice grantmaking.
The connections are invaluable—really grounded me in this work and felt a part of a community. An empowering experience. (PDF awardee ’10)

The gathering was an awakening experience. It helped me to figure out how to define my own path. (PDF awardee ’09)

Funding opportunity from the Next Generation Giving Project

2010-06-05T09:19:00.000-07:00

Several months ago, we alerted the Seattle EPIP community to a great new opportunity from the Social Justice Fund NW and our local Resource Generation chapter- a project called the Next Generation Giving Project. Here's an exciting update and a potential new funding resource for you or for some of your grantees. Read on!

Early this year, we brought together a diverse cross-class group of 18 young people to move money for social change through fundraising and grantmaking. So far we’ve gotten to know each other, built our analysis and skills, and made personal pledges of financial support. We were all blown away by everyone’s generosity—these contributions added up to $90,000! Participants are just kicking off their fundraising efforts.

We’ve published articles about three of our meetings written by participants in our email Justice Journal. You can read them here, here and here.

Meanwhile, the group has decided to review proposals from a broad spectrum of social justice oriented community organizing groups throughout our region. Please help us spread the word! To find out more about the opportunity, visit the Apply for a Grant page on our website. Groups interested in applying should download the application here as well as review SJF's general grant guidelines here. The deadline for applications is July 8. For questions about the funding process contact Uma Rao.

There are many Seattle EPIP members who are participating in the Next Generation Giving Project and would love to share their experiences with you. Contact Zeke or Uma at the Social Justice Fund for more information, or ask about it at the upcoming June 10th happy hour at Wann Izakaya!

Jeff Raikes on "The Business of Doing Good"

2010-05-30T09:10:00.001-07:00

I had the opportunity to attend a lecture by Jeff Raikes, the CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation at Seattle University as part of the Albers Executive Speaker Series last Wednesday. Raikes spoke to a packed auditorium about the lessons in leadership and his experiences in philanthropy.

Several things resonated with me. First of all, Raikes, like nearly every other speaker I have heard offer advice to emerging practicioners in (insert field here) is to follow your passion. In Raikes experience, he learned early on in his career at Apple that his passion was software (rather than hardware) development- which in turn lead him away from Apple to become one of Microsoft's first 100 employees- (fun fact: he and his wife Tricia were the first Microsoft couple).

He outlined three lessons of leadership, which I tweeted through @EPIPSeattle but that I'll share here as well:

Part of being a good leader and a good manager of people is to know when to roll up your sleeves and dive into the work alongside your employees (a lesson learned from John Shirley, President of Microsoft from 1983-90).
You will learn the most when you are in an environment where it is okay to fail and to learn from your mistakes (a lesson from Bill Gates, Jr.).
Realize that there is something that you can learn from every single person around you. This lesson comes from Lou Piniella, the former manager of the Seattle Mariners, who also taught Raikes four additional lessons on how to be a good leader: a) get along with everyone, b) know how to get your players to preform at their peak, c) always be mindful of public relations, and d) to always have a game strategy in mind.

Raikes' closing argument was for audience members to find their passion and then to invest in United Way (Raikes and his wife Tricia are heavily involved on the Board of Directors of United Way of King County), though if United Way isn't for you, he suggested finding other advocates and ways to raise the quality of life in our communities.

Though tailored to a decidedly business-oriented audience, I found the talk interesting and I think it's always important to be reminded to follow one's passion. I was instantly taken back to the closing keynote speech at the EPIP National Conference, in which Benjamin Todd Jealous put forth a similar message: Find your passion and if your current job is not fulfilling that passion-quit.

EPIP National Conference Recap

2010-05-29T22:21:00.000-07:00

Fifteen EPIP Seattle members and supporters gathered on Thursday, May 13th at the Philanthropy NW offices to hear about the national conference from four of the eight Seattle chapter members who were in attendance. Several EPIP Seattle members held a variety of roles at the conference:

Sarah Studer, member of EPIP National's Board of Advisors, co-facilitated the opening session at the conference and Tweeted her conference experience through EPIP Seattle's Twitter feed.
Zeke Spier, Associate Director of the Social Justice Fund NW- organized a workshop on community grantmaking models, featuring an impressive panel of speakers including Heather Miller, EPIP Seattle member and Program Coordinator at the Potlatch Fund.
Keneta Anderson, consultant with the Quixote Foundation, tweeted her way through both the EPIP and Council on Foundations Annual Conference. Check out @QuixoteTilts for some "rock solid live-Tweeting".

The EPIP conference featured an impressive array of social media tools that were used to share the conference experience with those who were unable to attend. In addition to the live stream from JustGoodTV, consultants were on hand to assist conference attendees in connecting their own blogs, Facebook, and Twitter to the conversation.

Take a couple of minutes to watch Gara LaMarche (President of the Atlantic Philanthropies) deliver one of the closing plenary speeches:

Live Stream of EPIP Conference

2010-04-24T07:44:00.000-07:00

EPIP is offering you free registration and transportation to its National Conference this coming weekend. The stellar line-up features amazing speakers and cutting-edge workshops focused on foundation effectiveness, generational change, and social justice philanthropy - and you don’t even have to leave your office or living room!

With generous support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, EPIP is streaming interactive video of plenary and workshop sessions and interviews live online - RIGHT NOW!

Watch live streaming video from justgoodtv at livestream.com

Scholarships Available for EPIP's National Conference!

2010-03-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

EPIP RELEASES $10,000 from NEXT GEN SCHOLARSHIP FUND!

Apply to receive up to $500 to attend the 2010 EPIP National Conference in Denver from April 23-25, 2010!

Only current dues-paying members of EPIP are eligible to receive scholarships

To apply, please fill out the official Next Gen Scholarship Application (you will be redirected to a Survey Monkey). Applications will be reviewed and approved on a rolling basis – so apply as soon as possible!

Final Deadline to Apply: Friday, April 9, 2010

To learn more about the National Conference, visit www.epip.org.

Any Questions? Email Rebecca Schumer at Rebecca@epip.org or call 212 584 8249 x4

EPIP Member Briefings - March 18 and April 5

2010-03-08T16:39:00.000-08:00

Dues-paying EPIP members in Seattle are invited to convene for an upcoming member-briefing from EPIP National. Please bring your lunch as we tune into the conference call via speaker phone!

Not an EPIP member? Join now at www.epip.org. Dues are only $100/year, and members gain access to a variety of benefits such as participation in briefings like these!

Investing in the Community: New Orleans Renewal after Hurricane Katrina

Thursday, March 18, 2010
12:00pm - 1:30pm
Location TBD

In conjunction with the Katrina @ Five Conference, New Orleans, March 22-24, 2010, of which EPIP is a partner. Developing out of the aftermath of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, The Gulf Coast Fund for Community Renewal and Ecological Health internalized the meaning of social justice philanthropy by creating an advisory group of individuals from the Gulf Coast region to serve as the fund’s primary decision-making vehicle. Reaching out to communities otherwise marginalized by the country’s broader philanthropic community, the Fund continues to engage community members in all of its grantmaking practices and in doing so, hopes to break down a history of regional discrimination and inequality.

Penny Fujiko Willgerodt
Executive Director
Prospect Hill Foundation
Affiliation: Co-founder, Advisory Committee

Stephen Bradberry
Louisiana ACORN
Affiliation: Current Member, Advisory Committee

Angela Winfrey-Bowman
People’s Institute for Survival & Beyond
Affiliation: Current Member, Advisory Committee

Advocating for the Community through Identity-Based Grantmaking:
A Case Study on Funding Immigration Issues

Monday, April 5, 2010
12 – 1:30pm
Location: Philanthropy NW Conference Room

This call will explore how the Ford Foundation and the Open Society Institute invested new resources during the 1980s and 90s in order to create and expand new social justice programs for immigrant communities in the United States. Reacting to internal leadership transitions, and federal welfare and immigration reform, current and former leaders of Ford and OSI will speak about the strategies that they used to create new identity-based grantmaking programs in the midst of political debate and national controversy.

Suzanne Siskel
Director, Social Justice Philanthropy, Ford Foundation

Taryn Higashi
Executive Director, Unbound Philanthropy, Former Deputy Director, Human Rights, Ford Foundation

Sarah Rios
Director, Human Rights Unit, Ford Foundation

Mary McClymont
Executive Director, Global Rights, Former Vice President, Peace and Social Justice, Ford Foundation

Maria Teresa Rojas
Senior Manager, Equality and Opportunity Fund, US Programs, Open Society Institute

Professional Development Scholarship Fund- Deadline Extended!

2010-02-25T12:38:00.000-08:00

**DEADLINE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND EXTENDED!!

Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) has extended its Spring/Summer Cycle for the 2010 EPIP Professional Development Fund (PDF).

The new deadline is FRIDAY, MARCH 5.

The Professional Development Fund is a scholarship program designed to increase access to professional development opportunities for young people of color working in the foundation field. PDF is specifically intended to support young people of color, reflecting EPIP's emphasis on ensuring racial diversity within our next-generation work. Recipients must use the award to attend philanthropy conferences and to network and learn from peers and senior colleagues.

:: Partial funding to attend philanthropy conferences and trainings (max $1,000 per conference)

:: Leveraging additional support for awardees from employers and conference sponsors

:: Annual awardee convening to provide skills-training, reflection on practice, inter-generational learning, and peer-networking

:: A growing peer-support network of PDF awardees and other young people of color in the foundation field

Cycle Deadlines
Spring 2009 – March 1, 2010
Fall - June 18, 2010

PDF Scholarships are a benefit of EPIP membership. If you are not yet an EPIP member, you may apply for membership simultaneously as you submit this PDF application. EPIP members from outside the U.S. are also eligible to apply, although they should be considered people of color or minorities in their home countries.

EPIP Professional Development Fund was launched in 2005 and is made possible by ongoing support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

What Are You Reading?

2010-02-17T19:44:00.000-08:00

We're curious to know what you're reading! We'd love to hear your suggestions about the websites your visiting, the blogs you're browsing, or anything that helps you stay up to date in the field of philanthropy. We'll add them to the blog roll over on the right:

Here's a peek into the "Philanthropy" folder of my Google Reader. If you use Gmail, you can set up your Reader to keep up with all your favorite websites and RSS feeds, without having to actually visit each and every site.

New Voices in Philanthropy

Philanthropy 2173 - This says it all! "This is a blog about the future. Woody Allen's movie, Sleeper, takes place in the year 2173. Among other things, Sleeper helps us realize that so much of what we think is true may not be. As sure as we are of ourselves now, talking about the future - and making philanthropic investments - requires that we keep a sense of modesty and humor about what we are doing. Philanthropy is for the long-term - for the year 2173."

The Business of Giving- Seattle Times - Read my mini-critique of this blog by clicking here!

Rosetta Thurman
Mashable! - This is a great blog that keeps me up-to-date on the latest news from the social media world.

February Happy Hour Recap!

2010-02-17T18:56:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who made it out to Via Tribulani on Tuesday night for EPIP Seattle's monthly happy hour. We enjoyed great company, conversation, and welcomed several new emerging leaders to the Seattle scene.

We were also joined by EPIP's founder and executive director Rusty Stahl. Seattle was one of the last stops on his extensive three-week travel itinerary, and we were thrilled to host an event in conjunction with his visit.

Many thanks to our server for ensuring there were plenty of pizzas on the table! In case you're in need of an event space, you might want to consider the semi-private room that seats about 12-14 comfortably. In addition to the boisterous conversations of our party, we were also able to hear a bit of the band and the Crocodile's sound check! Keep that in mind when you're reserving the room! :)

Next Generation Giving Opportunity

2010-02-03T15:02:00.001-08:00

Here's a great opportunity coming to you from a partnership between Social Justice Fund NW and Resource Generation's Seattle chapter. This is a great chance to build social justice grantmaking skills!

In 2010, Social Justice Fund NW and Resource Generation are partnering to move money for social change with a cross-class, democratic grantmaking process. A group of 10-20 people under 40 years old will build community while deepening strategies for progressive philanthropy.

This project is for those who:

Are under 40 years old
Are passionate about social change
Want to address issues of class and privilege in meaningful ways
Want to make a personal and community investment in change (at a level meaningful to you)

For more information, contact Zeke or Uma at the Social Justice Fund NW office: 206-624-4081, or by email: zeke (at) socialjusticefund (dot) org, or uma (at) socialjusticefund (dot) org.

Special Guest at the February Happy Hour!

2010-02-03T14:53:00.000-08:00

EPIP's next happy hour will be at Via Tribulani at the Crocodile from 5-7pm on TUESDAY, February 16th!

Why the switch from our usual Thursdays? That's because we'll be joined by a special guest- Rusty Stahl, the founder and Executive Director of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy!

We hope to see you all there! This will be a great opportunity to learn about the work that's happening on a national level, and to bring new folks to introduce them to EPIP!

Pacific NW Global Donors Conference Speakers

2010-02-01T17:15:00.000-08:00

This just in from the folks who are organizing the Pacific NW's first Global Donors Conference, which is being held in Seattle on March 19-20.

For more information on the conference please visit www.globaldonorsconference.org and stay tuned for more information.

Confirmed speakers include:

Kavita Ramdas, President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women

John Harvey, Executive Director, Grantmakers without Borders

Betsy Brill, President of Strategic Philanthropy

William H. Gates, S., co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, International Civil Society Action Network

Jennifer Anderson Bahr, Executive Director, Mountain Community Resources

Angelika Arutyunova, Regional Director for Europe/Former Soviet States, Global Fund for Women

Nikhil Aziz, Executive Director, Grassroots International

Peter Berliner, Managing Director, PRI Makers Network

Julia Bolz, Journey with an Afghan School/ Founder, Ayni Education International

Therese Caouette, Faculty Associate, Thammasat University, Thailand

Chris Doerr, Pangea

Jason Henning, Global Partnerships

Anuradha Mittal, Executive Director, Oakland Institute for Sustainable Assets

Lynda Bourque Moss, Executive Director, Foundation for Community Vitality

Eric Schultz, Arthur B. Schultz Foundation

Julie Shaw, Executive Director, Global Education Fund

Stephanie Smith, Compton Foundation

Pete Stanga, Executive Director, Foundation for Sustainable Development (former Director, International Development Exchange--IDEX)

Chet Tchozewski, President, Global Greengrants Fund

Mauricio Vivero, Seattle International Foundation

For more information and to register for the conference, please visit the website at: www.globaldonorsconference.org.

Please consider attending what looks to be an excellent conference on global giving!

Professional Development Fund Scholarships Available

2010-01-06T12:46:00.000-08:00

EPIP's Professional Development Fund scholarship applications are due on February 1st, 2010. The PDF scholarships are for people of color to attend skills training and conference opportunities of their choice. Scholarships of up-to-$1000 are available now!

The Professional Development Fund (PDF) was established in 2005 to widen the leadership pipeline and create opportunities for skills development and personal growth of young people of color in foundations. Generously funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, PDF awards promising young practitioners of color with funds of up to $1,000 to access to professional development training and intergenerational learning opportunities, with the intent to diversity and retain people of color within the sector. Since its inception, EPIP’s PDF has awarded 45 young leaders from a diverse range of institutions, geographic locations, backgrounds and roles within the philanthropic field. Since the Fund was established, we have awarded close to $45,000.

In addition to the opportunity to attend a training, national conference or regional gathering of their choice, PDF awardees are convened at a national retreat for additional skills training and personal development support. EPIP believes that growth happens over time and invests resources in deepening PDF awardees’ experiences by providing additional resources and training to increase participants’ success.

For more information and for application forms, please visit www.epip.org.

The Grantmaking School - EPIP Member Discounts

2010-01-06T12:44:00.000-08:00

EPIP members will receive a discount to The Grantmaking School's upcoming course in San Francisco - February 25-26, 2010. The course is a two-day session focused on developing your grantmaking strategy. The course is designed to build upon the lessons from Advanced Proposal Analysis, with an emphasis on key topics such as theory of change, adding value, capacity building, and evaluation.

EPIP members will receive $250 off registration. Please visit www.grantmakingschool.org for more information and to register!

EPIP Seattle Rings in the New Year with $5 Pizzas!

2010-01-05T09:16:00.001-08:00

Welcome to 2010!

EPIP Seattle is kicking off the new year and we're excited to work with you to build our chapter, develop creative programs, and to continue the conversation on what it means to be an emerging practitioner in philanthropy!

Our first event of the year will be a monthly happy hour at Via Tribulani at the Crocodile. Happy hour specials include $5 Margherita, Napoletana, and Salame pizzas until 6pm, so get there early!

Our guiding discussion topic will focus on grantee reporting:

What kind of reports does your Foundation require from its grantees? How does your Foundation use these reports? Does it fit within a social justice framework? Is it too onerous?

We look forward to seeing you on January 14th!

Looking Ahead to 2010!

2009-12-01T14:29:00.001-08:00

2009 has been an exciting year for EPIP Seattle. Besides becoming an officially recognized chapter, EPIP Seattle held our first Philanthropology workshop on social justice philanthropy, hosted four happy hour/networking events at local restaurants, and organized a Careers in Philanthropy Lunch Roundtable with Ann Kelly from the Global Philanthropy Group.

Our Steering Committee has grown to include 9 individuals representing seven organizations, and we are looking forward to planning a exciting and diverse range of programming for 2010.

We'd like to ask that our Seattle-area members help us to ensure that our programs are helping to meet your needs! Your comments will be extremely helpful as we move forward.

Click here to be redirected to Survey Monkey to take our brief survey! Thank you in advance for your thoughtful feedback!

Extra Special EPIP Member Benefits! Sign Up by 12/1

2009-11-20T14:09:00.000-08:00

Not an EPIP member yet? If you join by December 1, 2009, EPIP will provide you with a set of valuable library of learning resources that address issues of generational change in the workplace, philanthropic effectiveness, and social justice philanthropy. These include:

Wit and Wisdom: Unleashing the Philanthropic Imagination, EPIP's book, written by philanthropy observer and practitioner Mark D. Constantine, features indepth interviews with diverse senior foundation leaders discussing the highlights and challenges of their grantmaking work and careers.

GrantCraft's "Guide to Personal Strategy," arguably one of the most applicable tools for practitioners looking to successfully navigate the foundation workplace.

Change Philanthropy: Candid Stories of Foundations Maximizing Results through Social Justice, a brand new book produced by EPIP partner, the Linchpin Project at the Center for Community Change.

The Foundation Center's "Foundation Yearbook" and "Social Justice Grantmaking II" executive reports, which highlight and synthesize general giving patterns and social justice grantmaking trends from 2009.

This special library was already provided free of charge to EPIP's current members earlier this fall. We look forward to sharing it with new members who join by December 1st!

Visit the EPIP website at www.epip.org to sign up to become a member!

From Business to Politics to Philanthropy

2009-11-19T14:10:00.000-08:00

Seventeen Seattle EPIP members and friends gathered at in the Common Room at the Olive 8 (Seattle's first LEED certified green hotel/condominium building) this afternoon to hear from Ann Kelly, Partner at the Global Philanthropy Group, which she co-founded in 2008 with two business partners.

The Global Philanthropy Group works with clients who want to have an impact on issues - beyond simply writing a check. Global Philanthropy Group helps clients determine how to leverage all of their assets (including their public personals and public profiles) to help build advocacy strategies and partner with other organizations to increase their visibility. (Click here to read more about the Global Philanthropy Group and the work they're doing.)

Ann describes her career path the same way that many people in philanthropy do: it just kind of happened. She started out in business management consulting, where she discovered that she preferred to work in project fashion. She worked in corporate development and on strategic planning and in consulting roles, and eventually founded her own Political Action Committee. She was inspired by the problem-solving aspects of her work, but not necessarily about the issues she worked on. She made a calculated decision to focus her energy on her political interests, and moved to Tennessee to work on Harold Ford Jr's campaign for the Senate seat vacated by Bill Frist.

She returned to Seattle after Ford's defeat in the election and returned to consulting- this time, on an education project with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where she realized that it was possible to use her skills as a consultant AND work on issues that she felt passionate about. Together, with business partners Trevor and Maggie Neilson, they founded the Global Philanthropy Group.

We asked Ann to tell us more about the trends that she's seeing based on her clients interest. She said that many are refocusing their attention from international to domestic issues, given the economic climate. Global Philanthropy Group wants to get their clients engaged on a long-term basis, and to move clients from being reactive to proactive. There is a lot of interest in using very creative social media strategies to approach issues - and a lot of energy being spent on designing campaigns through issue-based networks.

Want to see an example of a Global Philanthropy Group project? Check out The Giving Beast.

Ann's advice to emerging practitioners in philanthropy?

Develop a broad set of skills.
Realize there are no boundaries and limitations - there are opportunities to have different jobs within your role - there are other things on the fringe.
Keep the creativity of thought.
Work to create a new space for yourself.

Many thanks to Ann for joining us to share her story and for offering her advice to Seattle EPIP.

Thanks to Steering Committee member Sarah for facilitating the discussion.

Thanks to Steering Committee members Nora, Dorothy, Laura, and Heather for managing the logistics of the event!

If you're interested in future Careers in Philanthropy Lunch Roundtables, make sure to sign up to receive our emails and check back for more information.

Date Change: Careers in Philanthropy Lunch Roundtable

2009-11-09T12:42:00.001-08:00

Please note that we have had to change the date of our upcoming Careers in Philanthropy Lunch Roundtable. The updated information is below!

DATE AND LOCATION CHANGE!

The November 12th Seattle EPIP Careers in Philanthropy Lunch Roundtable has been changed to the following Thursday, November 19th, from 11:30-1pm, at Olive 8

Location: Olive 8, 18th Floor Common Room
Guest Speaker: Ann Kelly, Partner, Global Philanthropy Group

Lunch will be provided. Space is limited, please RSVP by Tuesday, November 17th to epipseattle@gmail.com to secure your spot! If you already RSVP’ed, please let us know whether or not you will still be able to attend.

Reflections on Philanthropy from Today's Leaders

2009-10-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

Here is a great upcoming opportunity, sponsored by the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Social Venture Partners, Philanthropy NW, and the UW Evans School's Nancy Bell Evans Center on Nonprofits & Philanthropy:

Reflections on Philanthropy from Today's Leaders featuring David B. Smith: "Sustaining Impact - Measuring our Civic Return on Investment"

October 28th, 2009
4:00pm - 5:30pm
Parrington Hall Commons

The UW Evans School's Nancy Bell Evans Center on Nonprofits & Philanthropy, Philanthropy Northwest and Social Venture Partners invite you to their first talk of the 2009-2010 academic year: "Reflections on Philanthropy from Today’s Leaders" featuring David B. Smith speaking on: “Sustaining Impact: Measuring our Civic Return on Investment.” The following questions will be discussed: What is Civic Health? How do you measure it? How does the economy affect it? What is a funder’s role? How can funders help build vital communities? The discussion will be followed by Q & A. The event is sponsored by the Henry M. Jackson Foundation.

For more information about this event, please contact Julita Eleveld via email or by phone at 221-4629.

This event is open to: students, faculty, staff, alumni.

David B. Smith is the executive director of the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC). Founded in 1946, the NCoC defines modern citizenship through tracking, measuring and promoting civic engagement in partnership with leading organizations on a bipartisan, collaborative basis. Prior to joining NCoC, David founded and served as the executive director of Mobilize.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, empowering, and energizing the Millennial Generation to increase civic engagement and political participation. He has been featured in books including the Millennial Manifesto and Generation We, and has published essays in Rebooting America and Dream of a Nation.

Careers in Philanthropy: Luncheon Roundtable

2009-10-13T14:13:00.000-07:00

EPIP Seattle invites you to attend our next Careers in Philanthropy Lunch Roundtable on Thursday, November 12th, from 11:30 - 1pm.

The event will be hosted in the Philanthropy Northwest conference room, and lunch will be provided. RSVP to epipseattle@gmail.com to secure your spot- space is limited!

We have invited Ann Kelly of the Global Philanthropy Group to join us to share her story about how she got involved in philanthropy, and to offer advice to emerging leaders.

Global Philanthropy Group advises the world's leading philanthropists. We work with high net worth individuals, charitable foundations and corporations to design and implement highly-leveraged philanthropic strategies. Their management expertise and proprietary network of global experts helps clients achieve lasting, meaningful results.

Global Philanthropy Group's experience encompasses pressing global issues including economic development, education, poverty, HIV/AIDS, disaster recovery and redevelopment, refugees, microfinance, water, global health, immigration, orphans, foster care, global trade, malnutrition, climate change, green building, malaria, conservation, crimes against humanity, genocide and childhood obesity.

For more on Ann Kelly:

Ann has broad experience providing strategy consulting services to a range of private and public sector clients. She most recently worked as a strategic advisor to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on public school education. She also provided M&A and transactional advice to a number of healthcare companies.

As a Partner with Lake Partners Strategy Consultants, Ann managed the proprietary research efforts for a large scale investment client. Projects included developing strategic plans for investment opportunities, analysis of public policy initiatives and impact on private sector investments, and analysis of investment opportunities in emerging international markets.

Prior to joining Lake Partners, Ann provided strategic consulting services as a consultant for both Dean & Company and Strategic Planning Associates (now Oliver Wyman) firms, both in Washington, D.C. She worked in the Corporate Development groups at Artisan Entertainment (now part of Lions Gate) in Los Angeles and MCI (now part of Verizon) in Washington D.C.

Ann served as the Special Projects & Outreach Coordinator for the 2006 Harold Ford for U.S. Senate campaign and serves on the executive board of a federal political action committee supporting candidates for U.S. Senate. She is the President of the Harvard Business School Alumni Board and a member of the Advisory Board at the Seattle Repertory Theatre. Ann graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University and received her MBA with distinction from the Harvard Business School.

HH Recap: Tutta Bella Edition!

2009-10-13T13:10:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to everyone who came out to our happy hour event at Tutta Bella last Thursday night. We convened to discuss social media once again - answering questions about Twitter, why a foundation might use social media, etc.

Among the questions we tried to tackle:

Q: Why would a foundation want to use social media?
A: To connect grantees with one another? To share information with other foundations? For transparency reasons? To make the foundation more accessible?

We were joined by several new faces, and we spent a lot of time discussing inter-generational issues in the workplace and at conferences. A couple people had recently observed that they were among the only young attendees at a recent conference and they felt slightly out of place - wondering what questions were appropriate to ask, looking up different field-lingo acronyms. Their solution? Post a flyer and host an impromptu EPIP gathering:

Have you had a similar conference experience? We'd love to hear about it!

Working Across Generations

2009-09-28T16:31:00.000-07:00

Here is a neat opportunity to meet the authors of a new book, Working Across Generations.

Working Across Generations presents ideas and gives practical advice on how to approach generational changes in leadership so that the contributions of long-time leaders are valued, new and younger leaders’ talent is recognized, and groups are better prepared to work across generational divides.

Below is the text from the invite:

Join authors Frances Kunreuther, Helen Kim, and Robby Rodriguez for a book signing and discussion on the ways we can work together in multigenerational settings. Enjoy appetizers and beverages, while networking with leaders throughout the nonprofit sector.

You can also take advantage of the special book signing and have the authors autograph your personal copy. Copies of the book will be available for purchase for $20.

This event is co-hosted by EA the Alliance of Nonprofits, CityClub, and Nancy Bell Evans Center on Nonprofits & Philanthropy, Evans School of Public Affairs at University of Washington.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Location: Southlake Grill - Loft
1253 Thomas Street | Seattle 98115

Space is limited!

For more information, phone (206) 328-3836.

To learn more about the book visit: www.workingacrossgenerations.org or www.buildingmovement.org

HH Recap: Black Bottle edition

2009-09-11T18:18:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who joined us for happy hour at Black Bottle last week! It was a beautiful Thursday night, filled with stimulating conversation, great food and laughter.

Our discussion topic was: Do you attend your grantees’ events? What is an appropriate way to participate in these events (i.e. are personal contributions expected)? How do foundation’s show support for grantees with limited staff capacity?

Here’s a recap from our end of the table:

To attend or not to attend? There were plenty of diverse answers to this question, but overall the crowd tended to fall into one of two camps: attending a lot of events or only those events that fit the bill, so to speak (i.e. a long-time grantee, an organization of personal interest, a struggling organization, etc). Some attendees confessed that they tried to limit their attendance at grantee fundraising events, as there were just too many to attend. Others with smaller portfolios noted that they tried to send at least one representative from their foundation and often filled whole tables with foundation staff and friends. There were also many foundations who opt to purchase tables at events, and allow the grantee to fill it at their discretion.

To giveth of your own resources? Many said that they do give personal contributions at events. However, given financial constraints and the sheer number of events, it's difficult to give as much as they may want. Some foundations matched individual employee contributions. One foundation allots a certain dollar amount for employees to use at each event- covering the cost of the ticket and an additional donation, which doesn't break their piggy bank!

For those who attended, were their any particular conversations that stuck you? And for those of you who couldn’t make it, what are your thoughts on this topic? Do you attend your grantee’s events?

We look forward to continuing this conversation throughout the year at other events, and we're looking forward to revisiting a Social Media discussion in October. Location TBD!

PLACES Fellowship Program

2009-09-09T10:36:00.000-07:00

The Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities (TFN) is accepting applications and nominations for the second class of its leadership development program designed for emerging professionals in philanthropy. This year-long fellowship program will offer tools, knowledge, and best practices to professionals in philanthropy that can enhance funder grantmaking decisions in ways that are responsive to the needs and assets of low-income neighborhoods and communities of color.

Fellows will develop:

An in-depth knowledge of how decisions about growth and development relate to issues of race/ethnicity/class;
Tools and resources to help them increase their effectiveness as grantmakers;
Exposure to best practices of grantmakers working in this field;
Leadership development and skill building opportunities; and
Expanded networking opportunities.

For more details and the application, email epipseattle@gmail.com and we'll forward on the information.

The Business of Giving

2009-08-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

Have you checked out the Seattle Time's "Business of Giving" blog? The tagline is, "Exploring philanthropy, non-profits and socially motivated business, from the Gates Foundation to your donation. A fresh look at the economy of good intentions."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thebusinessofgiving/

Since nine out of the last twenty blog entries are focused on activity and movements at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, it made me wonder, "what about the foundations in between?" Although it's interesting to be able to track who is leaving and who is joining the Gates Foundation, some of the most compelling stories in the philanthropic sector aren't happening at the largest foundation in the world.

What do you think? Do you read The Business of Giving? What stories would you like to see on their blog?

September Social @ Black Bottle!

2009-08-20T09:19:00.000-07:00

September's EPIP happy hour location and discussion topic have been set! Mark your calendars for Thursday, September 10th from 4:30-7pm. We'll be meeting at Black Bottle, a gastro-tavern in Belltown.

Our discussion will focus on "attendance at grantee events". Or rather, do you as a foundation staffer attend the events of your grantees? What is the most appropriate way to participate in these events (i.e. do you feel pressure to make an additional personal contribution?) How do foundation's show support for grantees with limited capacity?

We look forward to seeing you at Black Bottle on the 10th! To check out the menu or to read reviews, click on the following links:

http://www.blackbottleseattle.com/dinner/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/black-bottle-seattle-2

I plan to order the flatbread. :)

Jelly Bar Happy Hour

2009-08-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who joined us for happy hour at the Jelly Bar last night. We had a rousing discussion about how we use social media - both personally and professionally, and also discussed how we measure our success in doing so!

Here are some photos from the evening- and yes, that's a real jellyfish!

Mike from Social Venture Partners talks about how SVP Seattle's summer intern is helping them to develop a social media strategy, which will improve their communications with both their partners and grantees.

Do you Tweet?

2009-08-07T11:30:00.001-07:00

Social media guru, Beth Kanter of Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media, recently told EPIP chapter leaders that not using social media tools was no longer an option- that groups, both nonprofits and foundations will be left behind.

With that said, here is a list of 90 foundations that Tweet. Seattle foundations include:

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Seattle, WA) @gatesfoundation
Jolkona Foundation (Seattle, WA) @jolkona
The Moyer Foundation (Seattle, WA) @MoyerFoundation
Pride Foundation (Seattle, WA) @PrideFdn
Social Venture Partners Seattle (Seattle, WA) @paulshoeSVP

Is your foundation on this list? Why or why not? Is your foundation resistant to using these mediums to communicate, or are you embracing it? Which tools have been useful/not so useful?

These are the questions we'd like to answer at our next happy hour event on August 13th at the Jelly Bar. Hope you can join us and share your own stories!

How I Raised $1,000 on Facebook Without Breaking a Sweat

2009-08-04T14:38:00.000-07:00

From the 8/4/09 version of BlueAvocado.org

As my 40th birthday approached I decided to try the Facebook Causes Birthday Wish application to raise money for a nonprofit. I had recently donated to a Facebook friend's birthday campaign and was impressed that she raised over $2,000. My goal was more modest : $800 (25 friends at $40 each).

Read the whole article:
http://www.blueavocado.org/node/406

Have any of you used this feature? I am inspired!

Mobile giving is catching on

2009-07-27T12:37:00.001-07:00

From the Seattle Times today:

Business & Technology | Mobile giving is catching on | Seattle Times Newspaper

For most nonprofits, raising money means asking donors to write a check.

But like music, maps and movies, charitable giving is also going mobile.

With a mobile phone, donating to a cause can be as simple as typing MEALS, WATER or ALIVE.

"Giving should be easy, it should be fun and it should be rewarding," said Jim Manis, chief executive of the Mobile Giving Foundation, a Bellevue-based nonprofit that provides technology for charitable organizations to run mobile campaigns.

Read the article and let us know what you think. This will help to inform our conversation for our August 13th event at the Jelly Bar. How do you feel about technology? Does it stress you out oro inspire you? Is your Foundation hip to technology or lagging behind? Do you connect with your colleagues or grantees on Facebook? Have you ever made a really embarrassing technological blunder at work?

Photos from Detroit

2009-07-27T09:25:00.000-07:00

Here is a slideshow of photos from my Picasa Web album that chronicles the week in Detroit. A more condensed version is posted on Facebook. Enjoy!

Chapter Leader Gathering (recap!)

2009-07-25T16:36:00.000-07:00

EPIP's biennial Chapter Leader Gathering began almost immediately after the conclusion of the Professional Development Fund Leader Gathering. There were about 5-6 of us that stayed for the whole week and were able to attend both events.

The Chapter Leader Gathering brought together representatives from almost every chapter with the following goals:

• Share best practices across chapters and between national and local EPIP
• Orient, inform and update chapter leaders
• Mobilize local and national leaders to secure needed resources for EPIP
• Increase cohesion within and across the EPIP chapter network
• Raise the visibility and identity of EPIP in Michigan and nationally
• Learn from senior leaders and various experts and trainers in our field

I'd definitely say we were able to accomplish all of these goals. Although I personally had not attended any EPIP functions on the national level (ie, other Chapter Leader Gatherings, or pre-conference events at the Council on Foundations), I really appreciated what this particular gathering offered. Networking on the national level, the opportunity to speak with leaders in the field, and the chance to explore a city that I otherwise would not spend time in! I'll try to break down the highlights from each session in my next few posts!

Reflections on EPIP's PDF Gathering from Sarah

2009-07-21T13:50:00.000-07:00

I've been in Detroit, MI since Sunday evening at EPIP's Professional Development Fund gathering, which is taking place in conjunction with EPIP's Chapter Leader Gathering (begins tomorrow). This is my first time in Detroit, which is a city that has been devastated by job destruction and the economic crisis. If you've been following the news, Detroit has one of the highest rates of foreclosure of homes in the country, and what was once a city of two million people is now a city of 900,000. Maybe.

All you have to do is walk down the street to see the evidence of this. We've seen dozens of once-amazing houses that are burnt out and/or boarded up. There are empty buildings surrounded by empty and overgrown lots everywhere. On our walk home from dinner last night, we saw a fire burn down one of the abandoned buildings and we were able to get close enough to see the flames. No one seemed concerned or worried about it- one look around the neighborhood and you can see that this is not a rare occurrence. The most people I've seen in one place were converging around the fire.

It's no coincidence that we're meeting in Detroit. Local foundations have very generously welcomed us to this city. Just being here feels like we're on a site visit. The US Social Forum planning committee is also meeting here this week, as did the Allied Media Conference last week. (Incidentally, the Mariners are also here playing the Detroit Tigers for the next three nights.)

Anyway, EPIP convened this gathering of young people of color who are recipients of an EPIP Profesional Development Fund scholarship. The PDF scholarships allow young people of color to attend conferences of their choice around the country. Since so many organizations have had to cut their budgets for professional development, this year, this scholarship is quite meaningful. Many people chose to attend the EPIP pre-conference gathering at the Council on Foundations in Atlanta in May, while others found different opportunities.

After working through the obligatory introductions and getting-to-know-you exercises with the 25 people in the room on Sunday night, we moved directly into content on Monday morning. The gathering was facilitated by Kalpana Krishnamurthy, who also facilitated EPIP Seattle's first Philanthropology workshop back in March. We began by defining social justice philanthropy (SJP), identifying the core elements of SJP, and determining where our own foundations' strengths and weaknesses are in using this framework.

A highlight of the day was the Salon, in which four senior foundation executives joined us for a panel discussion and smaller roundtable discussions. I always find this part of the agenda to be the most useful- participants here included Kevin Ryan of the New York Foundation, Sophia Silao (EPIP's Associate Director), Andrea Cole - the Executive Director of the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation, and Karen Aldridge-Eason, who is the Foundation Liason for the Governors' office. I'll share more about their reflections on their own career paths in a future post.

The final part of the day focused on "Making the Case" or, how do you move your social justice agenda? We went through exercises on how to ask questions within your own foundation, how to define what you want, build a case and make your ideas into a reality. I'll post the 7 suggested steps in a different post- since this "brief recap" is getting rather long.

We had an informal dinner at a new restuarant called Angelina's on Monday evening. I was lucky enough to sit across from Trista Harris, who is the Executive Director of the Headwaters Foundation for Justice, and the author of the New Voices in Philanthropy blog, which I have been reading for about a year. I really appreciated Trista's wit and wisdom on how to be an effective blogger and what her experience was as the blog became more and more popular. This will tie in quite well with Friday's session on social media and networking, which is going to be facilitiated by Beth Kanter of Beth's Blog. I'm particularly interested in the role that foundations and nonprofits can have via Facebook, blogs, and Twitter, and I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to meet her too!

I have to say, this has been the most useful networking opportunity I have had in a long time, which I think is something really really important that EPIP has to offer emerging leaders in this field. Although my organization is without a doubt a social justice funder and employs the social justice philanthropy criteria quite well in most areas, it is always useful to evaluate oneself and learn from others about the struggles and successes that they have had in the field.

Bottom line, so far, so good! Although I think I might be getting sick. Not good.

EPIP Seattle Receives Official Chapter Status!

2009-07-17T11:35:00.000-07:00

This just in from EPIP National in New York:

Dear EPIP Seattle Leaders,

I am pleased to inform you that the Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) network officially recognized the EPIP Seattle Chapter as our 10th local affiliate! We will formally announce this news at the Chapter Leader Gathering!

We are really excited about working with you and providing even more support to your community going forward.

EPIP Steering Committee members Sarah & Dionna will be traveling to Detroit for EPIP's Professional Development Fund and Chapter Leader Gathering next week. As an officially recognized chapter, EPIP Seattle will have a page on the www.epip.org website and will have an increased programming budget, as well as increased access and support to and from other chapters around the country! Hooray!

Sarah will be tweeting her way through both EPIP events next week. You can follow EPIP Seattle on Twitter (@EPIPSeattle)!

Join a Board of Directors = leadership development!

2009-07-08T14:03:00.000-07:00

Another great way to stay involved in the nonprofit sector is to join the Board of Directors of a local nonprofit. It's a great way to develop and use your leadership skills, learn about finances, event planning and fundraising, and how to make decisions.

There are a couple of programs in Seattle that can help you identify your skills and can help match them with an organization!

YMCA Get Engaged Program

United Way Project LEAD (and other Board resources)

Have you received any useful trainings that helped you become a Board member, or a better Board member? Let us know!

Are you a volunteer?

2009-07-08T13:45:00.000-07:00

Are you wondering how to respond to President Obama’s call to service? A number of local organizations in Seattle offer great resources for serving as a volunteer, including skills-based volunteerism and board service training.

Panelists at EPIP's Philanthropology workshop suggested that next generation philanthropy professionals stay grounded by volunteering for a local nonprofit. It will help remind you of what it's like to be on the fundraising/service delivery side of the fence, and will also help keep you critical of your own practices, while you are immersed in theirs.

Seattle Works
Offers one-time and long-term volunteer opportunities, as well as The Bridge, an introductory class that trains individuals for board service.

United Way of King County
Offers one-time and long-term volunteer opportunities throughout King County.

Philanthropy Northwest
Offers a Job Bank that includes a searchable database of skills-based volunteer opportunities at nonprofits.

Starbucks
Offers a searchable database of volunteer opportunities throughout the country and encourages individuals to pledge 5 hours in their communities.

Do you have other ideas? Post them as comments and we'll add to the list!

Making Philanthropy More Personal: your thoughts?

2009-06-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

Did you see this article in the Seattle Times today? What are your thoughts?

Microsoft veterans aim to make philanthropy more personal

By Kristi Heim

Microsoft veterans are launching two Seattle nonprofits aimed at encouraging a new generation of philanthropists by using mobile phones, social networking and online connections between donors and people in need.

Each started by asking the same question: How could they involve more people, particularly the younger and less affluent, in philanthropy?

They eventually came to the same conclusion: More people would donate if they saw the difference even a small amount of money could make in another person's life.

"If they can actually see the impact of a $17 gift on a human life somewhere around the world, I believe that will open up the floodgates of hundreds of millions of micro-donors impacting the hundreds of millions of needy people around the world," said Scott Oki, a retired Microsoft executive and philanthropist for nearly two decades.

Oki and software entrepreneur Digvijay Chauhan started SeeYourImpact, a micro-charity portal that connects donors to causes and uses mobile phones to capture photos and videos from the field, showing how the donation is working.

Adnan Mahmud, a program manager at Microsoft Research, started the Jolkona Foundation with his wife, Nadia Khawaja, a University of Washington graduate student.

In the Bengali language, Jolkona means a drop of water. The site offers ways to invest in projects around the world, share with friends and see "proof of their impact."

Both SeeYourImpact and Jolkona are tapping into a generation that demands more control of their philanthropy. A generation accustomed to connecting around the world through Facebook now wants a face and a direct connection to someone they're helping.

Technology is "democratizing" philanthropy by giving people quick access to information about the issues and tools to take action, said Trevor Neilson, president of the Seattle advisory firm Global Philanthropy Group.

Click here to read the full article!

Happy Hour @ Thoa's- July 9th!

2009-06-08T15:55:00.001-07:00

EPIP's next happy hour gathering with be on Thursday, July 9th at Thoa's in downtown Seattle from 4:30-7pm.

We look forward to seeing you there!