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Sustainability, Community, Art: A Conversation with Marc Bamuthi Joseph
Posted on by Steve

The Line, a Minneapolis/St. Paul-based website focused on the "new economy," features Oakland artist and community activist Marc Bamuthi Joseph, who will be a keynote speaker at the 2011 GIA Conference in San Francisco next month.

In mid-August, the multifaceted California artist Marc Bamuthi Joseph was in residency at the Walker Art Center, asking the question: “What sustains life in your community?” He asked this question of such local artists as Leah Cooper, Desdamona, Allison Herrera, Wing Young Huie, Marlina Gonzalez, Robert Farid Karimi, Rick Lowe, Leah Nelson, and Tish Jones to learn more about the intersections of artistic engagement, sustainability, and community in the Twin Cities.
Foundation Center Releases 2011 Growth and Giving Estimates
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The Foundation Center has released the 2011 edition of its annual Foundation Growth and Giving Estimates, 2011 Edition. The report, authored by Steven Lawrence and Reina Mukai, provides a “first look” at 2010 giving and directions for 2011 and 2012 giving, together with aggregated actual 2009 giving and asset figures for more than 76,000 grantmaking U.S. foundations.

Nonprofit Finance Fund Names Antony Bugg-Levine CEO
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Nonprofit Finance Fund has named Antony Bugg-Levine as its new CEO. He replaces NFF founder Clara Miller who left the organization earlier this year to lead the F.B. Heron Foundation. Bugg-Levine will chart the organization’s course as a leader in social-sector lending and advocate for high-impact philanthropy.

Philanthropy Gains Eager Followers in Business Schools
Posted on by Steve

From Alison Damast at Bloomberg Businessweek:

When Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen first started teaching a philanthropy course at the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2000, she quickly discovered she was a pioneer in the field. There were just a handful of case studies on the topic and few, if any, teaching materials, she says. As a result, it took her about a year-and-a-half to design the curriculum for it.

Ten years later, the landscape has drastically changed. Arrillaga-Andreessen has since published 25 case studies about philanthropy. This fall she will publish a book entitled Giving 2.0, which she hopes will serve as a resource for students engaged by the topic. Interest in her class has surged at Stanford and she now offers an undergraduate course, too. Says Arrillaga-Andreessen: “Almost every year, I’m oversold.”

Early Reports from Power2Give Project
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From Aaron Fiedler at knightarts.org:

On Monday, the Arts & Science Council launched power2give.org – a project that was more than a year in the making for ASC. The website is an innovative new way to support arts, science, history and heritage projects in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. Organizations list needs for a specific project – for example, dancewear for underserved children or set design for an upcoming production. People visiting the site are then able to pick a need that interests them and make a donation.
Kansas Arts Supporters Urge Governor to Reverse Defunding Decision
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From Scott Rothschild at the Lawrence Journal-World:

With the state surplus growing, and because Gov. Sam Brownback wrongly predicted Kansas would continue to receive federal arts funding, supporters of the arts on Tuesday called on Brownback to restore state assistance to the Kansas Arts Commission.

But Brownback's office said that wasn't going to happen.

How Non-Profits Are Tapping Internet Memes and Pop Culture
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Mashable looks at a few creative examples of Non-profit organizations tapping into the power of Internet memes to get their message out. If it goes viral, then you're in business!

Power2Give Website Launched Today
Posted on by Steve

In late 2010 the Arts & Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg began development of power2give.org, a new website designed to address changing trends in philanthropic giving. Today marks the public launch of www.power2give.org. The project is designed to empower individuals to give directly to local arts, science and history projects they are passionate about.

A New Kind of Money for the Arts
Posted on by Steve

As an installment in the Social Innovation Interview Series, the website Social Velocity interviews Rebecca Thomas, Vice President of Strategy & Innovation at the Nonprofit Finance Fund:

Through the Leading for the Future Initiative, NFF is investing $1 million of change capital in each of ten performing arts organizations that are adapting their programs, operations and finances in ways that contribute to long-term health and vibrancy.
Outspoken About Outcomes for Nonprofits
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From Rick Wartzman at Bloomberg Businessweek:

In 1994, at a gathering of a dozen top social-sector leaders, Peter Drucker could clearly see potential for the nonprofit world to make huge strides in innovation, effectiveness, and impact. But a big question swirled in his head.