Grants Seek to Encourage Growth in Organized Philanthropy

Eleven regional coalitions of grant makers have received seed money from several major donors to help increase organized philanthropy among Americans.

The Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, a national organization that represents two dozen of the country’s largest such coalitions, announced the grants as the first stage of its five-year, $10-million effort to promote the creation of new foundations and corporate-giving programs.

“These grantees are local research-and-development laboratories for finding new ways of reaching out to folks who are not part of the philanthropic loop,” says Albert Ruesga, who directs the forum’s National Initiative to Promote the Growth of Philanthropy. “There is so much new wealth in this country, including an unprecedented number of new millionaires. There are lots of people who would like to do good but who don’t know how, because they did not grow up with a tradition of philanthropic giving.”

The projects — which are being coordinated by local community foundations or grant-makers’ associations — are intended to promote philanthropy among members of minority groups, for example, as well as among entrepreneurs and newly affluent business executives.

Money for the effort has come from several grant makers, including the Ford and Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundations and the Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust.

More information is available from the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, 1828 L Street, N.W., Suite 300, Washington 20036-5168; (202) 467-0472; http://www.rag.org/promote/index.html

Following are the grants that were awarded:

African American Legacy Program (Detroit): $150,000 over two years to promote charitable giving among black Americans by offering seminars for professional financial advisers, and working closely with faith-based organizations, fraternal groups, wealthy donors, non-profit groups, and legal and financial professionals. Lead organization: Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan (Detroit).

Catalyst Project (Research Triangle Park, N.C.): $165,000 over three years to increase permanent philanthropic capital from $1-billion to $3-billion over the next two decades by running educational activities for professional advisers, financial institutions, entrepreneurs, and corporations. Lead organization: Triangle Community Foundation (Research Triangle Park).

Coalition for the Promotion and Expansion of Philanthropy in the Greater Baltimore Area: $50,000 to develop methods for encouraging philanthropy among wealthy black Americans, young entrepreneurs who own small- to mid-sized companies, and baby boomers. Lead organization: Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers.

Connecticut Initiative to Promote and Expand Philanthropy (Hartford): $300,000 over three years to promote philanthropy in Connecticut by encouraging increased giving among professional advisers, wealthy people, businesses, entrepreneurs, minority-group members, and the general public. Lead organization: Connecticut Council for Philanthropy (Hartford).

Northern California Coalition to Promote Community Philanthropy (Oakland): $61,500 to increase the number of donors in the San Francisco Bay area and to create more-varied types of philanthropic organizations, foundations, and corporate-giving programs. Lead organization: East Bay Community Foundation (Oakland, Cal.).

The Philanthropy Promotion Initiative (Everett, Wash.): $325,000 over three years to promote resources that are available to donors in the Pacific Northwest, especially those for entrepreneurs, small- to mid-sized businesses, and wealthy people in high-tech industries. Lead organization: Pacific Northwest Grantmakers Forum (Seattle).

Promotion and Expansion of Philanthropy Initiative (Boston): $300,000 over three years to promote giving in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont by creating a World-Wide Web site and seeking to influence public policies on giving. Lead organization: Associated Grantmakers of Massachusetts (Boston).

Promotion of Philanthropy Committee (Philadelphia): $25,000 to promote philanthropy among the Delaware Valley’s entrepreneurs and high-growth businesses. Lead organization: Delaware Valley Grantmakers (Philadelphia).

South Florida Promotion of Philanthropy Initiative (Miami): $50,700 to promote giving among Hispanic-owned businesses, elderly Jewish people, blacks, gay men and lesbians, and others. Lead organization: Donors Forum (Miami).

Task Force on the Promotion and Expansion of Philanthropy in Minnesota (Minneapolis): $30,000 to develop the “Philanthropy Tool Kit,” which will promote various charitable-giving methods. Lead organization: Minnesota Council on Foundations (Minneapolis).

Wisconsin Entrepreneurs in Philanthropy (Milwaukee): $15,000 to plan a campaign to demonstrate that charitable endowments are sound business and tax strategies for closely held companies throughout Wisconsin. Lead organization: Milwaukee Foundation.