I’ve meant to post this sometime ago, but things slipped by (like and election). This is a great piece by Michael Seltzer a contributor to PhilanTopic.
Happy Reading
A to Z Survival Guide for Uncertain Times
John Denny
Chair
What an amazing PSVP afternoon and night I had today! First I joined a group of partners for a “Site Visit” with one of our three finalist organizations — Strong Girls Strong Women. These “Site Visits” are more like informal, get-to-know-you conversations, where I think we partners get a better understanding of PSVP and what we have to offer than about the strength of the nonprofit organization. Let me explain.
We had a wonderful discussion with Lynn Garfinkle, the E.D. of Strong Girls Strong Women. Our partners (three of the four who attended have less than one year experience as a partner) asked very good questions about the girls, the mentors, the current and future plans of the organization, its financial situation, board participation — all the things you would expect from “seasoned”, professional grant-makers — not first time, and part time grant-makers!
But at the end of the discussion, when the executive director left the room so we partners could talk, we didn’t talk much about or critique Strong Girls Strong Women. Oh we asked some clarifying questions among ourselves — but here is the real kicker — we were more concerned about whether we, PSVP as a funder, were strong enough and had the resources (mainly human capital talent) to really help this organization. How cool is that — as funders we are more concerned about our end of the deal rather than the applicant living up to their end of the deal! A total reversal in philanthropy.
The second awesome event started with me picking up my 10 year old daughter,Kelsey, from swim team practice and rushing to meet 25 other kids between the ages of 8 and 11 and their parents for the launching of PSVP KIDS. We met at an amazing place in Squirrel Hill — The Children’s Institute.
PSVP partners and really great moms Carrie Barman and Tesse Nicholson worked all summer long in planning and launching an eight month long program for partner’s kids and a few friends of PSVP to learn about giving back in the community, the needs of the community, and their role in helping our community. Carrie and Tesse were really smart in enlisting the help and coordination of Dan Horgan, Executive Director of Pittsburgh Cares. Dan, Carrie, and Tesse lead the kids through some fun team building exercises that taught them about team work, inclusion, and thinking outside the box.
Over the next eight months our PSVP Kids will go on site visits and do volunteer work with senior centers, foster care kids, environmental groups, and homeless families. At the end of their work after raising $200 per kid in the program, our PSVP Kids will decide among themselves which of the organizations they visited will receive the $2,500 in grant money.
But that’s not all! PSVP Kids will learn about leverage — after making the grant they will go pitch some companies and foundations to match their $2,500 grant by making a formal presentation. Stay tuned!
John Denny
Chair
Better Late than never! I wish I would have posted this earlier today so that we could have participated, but there was an interesting online conversation about operating support.
80% of the money that foundations distribute to charitable causes is earmarked for charity programs and other purposes so it cannot be uses for basic operating costs like utilities, rent, supplies, etc.
Our very own Paul Shoemaker, founding partner and Executive Director of Seattle SVP directs the online conversation.
check it out.
John Denny
Chair, PSVP
PSVP investment SNAP Pittsburgh was covered in the Pittsburgh Business Times.
University of Pittsburgh, 3 Others get violence prevention grant
The University of Pittsburgh and three community groups will share $3.9 million in funding from Pennsylvania to study causes and the prevention of violence.
The project will examine how such factors as brain function and environmental characteristics may interact to place children at risk for violent behavior, according to a news release from the University of Pittsburgh, which is working with Auberle, Holy Family Social Services and the Kingsley Association on the study.
Another factor in the study is the evaluation of the Stop Now and Plan (SNAP) Program, designed to target young children at risk for developing serious violent tendencies.
The grant was awarded as part of Pennsylvania’s share of the national tobacco settlement.
Auberle is a McKeesport-based agency that serves at-risk youth and families; Holy Family Social Services is a multi-purpose social service agency for residents of the Hill District; and the Kingsley Association creates neighborhood-based programs with a focus on helping youth.
More info on SNAP