The Community Foundation of Utah

The Foundation faciliated Ogden- Webers 5th annual Safety Net Summit.  http://www.standard.net/stories/2012/08/30/needs-summit-sees-silver-lining-winter-approaches

Every Wednesday night during the 10 p.m. news Mountain America Credit Union delivers $500 to an unsuspecting organization or an individual who is “doing good things in the community.” Previous winners have included a woman who helps families grieving the death of an infant by creating a plaster mold of their children’s hands; a group that assembles care packages for women leaving abuse, and someone who cares for abandoned horses. If you would like to nominate an individual or an organization go on line here:

http://www.kutv.com/news/features/pay-it-forward/stories/vid_22.shtml

On July 31, 2012, The Business Resource Center at Utah Valley University and the Utah Social Enterprise Collaborative (USEC) hosted “Nail It then Scale It: Business Model Generation Training” for staff and board members of local non-profit organizations. This workshop focused on implementing effective projects using the tools developed for smart start-ups. Thanks to our sponsors: the American Express Center for Community Development, GE Capital Financial Inc., and Morgan Stanley Bank N.A. for their support.

Read the full report here: Nail It then Scale It Report.pdf

The recession caused a bigger drop in giving than previous estimates, according to figures released this week by “Giving USA,“ the annual tally of American philanthropy. IRS data shows people with incomes of $200,000 or more fell by $31-billion from 2007 to 2009 and giving from those with incomes under $100,000 reduced their giving by a total of $4-billion.

Holly Hall with the Chronicle of Philanthropy looks at the numbers this way: "As the nation is about to mark the fourth year since the collapse of the financial markets, many fundraisers had expected gifts from the wealthy to have recovered by now, especially given the gains in the stock market that have helped many affluent people rebuild their net worth. But that isn't happening, some experts say, because donors feel so shaky about the economy and uncertain whether Congress will raise tax rates or limit charitable deductions."

The Giving Library is a new web site started by two philanthropists who were tired of searching for good giving opportunities. It current;y includes videos from 250 nonprofits that detail each organization’s history, mission, challenges, and plans as well as the results they have achieved.  Donors who find them interesting can then anonymously seek out more information. Foundation officials are evaluating 100 more charities that hope to be added to the site. Charities that are interested in being added to the library can apply online.  To be considered, a nonprofit must show proof of its tax-exempt status, including its Form 990 informational tax forms.  The foundation then conducts a background check to make sure gifts to the charity have been used responsibly and legally.

Think of it like a “Groupon” model for solar energy. Residents in Salt Lake County are joining forces to negotiate a bulk discount price on solar-PV panels for their homes. Working with a competitively selected solar installer, community members are tackling the often cumbersome installation process together. The end result – the more people that sign up to install solar on their homes, the lower the cost for everyone. And that means cleaner air and a healthier environment for Utah.

The Salt Lake Community Solar program is the first of its kind in Utah – a unique social entrepreneurship model organized by community members, local nonprofits (including Utah Clean Energy), and local government. As a result of this program, the cost of “going solar” in Salt Lake County has been reduced by roughly 40%. Plus the installation process is relatively painless – the installer is pre-selected, prices already negotiated, and there is a set timeline for installation. Program participants have the added benefits of producing clean, pollution-free energy, locking in their energy rates for 25 years, reducing their carbon footprint, and empowering their communities to be more self-sufficient.

This program is available to Salt Lake County residents through September 21 and plans are currently underway to coordinate a similar effort in the Park City area next year.

Utah Clean Energy’s vision for Utah is healthy, vibrant communities for all, empowered and sustained by clean energy. To learn more about Utah Clean Energy and our role in Salt Lake Community Solar Program visit our website or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. "> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . You can also sign-up for our monthly e-newsletter to get regular updates on all things clean energy.

http://www.utahcleanenergy.org

I read this morning that an insurance executive in the small town of Elkhart, Ind. left his fortune of $125 million to his hometown community foundation. The bequest by David Gundlach, who died when just 56, triples the Elkhart County Community Foundation's overall assets and will boost its grant spending from about $750,000 to $7.5-million a year.

The AP report includes this wonderful image of the benefit of a community foundation and the impact one person can have on their community. "Pete McCown, the foundation's president, told the local newspaper, The Elkhart Truth, that he had only met Mr. Gundlach a few months before his death. He said the gift would become a watershed event in the northern Indiana community's history, ranking with the arrival of its first settlers.

"I don't think we have any idea what the scope of change is going to be," Mr. McCown said. "He had greater wealth than what was expected or what we were aware of."

I hope that you have had a chance to play around with the new study that describes in real data "America’s Geographic Giving Divide"   Regional differences in giving are stark, a Chronicle study finds, and that leaves some places unprepared for the deep government cuts expected in coming years. You can see where Utah stands - and even each zip code in this Chronicle special report ans  exclusive database to research how much households give anyplace in the United States.

These awards are made to further the education or training of students whose parents or guardians have been or are incarcerated.

The Fund was established by Karl Winsness, who spent years in prison and knows the impact that can have on young people and their dreams.

Applicants must be a resident of the State of Utah, be graduating from or have graduated from a Utah High School with a GPA of 2.0 or above (though preference is given to students with a 3.0 or above), be admitted or attending a two or four-year accredited college, university or vocational/technical school, and demonstrate financial need.  Call the Foundation for more information at 801-559-3005.

2013 award deadline is February 28, 2013

Willy the Plumber Application 2013.pdf

This applicaiton is in a pdf file. If you would like a word document you can complete and submit, please call us

Razoo, a crowdfunding platform for charitable causes,  announced that its online community has raised $100 million for more than fourteen thousand nonprofits — more than half of it raised in the last nine months. This is the group that is powering Live UT Give UT on March 22, 2013 and the Live PC Give PC event in November. We have added a new section to our web site to bring people up to date with our Day of Giving, and will soon have an official web site about the event itself.

Since 2009, the organization has hosted fifteen "Giving Days" — twenty-four-hour online fundraising competitions — across the United States. To mark the $100 million milestone, Razoo is holding a $100 Million Celebration Sweepstakes on its Facebook page, in which supporters can help win prizes of up to $2,500 for a hundred nonprofits. Give it a shot!