Community philanthropy - giving back in hard times : East Chicago Community News

Community philanthropy - giving back in hard times : East Chicago Community News: The severe recession of 2007-08 did not bring charitable giving to a screeching halt, but it did play havoc with the endowments of community foundations everywhere.

The stock market took a serious nose-dive in the past five years and these charitable endowments, the life-blood of community foundations, lost money that normally would be distributed to local nonprofit organizations.

Charity notebook: Foundation to let public vote on nonprofits competing for grant money | syracuse.com

Charity notebook: Foundation to let public vote on nonprofits competing for grant money | syracuse.com: Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Central New York Community Foundation will celebrate its 85th anniversary this year by giving away money.

The foundation is launching a grant competition, The CNY85 Giving Project, that will be based on a public vote. The project will award grants over the course of this year to four nonprofit organizations working to improve the quality of life in Central New York.

The project that gets the most public votes on the foundation's website at the end of each quarter will receive $8,500.

Foundation Keeps Up With Times - News, Sports, Jobs - The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

Foundation Keeps Up With Times - News, Sports, Jobs - The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register: "Although the foundation has given more than $5 million to groups working to improve the area since it was founded in 1972, these two grants are the largest awards the foundation has made through its discretionary funds in its entire history."

Penobscot East Resource Center Gets a New Year’s Gift

Penobscot East Resource Center Gets a New Year’s Gift: "Penobscot East’s announcement of the gift came just days after it reported that it was transferring financial management of its endowment funds to the Maine Community Foundation (MCF). Penobscot East was successful in meeting the foundation’s 25/25 Endowment Challenge, which began in 2008.

“The Maine Community Foundation has an excellent track record of managing nonprofit endowments,” Walter Reed, chairman of Penobscot East’s board, said in a statement. “This service allows us to focus on our mission and strengths, working with eastern Maine fishing communities.”"

Editorials | Rice impressive pick for Seattle Foundation | Seattle Times Newspaper

Editorials | Rice impressive pick for Seattle Foundation | Seattle Times Newspaper: "TAPPING former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice to head the philanthropic Seattle Foundation ensures strong continuity for one of the largest community foundations in the nation."