May 2013
3 posts
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Hello, World. →
My first blog post for blog.grantcraft.org.
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April 2013
8 posts
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In my brief blogging hiatus, you can catch me on... →
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“These senators have heard from their constituents — who polls show...”
– Gabrielle Giffords, in her New York Times OpEd this morning
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Announcing... my new job!
I am very excited to begin work for the Foundation Center as the Director of GrantCraft in May! Here’s the press release, and I’ll share more about the position and my work after I officially start.
I am so humbled by the incredible experiences I’ve had at the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. I’ve met amazing, passionate people who work tirelessly to create lasting...
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Relay for Life. Does its good intentions really...
This article by a cancer surviver attending Tufts University points out some serious concerns with the annual philanthropic event benefiting the American Cancer Society, including funding allocations and the language used to talk about cancer.
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State of the Nonprofit Sector 2013: Survey Results →
For the nonprofit data nerd in all of us, there are many productive ways to slice and dice the data from this year’s survey. The Nonprofit Finance Fund and Bank of America surveyed more than 6000 nonprofits and derived a few key learnings. One that stood out to me:
Under these challenging [financial] conditions, many nonprofits are unable to meet growing need in their communities:
For the...
March 2013
16 posts
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DIY Wooden Rubik's Cube →
Amazing. Beautiful. Very Intricate.
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Tax Preparation Tips from Attorney General Eric... →
Apologies for not sending out my annual taxes email this year; time got away from me. But, I hope you take a minute to read these tips and cautions from Eric Schneiderman.
Happy Tax Season!
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“I was a victim of cyber bullying during my freshman year of college. I will...”
– via an email to the listserve.
Cyber bullying is indeed a huge problem; I know few people in my generation who have not in some way been affected by it. Melanie’s message is simple, raw, and powerful. I hope that by sharing it, awareness of words and actions, especially those that are...
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Dow’s Bo Miller: Moving from ‘open-ended... →
Good video.
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Provider Finder for Nonprofits Launched by Taproot... →
I think strategic pro bono work is a hugely untapped resource for nonprofits, so I was delighted to recently learn about this tool. It’s certainly in a beta stage, but it has a lot of potential and already evident functionality.
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“Pregnancy beats cane! Pregnancy beats cane!”
– The highlight of a smile-inducing subway story.
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Top 7 telephone tips for calling a company's main...
You’re calling a general line and don’t know who will pick up. Here’s a list of my top 7 telephone tips resulting in better communication and customer service:
Identify yourself. Who are you and what is your affiliation? It’s very hard to field an inquiry without someone knowing who you are. Most people forget this.
Speak clearly. Especially when calling from a mobile...
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Did you know: Area Codes
Q. Why was New York City’s original area code 212?
A. Because it was easy to dial.
When area codes were introduced to speed the calling of long-distance numbers, telephones had rotary dials. The nearest digit to the dialing stopper, and thus the digit that could be dialed the quickest, was 1. Next came 2, and then 3.
It would seem the original numbering plan in 1947 assigned the fewest...
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“Be patient—and tough.”
– a New York teaching.
Read more in a well-articulated post by Sarah Hopela on what she learned in NYC.
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Happy International Women's Day!
Here’s to all the women who live life to the fullest, those who have paved the way for increased opportunity in the past and present, and those men who have chimed in with their undying support. It is my wish for women worldwide that we continue to raise our voices, proudly work and raise families if we choose, and celebrate our unity and spirit.
Read more about celebrations, history,...
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Community Calls For Improved Safety Measures At... →
It makes me sick that this happened. It also makes me sick that transportation precautions to protect cyclists and pedestrians are lacking in more places than they are present, and that they would absolutely mitigate the chance of fatalities. What will it take for the City to act? Also, the Bandes family has my deepest respect for pushing for a response during such a difficult time. I hope their...
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Mormons can finally say 'we got it wrong' over... →
My friend Tresa is a very skilled writer, and I liked this piece she did. Check it out.
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“After four and a half intense and wonderful years as CEO of Groupon, I’ve...”
– Andrew Mason, former CEO, Groupon, upon being fired in an email to employees.
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10 TED talks to help reimagine your work →
This is a well-selected bunch of TEDs. Watch one a day for a reenergizing prescription!
February 2013
19 posts
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Vote for Chloe Rossen and Jen Bokoff for Tufts... →
Read our bios and get easy instructions for how to place your vote in the next month! Your vote matters, and we’d love to continue to represent you!
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Who's Trying To Erase East Williamsburg's "Avenue... →
Interesting piece of Brooklyn naming drama with cultural significance researched by my friend Lauren.
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Keynote Speaker: Youth Philanthropy Connect...
I’m very excited to announce that I will be the keynote speaker at the Youth Philanthropy Connect conference in Disneyland this June! I enjoy sharing my passions and embrace the challenge of communicating new topics to enthusiastic people, so this should be a ton of fun. I’ll also be leading a few workshops while I’m there that I’m sure I’ll learn a lot from, too. The...
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garlic fingers: recipes & inspiration from an... →
Completely easy-to-follow (and delicious) food blog brought to you by my friend Allison. Enjoy!
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“The issues are complex, and there’s no magic bullet. But there are...”
– Laurie M. Tisch, President, Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund
I’m very excited about this new initiative and the conversation surrounding it.
What’s your vision to make your community healthier?
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Bringing Policy to the Table: New Food Strategies...
This morning, we’re launching the Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy at Teachers College, Columbia University and the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund’s Healthy Food & Community Change Initiative. The conference, Bringing Policy to the Table: New Food Strategies for a Healthier Society, features an incredible lineup of participants who hold positions in public...
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The Permanent Disruption of Social Media →
Social media has chipped away at the foundation of traditional donor-engagement models. A new study highlights the realities of donor behavior and how organizations can redesign their outreach strategies to be more effective.
Fantastic article. Nonprofits and those involved with fundraising, please take the time to read and reflect on how you can reshape strategies for helping your cause.
An...
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“Monopoly players around the kitchen table think the game is all about...”
– Richard Marinaccio, the 2009 U.S. national Monopoly champion
via The Meaning of Monopoly: From American socialism to German hyperinflation to worldwide vulture capitalism, the strange and shifting lessons of a favorite board game.
Interesting take.
Question: If this is indeed the object, what...
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February 8 in History
via Alexis:
It’s February 8th. Today marks the 45th anniversary of the Orangeburg Massacre, the first incident on a U.S. college campus in which unarmed student protesters were killed. South Carolina highway patrol men opened fire on a group of students protesting the segregation of a local bowling alley, killing three and injuring 27 others. One of the students shot that night was my...
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My guest post on the Grants Managers Network blog... →
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The Web-Deprived Study at McDonald's →
Yikes. What a conundrum. People increasingly need the internet to help complete school assignments, research and apply for jobs, stay current with the news, and be connected with their networks. Not everyone can afford Internet, so they look for places offering free WiFi. Cue McDonald’s, the home-base for all things unhealthy, to offer that service at more than 12,000 locations. Health...
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Watch2013 Joan H. Tisch Public Health Forum
More than 100 people gathered in person and virtually for the annual Joan H. Tisch Public Health Forum. The topic: Can City Food Policies Reduce Disparities? Lessons from New York and London.
Jennifer Raab, President of Hunter College, and Laurie Tisch gave welcoming remarks, and Sue Atkinson, the Joan H. Tisch Distinguished Fellow in Public Health at...
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Be careful what you tweet; you might actually get... →
General news article with related legal memos. Is venting online similar to venting around a water cooler, or much more?
My view: own whatever you say regardless of where you say it. And, note that sarcasm and tone are not always apparent; plan on someone ‘not getting it’.
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“Mr. Koch is survived by New York itself”
– Very true.
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Jim O’Grady talks about Grand...
January 2013
21 posts
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23 Year Game of Tag →
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Wealthy Young Donors Push Charities to Show... →
Bottom line: This article argues that 20 and 30-somethings with wealth want to clearly see how their financial gift will advance a cause, but that they also respect established histories of giving in their family. Makes sense. I’m excited to see more stories in the coming years on what causes specifically millennial donors are giving to, and how exactly philanthropic gifts from these young,...
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