Austin Community FoundationAustin Community Foundation bloghttps://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog.aspxFunding for AISD Mental Health Centers is a Community Affairhttps://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/259/funding-for-asid-mental-health-centers-is-a-community-affair.aspxImpactWed, 07 Nov 2018 14:14:53 GMT<p><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Group%20Shot1.jpg" style="float: right; width: 300px; height: 225px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" />By Meagan Anderson Longley, VP of Community Impact</p> <p>Last week, we joined stakeholders from across the community&nbsp;to celebrate the important work of Austin Independent School District&rsquo;s (AISD)&nbsp;mental health centers.&nbsp;A recent change in federal funding meant that AISD was faced with the reality of closing 16 of their campus-based, professionally staffed&nbsp;mental health centers for the 2018-2019 school year. Thanks to a groundswell of local support&mdash;including over $100,000 donated by Austin Community Foundation fundholders&mdash;the funding gap was closed.</p> <p>We gathered in the beautiful library at Bertha Sadler Means Young Women&rsquo;s Leadership Academy and heard directly from faculty and staff. In a passionate introduction to the school, Principal Christina Almaraz-Ortiz described her commitment to meeting each student&rsquo;s unique needs&mdash;mind, body, and soul. On a campus in which over 95 percent&nbsp;of students are eligible for free or reduced lunches, those needs span far beyond the classroom.&nbsp;The on-campus mental health center is a critical piece of Principal Ortiz&rsquo;s commitment, and the on-site therapist from Austin Travis County Integral Care has become an important thread in the fabric of the Sadler Means community. &nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Our takeaways</strong>:</p> <ul> <li>In 2017-18, the AISD Police Department responded to 781 mental health crisis calls, an increase of 63 percent since 2013-14.</li> <li>Students face significant barriers to getting mental health support, including cost, language, transportation, navigating health insurance coverage&nbsp;and more.&nbsp;</li> <li>School counselors alone cannot meet the need and are able to refer highest-need students to a trusted professional on campus.</li> <li>Students are presenting at the mental health centers reporting issues related to trauma, self-injury, suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide and other mental health crises. &nbsp;</li> <li>With support, students can heal and excel academically and socially.</li> </ul> <p>ACF is proud to join forces with our colleagues from St. David&rsquo;s Foundation, Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, Austin Travis County Integral Care, Seton Ascension, and AISD to ensure the continued services delivered through <a href="https://www.austinisd.org/student-health/smhc">school-based mental health centers</a>.</p> 259Year-End Giving Tips for 2018 & Beyondhttps://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/258/year-end-giving-tips-for-2018-beyond.aspxPhilanthropy TipsWed, 10 Oct 2018 14:44:47 GMT<h3><strong>By Todd Miller, CPA</strong><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/download.jpg" style="float: left; width: 215px; height: 268px; margin: 10px;" /></h3> <p><br /> Last year, Congress passed some of the largest tax law changes experienced in decades. For individuals, the tax law changes as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are primarily in effect beginning in 2018 and last through 2025.<br /> <br /> <font color="E82C2E">The law changes require every taxpayer to revisit their personal situation, specifically their charitable giving strategy, to see if their current approach to tax planning still provides them with the same benefit as it did prior to the law changes.</font> &nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;</p> <h3><strong>Below are some of the biggest impacts to the majority of taxpayers:</strong></h3> <ul> <li><em><strong>Tax Rates</strong></em> &ndash; A new tax rate structure with the highest tax rate dropping from 39.6 percent to 37 percent, the highest rate applying to single taxpayers with taxable income above $500,000 and $600,000 for married couples filing jointly. An overall reduction in tax rates at all income levels was also part of the tax bill.<br /> &nbsp;</li> <li><em><strong>Standard Deduction</strong></em> &ndash; The standard deduction increases from $12,700 to $24,000 for joint filers and from $6,350 to $12,000 for single taxpayers. Given these changes, many taxpayers will no longer itemize deductions and instead take advantage of the higher standard deduction.<br /> &nbsp;</li> <li><em><strong>Exemptions</strong></em> &ndash; In 2017, taxpayers were able to claim a $4,050 personal exemption for themselves, their spouses and any dependents. &nbsp;Starting in 2018, taxpayers can no longer claim personal or dependency exemptions.<br /> &nbsp;</li> <li><em><strong>State &amp; Local Taxes</strong></em> &ndash; The itemized deduction for state and local income, sales and property taxes is limited to a total of $10,000 starting in 2018.<br /> &nbsp;</li> <li><em><strong>Charitable Contributions</strong></em> &ndash; The deduction for charitable contributions was not impacted for the most part. &nbsp;However, the deductibility limit on cash contributions to public charities increased from 50 percent of adjusted gross income to 60 percent.<br /> &nbsp;</li> <li><em><strong>Miscellaneous Itemized Deductions</strong></em> &ndash; There is no longer a deduction allowed for items such as tax preparation costs, investment expenses, union dues and unreimbursed employee expenses. &nbsp;Historically, these items were deductible to the extent they exceeded two percent of the taxpayer&rsquo;s adjusted gross income.<br /> &nbsp;</li> <li><em><strong>Overall Limitation on Itemized Deductions</strong></em> &ndash; The new law suspends the overall limitation on itemized deductions that formerly applied to taxpayers whose adjusted gross income exceeded certain thresholds. &nbsp;</li> </ul> <p>Given the increased standard deduction, the limit on state and local tax deductibility and suspension of miscellaneous itemized deductions, many taxpayers will find it more important to plan their philanthropic giving in order to maximize the charitable contribution deduction.<br /> <br /> Many of the same techniques used historically for charitable giving are still valid under the new tax law. However, there are some new strategies to consider when making charitable contributions in 2018 and beyond. &nbsp;</p> <h3><strong>Popular ways of giving include:&nbsp;</strong></h3> <ul> <li><strong><em>An outright cash gift</em> </strong>&ndash; A <a href="https://www.austincf.org/DonorsFundholders/DonorsFundholdersWhyWorkWithUs/WhatisaDonorAdvisedFund.aspx">donor-advised fund</a> (DAF) is an ideal way to receive an immediate income tax deduction, manage gifts to multiple charities, or defer giving to a later date.<br /> &nbsp;</li> <li><em><strong>A gift of appreciated assets</strong></em> &ndash; A sale of an appreciated asset and subsequent cash contribution generates income tax on the gain and potentially subjects the gain to an additional net investment tax of 3.8 percent, which ultimately results in less cash to the charity. A more widely-used technique is to <a href="https://www.austincf.org/DonorsFundholders/DonorsFundholdersWhyWorkWithUs/TypesofAssets.aspx">donate the appreciated asset</a> to the charity directly, which results in a potential fair market value deduction. &nbsp;In order to benefit from the fair value deduction the appreciated asset has to meet certain criteria and may still be subject to adjusted gross income limitations. &nbsp;However, gain recognition is avoided on the sale and the charity receives an asset with a larger value than in the sale scenario. &nbsp;The donation of appreciated publicly held securities is one of the most popular non-cash giving techniques. With the recent stock market gains, many taxpayers may have substantially appreciated investments that would be ideal for this purpose. &nbsp;</li> </ul> <h3><strong>New strategies for giving:</strong></h3> <ul> <li><em><strong>Timing</strong></em> &ndash; To ensure you receive the most benefit under the new law, the timing of your charitable contribution may be the most important decision for you to make. Given that the standard deduction is now $24,000 for married couples, the sum of the state and local tax deduction (limited to $10k under the TCJA), mortgage interest deduction and charitable contributions must exceed $24,000 in order to receive a tangible charitable contributions tax benefit.<br /> &nbsp;</li> <li><em><strong>Bundling</strong></em> &ndash; Taxpayers may want to consider bundling charitable contributions every other year to increase their itemized deductions to a level that surpasses the standard deduction every other year (and take advantage of the standard deduction in the alternate years). A <a href="https://www.austincf.org/DonorsFundholders/DonorsFundholdersWhyWorkWithUs/WhatisaDonorAdvisedFund.aspx">DAF</a> is a useful tool to manage bundling.<font color="E82C2E"><em>Note: You will want to discuss this possible negative impact to bunching your charitable contribution if your contribution amount exceeds the AGI limitations.</em></font><br /> &nbsp; <ul> <li><strong>Example Scenario</strong><br /> <em>Consider a taxpayer with a 2018 property tax deduction capped at $10,000, mortgage interest deduction of $8,000 and who historically makes charitable contributions of $5,000 at the end of the year. The total itemized deductions for 2018 is $23,000 ($1,000 less than the new $24,000 standard deduction).<br /> <br /> The taxpayer receives no charitable contribution tax benefit. As an alternative, the taxpayer may wait until January 2019 to make the $5,000 charitable contribution and, before the end of 2019, donate an additional $5,000.<br /> <br /> In this scenario, the taxpayer still benefits from the $24,000 standard deduction in 2018. However, in 2019, the taxpayer may itemize deductions as the updated itemized total is $28,000 ($4,000 higher than the standard deduction). The bundling of the charitable deductions in 2019 provides tax savings that are not realized when $5,000 is donated annually for 2018 and 2019.</em>&nbsp;</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p>While the tax law brought about many changes, the charitable giving rules under the new law remained virtually unchanged. However, variations to the itemized deduction limits and an increase to the standard deduction make it important for all taxpayers to re-examine their personal deduction strategy and charitable giving approach to maximize their after-tax impact. &nbsp;</p> <hr /> <p><strong>Interested in opening a DAF?</strong> <a href="https://www.austincf.org/DonorsFundholders/DonorsFundholdersWhyWorkWithUs.aspx">Learn what Austin Community Foundation can do for you.</a><br /> <br /> <em><a href="https://www.mlrpc.com/team/todd-miller/">Todd Miller</a> is a certified public accountant and tax partner at the Round Rock office of Maxwell, Locke &amp; Ritter. He has almost 15 years of experience in taxes, family partnerships and </em><em>pass</em><em> through entities and their owners.</em></p> 258The Maternal Mortality Rate is Still Too Highhttps://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/257/the-maternal-mortality-rate-is-still-too-high.aspxImpactMon, 01 Oct 2018 20:46:12 GMT<p><img alt="Unsplash | Kevin Liang, Mom and baby" src="/Portals/0/kevin-liang-683790-unsplash.jpg" style="float: right; width: 350px; height: 233px; margin-right: 15px; margin-left: 15px;" />Last week, the Women&rsquo;s Fund partnered with Dell Medical School&rsquo;s <a href="https://dellmed.utexas.edu/support/societies/society-for-health-and-women">Society for Health and Women</a> to discuss the issue of maternal mortality in Central Texas. The big question on everyone&#39;s mind: <strong>why are pregnancy and childbirth so much deadlier in the U.S. than in other advanced countries?</strong> Here&rsquo;s what&rsquo;s being done in Austin to address the issue.</p> <h3>The Data:</h3> <p>2012 was reported to be the year when maternal mortality rates in Texas skyrocketed. In fact, Texas was thought to have the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world. It turns out, the data was wrong, but the numbers are still high.</p> <p>Earlier this year, the Texas maternal mortality task force released a report in the medical journal, <a href="https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Citation/2018/05000/Identifying_Maternal_Deaths_in_Texas_Using_an.3.aspx">Obstetrics &amp; Gynecology</a>, which reanalyzed the 2012 data under a new methodology. They found that the number of women in Texas who died due to pregnancy-related deaths in 2012 was 56, previously reported to be 147. In 2016, the national average of pregnancy-related deaths was 20.</p> <h3>Changing the Numbers:</h3> <p><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Seton-22.jpg" style="float: right; width: 350px; height: 233px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" />Proper care for women before, during, and after pregnancy is a difficult task and there isn&rsquo;t one solution that can solve the maternal mortality issue. It takes a team working together to spot individual traits and concerns that have the potential to lead to a higher risk of maternal mortality.Dr. Amy Young and her team describe their work in the Department for Women&rsquo;s Health at UT Austin and how they come together to provide holistic care for women.</p> <ul> <li><em>&ldquo;We need to approach family planning as a public health need. That starts by training our doctors to&nbsp;address family planning at all touch points in healthcare.&rdquo;</em></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left: 100px"><strong>Dr. Lauren Thaxton</strong><br /> <font size="2">UT Health Austin Care Team Member<br /> Assistant Professor, Department of Women&#39;s Health</font></p> <ul> <li><em>&ldquo;Caring for mothers throughout perinatal and post-partum stages is crucial. In fact, 60% of mood&nbsp;disorders during the perinatal stages of pregnancy go undiagnosed, which directly relates to some of the leading causes of maternal mortality; suicide and overdose.&rdquo;</em></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left: 100px;"><strong>Dr. Ashley Choucroun</strong><br /> <font size="2">Assistant Professor, Department of Women&#39;s Health<br /> Assistant Professor, Department of Population Health</font></p> <ul> <li><em>&ldquo;The human body is a complex system. There are more molecules in the human body than there are stars in the universe. Through partnerships across campus, particularly in Data Science, we&rsquo;ve been able to use existing data with machine learning to better predict signs of risk.&rdquo;</em></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left: 100px;"><strong>Dr. Radek Bukowski</strong><br /> <font size="2">Associate Chair for Investigation and Discovery, Department of Women&#39;s Health<br /> Professor, Department of Women&#39;s Health</font></p> <hr /> <p><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Seton-53.jpg" style="float: right; width: 375px; height: 227px; margin-right: 10px; margin-left: 10px;" />Thank you again to Dell Medical School, the panelists and everyone who attended for your support and hard work in our community. Keep up with the research being done in this area by the <a href="https://dellmed.utexas.edu/units/department-of-womens-health">Department of Women&rsquo;s Health</a>.</p> <p><strong>Want to get involved?</strong> Learn how you can support women across Central Texas by investing in the <a href="https://www.austincf.org/WhatWeDo/WomensFund.aspx">Women&rsquo;s Fund</a>.</p> <p><font><em>Panelists included (from left to right): Dr. Amy Young, Dr. Lauren Thaxton, Dr. Ashley Choucroun and Dr. Radek&nbsp; Bukowski</em></font></p> 257Austin ISD’s Approach to Mental Health Serviceshttps://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/239/aisds-approach-to-mental-health-services.aspxImpactMon, 10 Sep 2018 16:04:12 GMT<p><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/children-cute-drawing-159823.jpg" style="float: right; width: 300px; height: 200px;" />September marks the end of summer and for many families, the beginning of a new school year. In addition to new routines, homework, and extra-curricular activities, school safety is on the minds of students, parents, and educators. In light of school shootings across the country, even right here in Texas, the need for robust school-based mental health programs has never been more pressing.&nbsp;</p> <p>One in five children suffers from a mental health or learning disorder and 80% of chronic mental disorders begin in childhood. With more than 82,000 students enrolled in the Austin Independent School District (AISD), educators are on the front lines of caring for the youth in our community.</p> <p>Last week we invited leaders from AISD to share their insights into the needs, opportunities, and challenges of mental health services in our schools. This discussion is part of our monthly panel series, Austin Area Funders, which is a group of charitable foundations and funders that meet regularly to discuss our community&#39;s most pressing needs.&nbsp;</p> <h3>Here are our top three takeaways from Tuesday&#39;s event:</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Holistic support is key:</strong> Mental health care for students expands well beyond counseling services at the individual level. Leaders at AISD work to create a positive and healthy environment for students in every interaction. From parents to teachers, mental health services are approachable and visible to anyone that touches a child&#39;s life.&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;</li> <li><strong>Break down stigmas:</strong> The conversation around mental health is shifting and so are our attitudes. Instead of conversations that start by asking &quot;What&#39;s wrong with you?,&quot; we&#39;re shifting to a state of understanding and acceptance to truly build trust with students.<br /> &nbsp;</li> <li><strong>Innovation matters: </strong>Caring for students is not a new idea, but school-based mental health care is a new concept. By working with key leaders from across the district, teams have been able to innovate faster and provide a deeper commitment to the whole child, on an academic level and beyond.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p>Thank you again to our panelists and attendees for your work and support in our community. Keep up with AISD&#39;s School Mental Health Centers at <a href="https://www.austinisd.org/student-health/mental-health">austinisd.org/student-health/mental-health</a>.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Are you part of a Foundation interested in attending our next Austin Area Funders event? Email <a href="mailto:info@austincf.org?subject=Interest%3A%20Austin%20Area%20Funders">info@austincf.org</a> for details on our October session!&nbsp;</p> <hr /> <p>Our September panelists included (from left to right):</p> <p><em><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/AAF_090418.jpg" style="float: right; width: 325px; height: 244px;" /><strong>Michelle Wallis</strong><br /> Executive Director, AISD Office of Innovation &amp; Development<br /> <br /> <strong>Tracy Spinner</strong><br /> Director, AISD Health Services &nbsp;<br /> <br /> <strong>Dr. Teri Wood</strong><br /> Coordinator, AISD Trust-Based Relational Intervention<br /> <br /> <strong>Pete Price</strong><br /> Director, AISD Social &amp; Emotional Learning</em></p> <meta property="og:site_name" content="ACF Blog"/><meta property="og:type" content="blog"/><meta property="og:title" content="AISD’s Approach to Mental Health"/><meta property="og:description" content="Leaders from across AISD recently shared insight into their work implementing mental health services." /><meta property="og:image" content="https://www.austincf.org/Portals/0/children-cute-drawing-159823.jpg" />239Stories of Recovery One Year After Hurricane Harveyhttps://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/56/recovery-one-year-after-hurricane-harvey.aspxImpactWed, 22 Aug 2018 13:16:54 GMT<p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt">This week marks one year since Hurricane Harvey devastated the Texas Gulf Coast and surrounding areas. Shortly after the hurricane made landfall, the Central Texas philanthropic community came together to support revitalization in areas neighboring Central Texas impacted by the storm. Austin Community Foundation along with partners at Capital Factory, Entrepreneur&rsquo;s Foundation of Central Texas, LiveOak Ventures, MFI Foundation, and United Way for Greater Austin, established the Central Texas Long-Term Hurricane Recovery Fund.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt">This year, the Fund granted $781,000 to six nonprofits for projects addressing the long-term recovery in three areas: housing, human services, and economic development.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt">The grants included $250,000 to <strong>PeopleFund</strong> to provide capital to small businesses impacted by the hurricane. Those funds were then leveraged by an additional $500,000 to provide up to $750,000 in capital for recovering small businesses. The PeopleFund match was made possible by funds from JPM Chase Foundation, Northern Trust, and other generous partners.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt">Below are a few stories of how this funding helped entrepreneurs rebuild their livelihoods:&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/Drift%20Away%20Spa.png" style="width: 188px; height: 207px; float: right;" />Jillian Crow&rsquo;s <b>Drift Away Day Spa</b> is showing how community efforts can help launch a business. After losing her home during Hurricane Harvey and learning that her former employer would not be able to reopen due to building damage, Jillian decided to open her own premier spa services provider in March 2018. With over 12 years&rsquo; experience working in luxury spas and the massage therapy industry, Jillian wanted to use her skillset to open her own business. Drift Away offers massage therapy and nail services, employing local estheticians to provide the best service for women and men looking to relax and pursue a healthy lifestyle. With support from the Central Texas Long-Term Hurricane Recovery Fund, Jillian was able to expand her operations to include three nail technicians, spa equipment and furniture as well as working capital for her budding small business.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><b><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/Bakery%20Kingdom.jpg" style="float: left; width: 215px; height: 198px; margin: 2px 5px;" />Bakery Kingdom</b>&rsquo;s owner, Olga Rozenstein has over 16 years&rsquo; experience as a pastry chef and finally followed her dream by opening her own bakery with her husband. Shortly after, Kingdom Bakery was profoundly impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The business was inaccessible with the building itself flooded and closed roads. After two weeks the bakery started to work in its regular hours, but there were not enough groceries to supply products to its customers. Support from the Fund provided Olga with capital to get her popular bakery up and running again.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/Jo%20D%27s.png" style="float: right; width: 189px; height: 230px;" />In 2015, Lisa Ruszczyk opened <b>Jo D&rsquo;s</b>, a women&rsquo;s clothing, jewelry, and accessory boutique. She opened her shop in a local shopping center and quickly gained popularity. Lisa&rsquo;s business was severely damaged by Hurricane Harvey; the shopping center was entirely flooded and forced Lisa to temporarily close down. After months of physical repairs to the building, Lisa was able to reopen her boutique. Thanks to support from the Fund, she has the capital to successfully relaunch her business.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt">On the anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, we share these stories of hope and recovery, and we&rsquo;re proud to see these women-owned businesses flourishing. To learn more about our relief efforts, read our <a href="https://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/News/ViewArticle/tabid/96/ArticleId/77/Austin-Community-Foundation-Awards-781-000-in-Grants-for-Hurricane-Harvey-Recovery-Efforts.aspx">news article</a>.&nbsp;</p> 56Donor-Advised Funds Don't Deserve the Derision https://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/57/donor-advised-funds-dont-deserve-the-derision.aspxGeneralFri, 17 Aug 2018 14:19:14 GMT<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><i>Published in the <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2018/08/16/viewpoint-donor-advised-funds-dont-deserve-the.html">Austin Business Journal</a> on August 17, 2018</i></p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><i><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Staff/mike.png" style="width: 150px; float: right; height: 150px;" /></i>Recently, a few vocal critics have taken to the national press to paint a one-sided and incomplete picture of donor-advised funds &mdash; a tool that provides millions of dollars annually to Austin nonprofits. The recent rise in popularity of donor-advised funds, especially of those offered by large financial institutions, has caused some to question the value and impact of such funds. This skepticism ignores the distinction between commercial donor-advised funds and those held by local community foundations like Austin Community Foundation.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">Donor-advised funds are a powerful philanthropic vehicle to address both urgent and long-term community needs. These funds, which can only be used for philanthropic purposes, allow donors to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax benefit and recommend grants over time. Since 1977, Austin Community Foundation has partnered with individuals, families and corporations to make a positive impact in Central Texas, and donor-advised funds are just one of the charitable instruments that our partners use to create a better Austin for everyone.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">According to the Columbus Survey, an annual financial analysis of community foundations in the U.S., contributions from donors to the 100 largest community foundations totaled more than $8.9 billion in 2017, an increase of approximately $780 million compared to 2016. But the real story is the impressive amount of money granted out to nonprofits. The same community foundations paid out $1.1 billion more in grants in 2017 than in 2016.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">Austin Community Foundation was granted more than $31 million in 2017 &mdash; a 33 percent increase over the prior year. In our 40-year history, we have granted out more than $300 million in Central Texas and beyond. Most importantly, over 80 percent of these grants go to nonprofits right here in Central Texas that are providing critical services to our neighbors. Donor-advised funds at the foundation have an average annual grant-making payout of 15 percent, three times higher than the minimum payout of private foundations. Many of these funds have been at the foundation for years, and have grown in size and impact through thoughtful and prudent investment.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">Austinites create donor-advised funds at the foundation because they want to work with an organization that invests in their community, is deeply rooted here and shares their commitment to improving the lives of residents now and far into the future. They trust our staff to provide valuable expertise, exemplary personal service and a knowledgeable presence in the community.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">Together with our donors, we have made an important and lasting impact in Austin:</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">&bull; $14.6 million to the Long Center for the Performing Arts</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">&bull; $3 million in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education as a pathway to economic success</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">&bull; $1.2 million to preserve and improve park spaces, including the boardwalk at Lady Bird Lake, Waller Creek and Republic Square</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">&bull; More than $500,000 invested in People&rsquo;s Community Clinic in the past three decades.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">But Austin Community Foundation is so much more than a collection of donor-advised funds. We complement the assets from donor-advised funds with an even larger pool of endowed funds, scholarships, programs and impact investments to serve the needs of our community for generations.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">Austin Community Foundation is the catalyst for generosity in Austin and has been for the last 40 years. We bring together philanthropists, dollars and ideas to create the Austin where we all want to live. As our region balances on an inflection point of growth and a widening economic gap, we are committed more than ever to making our city a place where everyone can thrive. Gifts to the foundation and donor-advised funds support our ability to create unique problem-solving collaborations, engage in strategic grant making, and invest in the city we love.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">Mike Nellis is CEO of Austin Community Foundation.</p> 57A New Tech Tool for Philanthropistshttps://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/44/new-tool-for-philanthropists.aspxGeneralPhilanthropy TipsTue, 03 Jul 2018 15:28:04 GMT<p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><strong>Written by Erica Renstrom, Donor Relations Manager</strong></p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt">Austin is a charitable community, and Austin Community Foundation donors have been giving to the causes they care about for over 40 years. In 2017, our fundholders&nbsp;granted $15.4 million into the community. As the need for efficiency grows within our personal lives, so does the need for efficient and accessible philanthropy.<img alt="" src="Uploads/Images/Blogs/IMG_1036.jpg" /></p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt">The <a href="https://www.austincf.org/DonorsFundholders/DonorsFundholdersWhyWorkWithUs/WhatisaDonorAdvisedFund.aspx">donor advised fund</a> (DAF) was first introduced <img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/IMG_1036.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 225px; float: right; margin: 2px;" />in the 1930s to the philanthropic sector as a tool to give efficiently without the burden of creating a private foundation. DAFs continue to be a powerful philanthropic tool, but a lot has changed in the past 87 years. Today, the Foundation offers a new technology-based solution to support your charitable giving needs. Modern Giving is a tool we&rsquo;ve created alongside <a href="https://www.pinkaloo.com/">Pinkaloo Technologies</a> to address the growing need for accessible, efficient and democratic philanthropy in our community and beyond.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt">With Modern Giving, you can make donations to any nonprofit of your choosing at any time, receive immediate tax deductions, and consolidate documentation all on your mobile device or desktop. You can also connect with other modern philanthropists on your giving goals, earn badges for your charity and measure the impact you create in our community.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><b>How it works </b></p> <ul> <li style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in">Download the Modern Giving app on your mobile device or visit <a href="https://moderngiving.austincf.org/">moderngiving.austincf.org</a> to set up an account.</li> <li style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in">Easily deposit funds into your account anytime based on your budget. Schedule monthly recurring deposits to build your balance and achieve your giving goals.</li> <li style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in">Efficiently track your giving throughout the year, making tax-time easy with one itemized receipt for your charitable tax deduction. You can also upload tax receipts from other donations given outside of your Modern Giving Account.</li> <li style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in">Support your favorite causes by donating to any 501(c)(3) organization. Share your philanthropic activity with other members via the Giving Feed and earn badges for doing good.</li> <li style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in">Your Modern Giving account is free.*&nbsp;</li> <li style="margin:0in 0in 8pt 0.5in">As a part of your account, you join the Foundation&rsquo;s community of givers by making an annual $25 gift to the <a href="https://www.austincf.org/WhatWeDo/AustinLeadershipFund.aspx">Austin Leadership Fund</a>, which supports change-making work to close the opportunity gap in Central Texas. You will be invited to our annual fundholder meeting, gain access to exclusive donor education events and connect with a diverse community of philanthropists that care about Austin.</li> </ul> <p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt">Are you interested in Modern Giving? Visit <a href="https://moderngiving.austincf.org/">moderngiving.austincf.org</a> to set up an account or <a href="malito:erenstrom@austincf.org">contact me</a> to learn more.</p> <p><sub>*Credit card processing fees apply. To avoid credit card fees, directly transfer money from your bank account.</sub></p> 44Tips for Year-End Charitable Givinghttps://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/41/tips-for-year-end-charitable-giving.aspxGeneralPhilanthropy TipsTue, 02 Jan 2018 16:59:06 GMT<p>By Steve Shook, CPA</p> <form action="/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/21/6-year-end-planning-tips-for-your-charitable-giving.aspx" enctype="multipart/form-data" id="Form" method="post"> <p>Many of these tips are identical to prior years&rsquo; planning opportunities because most of the same principles continue to apply to taxpayers and remain beneficial.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> However, significant tax reform legislation&nbsp;may significantly impact your personal tax situation.&nbsp;Some of the provisions being considered are a possible reduction to certain individual income tax rate levels, and dramatic changes to the standard deduction and certain itemized deductions.&nbsp;You will need to stay informed on the progress of tax reform, and in some situations, you may decide the current year tax rate benefit is more definitive than the uncertainty of the timing of tax reform.</p> </form> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">1. <b>Consider opening or adding to a donor advised fund.</b> Transferring assets to a donor advised fund can allow you to receive an immediate charitable income tax deduction, generating tax benefits at the maximum amount allowed for gifts to public charities.&nbsp;The decision as to which charities to benefit can be extended beyond the year of the gift.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.austincf.org/DonorsFundholders/DonorsFundholdersWhyWorkWithUs.aspx">Learn what an Austin Community Foundation fund can do for you</a><a href="https://www.austincf.org/DonorsFundholders/DonorsFundholdersWhyWorkWithUs.aspx">.</a><br /> &nbsp;</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">2. <b>Review timing of your charitable gifts.</b> Discuss with your advisor the optimization of charitable deductions considering your projected income level and tax rate this year and next year (or future years).&nbsp; Cash contributions can be deducted up to 50 percent&nbsp;of your adjusted gross income (AGI), and the market value of appreciated property held for more than one year can generally be deducted up to 30 percent&nbsp;of AGI. Some limitations exist on certain itemized deductions, which can influence the level of giving. <a href="https://www.austincf.org/DonorsFundholders/DonorsFundholdersWhyWorkWithUs/TypesofAssets.aspx">Learn what types of assets</a> the Foundation can accepct for your fund or your favorite charity&#39;s fund.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">3. <b>Select optimal assets to give to charity.</b> To avoid capital gains taxes and the 3.8 percent&nbsp;net investment income tax, consider giving appreciated property held more than one year to charity.&nbsp;Contrast this with the less efficient practice &ndash; the sale of the property, recognition of the gain and payment of the income tax, and contribution of the net cash to charity.&nbsp;Transfers of appreciated property that meet the holding period requirement provide you with an income tax deduction equal to the fair market value of the property (subject to AGI limitations). And, the tax-exempt charity can then sell the property and pay no capital gain tax. <a href="http://www.austincf.org/DonorsFundholders/GiveNow/GiveStock.aspx">Donate stock to your fund or a charity&rsquo;s fund</a>.<br /> &nbsp;</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">4. <b>Donate IRA distributions to charity.&nbsp; </b>Individuals over age 70-1/2 are permitted to exclude from income up to $100,000 of their required minimum distribution (RMD) where the RMD is paid directly to a qualified charity.&nbsp; For married individuals filing a joint return, the limit is $100,000 per individual IRA owner.&nbsp; Most public charity recipients are considered qualified charities, while private foundation organizations and donor advised funds are not.&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">5. <b>Check your beneficiaries.&nbsp;</b>Many people experience a significant life event and never consider the need to update their beneficiary designations on retirement accounts or life insurance policies.&nbsp;Consider adding a charity, your donor advised fund or the Austin Community Endowment Fund as a partial beneficiary (5 percent&nbsp;or more) of your retirement account or life insurance for possible tax savings. <a href="http://austincommunityfoundation.planmylegacy.org/">Learn more about planning now to give later.</a><br /> &nbsp;</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">6. <b>Hold an end-of-year family meeting.</b> Consider conducting a family meeting to discuss investments and philanthropy. Family meetings are a valuable tool to engage your children and family members and share your values regarding wealth and philanthropy.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><em>Shook, a principal with ProActive Finance Group, works with individuals, families, closely-held businesses and private equity groups. Shook served as a member of Austin Community Foundation&#39;s Board of Governors for seven&nbsp;years, and he chaired the Board from 2011 to 2013.&nbsp;Shook has a donor advised fund at Austin Community Foundation.</em></p> 41Colorado’s Investment in Teen Pregnancy Prevention https://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/40/colorados-investment-in-teen-pregnancy-prevention.aspxGeneralImpactThu, 30 Nov 2017 17:41:48 GMT<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/ACF%20Ellen%20Marshall-23.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 354px;" /></p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">In November, Austin Community Foundation and St. David&rsquo;s Foundation invited Ellen Marshall, with the Colorado Initiative to Reduce Unintended Pregnancy, to <a href="http://austin-forward.org/">Austin Forward</a>, a speaker series hosted for local philanthropists that features forward-thinking leaders from around the country.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">Marshall shared Colorado&rsquo;s journey to national leadership in family planning and its success in improving health outcomes while lowering state costs. In 2009, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, with funding from a private donor, established the Colorado Family Planning Initiative to provide training, operational support, outreach and low- or no-cost long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants, to low-income women statewide.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">The Colorado Initiative worked with public and private partners to reduce pregnancies women themselves said were unplanned. The initiative was a multi-year, multi-faceted strategic approach to reduce unintended pregnancies, with special attention to the needs of low-income and uninsured women. &nbsp;</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">The initiative included four key strategies: &nbsp;</p> <ul> <li style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in">Increase access to quality services</li> <li style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in">Increase access to IUDs/implants</li> <li style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in">Promote healthy decisions and planning</li> <li style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in">Improve public policy and practices</li> </ul> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">&ldquo;No single tactic or player is going to solve this issue,&rdquo; said Marshall. She explained the framework included one foundation, 17 grantees, two coordinators and multiple stakeholders.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">The initiative focused on removing barriers to LARCs through education, counseling and financial support for women who could not otherwise pay for such birth control. They also invested in marketing and outreach campaigns on sexual health, including outdoor advertising, social media and the website, <a href="file:///C:\Users\mlongley\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary%20Internet%20Files\Content.Outlook\WH4CAY3V\The%20better%20the%20counseling%20before,%20the%20better%20the%20outcome%20after.%22%20When%20people%20know%20what%20they're%20choosing%20to%20use,%20and%20what%20to%20expect%20as%20side%20effect%20and%20how%20long%20it%20will%20work,%20and%20all%20these%20things,%20they%20they%20will%20more%20effectively%20use%20whatever%20method%20they%20choose.">beforeplay.org</a>.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">&ldquo;We really felt like there was a big need to normalize the conversation about sexual health and have something out there talking about it,&rdquo; said Marshall. &ldquo;We received so much positive feedback from the public.&rdquo;</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">Below is a brief snapshot of the program&rsquo;s astounding results (from 2009 to 2016):</p> <ul> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Birth rates among teens (15-19) dropped 54 percent</li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Birth rates among teens (15-19) with 2<sup>nd</sup> or 3<sup>rd</sup> births dropped 64 percent</li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Abortion rates among teens (15-19) dropped 63 percent</li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Abortion rates among 20-24 year olds dropped 41 percent</li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">IUD and implant use increased four times greater than the national average</li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">92 percent of teen moms who received an implant before leaving the hospital did not get pregnant again for at least two years</li> </ul> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">A lot can be learned from the Colorado Initiative. Central Texas continues to see high rates of teen pregnancy, which leaves young women less likely to finish school and much more likely to raise their children in poverty</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">Efforts like the Colorado Initiative take understanding our community&#39;s gaps, convening hard conversations and inviting both public and private sectors to the table. <a href="https://stdavidsfoundation.org/grants/strategicpriorities">St. David&rsquo;s Foundation</a> and the <a href="https://www.austincf.org/WhatWeDo/WomensFund.aspx">Women&rsquo;s Fund at Austin Community Foundation</a> are working to reduce the teen birth rate in Central Texas through education and grantmaking. Reducing teen pregnancy rates in our community has the potential to reduce high school dropout rates, improve college competition and positively affect the economy.</p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">If you&rsquo;re interested in this topic and want to get involved, contact <a href="mailto:mlongley@austincf.org">Meagan Anderson Longley</a> at Austin Community Foundation.</p> 40Reminders and Deadlines for Your Year-End Givinghttps://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/39/reminders-and-deadlines-for-your-year-end-giving.aspxPhilanthropy TipsTue, 21 Nov 2017 16:19:34 GMT<p>As 2017 comes to a close, we want your year-end giving to go smoothly. Please see below for some helpful reminders:</p> <ul> <li>Austin Community Foundation can accept donations of complex assets.&nbsp;<strong><a alt="http://www.austincf.org/DonorsFundholders/DonorsFundholdersWhyWorkWithUs/TypesofAssets.aspx" href="http://www.austincf.org/DonorsFundholders/DonorsFundholdersWhyWorkWithUs/TypesofAssets.aspx" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on">Learn more.</a></strong></li> <li>Charitable giving can be a helpful part of financial or estate planning. Learn how to<a alt="http://austincommunityfoundation.planmylegacy.org/" href="http://austincommunityfoundation.planmylegacy.org/" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on">&nbsp;plan now and give later.</a></li> <li>We also have&nbsp;<a alt="http://www.austincf.org/AttorneysAdvisors/HowWeCanHelpYou.aspx" href="http://www.austincf.org/AttorneysAdvisors/HowWeCanHelpYou.aspx" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on">resources on charitable giving</a>&nbsp;you can share with your tax advisor or estate attorney.</li> <li>Learn <a href="https://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/41/tips-for-year-end-charitable-giving.aspx">six tips for smart year-end giving</a>&nbsp;from our guest blogger, Steve Shook, CPA.</li> </ul> <p>To&nbsp;<strong>donate gifts</strong>&nbsp;to your fund:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Charitable stock donation</strong>:&nbsp;must be received in ACF brokerage account (Schwab) by 4 p.m. Central on December 29, 2017. Delivery period can vary; please consult with your advisor to plan accordingly.</li> <li><strong>Complex charitable asset donation</strong>:&nbsp;please contact&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mnellis@austincf.org" linktype="2" shape="rect" target="_blank">Mike Nellis</a>, CEO, or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cpledger@austincf.org" linktype="2" shape="rect" target="_blank">Coralie Pledger</a>, CFO, by 5 p.m. Central on December 1, 2017.</li> <li><strong>Charitable donation check</strong>:&nbsp;postmarked December 30, 2017.</li> <li><strong>Wire transfer</strong>:&nbsp;instruct your financial institution to wire your contribution on or before December 29, 2017.</li> <li><strong>Charitable donation online</strong>:&nbsp;December 31, 2017.&nbsp;<a alt="https://www.austincf.org/DonorsFundholders/GiveNow.aspx" href="https://www.austincf.org/DonorsFundholders/GiveNow.aspx" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on">Donate now</a>.</li> </ul> <p>Review&nbsp;<a alt="https://www.austincf.org/DonorsFundholders/WaystoGive.aspx" href="https://www.austincf.org/DonorsFundholders/WaystoGive.aspx" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on">ways to give</a>&nbsp;to your fund. Need assistance? Email the Donor Relations team at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:heretohelp@austincf.org" linktype="2" shape="rect" target="_blank">heretohelp@austincf.org</a>&nbsp;or call 512-472-4483.</p> <p>To&nbsp;<strong>make a grant</strong>&nbsp;from your fund to a nonprofit (to reach grantee by 12/31/17):</p> <ul> <li>Submit your request by 5 p.m. Central on December 13, 2017.</li> </ul> <p>Need assistance with your grantmaking? Email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:swatson@austincf.org" linktype="2" shape="rect" target="_blank">swatson@austincf.org</a>&nbsp;or call 512-220-1198.</p> <p>For&nbsp;<strong>accounts payable</strong>:</p> <ul> <li>Request accounts payable check by December 18, 2017.</li> <li>Last checks for the year will be mailed or will be ready for pickup at before 5 p.m. on December 22, 2017.</li> </ul> <p>Need assistance with accounts payable? Email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ap@austincf.org" linktype="2" shape="rect" target="_blank">ap@austincf.org</a>.</p> <p><strong>Holiday Hours</strong></p> <p>The Foundation office will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 22, 2017 and will reopen at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2018. Key staff will be available to remotely assist you with your important year-end business December 26 - 29, 2017.&nbsp;</p> 39Amy Allen: Helping Austin Give for 25 Yearshttps://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/36/helping-austin-give-for-25-years.aspxGeneral,Grants,ImpactTue, 25 Jul 2017 17:52:52 GMT<p><em>Amy Allen, Senior Philanthropic Officer, is celebrating 25 years of dedicated service at the Austin Community Foundation. During her tenure at the Foundation (so far), Amy has performed finance, operations, grantmaking, communications, donor relations and catering (!) roles--while also getting married and raising two girls into successful young women. Fundholders and coworkers alike admire Amy&rsquo;s sunny outlook and her genuine care for others&rsquo; needs and well-being. We invited her to share what keeps her excited about her 26th year at the Foundation.</em></p> <p><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Staff/Amy%20Allen%20(2)%20200%20200.jpg" class="noresizeLeft" /><span style="font-size: 1em; font-family: 'Proxima N W01 Smbd', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Home and Generosity</span></p> <p>I was raised in Austin by amazing parents, Nelda and Tom Francis, and surrounded by family and friends.&nbsp; I grew up in a time where Austin was a small town and everyone knew everyone. It was typical to have friends from all areas of town, of different ethnic backgrounds, with different social status.</p> <p><strong>Growing up, I was surrounded by models of volunteerism and philanthropy but I didn&rsquo;t think of it as anything special.</strong> My mother spent her free time volunteering, especially with the Junior League of Austin and the Settlement Home. My father was a member of the Young Men&rsquo;s Business League and volunteered his services to help create the dental clinic at the old Brackenridge Hospital. My father also spent part of his career renovating and preserving historical buildings downtown.</p> <p>Both my grandmothers were very strong and loving. One grandmother took pride in donating to many charities and every year her extra bedroom would be overflowing with coats to donate to Coats for Kids! My other grandmother was always helping people, whether it was her family, the church or friends, just making life better.</p> <strong> </strong> <h3>Destiny and Hard Work</h3> <p>I feel like all of my previous and varied job experience led me to the Foundation. For example, when I was 14 I had my own business selling giant handmade decorated chocolate chip cookies. Later, I worked downtown at my father&rsquo;s business and then was hired as a mail clerk by Clark, Thomas, Winters &amp; Shapiro until the firm split. At Shapiro, Edens &amp; Cook I worked in Accounting until I graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School (as did my parents and now daughters).&nbsp;</p> <p>I earned my degree in Restaurant and Hotel Management at Texas Tech University and moved to Colorado where I helped open the new Hyatt Regency in Beaver Creek, turning rooms from construction sites into five-star rooms. I also did marketing for the real estate development firms Slifer, Smith &amp; Frampton and East/West Partners, worked for a real estate broker, and had my own business, Vail Concierge Services.&nbsp; From these experiences&mdash;and others, like waitressing and being a deckhand on a deep-sea fishing boat--I learned that taking time with people and genuinely caring about their needs is not just the right thing to do&mdash;it&rsquo;s good business.&nbsp;</p> <p>After three years being away from my family, I moved back to Austin. I bought a Eurail pass with my meager savings and backpacked across Europe with my older brother. When I returned, I worked temp jobs. I was considering a job on a cruise ship out of Puerto Rico or going to Austria to work at an inn when a close family friend, George More, mentioned a job at Austin Community Foundation.</p> <p><a href="/DonorsFundholders/ImpactStories/InvestingintheCommunityYouLove.aspx" target="_blank">George More</a> was a past president of the Foundation and explained the Foundation was a charitable organization that was a community asset and they needed someone that was personable, could manage business, finances, host social events and had very good organizational skills and paid attention to details. He also mentioned I would probably be there for about 6 months and would have time to read books when it was slow.</p> <p><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/Richard%20Slaughter%20Amy%20cropped%20600%20400.jpg" class="imageleft" />I accepted the position of Administrative Assistant to the executive director Richard Slaughter.&nbsp; To this day, I have appreciated the opportunity to help the community and . . . I have never read a book unrelated to work or had a slow day!&nbsp;</p> <h3>Each Fund Is a Story</h3> <p>I was fortunate to know and learn from the Founders and the Founding Board members the original purpose of the Austin Community Foundation: to keep Austin a great place to live and to play a role in helping with community needs. <strong>When I began at the Foundation there were fewer than 100 funds totaling less than $6 million in assets&mdash;now we have about 1,100 funds that are valued at over $180 million.&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>I was never planning to dedicate my career to philanthropy. In fact, I questioned it several times throughout the years&mdash;especially with two girls in college! What has kept me here is the opportunity to support so many wonderful people that want to make a difference in our community through their philanthropy. It&rsquo;s the relationships and helping people give back.</p> <p><strong>For every fund and every donation, there is a person with a story. </strong>I am a person of faith and feel that many times I have been in the place intended for me at the right time to help others, and not only that--I receive so much more in return.</p> <img alt="" src="https://www.austincf.org/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/Allens%202014%20Christmas%20Pic%20500%20350.jpg" class="imageright" /> <p>Through my work here, I have made lifelong friends that are like family and whose strength and genuine compassion for others inspires and motivates me to continue my work. I have always felt that if everyone does a little something to give back, then together we do a lot to make the world a better place.</p> <h3>What Success Looks Like</h3> <ul> <li>Updating from typewriters to computers.</li> <li>Updating from PFS Report software to our current FIMS database.</li> <li> <p>Rolling forward into Y2K with no issues!</p> </li> <li> <p>Creating systems and processes to administer the growth of funds from 83 to 1,100.</p> </li> <li> <p>Helping a family pass along the value of charitable giving.</p> </li> <li> <p>Helping a family grieve and find healing through their charitable endeavors.</p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size: 7pt;">&nbsp;</span>Helping a nonprofit build an endowment and find a way to have an income stream and establish sustainability.</p> </li> <li> <p>Helping a group of people come together to address an issue they care about.</p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size: 7pt;">&nbsp;</span>Helping a school fund excellence through an endowment.</p> </li> </ul> <h3>The Future of the Foundation</h3> <p><strong>The Foundation will be here forever, a gift left by the people who came before us. </strong>There will come a time when I no longer work here, but I know that what our donors have built and the work I&rsquo;ve done is in good hands.&nbsp;</p> <p>I would like the Foundation to remain nonpartisan and to continue to focus on solving issues in our community. I would like to see our Community Endowment grow to support the Foundation&rsquo;s work in the community.&nbsp; We must also continue to be a place for all people to give back to their community and a place to convene conversation around community issues. We can also be a bridge for local donors who want to keep Austin vibrant and home to all.</p> <p><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/Allen%20Family%20cropped.jpg" /></p> <h3>Gratitude and Campfires</h3> <p>I could not have continued my professional career at the Foundation without the support of my husband Trevor. He and my daughters, Langley and Katie, have been right there with me. They have endured countless conversations about philanthropy and &ldquo;work&rdquo; and have also patiently waited while I finished up one last call or email. I&rsquo;m so grateful for our family times in the Hill Country, especially sitting by a campfire.</p> <p>Mostly, I feel very fortunate to work with staff past and present and all the donors, many of whom have become close friends and have fulfilled my life in ways impossible to express. &nbsp;</p>36Focusing on Doing Goodhttps://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/35/focusing-on-doing-good.aspxGeneralImpactTue, 16 May 2017 21:56:19 GMT<p><span><em><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Staff/j-barona-600x600.jpg" class="imageright" style="width: 300px; height: 300px;" /></em></span></p> <p><span><strong>Written by Jonathan Barona, Special Projects Manager</strong></span></p> <p><span>Sometimes the best approach to solving a problem is to leverage others&rsquo; strengths and focus your own effort. Fiscal Sponsorship is a service the Foundation provides to help address community-wide problems as an alternative to starting and running a nonprofit organization.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>What I enjoy most about working with Fiscally Sponsored projects is their diversity. Each is unique and interesting in its own way. For example, &ldquo;Bernstein 100&rdquo; is raising resources to celebrate the centennial year of American musical legend Leonard Bernstein with a 250-person music and dance performance in Austin next summer. Another fund is Las Comadres, a local branch of a national networking group, which is raising money to help elders remain in their East Austin homes.</span></p> <p><span>Earlier this month the Foundation formally launched its updated Fiscal Sponsorship program which I was hired last fall to create. <span>&nbsp;</span>Since the launch we have added several new projects and plan to add more projects every quarter. </span></p> <p><span><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Fund%20Images/Midvalley3.jpg" style="width: 300px;" class="imageleft" />Fiscal Sponsorship is a cost effective way for individuals or coalitions to implement new programs and test new approaches for social change in our community. It is a formal arrangement in which Austin Community Foundation agrees to provide its tax exempt status to a Project with significant community benefit but lacking its own tax exempt status. This &ldquo;umbrella&rdquo; partnership allows projects to leverage the Foundation&rsquo;s robust back-office infrastructure and technical assistance. Allowing project leaders to focus on implementing mission-based programs and services while the Foundation team takes care of the management functions of finance, legal compliance, and risk management.</span></p> <p><span>Fiscal sponsorship also assures funders and others who invest in sponsored projects that their dollars are being accounted for and well managed.</span></p> <p><span>Projects working in Central Texas that offer a unique or innovative solution to a local need or close the opportunity gap may apply for fiscal sponsorship by Austin Community Foundation.</span></p> <p><span><a href="https://www.austincf.org/WhatWeDo/FiscalSponsorships.aspx" class="ArrowLink">Learn more about Fiscal Sponsorship at Austin Community Foundation</a></span></p> <p><span class="ArrowLink"><a href="https://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Staff/JonathanBarona.aspx">Contact Jonathan</a></span></p> <p> <span class="caption"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; text-align: center; letter-spacing: normal; color: #696969;">Photo from Las Comadres, a Fiscally Sponsored Project at Austin Community Foundation</span> </span></p>35Charitable Investing that Fits Every Needhttps://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/34/charitable-investing-that-fits-every-need.aspxGeneralPhilanthropy TipsFri, 31 Mar 2017 18:45:19 GMT<!--[if !supportAnnotations]--> <!--[endif]--> <p><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Staff/Coralie%20Pledger%20(2)%20600%20600.png" class="imageright" /></p> <p><strong>Written by Coralie Pledger, CFO</strong></p> <!--[if !supportAnnotations]--> <!--[endif]--> <p>Recently Mike Nellis announced new investment options for our fundholders.&nbsp;This new offering reflects over a year of hard work by the Foundation&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/FinancialInvestmentInformation.aspx"><span>Investment Committee</span></a><span>&nbsp;</span><!--[if !supportNestedAnchors]--><a></a><!--[endif]-->&mdash;made up of outstanding business leaders, investment professionals and our investment advisor DiMeo Schneider &amp; Associates, as well as our staff.&nbsp; Inspired by feedback from fundholders, the Investment Committee designed four options that we believe are uniquely suited to the range of objectives of our diverse fundholders.</p> <p>One of the most interesting hats I wear as CFO at the Foundation is to be the staff liaison to the Investment Committee.&nbsp; It is a remarkable group of individuals that volunteer their time and expertise to steward our philanthropic assets and ensure the Foundation protects the giving power of our charitable funds.</p> <p>The committee worked to create investment options that speak to donors&rsquo; varying objectives and investment philosophies.&nbsp; These new options allow donors to select options that more closely match their time horizon goals as well as their investment cost philosophy.&nbsp;</p> <p>Some donors desire to invest their funds using an endowment model that ensures their philanthropic legacy will be maintained in perpetuity. &nbsp;Investment options with this long time horizon can take advantage of volatility in the markets and can invest in illiquid assets such as private equity, hedge funds and real assets.&nbsp; However, other donors desire to maintain more liquidity and spend down their fund over 5-7 years, so one of our mid-term options may match their time horizon better.&nbsp;</p> <p>Another option we are now providing is the choice between active management of your investments and passive management through indexed funds. Passive indexed fund have become very popular in recent years and we believe our donors should have the option for a low-cost investment portfolio.&nbsp; And of course we still have an option for those fundholders who believe active investment managers can outperform the markets.&nbsp; The Foundation&rsquo;s own discretionary endowment funds will continue to be invested in our long-term active management option.</p> <p>We hope that these investment options will provide a choice that matches your own philanthropic goals and investment philosophy.</p> <p><a href="/AboutUs/FinancialInvestmentInformation.aspx" class="ArrowLink">Learn more about your investment options.</a></p> <p><a href="/Portals/0/Uploads/Documents/Investments/Investment Options 2017.pdf" class="ArrowLink">Download information on investment options</a></p> <div> <div> <div id="_com_1" language="JavaScript"> <p><span><span><span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></p> <!--[if !supportAnnotations]--></div> <!--[endif]--></div> </div>34Forty Years of Evolving with Austinhttps://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/33/forty-years-evolving-with-austin.aspxGeneralImpactThu, 02 Feb 2017 19:32:08 GMT<p><span class="largetext">What&rsquo;s the best future you can imagine for Austin and Central Texas?<span class="largetext">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="largetext">Forty years ago, a small group of community members&mdash;a retired city worker, an attorney, a trust officer and a donor&mdash;must have asked that very question.</span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Staff/Mike%20Nellis%20(1)%20200%20300.jpg" class="thumbImg_right" />It was 1977. Willie Nelson played &ldquo;redneck rock&rdquo; at Austin&rsquo;s famous Armadillo World Headquarters, you could buy a home for $16,500, and the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0ahUKEwj_0_qak_LRAhXGxlQKHWUNCCMQFggeMAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cap10k.com%2F&amp;usg=AFQjCNGoMF75Z1lbCZ_vC5pHuDhajIKJlQ&amp;sig2=pVExhSr1KZvbgM2xFnqTJg&amp;bvm=bv.146073913,d.amc" target="_blank">Statesman&rsquo;s Capital 10K</a> made its big debut with 3,400 runners.</p> <p><span style="color: #696969;">That year Austin Community Foundation was established to meet community needs by creating a permanent endowment fund to generate earnings and distribute grants. During its first three years, the<span>&nbsp; Foundation made $12,000 in grants to preserve the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/tabid/149/ctl/Admin_Posts_AddEditPost/PostID/33/mid/512/t" target="_blank">Wild Basin wilderness area</a>, help women recovering from domestic violence, produce plays at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/tabid/149/ctl/Admin_Posts_AddEditPost/PostID/33/mid/512/t" target="_blank">Zachary Scott Theatre</a>&nbsp;and help students from low-income neighborhoods read.</span></span></p> <p><span style="color: #696969;"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/40years.jpg" class="imageleft" />That initial gift of $30,000, made in 1975 by<span>&nbsp;</span></span><a href="http://www.austincf.org/DonorsFundholders/ImpactStories/OneGiftMakesaDifference.aspx">Fannie Gray Leo</a><span style="color: #696969;"><span>&nbsp;</span>through her will, has multiplied to $180 million<span>&nbsp;</span></span> in assets, 60% of which are endowed. We now hold 1,000 funds large and small&mdash;all reflecting the interests and values of our community of givers. </p> <p> <span style="color: #696969;"><span><strong>Encouraging donors to give to local needs is still at the core of why we exist. </strong>&nbsp;</span></span><span style="color: #696969;">Yet as our region has dramatically grown and changed, the Foundation has also evolved.</span></p> <p><strong><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/1stboardmtf.jpg" class="imageright" />Like our founders, we believe everyone deserves opportunity. </strong>Now as our region balances on an inflection point of growth and change, we are focusing our work and leadership&nbsp;on closing the opportunity gap through research, data-driven grantmaking, and co-investing with fundholders.</p> <p>Throughout this year we&rsquo;ll be highlighting the people and projects that helped transform Austin with Austin Community Foundation as their philanthropic partner. We will also announce some new projects we&rsquo;ve been working on.</p> <p><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/Austin-Fireworks%20600%20400.jpg" class="imageleft" />I hope you&rsquo;ll enjoy our 40<sup>th</sup> birthday stories and celebration. I also hope you&rsquo;ll consider the question: <strong>What&rsquo;s the best future you can imagine for our city and region?</strong> How will you be part of making it happen? How will <em>you</em> invest in Austin?</p>33Making Giving Less Taxinghttps://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/30/making-giving-less-taxing.aspxPhilanthropy TipsTue, 27 Sep 2016 21:18:45 GMT<p><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Stock%20Images/iStock_000066832161_Medium.jpg" class="imageright" /></p> <p><em>For Russell Bridges, who oversees community giving at 3M, giving is a big part of life. Learn why his fund at the Foundation makes giving &ldquo;less taxing.&rdquo;</em></p> <p>My family has deep roots in Temple, Texas, where my grandfather owned Bridges Grocery. When his customers couldn&rsquo;t afford to pay, he helped them as he could to make ends meet My father did the same, providing credit to struggling families. It was just the right thing to do. My mom was a teacher and also did whatever she could to help her students in public school and also when she began teaching at the collegiate level.</p> <p> I graduated from Baylor Law School and came to Austin to work in state government. In 1984 I joined 3M in the role of governmental relations.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.3m.com/">3M</a> had just expanded to Austin and soon sought to establish a presence in this community through volunteerism and grantmaking. Helping build this program was a natural fit for me.</p> <p> Over the years, I was able to accumulate significant stock in 3M through a discounted stock purchase plan for employees. Also, part of my compensation was in 3M stock. And a dividend reinvestment is an amazing thing!&nbsp;</p> <p>So over this time, I have accrued a fair amount of stock, some at an extremely low cost basis today. I learned I could donate stock to a&nbsp;<a href="/DonorsFundholders/DonorsFundholdersWhyWorkWithUs/WhatisaDonorAdvisedFund.aspx">Donor Advised Fund</a> at Austin Community Foundation and be able to give more to my favorite charities. I immediately looked into it and opened my fund several years ago.</p> <p> My fund at the Foundation makes giving &ldquo;less taxing&rdquo; in two ways. <strong>First, donating appreciated stock is a very efficient way to give</strong>. I receive a charitable tax deduction for the market value of the stock I donate and neither I nor the charity pays capital-gains taxes when the stock is sold. <strong>Second, all of my giving is in one place</strong>. I can log in securely online and see how much I&rsquo;ve given in the past and at tax time it&rsquo;s easy to document my charitable donations.</p> <p> In my work at 3M, I value that our business community works together on philanthropy. The technology community, specifically, leverages relationships and resources to make the grant process&nbsp;easier for nonprofits. Similarly, this cooperative spirit is something I value by being part of the Foundation&rsquo;s community of givers. Through my fund I get to take part in the&nbsp;<a href="/WhatWeDo/CommunityGrants.aspx">Community Grant program</a>, reviewing quarterly grant request summaries from nonprofits working in my <a href="/Nonprofits/NonprofitsWorkingwithUs/GrantOpportunities/OurCommunityGrantProgram/CommunityImpactAreas.aspx">areas of interest</a>. In this way, I recently got to learn about a specific project the <a href="http://www.austinhumanesociety.org/">Austin Humane Society</a>&nbsp;was undertaking and was able to help fund it. We got our precious dog there, so that&rsquo;s something we really care about.</p> <div> <p>My giving is very personal. My mother was an educator, going to college while raising my siblings and me. She went on to earn her EdD in Education so I give to her alma mater, leveraging 3M&rsquo;s matching funds for employee giving to higher education. &nbsp;I love the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.unitedwayaustin.org/">United Way</a> and I served on the board for a long time. I&rsquo;m proud that 3M is one of United Way for Greater Austin&rsquo;s top campaigns. &nbsp;I also give to <a href="http://www.equalitytexas.org/">Equality Texas</a> and <a href="http://www.asaustin.org/">AIDS Services of Austin</a>. My partner Ralph and I enjoy being able to help organizations we believe strongly in.&nbsp;</p> </div> <p><strong> The most important thing anyone should know about Austin Community Foundation is it&rsquo;s not just for multi-millionaires.</strong> The Foundation makes giving easy, efficient and fun for anyone. By donating appreciated stock, leveraging my company&rsquo;s matching funds, learning about emerging local needs and having all my giving in one place, I can give more to the causes I love and spend less time keeping track of it all. My Donor Advised Fund has made it possible for me to do more&mdash;and that means a lot to me.&nbsp;</p> <div> <br /> <em><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/Russell%20Bridges%20cropped%20300x300.png" class="imageleft" style="width: 200px; height: 200px;" />Guest blogger Russell Bridges has worked as 3mgives and Government Affairs Manager at 3M for over thirty years. He manages the local 3M contributions budget and encourages employee volunteerism. 3M makes grants locally in the areas of education, community and the environment.&nbsp;</em> <p><em><br /> <img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/3M%20logo.png" style="width: 200px; height: 40px;" /><br /> </em></p> <br /> </div>30State of the Foundationhttps://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/28/state-of-the-foundation.aspxGeneral,Grants,ImpactTue, 21 Jun 2016 15:01:03 GMT<div class="largetext">As Central Texas settles into summer, it&rsquo;s a great time to take stock of the work we are doing together in our community. In the 18 months since I became CEO, we have accomplished a lot.&nbsp;</div> <div><br /> </div> <div><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Staff/Mike%20Nellis%20(1)%20299%20299.jpg" class="noresizeRight" />We continue to do what we do well: <a href="/DonorsFundholders/DonorsFundholdersWhyWorkWithUs.aspx" target="_self">connecting people with the causes</a> they care about, fostering an encosystem of philanthropy, making <a href="/WhatWeDo/CommunityGrants.aspx" target="_self">grants</a> to change-making organizations and <a href="/AboutUs/FinancialInvestmentInformation.aspx" target="_self">investing</a> for the long term.</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>We are now offering our community of givers more opportunities to learn and give. We have introduced new <a href="/DonorsFundholders/DonorsFundholdersWhyWorkWithUs/CharitableSolutions.aspx" target="_self">charitable solutions</a>, new ways for people to connect with nonprofit needs and new ways to learn about emerging opportunities to give.&nbsp;</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>We&rsquo;ve also hosted <a href="http://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/News/ViewArticle/tabid/96/ArticleId/32/Mayor-Adler-Calls-on-Philanthropists-to-Aid-in-Affordability.aspx" target="_self">local</a> and <a href="http://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/News/ViewArticle/tabid/96/ArticleId/33/Bridging-Difference-for-the-Common-Good.aspx" target="_self">national</a> thought leaders to inspire and educate our community.</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>Most importantly, we are making a bigger impact than ever before.&nbsp;</div> <p> </p> <ul> <li>Last year we granted $2.2 million in <a href="/WhatWeDo/CommunityGrants.aspx" target="_self">Community Grantmaking</a> to help local nonprofits with current needs for their change-making work&mdash;that&rsquo;s more than ever before. This increase is thanks to fundholders who became our giving partners.</li> <li>We launched a multi-million dollar <a href="/WhatWeDo/ImpactInvesting.aspx" target="_self">impact investing fund</a>, investing a small portion of our unrestricted assets in local projects. We&rsquo;ll soon announce our first round of investments in local enterprises seeking to expand their proven model of service.</li> <li>And our <a href="/WhatWeDo/WomensFundofCentralTexas.aspx" target="_self">Women&rsquo;s Fund of Central Texas</a> awarded $136,000 in grants to improve the status of women and children.</li> </ul> <div><br /> </div> <div>Recently, we asked our fundholders how we are doing. I&rsquo;m delighted that 92% of those who responded said they&rsquo;d recommend our most popular charitable solution, our <a href="/DonorsFundholders/DonorsFundholdersWhyWorkWithUs/WhatisaDonorAdvisedFund.aspx" target="_self">Donor Advised Fund</a>, to a friend. Donors report that what they value most about their fund is being part of our <a href="/DonorsFundholders/ACommunityofGivers.aspx" target="_self">community of givers</a> (70%).&nbsp;</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>We also learned that donors enjoy having easy 24/7 online access to their fund (55%) and the personalized service (53%) they receive&mdash;not a 1-800 number in another time zone.</div> <div><br /> </div> <div><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/ACF%20Events/Untitled%20Export-0018%20600%20400.jpg" class="imageleft" />Donors also value the practical benefit of getting an immediate charitable tax deduction by giving to their Donor Advised Fund (36%). They also appreciate the recommendation they received from their <a href="/AttorneysAdvisors/HowWeCanHelpYou.aspx" target="_self">financial advisor or estate attorney</a> to use our charitable solutions for their giving.</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>Yet we know there are obstacles to meeting philanthropic goals. Many donors are uncertain which nonprofits are most effective (56%) or feel overwhelmed by needs in our community (44%). Others feel there isn&rsquo;t enough information about local needs (24%). Some aren&rsquo;t sure they&rsquo;re making a difference (24%).</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>In the coming months we&rsquo;ll announce some new programs that will address donors&rsquo; needs to know more about how to give effectively in our community.</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>I believe the Foundation has a unique role to play to leverage our city&rsquo;s prosperity to meet growing needs&mdash;the community foundation has always connected across boundaries for the common good. We have a great board, a great staff and we are fortunate to have a great community. If you&rsquo;d like to learn more about any of these offerings, just give me a call.</div>28The Gravitational Force for Good in Austinhttps://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/27/the-gravitational-force-for-good-in-austin.aspxGeneralTue, 17 May 2016 21:33:39 GMT<p>By Steve Guengerich, Guest Blogger</p> <p><span class="largetext">My family and I moved to Austin more than 20 years ago. My career brought me here as a young executive in an information technology services firm that I helped co-found.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Stock%20Images/Austin%20Change%20at%20Sunset%201000%20637.jpg" class="imageright" />It was a good move. Not only was Austin on the verge of becoming one of the globally recognized centers for tech startups that it is today but it was, and still is, a marvelous place to raise a family, plant some roots, and be part of a community.</p> <p>After we sold that first tech firm, I was fortunate to be in a position to split more and more time between professional work and community work. It was during this period that the Austin Community Foundation first came to my attention.</p> <p>I quickly learned that the Foundation was what I like to call a &ldquo;center of gravity&rdquo; in the Greater Austin community&mdash;one of those places that has a very strong force to it that attracts people, resources and respect.</p> <p>What it didn&rsquo;t attract, however, was attention. I found this curious, but not altogether unusual. Because, in my work in the tech industry, I&rsquo;d come to recognize this same quality in the world of investing in new ventures.</p> <p>You see, most young entrepreneurs and first-time founders learn about the conventional forms of venture capital: angel networks, seed funds, venture capital firms (series A, B, etc.) and so forth. But, what they don&rsquo;t learn about as often is a class of highly impactful investors I refer to as &ldquo;the darknet&rdquo; of capital. These investors operate out of the limelight but share information and leverage relationships to get the right projects off the ground.</p> <p>There is of course a real &ldquo;darknet,&rdquo; a vast a portion of the internet that&rsquo;s not indexed by most search engines that is composed of peer-to-peer networks and is home to data that scientists access and share for research. In short, it&rsquo;s where techies hang out, share knowledge and resources, and where great ideas are born. However, most people don&rsquo;t know about it.</p> <p>Similarly, the more I learned about the Austin Community Foundation, the more I came to realize its place as a central hub in a web of charitable capital in Austin hidden in plain view.&nbsp;</p> <p>It&rsquo;s in plain view, because practically anywhere you look around Austin, Austin Community Foundation has played a unique role&mdash;helping to create such essential basic needs providers as the <a href="https://www.austinfoodbank.org/" target="_blank">Capital Area Food Bank</a> and <a href="https://www.austinpcc.org/" target="_blank">People&rsquo;s Community Clinic</a>; and providing grant or endowment support to the places we all love like the <a href="http://thelongcenter.org/" target="_blank">Long Center</a>, museums and arts groups and the <a href="https://www.austintexas.gov/department/ann-and-roy-butler-hike-and-bike-trail" target="_blank">Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail and Boardwalk</a>. The Foundation is also the charitable force behind <a href="http://community.statesman.com/season_for_caring.php" target="_blank">Season for Caring</a>, the Austin American-Stateman&rsquo;s annual campaign to engage our community in helping those in need during the holidays.</p> <p>Austin Community Foundation&rsquo;s name and logo appear in the fine print of hundreds of annual nonprofit donor recognition web pages and performance programs&mdash;and yet for a long time the Foundation went relatively unnoticed. Yet, the Foundation touches the lives of individuals, families, nonprofits and companies across Central Texas every day.</p> <div>In my own example, the Foundation has had enormous impact.&nbsp;</div> <p> </p> <ul> <li>First, by offering me the privilege of serving as a member of the Board of Governors for three years, with a chance to see and support, first-hand, the life-changing programs at Austin-area nonprofits.&nbsp;</li> <li>Second, by being the lowest-cost, highest-value custodian of a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) I created to honor my parents.&nbsp;</li> <li>Third, by being the fiduciary sponsor for a social venture that a partner and I were exploring but not yet ready to stand-up as an independent entity.</li> <li>And, lastly, as an always-open hub of community-minded people with advice, introductions, and support.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I&rsquo;m pleased to say Austin Community Foundation is hidden no longer! I&rsquo;m very excited to see the Foundation is impacting even more organizations and people&rsquo;s lives through new ways of giving and new strategies to deploy capital like the Impact Investment Fund.</p> <p>Now everyone can fully appreciate the scope and impact of Austin Community Foundation, locally and beyond, as a launch point for social innovations around our state, our country, and our world.&nbsp;</p> <div><br /> </div> <div><em><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/Guengerich_Steve%20150%20150.jpg" class="noresizeLeft" />Steve Guengerich is a life-long entrepreneur and award-winning author, whose newest book, Naturally Caffeinated: Addicted to Entrepreneurship, is available at <a href="http://bit.ly/ncthebook" target="_blank">bit.ly/ncthebook</a>. He is the Managing Director of BroadBrush Ventures LLC, a Principal with <a href="http://www.powershift.com/" target="_blank">Powershift Group</a>, and an Adjunct Professor at <a href="https://www.stedwards.edu/" target="_blank">St. Edward&rsquo;s University</a>. Among his many community roles, Steve has served as a member of the Austin Museum of Arts, <a href="http://www.socialventurepartners.org/" target="_blank">Austin Social Venture Partners</a>, and <a href="http://www.wfscapitalarea.com/" target="_blank">Capital Area Workforce Development</a> boards of directors, CEO of <a href="http://www.easterseals.com/centraltx/?referrer=https://www.google.com/" target="_blank">Easter Seals of Central Texas</a>, and founder &amp; chairman of <a href="http://www.knowbility.org/" target="_blank">Knowbility</a>.</em></div>27Investing in Reinvention Helps Austin Students Succeedhttps://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/26/investing-in-reinvention-helps-students-succeed.aspxGeneralGrantsMon, 18 Apr 2016 16:30:47 GMT<p>By Guest Blogger Dr. Paul Cruz, Superintendent of AISD</p> <p class="largetext">Jason Cartwright is a seasoned teacher at Austin ISD, but just three days into this semester, he experienced what would become a pivotal moment in his career.</p> <div><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/Paul%20Cruz%20600%20400.jpg" class="imageright" />After asking his class to get in groups for a science activity, one of Mr. Cartwright&rsquo;s students refused. The student wouldn&rsquo;t move from his seat or engage with his classmates.<br /> </div> <div><br /> </div> <div>Mr. Cartwright asked the student to have a discussion in the hallway, at which point, the student completely erupted, yelling and banging on lockers.&nbsp;</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>The old way of resolving this interaction might have been taking the student out of the classroom and sending him home.</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>But Mr. Cartwright used a different approach. He invited the student to participate in a Harm Repair Circle, a resolution tactic used in Social and Emotional Learning, or SEL.&nbsp;</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>During a Harm Repair Circle, an SEL coach facilitates a discussion where participants can share stories of struggles they are facing. Engaging in the dialogue together creates a dynamic of mutual understanding and empathy.&nbsp;</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>As Mr. Cartwright and the student began working through the process, the student shared the news that his father had just been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Coping with this shock at home had made it extremely difficult for him to perform at school or interact with his peers.&nbsp;</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>As they worked through the feelings surrounding the diagnosis, a new rapport was built. Having a trusted adult to share this news with helped the student begin to process his feelings, and he thanked Mr. Cartwright for creating a safe space to talk and for taking the time to support him.</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>Mr. Cartwright says he will always remember this student and the success of the approach.</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>&ldquo;Implementing SEL takes time and money and training, and it&rsquo;s worth it. SEL allows teachers to relate to students on a deeper level, which means we can focus on the end goal: helping them succeed,&rdquo; said Mr. Cartwright.</div> <div><br /> </div> <div><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/SEL-Stats%20200%20200.jpg" class="noresizeRight" />Austin ISD&rsquo;s vision is to reinvent urban education, and SEL has become a key strategy.&nbsp;</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>Austin ISD is leading the country in putting social and emotional learning on par with academics. Over the last four years, SEL has expanded to reach all 130 campuses and the 84,000 students we serve. We are one of the first districts in the nation to implement social and emotional learning districtwide, and the results are excellent.</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>While SEL is helping teachers like Mr. Cartwright support students individually, it also has a strong impact on academic performance.</div> <div><br /> </div> <div><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/SEL-Wheel%20200%20200.jpg" class="noresizeLeft" />Meta-analysis shows that teaching SEL skills leads to a 9 percent decrease in problem behaviors and an 11 percent increase on math and reading standardized test scores.</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>SEL as it exists today would not be possible without grants and community donations made to Austin Ed Fund through Austin Community Foundation, which generates resources for Austin ISD and its SEL initiative.</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>Through initiatives such as the Innovation Grants program, Austin Ed Fund fuels new and creative approaches to teaching, with nearly $50,000 in grants awarded to teachers and school leaders last year.</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>Donations to Austin Ed Fund ensure that AISD continues to be a district of excellence and a leader in classroom innovation.&nbsp;</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>By supporting Austin Ed Fund, you are not only helping Austin ISD reinvent urban education, you are reinventing the future of Austin.&nbsp;</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>To learn more about Austin Ed Fund&rsquo;s support of excellence and innovation, visit <a href="http://www.austinedfund.org/" target="_blank">austinedfund.org</a>.</div> <div><br /> </div> <p><em>Note: To protect the identity of the student, this teachers&rsquo; name has been changed.&nbsp;</em></p> <p><em> </em></p> <div><em>Dr. Paul Cruz is the superintendent of the Austin Independent School District, serving 84,000 students and 12,000 employees. Dr. Cruz guides the district in realizing the vision to reinvent the urban school experience. Under Dr. Cruz&rsquo;s leadership, AISD graduation rates are an all-time high, students are performing well on the state&rsquo;s accountability system and AISD is ranked among the best in the country on the Nation&rsquo;s Report Card.</em></div> <em> </em> <p>&nbsp;</p>26Data and Tears: Deciding How to Help Women and Children across Central Texashttps://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/31/data-tears-deciding-how-to-help-women-and-children-across-central-texas.aspxGeneral,Grants,ImpactMon, 14 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT<span class="largetext">We invited the co-chairs of the grants committee for the Women&rsquo;s Fund of Central Texas to share their memories and thoughts about the process of selecting which nonprofits helping women and children receive grant funds. A program of the Foundation, the Women&rsquo;s Fund aims to improve the status of women and children in our community.</span><br /> <p><span class="largetext"><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/WFCT/Untitled%20Export-0094%20600%20400.jpg" /><br /> </span></p> When you read about the <a href="/WhatWeDo/WomensFundofCentralTexas/Grants.aspx">Women's Fund's 2016 grantees</a> and their programs, you might think that choosing them was a slam-dunk. Far from it--Central Texas is blessed to be home to hundreds of nonprofits that perform near-miracles every day on tight budgets.<br /> Recently, when we as co-chairs announced a record $136,000 in grants to be awarded to ten local nonprofits at a celebratory breakfast, we both got to enjoy a rewarding and inspiring end to the Women&rsquo;s Fund of Central Texas&rsquo; latest cycle of grant making.&nbsp;<br /> The breakfast, attended by nonprofit representatives, Women&rsquo;s Fund members and Austin Community Foundation leadership, marked $1.3 million invested over 12 years into community organizations that serve the needs of women and children. That money comes from the collective donations of <a href="/WhatWeDo/WomensFundofCentralTexas/Investors.aspx">Women&rsquo;s Fund members</a>. <div><br /> </div> <div>How were these ten amazing organizations selected? &nbsp;</div> <div><br /> </div> <div>The grants cycle started last August, when a long list of nonprofits submitted Letter of Inquiry applications. This year, the 14-member Grant&rsquo;s Committee reviewed 120 applications and went through a process of elimination, selecting 31 agencies to submit more detailed proposals.&nbsp;</div> <div><br /> <div> <p><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/WFCT/Untitled%20Export-0024%20600%20400.jpg" /></p> <p>These dedicated committee members each visited two or three agencies to ask questions and get a closer look at the programs and needs. They talked with staff, volunteers, board members and sometimes even clients. Actually seeing first-hand what an agency does was more impactful than just learning about it from an application or a website.<br /> <br /> Committee members reported on their visits during meetings throughout the fall. Thoughtful discussion led to the ballot presented in December for a vote by the full Women&rsquo;s Fund membership, and to the ten agencies ultimately awarded grants.<br /> <br /> That&rsquo;s the cut-and-dried explanation.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> It doesn&rsquo;t begin to fully describe the actual experience: tears during site visits when we saw women and children in situations we couldn't personally imagine and were ashamed that exist in our community; frustration as we debated how to cut our recommendation list; angst--were we making the right decision when choosing one deserving agency over another? At the end of the process, there was happiness and satisfaction to be able to do something--although never enough--to make a difference for women and children whose lives are so different from ours.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Always there was passion--about the needs we see, about our community, about the responsibility to be good stewards of money entrusted by fellow Women&rsquo;s Fund members.<br /> <div><br /> </div> <img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/WFCT/JoLynn%20Grants%20600%20400.jpg" /></p> <p>While the Women&rsquo;s Fund is proud of its work in the past 12 years, we aren&rsquo;t resting on our laurels.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Granting was more strategic this cycle, based on research from the <a href="/Portals/0/Uploads/Documents/Reports/Stronger Women Better Austin Report March 2015.pdf">Stronger Women, Better Austin report</a> released last year. If you haven&rsquo;t read this report, please do--it&rsquo;s an eye-opening look at the status of women and children in our city. The report identified six areas of impact--basic needs, economic security, education, health, leadership and safety--that guided the committee&rsquo;s deliberations.<br /> <br /> How will the 13th grants cycle be even better? Can the process become more effective and efficient so we can help more groups or write bigger checks?<br /> <br /> These issues will be explored in the coming months. By fall, the Women&rsquo;s Fund of Central Texas will announce new ways to make a greater impact. <a href="/WhatWeDo/WomensFundofCentralTexas.aspx">We hope you&rsquo;ll join us for the next phase.</a><br /> <em><br /> Kirsten Voinis founded K. Voinis Communications with a vision to provide public affairs guidance by uniting her passion for and previous experience in politics and journalism. Kirsten draws on communications skills and media relationships developed over more than two decades to raise awareness and understanding of her clients&rsquo; issues among the media, the public, lawmakers and other target audiences. Kirsten served as co-chairman of the Grants Committee of the Women&rsquo;s Fund of Central Texas in 2014 and 2015 and volunteers for Austin Pets Alive! and Saint Louise House.<br /> <br /> Jessica Balladares-Bennett is Vice President at JHL, a firm that provides services in public affairs, events and communications. Jessica has led a mental health professional association and worked for the House Committee on Defense and Veterans&rsquo; Affairs during the 85th Session under the chairmanship of Rep. Jose Menendez. Jessica serves in leadership roles in the Junior League of Austin and Women&rsquo;s Fund of Central Texas. She has also volunteered with Cheyanna&rsquo;s Champions for Children, Con Mi MADRE, Dell Children&rsquo;s Council and the Women&rsquo;s Symphony League.<br /> </em> <div><em><br /> </em></div> <em><br /> </em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div><em><br /> </em></div> <em><br /> </em> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> </div>31Social Innovation: Buzz Word or Seismic Shift?https://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/22/social-innovation-buzz-word-or-seismic-shift.aspxGeneralMon, 25 Jan 2016 22:48:15 GMT<p style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt;"><span class="largetext"><span></span>Recently I invited Suzi Sosa, co-founder and CEO of <a href="http://www.goverb.com/" target="_blank">Verb</a>,&nbsp;to lead a conversation about social innovation and entrepreneurship with representatives from local charitable foundations. Suzi is a firm believer that by 2050, most nonprofits will not look anything like they do now.<span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"></span></span><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Uploads/Images/Blog/Seismic_Shift_hands_up_New%20600%20400.jpg" class="imageright" />A national leader in the field, Suzi Sosa is passionate about unleashing the power of entrepreneurship for the good of the world.&nbsp;Yet she also understands why funders and nonprofits have a healthy skepticism. <strong>The Austin Community Foundation believes in offering different types of capital for different points in the life of a nonprofit or social impact venture.</strong> <a href="/WhatWeDo/ImpactInvesting.aspx" target="_self">Impact investing</a> is one more tool in our community philanthropy toolbox. Here&rsquo;s my summary of the generous and thoughtful give-and-take dialogue Suzi led with about 25 local funders.<span style="color: #333333;"><span class="apple-converted-space"></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt;">There is a lot of talk in the world of philanthropy about social innovation and entrepreneurship. Why all the buzz? Is this just the latest trend in philanthropy or does it have the staying power needed to make lasting change?</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt;"><strong>What is social innovation or social enterprise? </strong>A social enterprise is an organization or initiative that has the social good mission of a non-profit with the revenue-driven approach of a business.</p> <ul> <li>A social enterprise can have a for-profit legal structure or a nonprofit one.</li> <li>A for-profit social enterprise places at least equal emphasis on its measurable social impact outcomes as it does revenue.</li> <li>A nonprofit engaged in social enterprise has the financial sustainability to be creative and take risks to innovate to fulfill their social good mission.</li> <li>Some additional qualities of social enterprise are: innovation, scalability, risk-taking and accountability.</li> </ul> <p style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt;"><strong>Austin has long been fertile ground for social enterprise.</strong> Starting with Whole Foods Market, which has a mission and values that mention health and happiness more than profit, Austin has been a growing home for both companies doing good and nonprofits earning revenue. <a href="http://www.austincf.org/AboutUs/Blog/TabId/149/PostId/19/a-timeline-of-social-innovation.aspx">See Dan Graham&rsquo;s recent history of social innovation in Austin.</a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt;"><strong>Imagine expanding the ways we support innovation solutions to our community&rsquo;s problems. </strong>Actually, you don&rsquo;t have to imagine it&mdash;it&rsquo;s already happening:</p> <ul> <li>We launched Austin Community Foundation&rsquo;s <a href="http://www.austincf.org/WhatWeDo/ImpactInvesting.aspx">Impact Investment Fund</a> last fall and soon will announce our first round of investments in local enterprises seeking to expand their proven mission-driven model of service.</li> <li>In addition, <a href="https://missioncapital.org/">Mission Capital</a>, formerly Greenlights, now offers opportunities for nonprofit organizations to develop and pitch their projects as a business plan for investors.</li> </ul> <p style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt;"><strong>If it isn&rsquo;t broken, why fix it?</strong> Most social innovators aren&rsquo;t saying the nonprofit model is broken. Yet, as government funding for basic needs and services has declined&mdash;and the income gap has grown in Austin, and with it waiting lists for services&mdash;philanthropy hasn&rsquo;t kept pace. Here are <span style="color: #333333;">some of the positive attributes of social enterprise:</span></p> <ul> <li>Expands financial capital beyond philanthropy</li> <li>Leverages positive attributes of for-profit model</li> <li>Focuses on scalability to reach more people</li> <li>Engages new audiences (ex: Millennials and risk-takers) with new viewpoints</li> <li>Emphasizes accountability/sustainability</li> <li>Promotes innovation/new ways of thinking</li> <li>Increases public awareness/engagement</li> </ul> <p style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt;"><strong>Something in the middle</strong>. Austin is known for its entrepreneurial energy, creativity and cooperative spirit, so it&rsquo;s no surprise these qualities are being harnessed for social good. Is it nonprofit or a business? Increasingly it may be something in between.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt;"><strong>Social innovation is not a silver bullet.</strong> Social enterprise won&rsquo;t solve every social problem. There are a number of downsides and challenges to this approach:</p> <ul> <li>May not address root causes or most difficult social problems</li> <li>Difficult to integrate into large social service organizations</li> <li>May require new regulations</li> <li>Some companies may be seeking PR over social good</li> <li>Can be expensive (legal costs)</li> <li>Will the voice of people being served be heard and included?</li> </ul> <p><strong>What if funders embraced a balanced social good portfolio?</strong> When funders make choices about supporting causes and solving social problems they might consider a continuum:</p> <ul> <li>Nonprofit model &ndash; On one end of the spectrum, pure mission-focused nonprofits with diverse revenue from philanthropy and government sources.</li> <li>For-profit model &ndash; On the other end of the spectrum, profit-focused companies with social good as an after-thought or side benefit.</li> <li>Hybrid social good model &ndash; In the middle, enterprises with high social good outcomes and profit.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Social entrepreneurship isn&rsquo;t new.</strong> Suzi Sosa considers such familiar enterprises as Sesame Street (profits from licensing its beloved characters), Girl Scouts (cookies, anyone?) and Goodwill (selling donated items to fund its mission to put people to work) all to be social enterprise. Here are some ways charitable foundations are investing in social good:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Michael and Susan Dell Foundation</strong> provides highly structured&nbsp;<a href="http://www.msdf.org/investments/impact-investing/">equity and loan investments</a> to select entrepreneurial organizations working in their key areas of focus: education, vocational training and financial inclusion.</li> <li><strong>MacArthur Foundation </strong><a href="https://www.macfound.org/programs/program-related-investments/">invested in rebuilding gulf coast communities</a> following 2005 hurricanes, including affordable housing.</li> <li><strong>Cincinnati Community Foundation </strong>offers their fundholders the <a href="https://www.gcfdn.org/Investing-in-Greater-Cincinnati/Leadership-Initiatives/Impact-Investing">opportunity to invest in projects</a> that increase the availability of health care services for under- and uninsured persons.</li> </ul> <p style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt;">Austin is already a hive of social entrepreneurship. The Foundation is glad to be a part of this community&mdash;not because it&rsquo;s a buzz word&mdash;but because when challenges and opportunities out-pace resources, it&rsquo;s time to expand the ways we support innovative solutions for pressing needs.</p>22