EPIP UPDATE
The Quarterly E-Newsletter of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy
Winter 2004


In This Issue:

1. News from the Chapters
2. Networking at Conferences
3. New Knowledge Resources


1. NEWS FROM THE CHAPTERS

New DC Chapter Draws Large Crowd to first Meeting

This Monday, Feb 9, I joined EPIP Board member George Walker in Washington at a "listening meeting" that marks the first public event of the DC EPIP Chapter. The meeting was attended by over forty young diverse young people engaged in grantmaking, philanthropy support organizations, nonprofits, graduate studies, and as donors. Hosted by the Aspen Institute, the meeting attracted folks from across DC as well as a number from Baltimore, and featured interactive icebreakers, small-group brainstorming sessions, and plenty of door-prizes. The group shared stories, ideas, frustrations and inspirations about working in philanthropy. They asked tough questions about their own roles and the problems and potential of our sector. Already in the works are an official DC EPIP Launch Event on the evening of March 25, and a Happy Hour event on April 22. Thanks to the DC EPIP organizing committee for their great work. For a list of committee members and more information, see the DC EPIP page of the EPIP website.

EPIP Wins Midwest Primary -- Chicago Votes for EPIP

Chicago's "Peer Network of New Grantmakers" - a part of the Donors Forum of Chicago voted to affiliate with EPIP as the Chicago EPIP Chapter. The vote, which took place on Thursday, Feb. 5, is one of numerous signs of interest in EPIP across the Midwest U.S. in areas such as Cincinnati, Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Indianapolis and Michigan. While every EPIP chapter works in close partnership with its respective regional association of grantmakers, this affiliation from a pre-existing local group is a first within the network; we now have to work out details with the Donors Forum -- but we are excited to have an official group in the Midwest.

Philanthropology Workshops

The New York City and Bay Area chapters of EPIP will hold Philanthropology workshops during Spring 2004. These workshops are part of the Philanthropology Project, EPIP's signature effort to provide constituents with peer-based educational tools about foundation work and the field of philanthropy. Our goal is to model these workshops and other programs across our chapter network, so that eventually a diverse set of written and face-to-face Philanthropology resources are available to all EPIP constituents to help them excel in their efforts to advance effective social justice philanthropy.


2. NETWORKING AT CONFERENCES

EPIP Presents at North Carolina Grantmakers Conference

On Thursday Feb 19, I sat on a panel discussion of emerging grantmakers at the conference of the North Carolina Network of Grantmakers in Greensboro, NC. The well-attended session presented the viewpoints of, and resources available to, young people working in philanthropy both regionally and nationally. Organized by EPIP Board member Melissa Johnson, Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, and Natasha Nimmons, Winston-Salem Foundation, the panel was moderated by Athan Lindsey of the Warner Foundation. It also featured speakers Courtney Young, who works on Southeastern outreach for Resource Generation, Eric Johnson, a Fellow at the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, and Keri Muuss, who works in donor services at the Winston-Salem Foundation. Participating in the day-long conference enabled EPIP to do state-wide outreach all in one place. The following day, I had dinner with staff and board members of the young nonprofit professionals network of North Carolina to discuss the potential for partnerships between our networks.

EPIP and Partners hold Reception at COF Family Foundation Meeting in NYC

I joined a good number of EPIP members and leaders at a lively reception held on Sun, Feb 8 at the COF Conference for Family Foundations. The reception, which drew a great inter-generational crowd, featured refreshments and lots of networking. The event was co-sponsored by EPIP, Resource Generation, Third Wave Foundation, Changemakers, 2164 - a Division of Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, and Younger Funders group of the Jewish Funders Network. Resource Generation and the Bronfman foundation also organized a full-day Next Generation Retreat and other activities for young people with wealth at the conference.

Think Regionally, Outreach Nationally -- EPIP at Conference of Regional Associations

I recently attended the annual meeting of the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers. Held Feb 4-6 in Washington, DC, this year's conference brought together staff and board members of the 29 regional associations across the U.S., along with staff from 41 local "New Ventures in Philanthropy" coalitions and other colleague organizations in the field (like... EPIP!). Also present at the conference was EPIP board member Melissa Johnson, and Forum staff Danielle Hicks and Jessica Bearman, who are both members of the DC EPIP Organizing Committee. EPIP held a breakfast roundtable as well as dinner at a nearby restaurant. Overall, participating in the meeting enabled us to build a national presence with all the regional associations of grantmakers, who are key partners in developing the EPIP chapter network across the country. The New Ventures groups have been supported by a Forum grantmaking initiative to promote new philanthropy in communities of color, rural areas, the newly wealthy, etc. Click here for more on New Ventures in Philanthropy.


3. NEW KNOWLEDGE RESOURCES

Community-Based Philanthropy

At the Family Foundation Conference mentioned above, the Changemakers Fund brought together conferees to brainstorm ways to promote community-based grantmaking. Community-based grantmaking empowers activists from a foundation's grantee community to have a formal role in the foundation's grantmaking and governance. EPIP Board members Laura Loescher of Changemakers and Alison Goldberg of Resource Generation, who co-led the conversation, distributed a new report on the subject, "Community-Based Public Foundations: Small Beacons for Big Ideas" just published by the National Committee on Responsive Philanthropy.

The Disconnect between College Seniors, Career Centers & Nonprofit Organizations

A new study from New York University looks at the missed connections among nonprofit organizations, college seniors and campus offices of career service. "For too many young people interested in nonprofit sector work, the conduit to get them there is missing. On college campuses, graduating students are not finding the resources they need to connect to the public service careers they desire. And at small and mid-size nonprofit organizations in particular, already over-taxed staff are struggling to find ways to recruit and retain the most talented workforce possible. Click here for a PDF copy of Recruiting and Retaining the Next Generation of Nonprofit Sector Leadership

New Evaluation Report on Youth Activism as Youth Development

A new evaluate report presents findings from the Youth Leadership Development Initiative, a 3-year youth activism grants and learning initiative funded by the Ford Foundation. The 2-part report looks at how civic activism can be an effective approach for reaching disenfranchised youth who are not engaged in conventional youth development programs. Click here to view a PDF of the Executive Summary of Lessons in Leadership: How Young People Change Their Communities and Themselves. The full 2-part report is $14 and can be purchased by contacting the Innovation Center for Community & Youth Development: telephone (301) 270-1700 or email info@theinnovationcenter.org.