Nonprofits In the Press: A Roundup

Foundations Responding to Recession: A writer for the Economist reports on a January 4 panel at the 92nd Street Y with Vartan Gregorian, president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Paul Brest, president of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Will foundations be able to honor their giving commitments? “[B]oth foundations expect to stick to their giving plans in 2009—but unless asset prices recover soon, there will be cuts in 2010.” Will they do more charity and less philanthropy? “Neither foundation intends to shift the focus of its giving because of the crisis.” Will the downturn lead to a correction in the nonprofit sector? Though agreeing on the need, because of so much duplication of effort, “when pushed, neither foundation boss seemed confident that this outbreak of efficiency would happen.” Meanwhile, foundations are cutting their costs: “Mr. Gregorian and other top executives have taken a pay freeze, construction plans have been delayed and staff fly economy class, even on 18-hour flights to Africa.” [The Economist]

A Philanthropy Portal for Minnesotans: An online destination for donors to learn about state-wide giving and volunteering opportunities is being prepared for a Summer 2009 launch by the Minnesota foundations and the United Way. “Our primary offensive is to build the 'play-space’ giving portal in the country. Our idea is giving portals that allow you to do full-service philanthropy and manage all charitable giving on one site,” Jennifer Ford Reedy, a former McKinsey & Co. consultant who heads strategy and engagement at the Minnesota and St. Paul foundations. [Minnesota Star Tribune]

Responding to Demographic Shifts: The nonprofit infrastructure aiding immigrants and the working poor needs to be overhauled; it is currently set up in urban areas, while these populations have shifted to the suburbs, a report focused on Washington D.C. finds. [Washington Business Journal]