Features

Nonprofits need to focus on mission and improve efficiencies

Over 200 foundations and nonprofit leaders were convened by Associated Grant Makers and our partners, the Boston Foundation, Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, Third Sector New England, and the United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley, for the 2010 State of the Sector Briefing at City Year in Boston on Tuesday, January 12. Read highlights from the briefing.

Earthquake in Haiti: AGM Members responding
Although the effects and devastation of the earthquake in Haiti are still emerging, recovery and relief efforts from around the world are on their way to a region that is reeling from the largest earthquake in 200 years. The International Red Cross said a third of the country's 9 million people may need emergency aid, a burden that would test any nation and a crushing catastrophe for impoverished Haiti.

Local efforts are underway to help the many Haitian communities affected. AGM Members have become involved with relief efforts and we want to share their stories.
AGM Members getting involved
The Clipper Ship Foundation
The Eos Foundation
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
The Haiti Fund at The Boston Foundation
The Ludcke Foundation
The Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation
The State Street Foundation
United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley
The Lenny Zakim Fund

As your organization plans ways in which to respond to the short- and long-term needs of the people in Haiti as well as the Haitian families in our own community, please keep AGM informed so we may include the information in our web resources.
View complete list of Resources

Congratulations to Mary Skelton Roberts
The Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities (TFN) has announced the selection for the second class of the PLACES (Professionals Learning About Community, Equity and Smart Growth) program.   Mary Skelton Roberts, Senior Program Officer at the Barr Foundation was one of sixteen individuals from across the country selected to participate in this philanthropic professional development program.  According to L. Benjamin Starrett, Executive Director of the Network, the program will “not only build a strong network of peers, it will also foster a unique learning environment that has the power to break-down silos, and expand each participant’s understanding of their work in the context of how communities grow and change.”

The PLACES Fellowship seeks to raise awareness about the interdisciplinary nature of growth and development issues and the need for sustained engagement in diverse communities by a broad based coalition of funders.  The year-long program will enable funders to explore key issues that affect communities in transition, and highlights philanthropic activity aimed at addressing the social, cultural and economic issues that are impacted by growth and development. PLACES has been made possible through the generous support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

RCP Changes Effective
Just a reminder, as part of our strategic planning process to streamline and refine our services for our Members and Partners, AGM closed the Resource Center for Philanthropy (RCP) to public access as of January 1, 2010. (Click here to see RCP alternatives). Grant making Members and our Nonprofit Partners continue to be able to come in and use the databases and resources in the library but we are no longer be open to the general public. This change enables AGM to better serve our Members and Partners and to increase the range and depth of information available through our website.

We look forward to continue bringing quality services to our grant making Members and nonprofit Partners.       
If you are not an AGM Member or Partner, consider joining AGM to receive the benefits of membership. 

In the News!
Share news about your grant making initiatives! AGM Grant Making Members are working on a variety of diverse causes including education, envirnoment, healthcare and immigration (to name just a few). We want to promote your efforts and best practices. Help us spread your good works, event announcements and news items by emailing Gail Pinkham.
Read In the News

In addition, as a service to AGM Members, we comb through news sources for stories on the philanthropic sector and provide the most recent articles categorized by topic and date for your review. If you are an AGM Member start reading the latest news in our Members InfoNet News.
Not a member yet? Find out how to join AGM.

Policy News Update
The National Taxpayer Advocate has released her annual report on the most pressing problems with the IRS.  One of the areas noted for research is the complexity of regulations facing tax-exempt organizations, most of which are very small entities.  The specific overview of the problems faced by these nonprofits and the suggestions for remedies may be found here.

The full 300+ plus report by the Advocate may be found at: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/1_09_tas_arc_vol_1_preface_toc_msp.pdf

View Public Policy Resource Section

To view previous feature news stories on AGM's home page visit
Archived News

Events