See below for a round-up of what was news this week in the world of philanthropy, social change and women and girls in the Washington metropolitan region and beyond:
The Women’s Foundation in the News!
On Sunday, May 27, 2007, Marjorie Sims, chief operating officer of The Women’s Foundation, and Telaekah Brooks, chair of the business management and public administration departments of Southeastern University, a Grantee Partner of The Women’s Foundation, joined Spectrum host Tom Grooms live in the studio at Smooth Jazz 105.9 FM to discuss workforce development opportunities for low-income women in our region, the power of women’s philanthropy and more!
On Philanthropy
The Washington Post reports this week that, "If It Feels Good to be Good, It Might Be Only Natural," citing scientific evidence that giving, morality, empathy, compassion and generosity may trigger the same "feel good" parts of the brain usually stimulated by food or sex. The article explains, "Their 2006 finding that unselfishness can feel good lends scientific support to the admonitions of spiritual leaders such as Saint Francis of Assisi, who said, ‘For it is in giving that we receive.’…Altruism, the experiment suggested, was not a superior moral faculty that suppresses basic selfish urges but rather was basic to the brain, hard-wired and pleasurable."
Gift Hub this week asks about the implications of more and more wealth in our country being concentrated into the hands of fewer families and the implications of this on social change philanthropy in his post, "The New American Aristocracy and its #1 Fool." Cubeta writes, "Unfortunately, though, America is more closely resembling an oligarchy in which ‘wealthy families throw their weight around through the funding of think tanks, lobbying, charitable donations, board seats, and business deals so that all of society is essentially rigged to their benefit,’ advocating more teaching and mentoring for the wealthy around social change issues. In a similar vein, Mario Morino of Venture Philanthropy partners asks on Sharing Witness, "Should the People with the ‘Power and the Bucks’ Lead the Nonprofit Change?" and a conversation ensues between him and Paul Shoemaker of Social Venture Partners Seattle who wrote, "Calling on Funders to Lead Change."
Give and Take this week also highlighted a Donor Power Blog post asserting that nonprofits should just be "Giving Up on Young Donors," saying, "Seriously, it’s time to give up on the under-30 group and move on!" The post stirred up a good amount of dialogue on Give and Take…what are your thoughts on this?
On Women and Social Change
AlterNet this week highlighted Ellen Bravo’s new book, Taking on the Big Boys: Why Feminism is Good for Families, Business and the Nation. Emily Wilson writes that the book, which documents stories of ordinary women taking on activist roles in their communities, highlights that, "Many women aren’t accustomed to being listened to, especially by people in power. But Bravo shows that doesn’t have to be the case. She hopes her book will redefine people’s idea of what it means to be political, and let them know that ordinary women can effect change — because, when they do, everyone benefits."
On Poverty
Recently, three members of Congress participated in a Congressional Food Stamp Challenge that has been documented on their blog, wherein they agreed to eat for one week on $21, the weekly food stamp allotment. They have done this to raise awareness about a bill that would raise eligibility and funding for the Food Stamp Program. Yesterday, George Jones, executive director of Washington, D.C.’s Bread for the City joined the challenge, documenting on a post on Sharing Witness how this issue impacts the clients Bread serves–and particularly single mothers–and the solutions they are advocating. As a board member of Bread, The Women’s Foundation’s Program Officer Nisha Patel agreed to join the challenge starting next week, and will be joined by at least one other staff member, Sherell Fuller, who will be blogging about their experiences and reflections right here. D.C. Hunger Solutions is spearheading the event locally–to learn more and to participate, visit their blog for the official rules and guildelines!
And that’s it for the news and views for this week…let us know your thoughts on these exciting topics, or drop us a line to share any news and views we may have missed!
Otherwise, have a great weekend!
