Public Confidence in San Diego County Nonprofit Organizations

The Caster Family Center for Nonprofit Research is pleased to present this latest report to the community on San Diego’s third sector. San Diego’s nonprofits contribute in significant ways to the quality of life in the San Diego region, and the confidence that San Diegans have in the sector is its bedrock. The findings presented in this report, therefore, are exceedingly encouraging. Overall, they suggest that the public does, indeed, appreciate the sector and what it contributes to the community.

Executive Summary

From November 2007 to January 2008, a total of 1,002 adult San Diego County residents responded to a survey designed to assess their confidence in the ability of local nonprofit organizations to provide quality services on the public’s behalf and to spend money wisely. At the beginning of this survey, participants were given an identification test to determine their awareness of nonprofit organizations. Additionally, respondents were asked several questions related to their confidence in San Diego County nonprofit sub-sectors (i.e., arts, human services, environment, etc.), as well as their involvement in the local nonprofit sector through giving and volunteerism.

When comparing the nonprofit, for-profit, and government sectors, San Diegans had the most confidence in nonprofits to provide quality services, spend money wisely, and represent the public’s interest. Other key findings in this report include the following:

• Seventy-five percent of respondents expressed either a great deal or a fair amount of confidence in the ability of San Diego County nonprofits to spend money wisely
• Seventy-five percent of respondents reported making a financial contribution to a nonprofit organization in 2007
• Media coverage, opinions of friends and colleagues, and an organization’s website were the leading sources of information consulted prior to making a financial donation
• San Diegans expressed more confidence in the ability of local nonprofit organizations to spend money wisely than the American public has expressed in national surveys of public confidence
• Persons demonstrating higher levels of nonprofit awareness were nearly three times as likely to express higher levels of confidence in the ability of nonprofit organizations to effectively provide quality services
• Persons demonstrating higher levels of nonprofit awareness were nearly two times as likely to express higher levels of confidence in the ability of nonprofit organizations to spend money wisely
• According to the survey results, more than a third of San Diegans (40 percent) indicated that they volunteered with a nonprofit organization in 2007
• More than 86 percent of respondents had an overwhelmingly positive impression of the support provided by local nonprofits during the 2007 firestorm
• Despite their generally positive view of the nonprofit sector, many San Diegans indicated that they were unlikely to choose a nonprofit service provider in the areas of education and healthcare

To view the entire report click here:

Victories for Elder Law & Advocacy

By Richard Bockoff, Lead Partner

For the last 30 years Elder Law & Advocacy has been winning small victories for many of San Diego’s low income, frail and vulnerable seniors. Recent victories include:

• A super fast reversal of a mistaken government reduction in the monthly check paid to our 66-year-old client. Without EL&A’s help, she would have been without enough money to live on during the 12 months before the issue was reconsidered.
  
• EL&A prevented a 73-year-old renter from being evicted by showing the landlord that she was protected by a special provision in Federal law.
  
• EL&A persuaded a contractor to refund $961 to an 83-year-old client for work the contractor never finished.
  
• EL&A helped a 66-year-old who was getting billed for cell phone service she did not have. An 82-year-old male resident was getting billed for thousands of dollars in long distance calls he never made. With EL&A’s help, the telephone companies to correct both mistakes.
  
• A client was denied HMO coverage for his $75,000 emergency hospitalization. EL&A showed it would have been dangerous for him to be transported to the HMO’s more distant hospital, and his bill was paid.
  
• EL&A helped an 86-year-old women win the right to spend more of her own ample money to move to a nicer skilled nursing home against the wishes of some of her children.

Nursing home abuse and neglect as well as the financial abuse and neglect of our aging population is rampant. Elder Law & Advocacy is trying to make more of a community impact through the addition of a Nursing Home Rights Enforcement Project and a Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program. Both programs have the capacity to really make an impact and a difference for seniors.

With SDSVP’s assistance, Elder Law & Advocacy hopes to become financially sustainable by focusing more of their attention on significant litigation that is likely to have an impact on a state wide level. By creating an annual plan and outcome measurements, EL&A is committed to establishing a countywide communications program to distribute information about elder issues to low income seniors, healthcare providers, senior residence organizations and Bar Association. Ultimately EL&A would love to expand its services into legislative and administrative advocacy improving elder laws for all seniors.

All are lofty goals. We are thrilled for the opportunity afforded EL&A through the SDSVP grant.

Philanthropic Learning Opportunities

Interested in learning more about the issues facing San Diego’s Children? We have the perfect forum for you!

Thursday, July 17, 2008 8:30 – 10:30 AM

The 2007 San Diego County Report Card on Children and Families is the continuation of a series of annual reports that provide a summary of the overall health and well-being of our county’s children, youth, and families. These reports have been produced annually since 1999 by the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency.

Join San Diego Grantmakers to learn about and discuss the overall well-being of our county’s children, youth, and families; national best practices in prevention and intervention; and recommendations for action specific to San Diego.

Location: Casey Family Programs3878 Old Town Ave., San Diego, CA 92110

Light Breakfast will be served.

RSVP to programs@sdgrantmakers.org or call 619-744-2180.


Market-based Solutions to Social Problems – New Strategies for Action

Thursday, August 7th 12:00 to 2:00 PM

Featuring Jim Fruchterman, CEO & Founder, BenetechPresident, Social Enterprise AllianceMacArthur Fellow

Learn about emerging trends in social entrepreneurship. Hear inspiring stories about technology-based businesses that generate income and serve disadvantaged populations. Compare your goals and strategies to those of others who are committed to reducing their dependence on charitable donations.

Whether you are a nonprofit board member, a nonprofit executive, a grantmaker or a social entrepreneur, this event will help you gain perspective on the field of social enterprise, key challenges and recent developments.

About Jim Fruchterman…
Fruchterman won a coveted MacArthur Fellowship for his pioneering work in using the power of technology to serve humanity. Benetech, the Silicon Valley company which he founded, has focused on adapting cutting edge optics into affordable devices for the visually impaired and others underserved by traditional commerce. Building from this experience, Fruchterman has worked with high impact social entrepreneurs nationally and globally for over a decade.

For more information or to make your reservation, contact Betsy Densmore, at betsy@se-institute.org or phone 949-500-2381.

Presented by the Social Enterprise Institute and Nonprofit Management Solutions, with support from CONNECT, San Diego Social Venture Partners, and Net Impact.

Invest in the Best to Make an Impact

Giving money to charity does not necessarily make the world a better place. Nevertheless, most donors believe that donating qualifies as “doing good”. In fact, the gift of money is only the first step in a chain of events that might achieve the elusive goal of creating social impact.
To read the full article click here.

Note: If you read down the blog comments, you will see a posting from SVP Arizona’s Terri Wogan!

SVP Connects Partners throughout the Network with Launch of My Sites

Social Venture Partners is proud to bring Web 2.0 technology to the network via the official launch of My Sites. Made possible via our Intranet technology, My Sites is a social network that allows you to share your personal interests as well as find, contact and learn from both budding and seasoned philanthropists within SDSVP and across the SVP network. My Sites has the potential to produce outcomes ranging from friendship and mentoring to helping with recruiting and collaborative problem solving.
Creating your SVP profile within My Sites should take about 15 minutes or less! To get started on your My Site profile, go to the SVP Partner Update Form: https://intranet.svpi.org/Pages/put.aspx. If you have not received a Partner Zone / Intranet username and password or have questions, please contact Mandy at mandy@sdsvp.org.

Glossary of Common SDSVP Terms and Definitions

Affiliate: SVP organizations, with 25 or more Partner Units, who sign an agreement with SVP International, licensing the name and agreeing to core principles and other operating standards.

Capacity Building: The development of core skills, management practices, strategies and systems to enhance an organization’s effectiveness, sustainability and ability to fulfill its mission. Capacity building support often takes an extended commitment of time (three years or more).

Investee: Nonprofit organizations receiving SVP support of time, money, and expertise. Synonym: grantee.

Investment: Used interchangeably with grant. All SVP investments are philanthropic, with no financial return to SVP Affiliate or its Partners. “Investment” instead of “grant” implies strategic and active giving, with an expectation of social return.

Lead Partner: This individual is the primary liaison between Investee and SVP, helping to meet Investee needs and providing partner engagement opportunities.

Partners: Individuals who become members of an SVP Affiliate by contributing time, money, expertise and resources, carrying out much of the capacity building work with Investees. Each “Partner Unit” can be made up of one or two people.

Philanthropy: The effort or inclination to increase the well being of humankind, as by donations. Synonyms: giving and social investing.

Nonprofit organization (NPO): Organizations that have tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 status in the US are not-for-profit registered charities in Canada, or non-governmental organizations outside North America. Synonym: local charity.

Resource Team: Team of partners who have expertise in a given area. SDSVP has Resource Teams in the areas of Marketing, Fundraising, Information Technology, Board Development and Governance, Strategic Planning, and Finance.

SDSVP: San Diego Social Venture Partners, a donor advised or managed fund of the San Diego Foundation.

Social Venture Partners: This refers to the entire network of Affiliates and is often shortened to the acronym SVP. Affiliates add their geographic location to this and become, for example, Social Venture Partners Portland (SVP Portland). Social Venture Partners International (SVPI) refers to the formal organization that provides support to the entire SVP Affiliates network.

Venture Philanthropy or High Engagement Philanthropy: These terms, having similar meaning, involve long-term relationships between funders and grantees. Funder provides expertise and capital and focus on capacity and operational infrastructure, with measurable outcomes.

Working Group (WG) or Committee: A group of SVP Partners working on supporting SVP infrastructure; generally, Working Groups and Committees are formed, and elect chairs, for the fiscal year. These may include: Investment Working Group (IWG), Communications Working Group (CWG), Portfolio Working Group (PWG) and the Social Committee.

Educational & Inspirational Reading on Giving & Philanthropy

Leap of Reason by Mario Marino
Leap of Reason, a collaboration between Venture Philanthropy Partners and its longtime strategic partner McKinsey & Company, presents a compelling case that we must rise to meet the difficult challenges of our times with management approaches that complement heart with head, passion with information.

Be The Light by Bill Halamandaris
This book offers a way to dispel the darkness by creating a blueprint for a happy, successful life that improves society and changes the lives of others.

The Cathedral Within by Bill Shore (Founder of Share Our Strength)
Gives example after example of how people transformed their lives by giving something back.

Don’t Just Give It Away: How To Make The Most Of Your Charitable Giving by Renata J. Rafferty
Just about everything you will learn by sitting on SVP Investment working Group Cycle in one location.

The Fundraising Habits of Supremely Successful Boards: A 59-minute Guide to Ensuring Your Organization's Future by Jerold Panas
A large part of an organization’s success depends on its board’s willingness to cultivate certain behaviors.

How to Change the World by David Bornstein
Heart-warming, inspiring stories of International social entrepreneurs who question the status quo, exploit new opportunities and refuse to give up and are building a better world.

Inspired Philanthropy: Your Step by Step Guide to Creating a Giving Plan by Tracy Gary & Melissa Kohner
It is a great workbook as well as informational source book for learning about philanthropy as well as evaluating/determining your own personal & family values related to giving. Also includes some great examples, as well as practical ways to implement them.

Just Enough by Laura Nash & Howard Stevenson
Success is often defined as making money, however it is not about happiness. Learn the tools that create happiness in work and life.

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich
Journey through the world of the working poor as a journalist attempts to make it in minimum wage jobs.

Nonprofit Marketing Best Practices by John Burnett
What does it take to successfully market your nonprofit organization? How can you court donors, get the word out to those who need your services most, and expand your nonprofits' influence? Rich with practicality, Nonprofit Marketing Best Practices shows you all the best practices and solid marketing principles you need to satisfy customer needs, grow your organization by marketing its vision, and sustain the success of your organization.

Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde Not to be confused with the movie by the same name (which was a very loose adaptation) it is a brilliant story of a young boys idea, and how it changes the world.

Voices from the Heart: In Celebration of America’s Volunteers by Brian O'Connell
Wonderful people who have changed the world we live in, wonder-filled stories about how and why they do it.

Shameless Exploitation in Pursuit of the Common Good by Paul Newman & A.E. Hotchner
The humorous story of the beginnings of Newman’s Own brands and the now over $175 million they have given to charity. Not sure what I expected, but its fabulously funny, touching, a joy to read - and he is one amazing individual.

Smart & Caring: A Donor’s Guide to Major Gifting by Richard & Linda Livingston
Written for donors by donors addressing issues, actions and rewards of major gifting by exploring the personal, technical and financial sides.

What Should I Do With My Life? by Po Branson This book is filled with examples of people who answered this ultimate question with outstanding results that lead to their true calling.

Philanthrocapitalism: How the Rich Can Save the World by Michael Green
An examination of how today’s leading philanthropists are revolutionizing the field, using new methods to have a vastly greater impact on the world.

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath
When change has to occur, how do people manage themselves? If change is required for a group of people, how do you manage the emotions that come with it?

Meet Philanthropic Cyclist, Ellen M. Kirk

Ellen transplanted from the Bay Area to San Diego in 2004 and was soon befriended by Robin Stark, her SVP connection. She was a….vocal…member of the 2008 IWG and now serves as the PWG liaison to new Investee ElderLaw. In addition to her SVP activities, Ellen is actively involved with numerous other philanthropic organizations including Cazadero Performing Arts Camp and the AMD Advisory Council of the Shiley Eye Clinic at UCSD and serves as a strategic advisor to Equinox Center.

Ellen’s greatest philanthropic passion is the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (http://www.pmc.org/, her rider ID is EK0035), a two-day, 192-mile cycling event that raises money for life-saving cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The PMC allows Dana-Farber to invest in the latest technology, to develop and test new therapies, and to give its patients and their families a wide range of services that improve quality of life. Ellen takes this challenge seriously and, for the people in her life and others who are fighting their own battles with cancer, trains each year to ride as part of the effort to search for a solution.

Professionally, Ellen is a technology executive with more than 25 years of domestic and international experience ranging from start-up companies to established multinational corporations spanning a diversity of industries including wireless operations and technology, broadband, and investment banking. She began her career as a refinery process engineer.

SDSVP Continues to Grow and Invest $500,000 Cash and In-kind Services to Two Senior Service Organizations

San Diego Social Venture Partners announced our two new Investees at our Annual Party in June. We are pleased to welcome ElderLaw & Advocacy (www.seniorlaw-sd.org) and ElderHelp (www.elderhelpofsandiego.org) to our portfolio. Each will receive approximately $250,000 in cash and in-kind services over the next three years.

Elder Law & Advocacy has been providing free legal services to elderly clients in San Diego and Imperial Counties. It sends attorneys into the community to provide free legal services at senior and community centers and nutrition sites. ElderHelp provides personal services and information that help seniors remain independent and live with dignity in their own homes and community.

SDSVP makes grant investments and provides professional skill and expertise to nonprofit organizations in San Diego County. Current Investees, i.e. organizations receiving funding from SDSVP, include Angels Foster Network, La Cuna, Community Resource Center, Corporation for Supportive Housing, ElderHelp of San Diego and Elder Law & Advocacy.

Founding Partner Alan Sorkin says, “San Diego Social Venture Partners is catalyzing the next generation of philanthropists and is quietly causing accelerated social change with leveraged giving contingent upon our nonprofits hitting agreed upon outcomes, making them work more effectively."


“A key differentiator for SDSVP as a grantmaker is that we are committed to strengthening and supporting the long-term capacity of a nonprofit organization to fulfill its mission,” explains Peggy Kidd, Executive Director for SDSVP. “We make multi-year financial and human resource commitments and we educate our partners about philanthropy and how to best address the needs in the community. In short, Social Venture Partners is not about funding short-term projects or programs – we know it takes more than that for an organization to thrive.”

SDSVP is one of 25 affiliates within the Social Venture Partners network of organizations in the United States, Canada and Tokyo with more than 1,900 partners (members) who contribute to their communities by making strategic and effective investments of time, money and professional expertise in local nonprofit organizations.

The SVP model of philanthropy was created in 1997 in Seattle, Washington. As interest in this new approach to philanthropy grew, Social Venture Partners organizations began developing throughout North America. By 2001, a loose network had formed, and Social Venture Partners International (SVPI) was created to support and advance this network. According to SVPI, the network is experiencing substantial yet organic growth via word-of-mouth marketing alone. Five new affiliates joined the network in the last 18 months and there has been a 14 percent increase in total partners (members) between 2007 and 2008.

About San Diego SVP
San Diego Social Venture Partners (SDSVP) develops philanthropy and volunteerism for the purpose of positive social change in San Diego County. Using the venture capital approach – contributing expertise, time and money – we are committed to creating partnerships that build successful and sustainable nonprofit organizations. To learn more about SDSVP please visit www.sdsvp.org.

About Social Venture Partners International
Social Venture Partners International (SVPI) is the membership association for Social Venture Partners – an international network comprised of more than 1,900 accomplished individuals who combine their professional skills and financial contributions with a passion for philanthropy. Partners belong to local SVP affiliates and SVPI supports each affiliate by providing technology, professional development, an annual conference and peer networking opportunities designed to share knowledge and promote best practices throughout the network. The Social Venture Partners network currently has 25 affiliates located throughout the United States, Canada and Tokyo. To learn about starting an SVP affiliate in your city or for more information on Social Venture Partners, please visit www.svpi.org.

SDSVP Summer Party in the City

Joanne Pastula, JA CEO & Wendy Gillespie, SDSVP Partner/JA Board Member, in front of "City Hall"

On June 28, SDSVP held its Summer Party and Annual Meeting at BizTown, created by SDSVP's very own Investee, Junior Achievement. Partners and guests enjoyed celebrating together in a venue that teaches kids about the real world of business! Marion Paul, JA Executive Vice President & SDSVP Board member, led tours through the life sized interactive city which includes businesses such as WaMu, Jack in the Box, Cox Communications, and Sea World.

Peggy Kidd, SDSVP ED, presents Aaron Contorer with the
2008 Bingham Stone Award

Mike & Joyce Kole and Sharon Bockoff

Mark Fackler was introduced as the newly re-elected SDSVP Board Chairman. Thanks to our Partners contributions, volunteer hours and Mark’s efforts, SDSVP has made a greater impact in San Diego than ever before. Mark highlighted the following accomplishments reiterating SDSVP’s mission statement of cultivating effective philanthropists who drive community solutions with investments of time, expertise and resources.

· Cultivating philanthropists – between First Fridays, Investment Working Group, Portfolio Working Group and all other committees, SVP has provided over 800 “touches” to our Partnership with educational opportunities for learning about becoming a more effective philanthropist

· Investments of time – SVP has donated over 13,000 hours in the last year

· Expertise – Partners have revamped mission statements, assisted with board development, assured minimum accounting standards for all Investees, created strategic plans, assisted with hiring process, built IT systems, created marketing campaigns

o One Investee's improved infrastructure has reduced annual expenses by two-thirds

o Capacity building efforts helped move Coastkeeper from operating in the ‘red’ to being in the ‘black’ the last 3 years.

o Our Resource Teams are receiving requests weekly to work with various nonprofits

· Resources - Over $200,000 was donated in grants and double that number in co-funding with an additional $1.3 M in in-kind services to community

In addition, Mark honored three graduating board members: David Field, Amy Larson, and Diane Rosenberg for their years of service and dedication. The FY ‘09 SDSVP Board of Directors was announced as follows: Ann Field, serving as Board Treasurer/ Secretary; Joyce Ross serving as Board Development Officer; Richard Bockoff; Aaron Contorer; Marjorie Fox; Marion Paul; Alan Sorkin; Bill Hahn; Duane Trombly; David Johnson; Stan Pappelbaum; Ray Ellis; Mike Kole.

The annual Bingham Stone Award was given to Aaron Contorer to honor his outstanding leadership skills, commitment and "no BS" attitude. Thanks, Aaron, for all your hard work! Executive Director, Peggy Kidd, introduced SDSVP’s two new Investees, ElderHelp and Elder Law & Advocacy, who are serving the elderly of San Diego. As usual, we had great food, great wine, and great company!

More Pictures

SDSVP Announces Sponsorship of our First SVP Fellows Program

Dr. Bob Shillman has graciously donated $5,000 to sponsor our very first Fellow. The fellowship shall be known as the “Doctor Bob Shillman Fellowship.” The SVP Fellows Program will help us to recruit new “fresh perspective” members who may not have the economic means to be an individual partner. Sponsored partners are not identified to the chapter at large, but will be chosen by the Board who will manage the selection process.

One-year Fellowships are for community-minded individuals working and/or living in San Diego County and allows SVP to open its doors to people that couldn't otherwise make the required financial commitment; who will add significant value; and who will get personal value from the work and connections within SVP.

We will award new Fellowships to those who meet the following criteria:

• A historical or emerging desire to make a significant contribution to our community.
• Seeing yourself continuing and growing that commitment in the years ahead.
• A personal vision about your role in the community.
• Someone that brings a different and diverse set of perspective and experiences.
• You do not otherwise have the financial means to join SVP.

We hope other partners will follow Bob’s leadership and consider this worthwhile program and create their own fellowship. If you would like to sponsor a fellow, please contact us.

Meet Joyce and Craigar Grosvenor!

Raised in Orange County, Joyce Grosvenor received a degree in Business Communications from CSU Fullerton. She quickly became a principal in Americom International, a JV with Radisson Hotel Group, and Intourist, the Soviet Tourism Partner. With HR Haldeman as their chief guide, Joyce and partners successfully installed the first ever American operated, high-tech communications/office suites for Western travelers abroad, within the Slavyanskaya five-star Hotel, Moscow. Joyce’s involvements also include major fundraising for then Governor Pete Wilson and The Young Republicans of Orange County and well as various art, music and theatre groups. Currently, she serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the San Diego Symphony.

Craigar, a Michigan native who’s lived in San Diego County since 1957, has a professional background as a stockbroker and financial counselor. As a public speaker, Craigar has presented financial seminars to Fortune 500 companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Bank of America, and Kaiser Permanente as well as the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy. In addition, he volunteers his public speaking and fund raising talents to various community groups and nonprofits. Craigar is a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and has acted in several films and television shows.

At present, Joyce and Craigar are working on their new TV talk show, Infinite Possibilities. Both are deeply involved in giving back to the community by way of The Grosvenor Family Foundation and enjoy holding numerous fundraising events at their home in Rancho Pacifica. The Grosvenors joined SDSVP in April 2008 and look forward to supporting the community and meeting new friends.

Craigar spends his spare time gardening, biking and enjoys sailing and other water sports. Joyce enjoys snow skiing, as well as quiet time on the water whenever possible. She has enjoyed designing two family residences in the past year and looks forward to her next designing adventure! Joyce and Craigar’s children, Tristan, 11, and Dakota, 13, have traveled the world experiencing theatre and music. Tristan wants to become a scientist and Dakota aspires to be a model. Their sons Alexander and Nicholas Grosvenor are comedic actors living in Hollywood. The Grosvenor Family has two cats and two golden retrievers, Bentley and Remy.

The Art of La Cuna

From San Diego Magazine’s The Art of Giving
May 2008

A cradle is defined as a small bed for infants, but look further in the dictionary and you’ll find another definition: "the place where anything is nurtured during its early existence." Since 2003, San Diego nonprofit organization La Cuna, Spanish for cradle, has aimed to be this place of nurturing for the area’s most vulnerable population: foster children ages 5 and under.

"I founded La Cuna because my history has been working with older children; by the time older foster children are able to speak about their needs, they have almost no hope," explains Rachel Humphreys, founder and executive director of La Cuna. "The statistics are so grim: Eighty percent of those incarcerated are former foster children. We’re creating a whole cycle of broken people, and the heartfelt answer is to take care of children when they need your help—between 0 and 5 when it’s the most critical."

Adding that the majority of babies in foster care never find a stable home, Humphreys has made it her mission to change the statistics and reverse the downward spiral caused by infant and child neglect, abuse and abandonment. La Cuna serves as a foster-family agency training foster parents and focusing on a specific segment of the population: Latino babies.

"When we did a community-needs assessment, we focused on Latino children because just under one half of foster children in San Diego are Latino, come from monolingual Spanish-speaking homes and are placed with people who don’t speak their language," Humphreys continues. "These infants and toddlers have already been traumatized and then they’re ripped away from their mother tongue. It seemed like a real no-brainer to try to find more Spanish-speaking homes or culturally respectful homes for Latino children."

Since placing its first foster child in 2005, La Cuna has placed 65 children in foster homes and seen that 94 percent of them are staying in that home until they’re reunited with rehabilitated family members or adopted—a success that Humphreys is thrilled to share.

"We’re breaking the odds for these kids and increasing their likelihood of growing up healthy and happy," she says.

La Cuna relies on the community for support in many ways.

"I like to tell people that they can take home a baby, but if that’s too difficult, they can sponsor us instead," Humphreys adds.

Privately funded, La Cuna needs financial support to maintain its services. The organization also needs volunteers for office work as well as to arrange donation drives for diapers and other practical new items for babies. A career opportunity is also currently available for a social worker. No matter what capacity in which one chooses to work with La Cuna, Humphreys assures it will be a move worth making.

"It’s incredibly rewarding to work with this population," Humphreys concludes. "You can work magic on a child when they’re so young and malleable and open to the world. The window of time is so finite and we can do so much damage, but we can also do so much good. At this age they still have a fighting chance to grow up and go to Harvard and have a family, but they’re not going to be okay unless we pay attention to the fact that they’re in crisis. This is very critical work."

For more information, call 619-521-9900 or visit www.lacuna.org.

NOTE: La Cuna is currently a third year Investee of SDSVP

Most Approve of the Job San Diego Charities Are Doing

From The San Diego Union-Tribune

By Jeff McDonald
June 12, 2008

An overwhelming majority of San Diego County residents thinks local charities deliver quality services, but nonprofits should do a better job explaining how they work, according to a new study to be released today.

To read the full article click here.

Sharing Information in Philanthropy

Tom David, a foundation consultant, is making available reports he has been commissioned by large foundations to create on his website and they are free to the public. The reports cover subjects like The Craft of Grantmaking, Philanthropic Strategy and Evaluation. They were commissioned by foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Marguerite Casey Foundation and The California Wellness Foundation. Just another example that institutional foundations can leverage their accumulated knowledge about “doing good” by sharing it with the public.

You can find Tom’s website here.

Philanthropic Learning Opportunities

A Unique Professional Development Opportunity

Western Heart of Philanthropy Retreat 2008
August 7-9, 2008
Commonweal Retreat Center, Bolinas, CA

Philanthropy is hard work. Effective philanthropy involves skill, knowledge, competency, organizational effectiveness, and solid planning, as well as solid relationships based on trust, respect, and integrity. It is a balancing act of heart and head. Our work is so much about helping others that we forget to personally invest in ourselves. As we go about doing our work, how do we find the time to reflect on the reasons for doing this work? Where is the heart in philanthropy? The California Regional Associations of Grantmakers invite you to this unique professional development opportunity grounded in the principles and practices of reflection. The Heart of Philanthropy retreat is based on the work of Parker J. Palmer, noted author of The Courage to Teach, activist, and co-founder of the Center for Courage & Renewal. For more information click here.

Thank you to Luce Forward

The Law Offices of Luce Forward in Carmel Valley have graciously donated office space to SDSVP for the past few years. We greatly appreciate their support.

Thank you, Luce Forward!

Interesting Quote

"The system of philanthropy should switch from a system of where nonprofits ask for money to one where funders proactively seek out grantees."

- Sean Stannard-Stockton, Tactical Philanthropy