Advocacy for Education – Mark Your Calendar!

From the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas:

Advocacy for Education – Mark Your Calendar!
The Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GDHCC) and the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas are collaborating to host a series of forums focused on promoting awareness and generating community dialogue about education reforms recently passed by the Texas Legislature, such as Dual-Credit Programs and the new four year Math and Science requirement to graduate high school.

In hopes of getting the community more involved in advocating for education issues, we will be holding an advocacy training with State Representative Rafael Anchia (District 103) and State Representative Helen Giddings (District 109) on November 11, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla, L1 FN Auditorium.

On November 18, we will hold another forum in a “Moving Students Forward in Education” series, with a panel discussion with Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway, State Representative Barbara Mallory Caraway, and State Board of Education Member Mavis Knight. The forum will be held at Beckley Saner Recreation Center, located at 114 W Hobson Ave, Dallas, 75224, from 6:00-7:30pm.

Both events are free and open to the public, but registration is required. Those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP by contacting the GDHCC by calling 214.523.3426 or visit their website at www.gdhcc.com .

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The Truth about the United Way?

I hate to be the Doubting Thomas, but...

Kim Horner at the Dallas Morning News reported that the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas set its "largest fundraising goal ever at $58 million." Read the DMN article here.

However, the same article also states that the agency raised $60M last year... so I am not sure how $58M can be the most ever. But I was at the event: they said it time and time again in their fight for relevance in a world that is increasingly filled with appeals for charitable support.

"Biggest goal ever."

I have an inside source who told me that last year's $60M total reflected a few one-time gifts, possibly designated for special causes that will not be repeated. So, they somehow do not count this in their total.

Additionally, the UWMD claims to be re-focusing their work on not just recruiting gifts, but a tri-fold approach of:

- GIVE

- VOLUNTEER

- ADVOCATE

The better angel of my nature wants to believe them, and expect big changes (particularly in the area of advocacy, where I have always felt that the United Way was squandering its capacity to drive real, substantive change on a systemic level around the issues that they claim to care about).

However, the darker side of me is skeptical at best. My concern is that they are only using "volunteer" and "advocate" in their branding pitch as a way to get people to give more.

Another of my inside sources at UWMD confirmed my suspicions, as (s)he told me that this whole approach is really just about fundraising.

"We don't do any of this, but the new approach 'tests well' with donors. They think that they can raise more money off it," said my version of Deep Throat. I'll call him/her ... Deep Pockets.

Basically, Deep Pockets told me that donors like the idea of other people volunteering and advocating for systemic change, and will throw money at organizations that can get them to do that. And the UWMD knows this, and wants to capitalize it.

We'll see. Time will tell.

For now, I just hope that they hit their $58M.

(On a sidenote, did you know that it takes over $50M to operate the Dallas Symphony Orchestra each year? I find it sad that the local United Way has to fight like hell to raise funds for the top 92 human service organizations in town while our community shells out nearly as much cash for ... what? a few dozen concerts and some 'outreach'? I am not saying that is not valuable, but seriously.)

As I reread this piece before hitting "Publish," I am tempted to call it "Don't Tell the Donor" ... but that title is already in use over at the fantastic blog of the same name(http://donttellthedonor.blogspot.com/).

Alas. Perhaps I should launch an anonymous blog to tell you what I really think?

New Films support United Way's LIVE UNITED campaign

The United Way just launched several new films to support their campaign, 'LIVE UNITED'

The United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has just released some new films to support the national "LIVE UNITED" campaign. The videos are available here:

http://www.unitedwaydallas.org/6.1/index.html

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United Way gives $46M to N. Texas nonprofits

The Dallas Morning News and the Dallas Business Journal both released stories on the big news of May for nearly 100 of the largest and most effective non-profits in Dallas:

United Way gives more than $46 million to 93 area charities

I am proud to say that Central Dallas Ministries received the largest increase of any of the 93 agencies, increasing its allocation to over $800,000 this year.



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United Way's New Goals

Thanks to Foundation Center's Philanthropy News Digest for this important update on one of the country's largest funders of health & human services:

The United Way of America has announced that it will direct most of its giving toward a ten-year effort to halve the high school dropout rate and number of working families struggling financially while increasing by a third the number of youths and adults considered healthy, the Washington Post reports.

Locally, I am very interested to see how Gary Godsey and team are going to respond to this challenge... particularly in light of the rumor that I've heard about them opening up their system to a broader designation-based funding model through which non-partner agencies can receive gifts.

Oh the times, they are a'changin'.

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Stewardship

Later today, we will make a presentation to the United Way's stewardship committee to defend our organization's stewardship ranking. The committee is concerned that we don't have enough cash on hand to sustain our growth.

Of course, they are right. And yet we continute to grow. For twenty years, we have been hand to mouth, continuing to add programs in response to pressing needs of the community. True, we have not built up the operational reserve that we need to weather the tough summer months (let alone an endowment). And yet, our growth has been so phenomenal that Charity Navigator awarded us a four-star rating for our capacity to effectively utilize our resources.

(The United Way has only received a three, and previously received a two).

What should we say?

Should we mention the fact that they have nearly twice our overhead despite the fact that they are merely a fundraising organization? That their CEO is paid over $325,000 (2005 figure)? That their top seven staff are collectively paid over $1 million of donors' otherwise charitable dollars?

Or should we perhaps just tell a story?

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Troubled times at United way?

From The Chronicle of Philanthropy, an article about some issues of great concern to health and human services agencies that traditionally benefit from the United Way...

(this is also a good follow up to this blog's discussion a few weeks ago about the role of designations in changing philanthropy)

Arts, Education Groups Getting Bigger Share of United Way Aid

As United Ways give donors more control over where their gifts go, the organizations are increasingly giving a bigger share of their funds to arts and education groups, reports the Los Angeles Times (link to LA Times story).

Since the early 1990s, the percentage of donors who direct money to pet causes has increased significantly, to 25 percent, the article says, leaving less money for United Way to distribute to groups that were traditionally the organization’s beneficiaries, such as Catholic Charities and Salvation Army.

The percentage of donors who earmark their gifts was even higher in Los Angeles—around 66 percent—and local museums, operas, private schools, and universities have benefited. The head of the United Way in Los Angeles has pledged to change the ratio of directed-to-nondirected to half and half.

But nonprofit experts said convincing donors to shift money from beloved institutions to what the newspaper calls “skid row medical clinics and after-school programs for the disadvantaged” would not be easy.

Elise Buik, president of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, said she would possibly ask donors to give money twice, splitting donations between their pet causes and organizations that provide social services.

United Way stars to shine during campaign's finale | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Business Columnists: Robert Miller

Robert Miller, The Dallas Morning News' Business Columnist, reports on the upcoming awards from the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas:

United Way stars to shine during campaign's finale

Quite a machine they have at UWMD -- their goal was $53 million. Congratulations to Gary Godsey and his staff for what will surely be a wonderful announcement!