Moments in Philanthropy :: May 2009
In This Issue
New Funds at Madison Community Foundation
WISC-TV: For the Record Interview
Basic Needs Grants Create Long Term Impact
Deerfield Community Center Capital Campaign
Middleton High School “Change the World” Campaign
Not Your Traditional Library – Mt Horeb's Popular Science Collection
IRS Filing Deadline for Small Non–Profits
Upcoming Events
New Funds at Madison Community Foundation
Waunakee Library Forever Fund
NHLT Easement Endowment Fund
Middleton Community Campaign Fund
WISC – TV: For the Record Interview
On Sunday, May 3, 2009, Kathleen Woit, President of MCF, and Tom Linfield, Vice President of Grantmaking and Community Initiatives, were guests on Neil Heinen’s WISC TV program For The Record. They discussed aspects of MCF’s Basic Needs focus for 2009. See the interview here: http://www.c3ktogo.com/news-video/?section=5
Basic Needs Grants Create Long Term Impact
The Madison Community Foundation Board of Governors recently approved the spring round of grants for 2009, giving a total of $154,840 to four Dane County charities. While the focus for 2009 has been shifted to fund basic needs, the MCF grantmaking committee has continued to stay true to MCF principles of creating infrastructure for long term impact and maximum leverage. The grants awarded this round will leverage additional funding and savings totaling over $1,015,000 for these organizations.
A brief synopsis of each grant award follows:
Energy Services, Inc.
$78,000 to increase capacity for energy assistance by creating three full-time equivalent out-reach positions. The program’s objective is to prevent disconnection and energy-related emergencies in the growing number of high risk households in need of energy assistance including elderly, disabled, and newly unemployed clients. This gift will leverage an additional $750,000 from the State of Wisconsin for direct client assistance. Energy Services, Inc. is the parent company of the Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund, an independent statewide community based safety net for households with unmet energy needs.
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
$125,000 to increase enrollment support for Food Share (food stamps) program. Over 55,000 eligible Dane County individuals are not currently enrolled. Key components include increased outreach at community access points and the County Job Center, staffing a hotline where potential clients will be pre-screened, referrals to sites where online assistance is provided, a social marketing campaign, client assistance with application and recertification, client follow up, and data collection.
Independent Living, Inc.
$21,840 for a three year membership in the Community Car program to provide meals on wheels to elderly, disabled, and low-income clients in Dane County. Use of eco-friendly Community Cars builds organizational efficiency and saves over 50% of previous transportation costs. Essential nutrition will be provided in a cost effective, timely, and environmentally stable manner. The expanded program will facilitate service to formerly underserved rural areas and fulfill increased urban demand.
North/Eastside Senior Coalition
$40,000 to expand transportation opportunities for a variety of non-profits and residents on Madison’s north-side. The North/Eastside Senior Coalition will host a Community Car at the Warner Park facility for its staff and constituency. Seven additional north side non-profits will receive $1,000 each for community car membership and use.
MCF Donates $5,000 in Honor of Middleton High School Class of 2009
Middleton High School senior Steve Ticknor had a chance to change the world when he was assigned to do a project on poverty. When he learned that 10% of his classmates were living in poverty and some were even homeless, he inspired his class to commit their entire senior class fund of $11,000 to Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM). The students then went on to create the “Change the World Challenge”, and inspired their community to join the effort of supporting their neighbors in need.
Tom Linfield of Madison Community Foundation saw a wonderful opportunity to recognize and celebrate the youngsters’ awakening philanthropy. A gift from an anonymous MCF donor was designated as a match for the teens’ initiative.
“Our gift will go towards the purchase of food pantry refrigeration for MOM, which increases their capacity in the long term,” says Tom. “These kids are experiencing the great satisfaction of inspiring others to join them in making a big difference in their own community – precisely the kind of facilitation and creativity Madison Community Foundation strives for.”
The Middleton Community Campaign Fund passthrough is being held at MCF. As of April 30, 2009, the students had raised $31,000. For more information or to contribute to the students’ challenge, please visit: www.changetheworldchallenge.com.
Deerfield Community Center Capital Campaign
The Deerfield Community Center has recently started its capital campaign to raise $3.4M to build a long dreamed of facility with adequate space for all current programs and room for future growth. To start the campaign off right, the families of Tom and Sue Nelson and Don and Joanne Tierney have generously pledged to donate four acres of land at a value of $700,000. The facility will include a fitness center, computer lab, childcare space, meeting rooms, banquet facilities, and more.
“We are now using six different locations to deliver our programs,” says Michelle Walters, Director of the Center. “Bringing all our work under one roof will allow us to serve all elements of our community with an economy and efficiency not now available. Our children, youth, adults and seniors deserve a safe, wholesome, beautiful, and fun environment to access our community resources.”
The Madison Community Foundation holds the passthrough fund for the campaign and in doing so provides administrative services at no cost to the campaign. All donations to the fund are applied to the cost of building the facility.
Visit the Deerfield Community Center website here: www.dccenter.org/
Not Your Traditional Library – Mt Horeb’s Popular Science Collection
When the Madison Community Foundation presented Mount Horeb Public Library with a Collection Grant of $27,500 as part of its Dane County Collections Grant Project, library director Lysianne Unruh knew exactly what her plan would be.
“Our science collection was quite dated,” said Lysianne. “The grant funds provided an impetus for an intense overhaul and presented an excellent opportunity to invigorate the science-related offerings for library customers of the wider South Central Library System.”
Using the theme “Science for Everyone,” Lysianne purchased materials in a variety of formats, including ever popular Teaching Company offerings, lectures from the classrooms of renowned professors, numerous titles from the BBC, PBS, Nova, and National Geographic. Titles that have been particularly popular, Pollen: The Hidden Sexuality of Flowers, and Seeds: Time Capsules of Life. The BBC Video series Blue Planet, was so popular that a second copy was purchased. Teaching Company DVD lectures that are consistently checked out are: The Joy of Thinking: The Beauty and Power of Classical Mathematical Ideas, Understanding the Human Body: An introduction to Anatomy and Physiology, and The Nature of Earth: An Introduction to Geology.
Adults create heavy demand for current science information, but the collection is also greatly used by school-aged children, school-district or home-schooled, who write reports on various mammals, particular planets, and specific habitats. In the fall of 2009, Mt Horeb librarians will create a comprehensive bibliography for distribution to all families who home-school and Mount Horeb Area District school teachers.
To access the collection, visit this site: http://www.scls.info/danecollections/
IRS Filing Deadline for Small Non–Profits
May 15, 2009 is the deadline for small non-profits with an annual income of less than $25,000 to annually file a Form 990-N, also known as the "e-postcard", with the IRS to maintain their tax-exempt status.
“This ruling came into effect in 2008 and there may still be some small groups who are not aware they need to file,” says Ann Casey, Madison Community Foundation Vice President of Finance and Planned Giving. “Any small non-profit with questions needs to contact their financial advisor immediately because there is no extension permitted.”
If an organization does not file this "e-postcard" for 3 consecutive years (the first year being 2008), the organization will lose its tax-exemption as of the third non-filing year and have to reapply to the IRS (and pay the fee) to reestablish its tax-exemption. Those organizations which choose to file a complete Form 990 or Form 990-EZ are not affected by the requirement.
Upcoming Events
Madison Young Playwrights Festival
Staged readings of selected works written by eight area students will be featured.
Funded by a grant from the Madison Community Foundation
May 11, 2009, 7 PM
Overture Center for the Arts –Playhouse 201 State Street, Madison, WI
Event is FREE, no reservation required