Archive for June, 2011

The Shopping Cart Brigade

June 30, 2011

This Monday during the Mt. Prospect, Illinois 4th of July parade, instead of watching from the sidelines and catching candy thrown at us by politicians and police officers, my mother, my daughter and I will be walking in the parade and collecting food from the people we pass. We are part of the St. Raymond’s/St. Mark’s “Shopping Cart Brigade.”

My mom and I will be pushing a shopping cart down the street as part of the group, and we’ll be performing simple, choreographed routines with the carts to entertain people. But we’ll also be using the carts to collect canned goods, and my daughter will be among the “runners” who grab cans and cash donations from onlookers. All the food and donations will be delivered to the Mount Prospect Food Pantry after the parade.

This fun idea looked like a great opportunity for me to do something charitable with my daughter, who is seven and loves to help. We’re all looking forward to doing something together that benefits the community.

If you’re in Mt. Prospect, please bring some canned goods and a few bucks to support our local food pantry.

And if you live anywhere else, please borrow this idea for your next hometown parade!

Posted in Giving Money, Giving Things, Giving Time, Involving the Next Generation | 1 Comment »

How to Evaluate a Charitable Organization

June 26, 2011

In 2010, I heard Bill Schambra give a keynote address at the International Association of Advisors in Philanthropy annual conference in Chicago.  Bill is the director of the Hudson Institute’s Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal, and I would classify him as conservative, ideological and anti-establishment.

Whether you agree with his politics or not, though, I thought he had some helpful guidance for going to visit organizations in person. Because great philanthropists know that you can’t get a read on whether someone is doing really fantastic work in the community just by reading a glossy report or attending a conference. You have to see them in action.

When you go visit an organization–whether as a volunteer, or a potential donor, or in some other role, here are a few things Bill suggests you look for:

1) The best leaders are busy, there is lots of activity around the organization, they are always expanding.

2) The neighborhood shows the best organizations tangible respect. There is no graffiti or vandalism on the buildings. People on the street acknowledge staff and know them.

3) In turn, the organization respects the neighborhood. The leadership lives there, they know the neighborhood well. They don’t refer to the people they work with as “clients.”

4) Beneficiaries help run the program.

5) The organization embodies stewardship without looking at the books. They use all their resources to the best of their ability, stretching them, being efficient as possible. Everything is appreciated and acknowledged.

6) There’s not a PowerPoint, but people they have saved. That is how they tell their story.

7) The funding pitch is implicit: “You’ve seen the fruits of our efforts. Now either help us, or don’t.”

8) “We’ll be doing this whether you give us money or not.” Look for those who were there before the money showed up.

9) Ask the people you are trying to help: where do you turn in times of crisis? (It’s better if you look like them when you do this, or are with someone who does.)

For other ideas on how to evaluate charities, see my previous post on this topic and feel free to share your own insights about what you look for in a great organization.

Posted in Giving Money, Great Nonprofits | 1 Comment »

Reclaiming My 9/11 Birthday: 10th Anniversary of the Attacks is on 9/11/11

June 21, 2011

I’ve written before about how my birthday is on 9/11, a day which has come to be synonymous with an attack on our country–and the fear, terror and protectionism that attack triggered.

But as much as 9/11 brought out some of the worst in American ideology (anti-immigration, anti-Muslim sentiments and “preventive war,” among other bits of ugliness), it also brought out the best in Americans–helping neighbors, a renewed spirit of civic duty and a calling to public service.

In an effort to highlight the best of the American spirit, I believe we need to set aside 9/11 as a special day to serve our neighbors and reflect the best of our country.

Chicago Half Marathon Logo

Today I am beginning my 12-week training program to culminate in running the Chicago half-marathon on 9/11/11. While this is a meaningful goal for me personally (I currently can run only about 1.5 miles before stopping to walk a while), it’s also a community event: I’m running to benefit an organization that I am dedicated to, The Cara Program.

I hope you’ll join me. In fact, to make this more of a community event, I’ve started up a challenge using the Nike+ platform.  For every person who joins my challenge at Nike+ and completes a half-marathon on 9/11, I’ll donate $1 to charity (max $1500), split 50/50 between The Cara Program and the Chicago-based charity of a participant.

So join the effort to “Reclaim 9/11,” you can start training today and be ready to run 13 miles on 9/11, 12 weeks from now. And if you click here and join my challenge and leave a comment with the name of your charity and why you support them, you could raise up to $750 for the charity of your choice.

Spread the word to all the runners you know–you don’t have to be physically in Chicago or at the Chicago half-marathon to participate. You can run anywhere in the world as long as you upload your run to Nike+.

Or, start now to plan your own way to Reclaim 9/11. As Nike might say, “Just do SOMETHING”

(Thanks for asking! You can pledge to support my half-marathon run for the Cara Program here)

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Posted in Giving Money, Giving Time, Lifestyle, Raising Money | 4 Comments »

Social Innovators in Chicago find learning and fellowship

June 2, 2011

Chicago is a happening place for social innovation these days.

First, there is an impact investing summit organized by the Booth and Kellogg b-schools on June 13th. If you are interested in learning more about impact investing, this is a one-day crash course. Click here to learn more.

Second, there will be a “social entrepreneurship” track as part of the upcoming Chicago ideas Week in October. As part of that track, the Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation Fellowship has just been announced:

The Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation Fellowship will select and bring five dynamic young social entrepreneurs from across the country—with a focus on Midwest-based applicants—to Chicago Ideas Week (October 10-16, 2011), an annual seven-day celebration of ideas, innovation and community, with a focus on bringing the world’s best speakers together with the Midwest’s best thinkers.

The Fellowship will reward these young leaders, who have demonstrated a measurable impact in their field, with the following access and opportunities:

  • $10,000 in financial support to advance each fellows’ mission
  • Select fellows will be chosen to speak at the Social Entrepreneur session at Chicago Ideas Week alongside key influencers in the field
  • Meetings with local leaders who are committed to advancing fellows’ goals, including Mayor Richard M. Daley, Chairman of Equity Group Investments Sam Zell, Groupon Executive Chairman and Co-Founder Eric Lefkofsky, GrubHub Co-Founder and CEO Matthew Maloney, and others, will provide Fellows with unparalleled guidance and opportunities
  •  $10,000 in financial support to advance each fellows’ mission
  • VIP access to CIW and TEDxMidwest programming, speakers, dinners, and concerts
  • Exclusive media visibility from partners including Fast Company, Chicago Tribune, NBC Chicago, Crain’s Chicago Business and WBEZ

We welcome social entrepreneurs from across the globe working in for-profit or not-for-profit sectors and 35 years of age or less to apply for this unique opportunity. I ask that you please promote this opportunity amongst your network. If you have any recommendations of social entrepreneurs to receive a personal invitation to Chicago Ideas Week, please follow to: http://www.chicagoideas.com/bhsi. The application deadline is July 5, 2011.

For additional questions: info@bluhmhelfand.com

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Posted in Social Enterprise | Leave a Comment »

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