Weekly News Recap: May 5, 2017

New data from Statistics Canada shows that for the first time, there are more seniors than children in the country. (Peter Mills/CBC News)

AFP Calgary and Area's Banff Compass conference starts on Monday. ViTreo is proud to be a supporting this conference both as a sponsor, as speakers, and with the attendance of a number of our associates. It is not too late to register (click the Banff Compass link above). We are delighted to be the sponsors of the opening plenary with Martha Schumacher: Challenging Conversations in a Changing Philanthropic Landscape. Andrea McManus and Scott Decksheimer will be speaking on Wednesday afternoon about bold leadership. Vincent Duckworth will be co-presenting a session on ethics with the Banff Centre's own Daiva Jocius. All in all, four days of great programming and networking. We hope to see you there!

Could bitching and moaning on paper for 5 minutes each day change your life? As crazy as it may seem, I believe the answer is yes.” -Tim Ferriss

Upcoming Deadlines

  • 2017 Calgary Herald Christmas Fund recipient application process (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORY Each year, a committee of Calgary Herald staff members assembles and reviews applications from local agencies that have applied to be a part of the Calgary Herald Christmas Fund. The final list of recipients includes local not-for-profit organizations that will benefit from the funds raised. APPLICATION DEADLINE: 11:59pm Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Books to read

News

  • A refreshed look for Imagine Canada (Imagine Canada) CANADIAN STORY Imagine Canada has unveiled its new brand. "The new identity acknowledges our history and supports the forward-focused vision of our organization and the charitable sector." 5/2/17
  • Alberta Theatre Projects raises funds and will operate beyond next season (Globe and Mail) CALGARY STORY Congratulations to ATP and thank you to all of its donors. The arts are important to Canadians. "ATP says it has raised about $250,000 – 125 per cent of its goal. Ninety per cent of the money came from the public – the rest from corporate sponsors and foundations – with about 780 individuals stepping up with a donation." 5/2/17
  • Buffalo, symbol of strength and perseverance, highlights new art at Regina cancer centre (CBC) REGINA STORY "A new art piece will be on display at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre in Regina, courtesy of high school students from the Ochapowace First Nation. [A] three-panel canvas piece was unveiled which was painted by the students. It depicts a scene featuring several buffaloes — an animal that symbolizes strength and courage — and includes a white buffalo, which is especially rare. The aim of the art is to bring hope to cancer patients. The art was commissioned as part of a collaboration between the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations." 5/2/17
  • Naming rights for Regina's Brandt Centre up for grabs (CBC) REGINA NEWS "Evraz Place put out an advertisement this week looking for a new title sponsor for the hockey arena and entertainment facility. The 6,000-seat building currently known as the Brandt Centre is home to the Regina Pats and a variety of other sporting events, concerts and award shows throughout the year." 4/28/17
  • 23 laid off at Saskatchewan Polytechnic (CBC) SASKATCHEWAN STORY "Layoff notices have been issued to more than 20 Saskatchewan Polytechnic employees across the province. Eight employees were laid off in Prince Albert and five staff at each of the Saskatoon, Moose Jaw and Regina campuses. A spokesperson for the school says the layoffs are the result of a five-per-cent reduction to the institution's operating grant, industry demand and program changes." 4/28/17
  • Calgary tourist attractions feel pinch as visits to city dip 10.5% amid downturn, council hears (CBC) CALGARY STORY "Fewer tourists visited Calgary last year, leaving hotel rooms sitting empty and some local attractions a bit lonely. Tourism Calgary reported 850,000 fewer visitors last year, down from 8.05 million in 2015 — a 10.5 per cent drop. Basically what you are seeing is a reflection of the decrease of the business traveller in Calgary, which is no surprise, said Tourism Calgary CEO Cindy Ady." 4/27/17
  • Weak economy hit several city partners hard in 2016 (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORY It's been a tough year. "Calgary’s sputtering economy is being blamed for a drop in visits to organizations across the city, including the Telus Convention Centre, Heritage Park and the Calgary Zoo. The city as a whole experienced an 800,000 drop in visitors last year, from 8 million in 2015 to 7.2 million in 2016, and a $100 million decline in tourism revenues." 4/27/17

Trends and shifts

  • What’s Different About the “New” Philanthropists (If Anything)? (Inside Philanthropy) "The biggest shift in the past 20 years is that the prime movers in philanthropy are no longer legacy foundations, as was true during the second half of the 20th century. [...]Today, the most important players in philanthropy are living donors." 4/26/17
  • This is How Google will Collapse (startupGRIND) I don't know if Google is dying or if this is how they will die but it feels pretty plausible. And if this happens, everyone who is has positioned themselves in a Google-centered future is in trouble. 4/24/17

Reports and studies

  • PDF: Young People & Nonprofit Work (Imagine Canada) "The future of the charitable work force in Canada can be seen in how charities and nonprofits hire, engage and retain young early-career workers. With expectations of talent gaps down the road, these workers are essential to the long-term sustainability of the sector." May 2017

Philanthropic personalities

  • Zachary Fisher Named to the Philanthropy Hall of Fame (Fisher House) "Zachary Fisher, founder of the Fisher House program, was recently named to the Philanthropy Hall of Fame in the Almanac of American Philanthropy. Zachary joins 56 other great American philanthropists whose names resonate throughout US history: Andrew Carnegie, George Washington, George Eastman, Henry Ford, John Rockefeller senior and junior, J.P Morgan, David Packard, Leland Stanford, and Benjamin Franklin, to name just a few." 4/27/17

Uncommon knowledge

Life and career hacks

Philanthropic controversy

Large gifts

  • Radford University receives $5 million donation (Radford News Journal) "Radford University announced [that] alumna Nancy E. Artis ’73 and H. Pat Artis, Ph.D. will contribute $5 million to Radford University to establish the Artis Endowed Scholarship Fund." Radford University is a co-educational public university located in Radford, Virginia. 5/3/17
  • Former Halstead Rotary Club president inspires £1 million donation to the Rotary Foundation UK (Halstead Gazette) You just never know who you are going to inspire. "The former president of Rotary Club Halstead's friendship with a teacher has helped secure a donation of about £1 million to the Rotary Foundation UK. Helen Ruddock, who passed away in 2015 aged 96, was so inspired by the work of the charity that she bequeathed her money to a fund which supports projects to provide clean water and sanitation." 5/3/17
  • $5 Million Donation to FHSU (KSAL.com) "A Kansas couple is donating $5 million to help build a student center at Fort Hays State University. [Richard] Fischli and Dolores Willis-Fischli [...] recently committed the money to a center on the Hays campus that will give students a single place to stop for academic, medical and mental health help. It will also provide office space for student groups." Fort Hays State University (FHSU) is a public, co-educational university located in Hays, Kansas. 5/3/17
  • Cal Poly announces $110 million gift — the largest in CSU history (The Tribune) "The motto 'Learn By Doing' has long defined Cal Poly. The mechanics behind that mission were further enhanced Wednesday with the announcement of Bill and Linda Frost’s $110 million gift to the College of Science and Mathematics for undergraduate research — the largest financial donation ever given to the university and the California State University system." California Polytechnic State University is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California. 5/3/17
  • UNCW RECEIVES $5 MILLION GIFT, LARGEST CORPORATE DONATION IN UNCW’S HISTORY (WWAY3) "UNCW will receive $1 million annually, over the next five years, from Quality Chemical Laboratories and its [founder], Dr. Yousry Sayed and his wife. The pledge will support the development of new pharmaceutical sciences and chemistry programs within the College of Arts and Sciences at UNCW." TThe University of North Carolina at Wilmington, sometimes referred to as UNC Wilmington, is a public, co-educational university located in Wilmington, North Carolina. 5/1/17
  • Benefactor surprises Derby Public Schools with additional $1.5 million donation (New Haven Register) "The private donor who earlier this year gifted the school district with $2.5 million to fund a new baseball field and state-of-the-art field house has surprised Derby with another $1.5 million donation. [The donor is] Joan A. Payden, an international businesswoman whose father, J.R. Payden, was valedictorian of Derby High School’s Class of 1915[...]." 4/30/17
  • Pierce-Arrow museum scores a coup with $6.3 million donation of classic Corvettes (The Buffalo News) For the car-loving fundraisers out there (I am both), this is nirvana. Definitely a "pinch me" gift. "'Corvettes were everything,' recalled Larry Lewis, who owns Corvettes and Performance Specialties in East Amherst. 'If you were a Chevy guy, Corvettes were the ultimate.' Until now, the Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum didn't have one in its permanent collection of historic automobiles. But that has all changed. Four Corvettes revered by car buffs and worth a combined $6.3 million have been donated to the museum by the Yager Family Collection of Effingham, Illinois." 4/29/17
  • Markham's Varley Art Gallery scores donation of Group of Seven works (YorkRegion.com) "Art collector Jack MacQuarrie, of Goodwood, donated 22 works of art representing all original and later members of the Group of Seven with the lone exception of Edwin Holgate. His donation to the Varley Art Gallery in Unionville [...] celebrates the gallery's 20th anniversary and Canada's 150th anniversary this year." 4/28/17
  • Radford University honors donation from alumna (ABC) "Radford alumna Nancy Artis and her husband, Pat Artis, a Virginia Tech graduate, created 67 scholarships for the College of Science and Technology [with their gift of $5 million]. The school says the donation is the largest any one person or alumnus has ever given." Radford University is a co-educational, business, liberal arts, and sciences public university located in Radford, Virginia.4/28/17
  • NEO A&M College receives record-breaking donation (fourstateshomepage.com) "The college received a $1.1 million donation to establish a scholarships and to support arts education. This gift will be used to establish five scholarships -- two in the visual arts, one in band, one in music, and one in music-theatre [...]. The money comes from the Charles Banks Wilson Trust. Wilson created NEO's art department in 1946, serving as its chair for 15 years." Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, commonly referred to as NEO, is a two-year state residential college and fully funded by the state located in the small former mining town of Miami,Oklahoma. 4/28/17
  • University of Missouri announces $1.5 million donation (Columbia Daily Tribune)"University of Missouri [has announced] a $1.5 million gift by Panda Express executives and MU graduates Andrew and Peggy Cherng to the Honors College. The gift will go toward several Honors College initiatives, including the Cherng Summer Scholars program for undergraduate student researchers." 4/28/17
  • Philanthropy: Gates and Chan Zuckerberg foundations commit $12M to learning initiatives (bizwomen) "The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative will join forces to invest $12 million over four years to advance personalized-learning technology. The [...] money will go to the organization New Profit to create the Personalized Learning Initiative, which will then distribute grants to seven organizations. Those will include Highlander Institute, Big Picture Learning, iNACOL, PowerMyLearning, the Learning Accelerator, Transcend, and Valor Collegiate Academies." 4/27/17
  • Fort Jackson receives $3 million donation for Centennial Park (WISTV.com) "Fort Jackson received a big donation on Thursday ahead of its 100th anniversary. The Gateway to the Army Association presented Fort Jackson officials with a $3 million gift that will go toward building a Centennial Park at the training center. The donation was presented on the exact spot that the Soldier’s Statue and an amphitheater will be built in the future park." Fort Jackson is a United States Army installation and is located next to Columbia, South Carolina. 4/27/17
  • Bow Valley College donation believed to be largest of its kind in Alberta (Calgary Sun) CALGARY STORY Congrats to the students and to Bow Valley College. A great gift. "A $1.25-million donation from the Students Association of Bow Valley College to their alma mater is believed to be the largest donation from a student association to a community college in Alberta. [...] The college is now rapidly approaching its goal of raising $20 million for the Quest for Best campaign. The student donation pushes them past the 95% mark." 4/27/17
  • Software developer Dan Mishra makes largest donation ever to ROM's South Asian section (CBC) TORONTO STORY Such a lovely story. I love Canada. "Toronto entrepreneur and philanthropist Dan Mishra says a $5 million donation to the Royal Ontario Museum to expand its South Asian section is a 'big thank you' to his adopted homeland. Mishra, the chair & CEO of software company CSDC Systems Inc., came to Canada from India as a student in 1969. 'We all came here for a better life. I've lived in this country now for 48 years and every moment, every day, I'm so proud of Canada,' said Mishra during a news conference to announce the donation Thursday at the museum." 4/27/17
  • Las Positas College Gifted Largest Donation In School's History (Patch.com) "Officials with the Las Positas College Foundation on Saturday received the largest gift for the college in the college's history. The foundation received $6.85 million at the organization's 14th annual "Best of the Best" event, which raises money for the college. College founding member Barbara Mertes and her husband David, who have died, had made arrangements to give the money. The gift was announced before 150 people at the Barbara Mertes Center for the Arts on the Las Positas College campus in Livermore." Las Positas College is a community college located in Livermore, California. 4/26/17

Welcome to our recap of the week's news, articles, and information of note. ViTreo Group Inc. provides this information for the benefit of our clients, associates, staff, partners, and stakeholders. The content is collected and curated by ViTreo partner Vincent Duckworth. If you would like to submit a link for consideration, please send an email to info@vitreogroup.ca

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