e-Community March 2009

Dear Friends,

I need your help. I work in an industry that defines itself by the one thing we don't do - make a profit. Considering the word "profit" comes from Latin meaning "to make progress", the unfortunately named Nonprofit Sector is in serious need of a branding campaign.

Nonprofit is a tax status, not a description of our work. A nonprofit organization measures its success by the social benefit it generates - a profit that is shared by a community rather than a few business owners. Take a few seconds to take part in our poll. Help us re-brand the Nonprofit Sector by voting on a better name for our social profit businesses. Vote Now!

Thinking about nonprofit organizations in terms of the social profit they produce may help you decide how to invest your community giving dollars. I often ask myself, "If I invest in this organization, what is the social profit they will generate?" If the outcomes meet my expectations and fit with my priorities, I invest a portion of my social capital in their work.

When you invest in Community Shares, each dollar we spend on the Community Giving Campaign generates $10 in donations to other nonprofit organizations. So, the social profit of investing $100 in Community Shares is $1,000 in additional community investment. That sounds like progress to me.

Thanks and regards,


Alyssa Kopf
CEO, Community Shares

You Ask, Community Shares

As your proud partner in philanthropy, we are happy to answer your questions about community investment. In our new column, You Ask, Community Shares, we will answer the questions we are asked frequently.

Have a question about philanthropy? Email Shareholder Jason or post a comment to our blog.

Put Up Your Dukes! Do Nonprofits Fight For Donations?

+ Is it true that nonprofits compete for donations?

+ This is an interesting question at an important time for nonprofit organizations.

+ Like any business, nonprofits compete, but the game isn't that clear cut. Instead of a competition between organizations it's an ongoing challenge to secure a portion of the dedicated social capital available to better the world around us.

+ Colorado has the most nonprofits per capita of any state in the U.S. At the same time, Coloradans earn 8% more income than the national average but contribute 8% less to charity. Colorado nonprofit organizations have a uniquely competitive funding environment.

+ Government entities, foundations, and corporations typically annually budget their investment in nonprofit organizations. The amount of dollars varies from year to year but once the limit is set the reality is that not all organizations will be funded.

+ Corporate America takes a leading role in community philanthropy. Amidst the drastic change in social mood, let's not forget that American companies contribute billions of dollars year-in and year-out in support of our communities.

+ Corporate giving has and will continue to decrease in 2009. Click here to read more about the void for a growing number of charities and service organizations.

+ Nonprofit organizations' other key partners, private and community foundations, have had their assets greatly reduced and have been forced to make tough decisions. However, some foundations have maintained or even increased their giving! Click here to read about Colorado foundations that are leading the way.

+ As the economy expands more dollars make their way to the social bottom line, but when the economy contracts the pool of fixed dollars decreases.

+ So, yes, to some extent there is competition for dollars in that each pot of funds has a limit.

+ However, you also must factor in a few elements that make the nonprofit sector unique and minimize competition.

+ Nonprofit organizations spend far less time competing over existing resources than they spend developing new resources. While the existing amount of social capital is finite, nonprofits are dedicated to reaching new donors, forging new partnerships, and finding innovative means to fund their work. Rather than competing for a slice of the pie, nonprofit organizations are fantastic pie makers.

+ Nonprofit organizations also cannot compete over one important resource - an inspired philanthropist. (aka YOU!) If you have a clear sense of your giving priorities and goals, it is likely you will increase giving by adding organizations rather than stopping gifts to one group to give to another. Each year individuals make up roughly 80% of the giving nationwide.

+ When social benefit is the goal, collaboration and cooperation is to the advantage of all parties. Community Shares is a great example of disparate organizations collaborating rather than competing. In the nonprofit sector there are many opportunities to form collaborations where everyone wins. (The nonprofit, funders, and clients.) We will likely see more groups combining efforts as social capital decreases.

+ Keep in mind, if the U.S. nonprofit sector were a nation it would be the 16th largest economy in the world! We have many strong business minds running nonprofit organizations and any competition that does exist spurs excellence and innovation. Organizations are stronger because of the need to secure social capital.

+ In the end, the vast majority of nonprofit organizations recognize our goals overlap and it is in our best interest to generate new social capital and grow the collective culture of giving rather than compete over what exists today.

-Share Holder Jason

Increase Your Social Capital

+ By far the most important philanthropist is the individual household - you and yours. Each year individual philanthropists make up roughly 80% of the giving nationwide. Remember to pay yourself first this year and continue to make room for the charities and causes you care about most!

+ Are you interested in making a well-rounded gift to your community? Did you know that Community Shares has something called the Shares Fund which is made up of all 116 member organizations? Think of it as a diversified charity mutual fund which is distributed to the many causes that make a strong Colorado. This is a great way to make a whole scale community investment.

+ Keep the faith! As community shareholders we will light the way for the rest to follow! Thank you for all you do!

2008 Annual Report

Dear Friends,

I hope this message finds you well. The February e-Community includes a link to our 2008 Annual Report. Please take a few minutes to read about the scope of our work and impact in the community. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive a hard copy report, please email your name and address to Courtney Calvin.

The annual report includes just a few of the faces from our giving community. From our donors and worksite partners to our member agencies and those they serve, everyone plays a special part in our work at Community Shares. Just as our incremental gifts add up to make a monumental difference, each person who chooses Community Shares as their partner in philanthropy adds to our changemaking power.

My thanks for your continued investment in our shared community.

Sincere regards,


Alyssa Kopf
CEO, Community Shares

P.S. For every dollar we spent on the giving campaign in 2008, our community of donors invested more than $10 in Colorado nonprofit organizations. In these difficult economic times, your gift to Community Shares makes an exponential impact. Join our giving community by making a donation today!

e-Community January 2009

Dear Friends,

I was asked the dreaded question on January 2nd, "What is your New Year's resolution?" As usual, I cued an interested face and quickly turned the tables, "Tell me about yours!" I have a hard time with resolutions because I hate making promises I can't keep. When I give my word, I take it seriously. It's generally a good quality except when it prevents me from setting an intimidating stretch goal or committing to a challenge I may not achieve.

When I started as CEO of Community Shares, the first thing I did was write the following quote on my white board: What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? When I am unsure of taking on a challenge on behalf of the organization, I look to the quote, make the commitment, and we work as a team to find a way to fulfill the promise.

Community Shares' mission is our unbreakable promise: We connect Coloradans to the charities and causes they care about most. In these times of economic turmoil, we have not scaled back our efforts. Our nonprofit agencies and those they serve especially need our support this year. Any setbacks or doubts fall second to our resolve to achieve our goals. Sometimes our resolutions are bigger than ourselves. Over the six years I've been with Community Shares, the most important thing I've learned is: when we work together, we cannot fail. In 2009, join Community Shares as we remain steady in our commitments, hopeful in our goals, and comforted knowing we are a part of a caring community.

Best,


Alyssa Kopf
CEO, Community Shares

Pay Yourself First in 2009

+ Say it with me: "2009 is the year I finally (insert resolution here.") A New Year has arrived and with it the annual self-reflection. For many, the turn of the calendar signals hope and the vow to correct our vices and mistakes of the year gone by. I am no exception and I thought it appropriate to share my New Year's resolution with you.

+ 2008 was a big year for me. I changed jobs, witnessed a seismic shift in the economy, and watched as millions of Americans came together for change. The comprehensive picture that 2008 paints in my head leaves room for only one acceptable outcome in 2009 - "2009 is the year I pay myself first."

+ Pay Yourself First. When I was in college, a wise man (my Dad), told me that the key to saving and ultimately accumulating wealth was to pay yourself before you use your income to pay anything else. As smart as my Pop is, he didn't make it up - click here to find articles all over the web on this concept.

+ I literally break my budget down into two columns: income and expenses. Income is the sum of all wages, salaries, and profits which allow me to maintain my quality of life both now and in the future. Expenses refer to consumption. They are payments I make in exchange for goods and services.

+ Where does philanthropy fall given these definitions?

+ If I'm being honest, philanthropy used to fall on the expenses side of my budget, but in 2008 I began to reexamine this. Philanthropy really is self-fulfilling in many ways. By giving back to my community I really am paying myself first - I'm adding to my quality of life.

• I profit from the feeling I get when I give back and the karma I rack up.
  
• My home is located in the community our nonprofits serve. This effects my home value and my children's education.
  
• I use local open-lands to recreate, relive stress, and exercise.
  
• I save on the amount of taxes that I currently or will eventually pay, and donations to local nonprofits are an investment in infrastructure and long-term sustainability.
• Need more evidence that charitable giving is not an expense? Just look at any charitable contribution letter. It will say clearly that, "No goods or services were received."
  

+ In short, by investing in my community I invest in myself.

+ In 2009 not only am I going to put savings first, I'm going to pay my community first too. I added a line item in the income portion of my budget for "Philanthropy." Many of you who engage in workplace giving are already doing this. Your donation is subtracted from your paycheck before it even gets to the bank. Since you never saw the extra money, you don't miss it.

+ I'm aware that what I give back to my community will return dividends many times over. What I learned in 2008 is that philanthropy is a central staple of my health and wellness and not just a luxury.

+ In 2009, I implore you to pay yourself first on both your financial and community balance sheets. In doing so I think you'll find that profitablity truly lies within.

(Click the quote below and sing it with me)

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." - The Beatles

+ As a Community Shareholder you'll no doubt light the way for the rest of us to follow.

Community Shareholder
Jason Manke

Write to me

December 2008 e-Community

Dear Friends,

For those of you in Colorado, the snowfall makes it a great day for me to write and wish you happy holidays! I must say, as 2008 comes to a close, the season of giving has a different feel. The last quarter of this year unleashed a litany of economic disappointments that have left many of us feeling unsure of what we have and who we should trust with our dollars. At Community Shares, we recognize every gift is meaningful and personally significant. Our four guiding principles are choice in giving, local significance, membership diversity, and financial credibility and clarity. We are your partner in philanthropy and use your dollars wisely and gratefully.

As CEO of Community Shares, I am proud to partner with 112 effective and innovative Colorado nonprofit organizations. As we roll into 2009, we are implementing new Membership Excellence Standards in partnership with our nonprofit organizations. While we have always vetted our nonprofit member agencies, we will be able to give you even more information about how our member agencies are using your dollars. To create the Membership Excellence Standards, we have synthesized guidelines from the Colorado Nonprofit Association's Principles and Practices Guide, the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, the IRS, and Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice by the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector. We will work in partnership with our members to tell you more stories of their success.

During this season of giving, please consider Community Shares and our member agencies as worthy recipients of your support. For people trying to stretch their giving dollars, this newsletter highlights gifts that give twice. If you are budgeting for how to buy gifts for friends and family and still make charitable holiday gifts, these suggestions will help you double your impact without doubling your expenses. Choosing these gifts allows you to cross off items from your shopping and sharing lists!

My thanks for all you've shared with us in 2008. Best wishes for a hopeful holiday season and a brave new year!

Best,


Alyssa Kopf
CEO, Community Share

10 Gifts That Give Twice

1. Double your gift today! Any new and increased gifts to Community Shares will be matched dollar for dollar from the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado. Make a $25 donation in honor of a friend or family member and it will have a $50 impact! Make your gift here.
   
2. Businesses - Instead of sending your customers a box of chocolates, make a gift to a nonprofit in their name. Community Shares will provide you with an insert for your notice. Last year, Colorado Capital Bank made a $2,000 donation to our Shares Fund in honor of their customers. This December, CoBiz Insurance is making a $1,500 gift to the Partnership for Colorado in honor of their clients. Contact Alyssa for more information about making your corporate gift a reflection of your community values.
   
3. Many nonprofit organizations derive revenue from products made by their clients. You can give a great gift while supporting a worthy cause. Shop with a purpose today!
   
4. For those who order gifts on Amazon.com, use the Community Shares' link. Amazon will donate a percentage of sales to Community Shares when their site is accessed from our link. It's an easy way to give back and you can use the CSC link any time you shop on Amazon throughout the year.
   
5. Workplace giving through paycheck deduction typically enables people to give 40% more than they can through a one-time gift. Instead of writing a $50 check to your favorite charity, make a pledge to give $5 each paycheck and watch your giving total double. If you don't have campaign at your workplace, sign up for a monthly deduction of as little as $5 from your checking account. Download the form here.
   
6. Give yourself a gift you will receive when you file your 2008 taxes. Make your tax-deductible gift to Community Shares or any of our 112 member agencies today and apply the write-off in 2009.
7. Get that holiday Poinsettia, anniversary, and birthday plants or flowers and support Community Shares at thinkflowers.com. When you use this link, Community Shares receives $5 for every purchase.
   
8. You can even contribute while you surf the web. Choose "Community Shares - Colorado" under GoodSearch and GoodShop. There are lots of online stores to choose from that benefit Community Shares.
9. Check out our CShares merchandise and show your support.
10. Know anyone getting a new car for the holidays? They can donate their old car to benefit Community Shares - www.carsforcharity.net.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

+ On behalf of the entire Community Shares community we wish you a happy and safe holiday season. As we flip the calendar on 2008 we ask you to consider the following opportunities as you prepare for your holiday of choice.

+ Many of our nonprofit partners have made it easy for you to pick up presents for loved ones and give a little back at no extra cost. Click here to check out the shopping list.

+ Reading through these opportunities makes me smile at the tremendously creative and resourceful Colorado community of nonprofit organizations. They do more with less better than just about anyone else. If you've not yet found a nonprofit which echoes your interests and values, we certainly invite you to do so here. Also, see the list of our member agencies here.

+ The end of the tax year approacheth! Remember that your donations are deductible (including payroll deductions)! But you must make a gift before the clock strikes midnight on the 31st! Visit our website here to make an easy and secure gift.

+ In 2007-08 Community Shares had another fantastic year raising over $1.5 million for the Colorado community and our 112 nonprofit partners. That is no small amount and is the reflection of just under $1 per day from our connected and loyal community. We are truly grateful and owe it all to you.

+Through incremental giving Community Shares has generated better than $14 million for the community since our humble beginnings as the Alternative Fund in 1986.

+ We continually remind our community that incremental giving makes a monumental difference. During the tough times that accompany this particular holiday remember that microgiving can make a huge difference. Click here to learn more about using microgiving as a strategy for success.

+ As we make our way through the Holiday fray, remember to be thankful for what you have and that your mood will help shape the collective psyche of 2009. Be a part of the solution and Bee Positive!

+ Community Shares starts with you. Best wishes to you and yours and we'll see you on the flip side of '08. Thank you for your past and future support and expect big things from Community Shares in 2009!

Most sincerely,

Shareholder Jason Manke
Communications Manager

Community Shares Holiday Shopping List

Many Community Shares nonprofits partner with local stores and restaurants. All you have to do is shop and gifts will be made to the community on your behalf.

• Senior Housing Options has partnered with Poppies Restaurant and 20% of your meal total will be donated to SHO!
• Big City Mountaineers (one of Cshares 2008 Momentum Award winners) has partnered with The North Face Store in Cherry Creek for a movie night and silent auction. Chill with a free beer, brat and take in some sick mountain footage while supporting young Denver mountaineers.
• Looking for a unique gift this holiday? Willow, an Artisan's Market located in Boulder and Littleton is having showings and receptions to showcase birdhouses decorated by local artists. The proceeds of each sale go to Flatirons or Denver Metro Habitat for Humanity.
• Pick up some discounted music at the Trust the Dust event for KGNU community radio tomorrow. See www.kgnu.org.
• The Gathering Place was recently named Whole Foods (Cherry Creek and Capitol Hill) recipients of their Grab and Give program. Until January 1st when you shop at Whole Foods shoppers can purchase a pre-packaged meal designed to feed a family of four, and add it to their bill. $5 and $10 bags of breakfast, lunch, or dinner are available.
  

Several of our nonprofit partners offer merchandise that you can pick up as gifts:

• Women's Bean Project is having their Holiday sale this weekend the 5th, 6th, and 7th. Visit www.womensbeanproject.org for more info and to see their cool merchandise.
• Pick up Earthlinks Greenfingers products at the Lakewood Cultural Center and other locations. See www.earthlinks-colorado.org for more information
• Give a Giving Card from the Kempe Center, please click here.
• Volunteer Connection is currently selling Note Cards - $12.00 for 8 Notecards, 2 designs of their "I Volunteer!" Day artwork by Harriet Peck Taylor. www.volunteerconnection.net
  

November 2008 e-Community

Dear Friends,

Happy Election Day! I must admit, I'm a civic participation geek who has worn her "I Voted!" sticker with glee on every Election Day since I turned 18. I empathize with people who prefer not to vote early or by mail because they feel the "I Voted!" sticker is the cherry on the top of their democracy sundae. If you haven't done so, get out there and vote and wear your sticker with a smile.

To combat what has been a depressing October filled with news of the turbulent economy and divisive political ads, the staff of Community Shares decided to introduce an Ambassadors of Positivity campaign. We started publicly recognizing each other when someone chooses to be positive instead of cynical, patient instead of sarcastic, or willing to reframe a problem as an opportunity. It has made a dramatic impact on the spirit of our office and added a lot of silly joy over small things. Like our giving campaigns, it's amazing how incremental attitude choices make a monumental difference on the people around us.

Studies show smiling increases people's Good Samaritan instinct to help others. (In other words, the next time you need help changing a flat tire, let those pearly whites shine!) I found a study that went a step further. The study set up two sets of two people to interact with 800 strangers. In half of the exchanges, they timed the interaction so the first confederate would smile at someone and 1-2 seconds later a second confederate would drop a stack of computer disks. People who were exposed to a smile seconds before were 10% more likely to stop and help the person in need.

I love the idea of transferable smiles! At Community Shares, we ask you to partner with us to invest in building a stronger community. This week, let's all try to up the investment with a few smiles. Thanks to the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado, every new or increased gift to Community Shares will be matched dollar for dollar. For the month of November, please note the staff of Community Shares will also be matching all smiles, grin for grin.

Best,


Alyssa Kopf
CEO, Community Shares

PS: Thanks to our lean operations and the match from the Gay & Lesbian Fund a $10 gift can generate $200 in giving campaign donations. Make a Gift Today!

Giving is Contagious

The vast majority of our workplace giving campaigns are running right now. Bring some positive energy to your giving campaign. Here are three easy ways to make giving fun and contagious.

1. A 2005 study disputed the idea that success makes people happy - instead, it turns out that happy people are more likely to be successful. Happy people are easier to work with, more highly motivated, and more willing to tackle a difficult project - all of which lead them to be successful. If you view running your campaign as a great opportunity to increase community investment and bring that positive attitude into your campaign it will change the dynamics of your campaign and boost success.

2. Share success stories. We have many inspiring stories from our member agencies that point out how a few dollars can make an amazing impact. Email Erin Atwell to request positive stories to share with your co-workers.

3. Deliver each pledge form with a smile. It's a free, easy, and effective way to increase a person's likelihood to give.

Bee Positive - Social Mood Drives Social Change

+ If the election process can be described as the quintessential American Roadtrip then I'm the kid in the backseat asking, "Are we there yet?"

+ After an October to forget all eyes are now focused on an election to remember. Mindshare has been crowded for months, fatigue is setting in, and societal acrimony is simmering on the hot collective stovetop.

+ I'm begging for Serenity Now!

+ Thank goodness for Halloween which ironically enough provided a little bit of normalcy to a crazy fall. Mini shareholders hit the streets in search of sugar and we could all open our doors and share with the neighbors.

+ The fact that this occurred with everyone in pretend mode was beside the point. It was just nice to see an uptick in societal mood if just for one evening.

+ What is Societal Mood you ask? It is the human equation - the collective feelings of a community which swing back and forth in never ending succession.

+ A measurable example of mass psychology are the worldwide stock market indicies (Read an interesting article about the madness of crowds here).

+ Simply speaking, social mood is the compilation and dynamic of the attitudes within your social circle!

+ As the socioeconomic malaise jumps the shark into the mainstream and becomes increasingly present in water cooler conversation we at Community Shares encourage you to join us in our Ambassador of Positivity campaign.

+ Look at the bright side, take the high road, and bee positive!

+ Blind optimism? No. Just the recognition that your spirits and actions in the face of negativity have a profound effect on your community.

+ On this most patriotic of days please remember that nothing is more quintessentially American than giving. Whether you open your door up to the kiddos on Halloween or make a gift to your favorite charity during tough times, we all need to pitch in with a little humility and a lot of humanity as we wind down one era and wind up another.

+ As you make your way through the election I'll offer that there are no red or blue shareholders - we're all in this together. So go and cast your votes for a new chapter! Good luck!

Best wishes,

Shareholder Jason Manke
Communications Manager

Thanks to oddtodd.com for the inspiring graphic! To Toddo Harrison at Minyanville for the thought provoking daily words, and to Robert Prechter and Elliott Wave for bringing the most mind blowing concept (socionomics and the wave principle) to life on a daily basis.

Tactical Philanthropy - Giving Circles

I've included the text below but take some time to link to this great article on why giving circles are a hot philanthropic trend. It addresses the generational shift and how social media is a great fit with philanthropic networks. Thanks to Jason for sending it my way. We are hoping our upcoming My Colorado Project takes these ideas and opens up a great new vehicle for giving in Colorado.

http://tacticalphilanthropy.com/2008/09/giving-circles-3

Giving Circles

This is my latest column for the Financial Times. You can find an archive of past columns here.

Social circles with a square deal for charity

By Sean Stannard-Stockton
September 30, 2008 | Original FT.com Link

Giving circles are a hot trend in philanthropy. Similar to the investment clubs of the 1990s that brought people together to talk about stock picking, giving circles are social groups where people pool resources and decide which non-profits to fund. If giving circles prove to be a hit, a few years from now cocktail party chatter might include: “I just got a hot tip on a non-profit you should consider!”

One of these giving circles is the NYC Venture Philanthropy Fund. With about 30 members, the circle consists of residents who work in both the non-profit and corporate worlds. Each year they vote on what areas to focus on, such as poverty or education, and then go through a process of identifying and selecting high-impact non-profits.

Drawing on a venture philanthropy model, the group provides cash grants, technical expertise and access to their members’ networks for each of their grantees. Members in turn gain a model where their giving replicates the practices of many institutional foundations, yet they are required only to give $365 a year.
Learning about philanthropy isn’t the only reason people join giving circles. “Giving circles are like a book club meets an investment club,” says Nicole Cozier, philanthropy education officer at the Washington Area Women’s Foundation, a public foundation that sponsors a number of circles. “They allow people to come together with others who have similar interests.”

The way that many giving circles mimic investment clubs suggests that philanthropy may be embarking on the same cultural leap that investing went through in the 1980s and 1990s. During those years, individual investors became a massive force as baby boomers saved for retirement.

Investment clubs were one popular way that investors learnt about the financial markets. These clubs consist of individuals who contribute to a common investment fund and meet regularly to decide how to invest the fund’s assets. In addition to members doing research on stock picks, expert advisers often make presentations at club meetings. Clubs combine socializing with investment education and, hopefully, profitable investments.

This year, the first baby boomers retire and enter their “peak giving years” when people’s charitable giving tends to increase. Retirees often look for social groups to join and many baby boomers are seeking groups that can help them “give back” in some way. Giving circles are a natural option and a familiar concept to anyone who has been part of an investment club.

But it is not only baby boomers who are becoming interested in philanthropy and giving circles; there is also increased interest from Generation Y. This generation of young people has spent its high school years volunteering and seems eager to engage with the social sector. While cell phone giving and online social networks might steal the headlines when it comes to next generation philanthropy, there is also a growing interest in giving circles.

The Young Philanthropist Committee of Birthright Israel NEXT NY is a group funded by Michael Steinhardt, the hedge fund legend turned philanthropist. The program has created a 20-person giving circle comprised of individuals in their 20s and 30s who have come together to support Jewish causes in the US. Rebecca Sugar, director of Birthright Israel NEXT NY, was inspired by Mr Steinhardt’s son David, a childhood friend of hers who had started his own giving circle. Each cycle, the 20 participants put up $500 each, which Birthright Israel NEXT NY matches. The young members of the group pitch each other on non-profits they think should receive the money. The finalist organizations present to the group and a winner is selected. After a strong showing by the 2007 group, the Young Philanthropist Committee has launched a second circle and assisted two of its members in starting their own separate circles.

By blending the best practices of institutional philanthropy with the social atmosphere of an informal club, giving circles have the potential to spread quickly. It is my hope that they will encourage more people to be actively engaged in giving and to do so more effectively.

If you are interested in learning how to start your own circle, visit the Giving Circles Knowledge Center hosted by the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers at givingforum.org.

The writer is a principal and director of tactical philanthropy at Ensemble Capital Management and author of the blog TacticalPhilanthropy.com.

October 2008 e-Community

Dear Friends,

Each fall, we ask Coloradans to support the charities and causes they care about most. At Community Shares, we encourage each donor to choose which nonprofit organizations will receive funding. Over 98% of our workplace donations are designated to individual nonprofit organizations.

The staff of Community Shares participates in a workplace giving campaign each year. (As a testament to incremental giving, since 2000 our small staff has contributed over $15,000 to member charities!). When I choose which nonprofits to support, I consider myself a "community shareholder" making an investment toward achieving my vision of a better Colorado. If I align my giving with an organization that reflects my values, has a business model I believe in, and a mission statement that truly drives decision-making, I have confidence my community investment will pay dividends.

I've been working on a draft of a Personal Philanthropy Plan in conjunction with development of our online giving site, mycoloradoproject.org. It includes worksheets to help you identify your top values, select your most important issues, and draft a personal mission statement. We've included the draft for download and I'd love to hear your feedback on our blog, The Shares Holder. I'd especially like to hear if developing a personal mission statement helps you target your giving this fall.

Thank you for investing in Community Shares! Please feel free to give me a call or send me an email if you'd like to discuss how to target your giving.

Best,



Alyssa Kopf
CEO, Community Shares

Alyssa's Personal Philanthropy Plan

I’d like to know if identifying your most important values, selecting your top issues, and creating a personal mission statement helps you focus your giving. Here are my results:

My top values: community, interdependence, opportunity

My top issues: civil rights, community investment, corporate responsibility

My mission statement: I believe every person has the potential to help build a stronger community and I can engage people in recognizing their changemaking power.

Top recipient of my community investment: Community Shares of Colorado (of course!)

Please download a copy of our draft Personal Philanthropy Plan and send me your feedback.

Choosing Your Charity

Resources for targeting your giving

+ Download the Draft Personal Philanthropy Plan.

+ I need to know that my nonprofit partner is able to do the things they say they're going to do or are doing. Another place to get help with this is to examine a nonprofit's annual report. You can usually find these on an org's website. Community Shares 2007 Annual Report is an example of comprehensive reporting on the organization's leadership, key programs and accomplishments, sources of income, and financial reporting based on an independent auditors report. Look for those key information pieces in an annual report.

+ Another place to find your nonprofit matches is the Community Shares Member Directory. You can easily search by name, location, and service area.

+ Don't think you have enough to give? At Community Shares, every dollar adds up! Remember, anyone who gives back is a Shareholder.

+ Community Shares participates in many Metro Denver campaigns as a member of the Partnership for Colorado. Have you seen the new Partnership for Colorado website?

+ Are you interested in learning more about some of the key issues? Go here.

+ Additionally, some choose to take a holistic view of giving to the community. If you want to make a well rounded community impact then look into investing in our Community Shares Fund which is a gift to all of our member agencies and thus, a great gift to the community.

Best wishes,

Shareholder Jason Manke
Communications Manager

A Search For Jason's Nonprofit Match

+ You've seen those online match-making services right? I saw a commercial last night for eHarmony which promised me a long lasting and compatible relationship.

+ I've decided to take them up on their offer. Perhaps I misunderstood the promise of this commercial, but I'm anxious to see if eHarmony can match me up with the perfect charity for me.

+ Okay, I'm signing up for eHarmony now(don't tell my wife).

+ Just like the commercial says eHarmony, "has a patented Compatibility Matching System which allows members to be matched with compatible persons with whom they are likely to enjoy a long-term relationship" - sounds like I'm in the right spot to find my match.

+ They're having me fill out a crazy long questionaire about myself and my interests. I'm not sure how my height and athletic ability will help me find a match, but I'm learning all sorts of things about myself and that is the first step toward finding the right nonprofit for you.

+ Know Thyself

+ Section 4: Values. "Am I looking for a long term relationship?" Yep.

+ Man, this thing is long, but yours doesn't have to be. Have you seen the first draft of our Personal Philanthropy Plan yet?

+ Making a list of your interests and values helps you to write a personal mission statement which is key to proactive, strategic giving.

+ Section 8: "My partner's skills at resolving conflicts." Very important to me. I need to know that my nonprofit partner is able to do the things they say they're going to do or are doing. Another place to get help with this is to examine a nonprofit's annual report. You can usually find these on the org's website. Here's an example.

+ Another place to find your nonprofit matches is the Community Shares Member Directory. You can easily search by name, location, and service area.

+ Section 11: My Skills. This is really important because it will match me up with a nonprofit where my philanthropy is reflected not only through funding, but also by giving my time and talent. Remember, anyone who gives back is a Shareholder.

+ Section 14: Location. "How far am I willing to search to find my match?" The closer the better. Community Shares is all about Colorado Philanthropy and we believe that making a difference is best accomplished on a local level.

+ Now onto my matches. What? "We couldn't find a match for you at this time." How is that possible? This system stinks - I'm going to use the Personal Philanthropy Plan instead.

+ My Values: Conservation, Investing, Self-Reliance

+ My Issues: Civic Engagement, Land Preservation, and Financial Literacy (not on there, but it will be)

+ My Matches: Colorado Open Lands, ACLU, Women's Bean Project. Unlike most online matchmaking sites Community Shares encourages you to find as many matches as you can!

+ Want to know more about the issues? Go here.

+ Additionally, some choose to take a holistic view of giving to the community. If you want to make a well rounded community impact then look into investing in our Community Shares Fund which is a gift to all of our member agencies and thus, a great gift to the community.

+ A very quick reminder that one bad apple doesn't mean the bunch is bad. Main street has now recognized the ailments that has been brewing on Wall Street for well over a year. Be good to one another as we will get through these turbulent times together as a community.

I hope you find YOUR perfect community match,


Shareholder Jason Manke
Communications Manager

September 2008 e-Community

Dear Friends,

Many people have asked me, "How will the tough economy affect the 2008 Community Giving Campaign?" Unfortunately, increased consumer costs have a compounding factor on most nonprofit organizations - the need for their services increases despite flat or decreased funding. However, I am able to tell people Community Shares' workplace donors have remained rock steady in their support of local giving over the years. When times are tough, our workplace donors continue to support the charities and causes they care about most.

A recent post on Newsweek.com titled, "The Coming Charity Crisis" quoted a fundraising consultant who stated, "...in the minds of some, philanthropy is a luxury. You pay your bills first and then start making charitable gifts."

The idea of philanthropy as a luxury made me stop and think. Where does my personal giving rank on my list of spending priorities? Do I count my giving dollars as discretionary or as a fixed cost in my budget? Am I a person who gives when it is convenient? Or do I consider myself a "community shareholder" who knows my investment matters most during difficult times?

Giving through paycheck contributions allows me to give on a budget and invest in my community when it needs my support most. Thanks to the innovative work of our member agencies, I know my contributions will pay dividends. Join me and become a community shareholder!

Sincere regards,