P H I L A N T H R O P Y
FOCUS
A PUBLICATION OF FO U N DAT I O N FO R THE CAROLINAS
SUMMER 2013 Pages 2-3 Centers for Giving Pages 4-5 Robinson Center for Civic Leadership and Community Programs Pages 6-7 News from our Partners and Region 2013 Annual Meeting Page 8 Foundation News and Updates
FE ATURED
A RT I ST RICHARD RITTER
Detail from Untitled.
Photo by Donna Bise
Ritter is an American glass artist whose works are featured in the Luski-Gorelick Center for Philanthropy. He is a resident of North Carolina and has been honored in several national exhibitions.
FFTC DONOR ADVISED FUNDS OFFER ALTERNATIVE TO PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS Drew Quartapella, founder of middle-market investment bank BlackArch Partners, came to Foundation For The Carolinas seeking a flexible and convenient way to achieve his philanthropic goals. He had established a private foundation years earlier, but with two young sons and a demanding career, Quartapella and his wife, Beth, hoped to simplify the process of charitable giving.
BelkGives on the Go Women across the Southeast will have access to breast cancer screening thanks to the BelkGives on the Go Mobile Mammography Center, the result of a unique partnership between Belk, Charlotte Radiology and the Center for Corporate Philanthropy at Foundation For The Carolinas. The Mammography Center will take breast cancer awareness and screenings to more than 100 cities across the Carolinas and Tennessee this year. To date more than 1,600 women have been screened, 38 percent of whom are uninsured.
SUBSIDIARY FOUNDATION SUSTAINS AND ADVANCES LIBRARY When the economic downturn hit, the Charlotte area felt the impact on one of its most valuable resources - the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system. A task force led by Foundation For The Carolinas responded by providing a series of recommendations and strategies to help guide the library toward a sustainable future. As a result of task force work, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation was recently established as an FFTC Subsidiary Foundation within the Center for Nonprofit Sustainability. The Library Foundation will provide private funding support, in partnership with local public funding, to advance the Library’s mission to connect individuals with the universe of ideas and the joy of discovery through free access to information.
With the guidance of our professional team, Quartapella quickly and easily converted his private foundation to an FFTC Donor Advised Fund. This giving vehicle offers families a convenient way to centralize and manage giving, allowing donors to make tax-deductible contributions today for future grantmaking to nonprofits throughout the nation. Donors can identify causes to support, recommend grants and establish a charitable legacy – all while FFTC handles the administration. An FFTC Donor Advised Fund can be opened with as little as $10,000, and can be established with a variety of assets, including complex gifts such as real estate or closely held business interests. Funds can grow over time through a variety of investment options with no tax consequence for the donor. Donors can manage their accounts and recommend grants to nonprofits through our online portal, making giving easy and convenient. Unlike a private foundation, donor advised funds have no start-up costs, annual filing requirements, governance requirements or annual minimum payout. Donor advised funds can also offer superior tax advantages. And through our Investment Alliance Program, donors can recommend that their investment advisors manage the portfolio, with a newly lowered minimum balance of $250,000 to participate. FFTC Donor Advised Funds can also be an effective way to facilitate legacy giving. FFTC can provide long-term stewardship for family assets, fulfilling the family’s wishes in perpetuity. Flexible succession plans allow donors to name family members as successor advisorss, or to permanently endow the nonprofits they care about most. While many clients initially select donor advised funds, an increasing number are considering this giving vehicle as an alternative to private foundations. Drew Quartapella is just one such example. “Converting our family’s private Foundation to an FFTC Donor Advised Fund was a great choice for us,” said Quartapella. “This has allowed us to streamline the process of giving while maximizing the impact of our charitable investments.” For more information, contact us at 704.973.4500 or philanthropy@fftc.org.
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BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS, BUILDING YOUR COMMUNITY More than 90 percent of American wealth lies in illiquid assets, such as family and privately owned businesses – yet often philanthropists do not consider using these assets to build a charitable legacy. An enormous opportunity exists for business owners, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to leverage these assets for philanthropic purposes, while also maximizing tax benefits. Foundation For The Carolinas’ subsidiary, Community Investments Foundation, helps donors take advantage of this opportunity to make a positive impact on their bottom lines and on the causes they value most. By gifting closely held business interests including membership interests in LLCs, limited partnership interests, or closely held stock to Community Investments Foundation you can retain control of your business while: I ncreasing support for your favorite philanthropic interests Maximizing your income tax deduction at 30 percent of adjusted gross income (AGI) Avoiding or reducing capital gains while avoiding excise taxes Avoiding or reducing future estate tax Leveraging business continuity opportunities Our unique subsidiary structure provides excellent tax benefits and an innovative strategy to keep your holdings of the business intact until the time is right to turn it into a charitable investment, with diverse options for liquidation of those interests. We can also help clients within our Center for Nonprofit Sustainability accept illiquid assets such as business interests, providing expertise and guidance for a complex process that can sometimes create a barrier for accepting these types of gifts, and ultimately increasing investment in their unique mission and programs.
Tax efficient and easy to establish, gifts to Community Investments Foundation maximize your investments in business and philanthropy. For more information, contact us at 704.973.4500 or philanthropy@fftc.org, or visit www.fftc.org/CIF.
PHILANTHROPIC ADVANCEMENT TEAM UPDATES Mary Barr Gallivan has joined the Philanthropic Advancement team as the new Director of the Center for Corporate Philanthropy. In this role, Mary will work with businesses of all sizes to help manage charitable giving, provide grantmaking support and strategic philanthropic expertise, and to enhance employee engagement. Prior to joining the Foundation, Mary served as the founding Executive Director of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. She is a graduate of Duke University with a degree in psychology, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Impact Fund and the North Carolina Network of Grantmakers.
Mary Barr Gallivan
Angie Allred
Angie Allred also recently joined the Foundation as Vice President of Philanthropic Advancement, Center for Nonprofit Sustainability. In her role, Angie will grow and serve nonprofit clients who hold endowments with the Foundation, including those under the Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust umbrella. Angie was previously Tax Director and Chief Compliance Officer for Carousel Capital. She earned both a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Juris Doctorate from Campbell University. She serves on the board of Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte and as Chair of the Humane Society of Charlotte’s Young Affiliated Professionals.
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CIVIC LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Photo by Amanda Anderson
VERTICAL GARDEN ARTIST RETURNS TO FOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS
A marker noting the 100th mile of the Carolina Thread Trail was unveiled during a celebration at the West Branch Nature Preserve Trail in Davidson.
THREAD TRAIL CELEBRATES 100TH MILE The Carolina Thread Trail recently reached an important milestone – the completion of the 100th mile of trails and greenways that link parks, paths, rural green space and historic sites throughout our region.
Members of the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership were treated this spring to an evening of cocktails and conversation with Patrick Blanc, the Parisian environmental artist who designed and installed the ‘living wall’ located in FFTC’s sculpture garden. Guests began the evening in Carolina Theatre Park, and then moved to Legacy Hall for a discussion with Blanc about his methods and creative process. Blanc invented the vertical garden concept, and has created more than 100 gardens in public and private spaces around the world, including parks, museums, hotels and private homes. The Judith T. Carpenter Vertical Garden, named for one of our region’s great environmental champions, contains more than 1,400 individual plants and 99 species.
More than five years in the making, the trail will eventually connect two million people across 15 counties throughout the Carolinas, and will grow to 1,400 miles of trails, greenways and blueways.
BRIGHTWALK COMMUNITY RECEIVES $400K GRANT FOR REVITALIZATION The Brightwalk community in north Charlotte will soon receive an artist-led revitalization thanks to a $400,000 grant award from ArtPlace America. Jumpstarted by a $25,000 grant from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation, the project was among only 54 chosen from 1,200 applicants nationwide. As part of the effort, the McColl Center for Visual Art will work with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership to bring national and international artists to Charlotte for three-month long residencies. During their residencies artists will work closely with residents of Brightwalk, an emerging mixed-income village, to design and install original works of art that provide safe, inviting outdoor gathering spaces. The artists will also mentor students from local universities. 4
Photo by Donna Bise
An initiative of the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership, the Carolina Thread Trail began when the Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation convened dozens of local leaders to determine our region’s most pressing environmental needs and concerns. From that discovery process, open space preservation surfaced as the number one priority and the concept for a regional trail was developed.
Educational and entertaining events, such as the evening with Patrick Blanc, are periodically offered to members of the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership to foster engagement, conversation and camaraderie.
JOIN THE ROBINSON CENTER Initiatives launched through the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership are supported by philanthropicminded individuals who seek to strengthen our communities. You can become a member of the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership with an annual contribution of $1,000 or more. Members receive special opportunities for fellowship, information sharing, and input on vital issues facing our community. To learn more about how you can get engaged, contact Laura Smith at 704.973.4562 or lsmith@fftc.org. Get Engaged Using your smart phone, scan the QR to view a brief, fun video about the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership.
The number of homeless families in Mecklenburg County has steadily increased for the past three years. Foreclosures and evictions remain a common reality for low-income residents, for whom there are few affordable housing options. A new Robinson Center for Civic Leadership effort may soon bring relief. The Rental Subsidy Endowment Program aims to provide homeless families, including veterans, the support they need to achieve self-sufficiency. The program specifically targets those who earn less than 50 percent of Area Median Income, which is $34,200 for a family of four. These families and returning veterans will first be moved out of shelters, hotels and fragile housing, and into stable housing scattered throughout the county. Participants will then receive coordinated services, such as job training, with a goal of self-sufficiency in 24 months or less. A key component of this public-private partnership will be a $20 million rental subsidy endowment to provide stable housing, jointly funded by the City of Charlotte and private donors including corporations, philanthropists, foundations and the faith community. Foundation For The Carolinas has committed $1 million toward the effort. Rather than establishing a new charity, the program will utilize existing service providers with proven track records of success, such Charlotte Family Housing, Urban Ministry Center and others. Among the program’s innovations will be the creation of a coordinated intake system, a single place where all homeless families and veterans can go to learn which programs best suits their needs.
L.I.F.T. LAPTOPS BRIDGE TECHNOLOGY GAP Elementary school students in West Charlotte now have greater access to technology and digital learning, thanks to Project L.I.F.T. and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. This spring, every first through fourth grader in the Project L.I.F.T. zone received a laptop specially designed for young children – more than 2,000 in total as part of the Knight Foundation’s One Laptop per Child Program. Teachers and students received special training on the machines, and officials have developed lesson plans that integrate the laptops.
Photo by Todd Sumlin
INITIATIVE TO MOVE HOMELESS FAMILIES TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY
“Access to the Internet and digital skills are vital for success in today’s connected world. We hope these devices can give the students a jumpstart to learning and living digitally,” said Susan Patterson, Charlotte program director of the Knight Foundation.
Project L.I.F.T. hopes to achieve grade level or higher performance for 90 percent of elementary school students within the corridor. The laptops will help to bridge the technology gap and are a key component of that effort.
In addition, 30 high school students who were not previously expected to graduate earned their diplomas in June through Project L.I.F.T. academy, which offers personalized learning, mentoring, tutoring and life-skills training. An initiative of the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership, Project L.I.F.T. aims to boost graduation rates at West Charlotte High School to 90 percent by 2017. For more information, visit www.projectliftcharlotte.org.
SUMMIT SETS KEY PRIORITIES FOR VETERANS Hundreds of leaders gathered for Charlotte Bridge Home’s 2013 Community Veteran’s Summit in March to develop strategies to support our returning veterans and their families in the coming months. During the summit, the group identified two clear priorities: connect these returning veterans with employment opportunities, and build the local network of resources available to returning veterans and their families. Charlotte Bridge Home was formed in 2011 in anticipation of the more than 4,000 veterans slated to return to Charlotte from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan – many of whom need support transitioning to civilian life. A $50,000 grant from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation helped kickstart the organization. For more information, visit www.charlottebridgehome.org.
Col. Anthony Henderson; Special Assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff for Warrior and Family Support; issues a call to action at the Community Veterans Summit in March. 5
CHEROKEE KNOW(2) INITIATIVE UNVEILED
Photo by Michael Mauney
Cherokee County has an exciting goal: to become the most educated county in South Carolina by 2025. Thanks to a two-year, $285,000 federal grant and the support of the Cherokee County Community Foundation, plans are under way to dramatically improve test scores, graduation rates and student achievement.
Discovery Place KIDS provides a unique and rich play experience that engages children’s imagination and inspires learning.
DISCOVERY PLACE KIDS BRINGS JOY OF LEARNING TO DOWNTOWN ROCKINGHAM Children in and around Richmond County gained a new place to discover, learn and play when Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham opened its doors in February. More than 13,000 children and their families visited the children’s museum and activity center during its first two months in operation, far exceeding expectations. Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham is the result of an idea to bring new life to the area, which struggled with the loss of manufacturing jobs during the recession. Two funds held at Foundation For The Carolinas, the Cole and Richmond County Community Foundations, joined forces and contributed almost half of the $14 million capital campaign goal. The effort also received a big boost when Rockingham native Leon Levine and his wife Sandra contributed $2 million to the construction project. For more information, visit www.discoveryplace.org.
The Know(2) initiative kicked off at a special event with more than 1,000 attendees in April featuring U.S. Senator Tim Scott as the keynote speaker. Senator Scott shared his personal story of overcoming poverty and other obstacles through the power of education. Know(2) is an initiative of the Cherokee County Community Foundation in collaboration with the South Carolina Higher Education Foundation and other partners. The effort seeks to change the mindset and culture of Cherokee County citizens towards education, leading to greater economic success for the community. The Cherokee County Community Foundation is among the 13 regional affiliates of Foundation For The Carolinas. For more information visit www.know2cherokee.com.
Attendees celebrate the Know(2) kickoff. Pictured above: Brad Wilkins, chair, Cherokee County Community Foundation; U.S. Senator Tim Scott; and Claude Eichelberger, S.C. Higher Education Foundation.
CAROLINA PANTHERS SURPRISE NONPROFITS WITH $73,000 GRANT AWARD Representatives from the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate and Greater Charlotte chapters received a stunning surprise late last year - a $73,778 grant from the Carolina Panthers, a figure that represents the number of seats in Bank of America Stadium. Presented during the Oakland Raiders game in December, the gift was made through the Panthers Charities Donor Advised Fund, which is held at Foundation For The Carolinas. Each year, the team surprises a regional nonprofit with a ‘Fan Gift’, made in honor of all Panthers fans and the collective philanthropic and volunteerism impacts they make on the region through their own individual efforts. 6
FOUNDATION FOR CAROLINAS REACHES $1 BILLION IN ASSETS
WORLD WAR II VETERANS HONORED BY FRENCH CONSULATE
Foundation For The Carolinas recently reached a pivotal milestone - for the first time in its 55 year history, the Foundation has surpassed $1 billion in charitable assets. Based on a recent survey, the Foundation now ranks 12th in asset level among the more than 700 community foundations in the United States.
Six World War II veterans from the Carolinas were honored in February with the French Legion of Honor, France’s highest military award. The ceremony, which honored the veterans for their service in liberating France, was held in Legacy Hall at Foundation For The Carolinas. Foundation For The Carolinas Executive Vice President Laura Meyer Wellman currently serves as Honorary Consul of France to Charlotte.
These results were formally announced at the Foundation’s sold-out Annual Meeting luncheon in March. The event provided an overview of the Foundation’s activities during 2012, a year of unprecedented results for the organization. In addition to reaching the $1 billion threshold, grants to nonprofit organizations from Foundation-held funds rose to a record $160 million, the fourth highest among community foundations. Contributions to funds held by the Foundation reached nearly $264 million, again a record in the Foundation’s history and an 85 percent increase from 2011. The Foundation also ranked fourth in 2012 among community foundations in contributions to funds. Foundation For The Carolinas CEO and President Michael Marsicano believes the increase in philanthropic gifts demonstrates that donors are responsive to the needs of the community, and that their giving reflects a belief in the resilience and forthcoming rebound of the economy. “Donors care passionately about this community. They are eager to support those organizations working to make a difference. Foundation For The Carolinas is proud to be chosen as their philanthropic partner,” says Marsicano.
‘PASS THE PURSE’ EVENT INSPIRES YOUNG GIRLS TO SUCCEED
2013 Annual Meeting More than 1,500 business, community, nonprofit and government leaders attended the Foundation’s 2013 Annual Meeting luncheon in March. Keynote speaker for the sold-out luncheon was Andrew Zolli, co-author of Resilience: Why Things Bounce Back, which explores Keynote speaker Andrew Zolli how people and organizations can adapt and flourish in ever-changing environments. Each year, the Annual Meeting luncheon convenes leaders from across all sectors to gather in celebration of philanthropy and civic engagement. For more information and to see photos from the event, visit www.fftc.org/2013AnnualMeeting.
Girl Talk Foundation, Inc. held the second annual Pass the Purse Empowerment Tea in May. Foundation For The Carolinas Executive Vice President Laura Meyer Wellman was among the event’s ‘Women of Inspiration’, who were each paired with a teenage girl to share wisdom and guidance, and to inspire success. 7
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Our newsletter, Philanthropy Focus, is designed to inform and interest donors, clients and friends of the Foundation. The communications department invites your feedback. Editorial Staff: Tara Keener tkeener@fftc.org Erica Schnuck eschnuck@fftc.org
Foundation For The Carolinas cares about the environment. This newsletter is printed with vegetable-based ink on paper manufactured from 10% post-consumer, recovered and mixed fiber from 100% certified sources.
Treat Your Guests to
Charlotte’s Most Distinctive Event Experience The Foundation is pleased to offer unique, state-of-the-art space for meetings, fundraisers, special events, weddings, corporate and private parties. Event spaces include: Art Gallery 17 Board and Conference Rooms Classroom Pavilion Two Rooftop Terraces For more information or to schedule an event, please contact Dean Jordan, Assistant Vice President - Special Events, at djordan@fftc.org or 704.973.4561.
Leaders from the nation’s most influential community foundations convened in Charlotte in January for the annual Larger Community Foundations Conference. The gathering included seminars and panel discussions with business, nonprofit and community leaders, and culminated with an event at the Mint Museum featuring performances by the North Carolina Dance Theatre.
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