For the 8th time, the Children’s Forum will examine the condition of children, families and our community. The Forum begins at 8:30 AM, April 12 at the William A. Grant Water & Environmental Center at the Community College. Seating is limited. Contact Teri Barila for more information.
In addition to a review of a comprehensive data book on community health indicators, the Forum will discuss community wide initiatives to improve conditions for local children and families.
Sector Leaders Tell Lawmakers Limits, Caps Not a Solution to Fiscal Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Millions of people throughout America are at risk of losing crucial nonprofit services if Congress enacts limits to the century-old charitable tax deduction. Hundreds of foundation and philanthropic leaders are in Washington, D.C. this week to make sure lawmakers understand that unraveling the charitable deduction is not a solution to the budget crisis.
The timing is key as Congress and the president tackle deficit reduction and tax reform. The House and Senate both released their budget plans last week and the proposed Senate budget suggests limits to itemized deductions – one of which is the charitable deduction – putting at risk billions of dollars in charitable donations.
“The charitable deduction is unlike anything else in our tax code, encouraging people to invest in their communities without personal gain,” said Kevin Murphy, president of the Berks County Community Foundation in Pennsylvania and board chair of the Council on Foundations. “Limiting the charitable deduction would have the greatest impact on those who need the most help, especially during tough economic times. How could we possibly limit or tamper with incentives that allow people to give away their income to benefit others?”
Foundations on the Hill is an annual event sponsored by the Council on Foundations, the Alliance for Charitable Reform and the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers. It brings together hundreds of leaders from community organizations to make sure elected officials clearly understand the inextricable link between charitable giving and thriving communities – from jobs and economic growth to spurring innovation and improving education and health to crisis relief, human services and more.
Gloria Johnson Cusack, executive director of Leadership 18, an alliance of CEOs leading America’s largest nonprofits, said, “I don’t believe any policymaker intends to undermine charities. But the fact is that major decisions about a range of issues are going to be made very quickly behind closed doors in this unusual legislative environment. That’s why we have to act now to make sure lawmakers understand that giving will go down significantly if they change good, existing policy that incentivizes people to support communities. We know policymakers face tough decisions, but now is not the time to experiment with the charitable deduction. The burden falls on nonprofit organizations and the people they serve.”
Michael Litz, president and CEO of the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, said, “Philanthropy is an independent, innovative investment for improving our communities and it needs to be preserved, recognized as different, and encouraged, now more than ever. It is critical that we educate members of Congress about how philanthropic innovation tackles society’s greatest challenges and benefits their constituents – by educating children, improving lives, revitalizing neighborhoods and strengthening communities.”
Lawson Knight, executive director of the Blue Mountain Community Foundation Washington state, said, “Giving to others sustains positive change where I live. In our area, charitable giving resurrected a local theater, renewed a downtown, built parks, provided swimming lessons for children and scholarships for aspiring college graduates. Giving is not simply a luxury afforded to those taking a charitable deduction. It is central to the American experience. It is essential that it remain so.”
“When it comes to who benefits from the charitable deduction, we think of people in need, not donors who take a deduction,” said Peter Bird, president of the Frist Foundation in Nashville, Tennessee. “Those who benefit from our grants range from families seeking health care and job opportunities to Alzheimer’s patients and their loved ones. When you think about revenue, tax reform, deductions and exclusions, think about how all of that would impact the way we care for each other.”
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The Council on Foundations, formed in 1949, is a nonprofit membership association of grantmaking foundations and corporations. Members of the Council include more than 1,700 independent, operating, community, public and company-sponsored foundations, and corporate giving programs in the United States and abroad. The Council’s mission is to provide the opportunity, leadership, and tools needed by philanthropic organizations to expand, enhance, and sustain their ability to advance the common good. www.cof.org
The Alliance for Charitable Reform (ACR) works to advance the principles that promote vigorous private giving to charities and to preserve the rights of these donors. A project of The Philanthropy Roundtable, ACR educates legislators and policymakers about the central role of private giving in American life and thus the importance of protecting philanthropic freedom—the ability of individuals and private organizations to determine how and where to direct their charitable assets. ACR seeks to prevent policies that would diminish private giving, limit the diversity of charitable causes Americans support, or place undue government regulations on philanthropic organizations at both the federal and state level. www.acreform.com
The Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers (the Forum) is the national philanthropic federation and network of 34 regional associations of grantmakers serving nearly 5500 grantmaking entities and funder collaboratives. The mission of the Forum network is to connect and support regional associations — in ways that expand their capacity to lead, add value to their members, and strengthen philanthropy in their regions — and to bring the knowledge and experience of the regional associations into the national conversation on philanthropy. www.givingforum.org
A fascinating new look at giving has been released by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, called How America Gives. It looks at “exact dollar amounts released by the Internal Revenue Service showing the value of charitable deductions claimed by American taxpayers.” Data comes from 2008 IRS tax information. Here is a look at Washington, and Walla Walla County in particular.
How does Walla Wallla stack up compared to the the state and nation? Amazingly and generously well! The following table compares Walla Walla County to the state and Country:
| United States | Washington | Walla Walla County | |
| Total Contributions | $135.8 B | $3 B | $22.1 M |
| Median Contribution | $2,564 | $2,319 | $3,610 |
| Median Discretionary Income | $54,783 | $56,282 | $45,311 |
| Percent of Income Given | 4.7% | 4.1% | 8.0% |
Walla Walla gives at rates nearly double the state average. Its median contribution exceeds the national median by 40% at the same time discretionary income is 17% less than the national median.
It has been a feeling that the Blue Mountain area is a generous place. Here is the data to back it up.
The map in blue shows total giving by county with the balloon detailing Walla Walla County. The darker the color, the more giving.
The orange map depicts median discretionary income in Washington. Again, the darker the image, the higher the median income. Walla Walla County detail is shown in the balloon. Discretionary income is a bit complicated.
For this study, The Chronicle started with adjusted gross income and subtracted federal income tax (less tax credits), Social Security and Medicare taxes, and state and local taxes. Also removed were median housing costs for homeowners and renters in each ZIP code as well as average living expenses from information collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and available by metropolitan area and region. The Chronicle applied those figures to ZIP codes that fall in the areas designated by the bureau.
The green map shows the median contribution in Washington. Put differently, it shows how much the middle person from the group of tax returns actually gave to charity. The darker the image, the higher the contribution level. Walla Walla County detailed is shown in the balloon.
The final map shows the percentage of income given by households, by county.
All data and maps courtesy of How America Gives from The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
A $165,500 fund to protect wildlife habitat in Garfield County has been created under an agreement between Puget Sound Energy, Garfield County and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The endowment, administered by Blue Mountain Community Foundation, is called the Puget Sound Energy Lower Snake River Wind Habitat Project Fund.
Establishment of a long-term fund to preserve and enhance wildlife habitat is the brainchild of Grant Morgan, public works director for Garfield County. Morgan saw the fund as an opportunity to create an enduring asset for Garfield County – not unlike PSE’s new Lower Snake River Wind Facility. Anne Walsh, PSE’s senior environmental and communications manager in Southeast Washington, suggested that Blue Mountain Community Foundation manage the fund. The 2009 WDFW Wind Power Guidelines provided the framework to develop the mitigation strategy that ultimately resulted in the Puget Sound Energy Lower Snake River Wind Habitat Project Fund.
“By using mitigation funds from PSE’s Lower Snake River facility for an endowment,” Walsh said, “we can support environmental projects over the life of the wind project and beyond.”
The habitat endowment is designed to provide grants to local projects in Garfield County for the benefit of wildlife and the county’s citizens. Blue Mountain Community Foundation will invest and administer the fund.
The primary purpose of grants will be for stewardship—management, monitoring, restoration, enhancement, protection from degradation—of high-value habitat in Garfield County. Environmental mitigation for large construction projects traditionally involves a one-time investment, such as acquisition and preservation of an environmentally sensitive tract of land. Never before had the Department of Fish and Wildlife seen mitigation take the form of a long-term endowment.
“During my tenure, this is the most novel and innovative approach to using mitigation funds,” said Mike Ritter, WDFW Mitigation Biologist. “WDFW’s mission is to preserve, protect and perpetuate ecosystems. With an endowment, we have created a way to conserve habitat for generations in Garfield County.”
“Blue Mountain Community Foundation is delighted about this fund for a couple of reasons,” noted Foundation Executive Director Lawson Knight. “We say we serve Garfield County and this fund joins others that benefit Garfield County and demonstrate our commitment to serving the County. Another reason is we invest for a Healthy Community, which includes the environment. This is the most significant fund for the environment in the Foundation’s history.”
The Fund’s executive committee, composed of representatives from Puget Sound Energy, the Garfield County Board of Commissioners, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, is developing grant guidelines and will seek project proposals. A project committee, including executive committee members along with a representative from a wildlife-oriented organization and an at-large member, will review grant requests and select recipients.
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Washington state’s oldest local energy utility, Puget Sound Energy serves 1.1 million electric customers and more than 750,000 natural gas customers in 11 counties. A subsidiary of Puget Energy, PSE meets the energy needs of its customers, in part, through cost-effective energy efficiency, procurement of sustainable energy resources, and far-sighted investment in the energy-delivery infrastructure. PSE employees are dedicated to providing great customer service that is safe, dependable and efficient. For more information, visit www.PSE.com.
Garfield County is located in southeastern Washington with the Snake River Canyon in places descending well over 1,000 feet to the river. The Oregon state line marks Garfield County’s southern border with elevations rising to the Blue Mountains. Agriculture has dominated Garfield County’s economy with farms occupying two-thirds of the county. Wheat is the main crop, though other grains such as barley and bluegrass are also grown. Now, the County has begun harvesting wind. At 712.80 square miles which encompasses a portion of the Umatilla National Forest, Garfield County is the seventh-smallest county in the state. As of 2000, the population is 2397, making it the least populous in the state. The county seat is at Pomeroy, the county’s only city.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife mission is to preserve, protect and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities. With six regional offices spread across Washington State, the Region 1 office (Spokane) is responsible for conservation and protection of native fish and wildlife in Eastern Washington State, including Garfield County as well as providing sustainable fishing, hunting and other wildlife-related recreational experiences.
Since 1984, the Blue Mountain Community Foundation has served donors who care about Blue Mountain area communities, including Washington’s Garfield, Columbia and Garfield Counties, as well as the Northeast section of Umatilla County in Oregon. Through this generosity, BMCF grants in excess of $1.6 Million each year. It has grown to over $30M in assets in 250 component funds. Several Foundation funds benefit Garfield County including the Lawrence and Margaret Slater Scholarship Fund for Pomeroy High School graduates and the Garfield County Health Foundation Fund.
Blue Mountain Community Foundation has awarded two additional grants from the First Fruits Fund, a component fund of the Foundation.
Community Council, a citizen led group that brings people together to study regional issues and follow up with actions, was awarded $3,395.00 which helped them meet their $80K fundraising goal for the fiscal year and receive a Sherwood Trust matching grant. Community Council has completed three community studies in the four years since the organization was founded on the following topics:
Links to the study reports can be found here. A new study on Effective Communication between Citizens and Government will begin this fall. Visit Community Council’s website at www.communitycouncil.org to learn more about the work Community Council is doing and the process used to study issues.
Walla Walla Public Schools’ Farm to School Program was awarded $6,200.00 to help establish a program that will bring more local farm fresh produce to school lunches and will expand the school garden programs and curriculum. This effort led by Beth Thiel has already been able to bring local farm fresh asparagus to Sharpstein and Blue Ridge this spring. Click this link to read an article in the Union Bulletin about the program.
The First Fruits Fund was established in 2008 with a generous grant from the Vista Hermosa Foundation. Since that time, the Fund has made 69 grants exceeding $567,000.
The stated goal of the First Fruits Fund is to “encourage collaborative and innovative approaches to building self-sufficiency for the most under-served in our communities, including improved access to such basic needs as housing, food, education and livable wages.” Founders believe that the most impactful way to achieve that goal is to support community-based initiatives that empower people themselves to identify their needs and collectively own the process of change.
Blue Mountain Community Foundation recently awarded grants from the First Fruits Fund, a component fund of BMCF. As promised, we are announcing grant awards over the next few weeks.
Commitment to Community, a grassroots movement, commonly known as C2C, serves four Walla Walla neighborhoods, namely Blue Ridge, Edith Carrie, Jefferson Park and Washington Park. The residents of these neighborhoods are predominantly low-income and roughly 60% of the residents are white and 40% are Latino.
The goal of C2C is to develop a sense of ownership among neighbors through ongoing relationship building and project activity, based on the neighbors’ priorities and initiatives. C2C also seeks to build relationships with new and existing major stakeholders, including funders and service providers.
The neighborhoods recently identified goals specific to their area. Examples are a Spring graffiti clean-up and Summer trash clean-up in the Blue Ridge area, organizing the fourth season of the community garden in the Edith Carrie neighborhood, Spring clean-up, Summer BBQ and December Tree Lighting at Jefferson Park and the 6th Dia de los Ninos (Children’s Day) held in Washington Park.
Funds from this grant will provide ongoing program support for C2C.
The First Fruits Fund
The First Fruits Fund was established in 2008 with a generous grant from the Vista Hermosa Foundation. Since that time, the Fund has made 66 grants exceeding $550,000.
The stated goal of the First Fruits Fund is to “encourage collaborative and innovative approaches to building self-sufficiency for the most under-served in our communities, including improved access to such basic needs as housing, food, education and livable wages.” Founders believe that the most impactful way to achieve that goal is to support community-based initiatives that empower people themselves to identify their needs and collectively own the process of change.
2012 First Fruits Grantees:
Votes are continuing to come in during this second week of the Annual Downtown Walla Walla Foundation Gingerbread House competition. The results at the end of this week are as follows:
To date we have already raised $169.40, all of which will go to help our area’s homeless. Additionally, dollars raised will be matched up to $202.
The entry that currently has the most donations was created by Bonnie Blum, Activities Director at Park Plaza Retirement Home. It is a replica of the historic train depot in Dayton. The beautiful design has all the best features of a traditional gingerbread house. Bonnie Blum, the house’s creator says she researched local buildings for inspiration. When she found a picture of the historic depot online she knew she had found the inspiration she was looking for. Amazingly, this was the first gingerbread home she has ever made. Overall, from baking to final touches, she estimates it took 70 – 80 hours to create!
There are still two weeks left to get your votes in. Stop by the Marc and make a donation in support of your favorite entry!
The Downtown Walla Walla Foundation Annual Gingerbread House Competition has begun! This fun competition features Gingerbread houses created by professionals at local business as well as entries by amateur designers.
As with any competition there will be a winners. You can cast a vote by donating money to your favorite Professional entry. Bring your bills and spare change to the lobby of the Marcus Whitman Hotel and place them in the jar of your favorite entry. The Professional entry with the most votes (money donated) at the end of the competition will be awarded a trophy to display proudly all year. Proceeds from the voting will be used to help the homeless in Walla Walla through the Blue Mountain Community Foundation and will be matched up to $202!
The amateur entries will be judged by the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation and the winner will be awarded a dinner for two at the Marc.
Make a plan to stop by the lobby of the the Marc to cast your vote to help the homeless in Walla Walla. You have until December 23rd to donate. You can check out our Facebook Album of the event at http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151047278580508.792585.298194080507&type=1
A special thank you to the following business that have entered this year:
Frosted, The Cupcake Shop
Park Plaza Retirement Home
Powerhouse Theater
Olive Marketplace & Cafe
Marcus Whitman Hotel
Last Thursday, the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin ran a story, Agency needs helping hand of its own. The story described the difficulty Helpline, a bedrock of Walla Walla’s social safety net, is having in its housing program. The Housing program helps in a small way keep 18-20 families in their homes each month.
Normally, federal dollars are available to sustain the program. With a federal budget debate raging, the help is not there at this time. The result is Helpline is out of resources unless other contributions are made.
I was privileged last Friday to take a check for $7,000 from an anonymous donor to Helpline to sustain its program.
A cliche in business is see a need and fill it. It is an apt description for our community, too. One of the greatest quality-of-life assets that we enjoy is the generosity of our citizenry.
I will close with three thank yous: Thank you to Helpline for helping those in need. Thank you to Sheila Hagar and the Union-Bulletin for quality coverage of our community. Thank you to the anonymous donor who saw a need and filled it.
Blue Mountain Community Foundation, P.O. Box 603, Walla Walla, Washington 99362 509-529-4371 Fax: 509-529-5284
© 2006-2011 Blue Mountain Community Foundation | Design : Morrison Griffith Design Partners
