From Justice Funders: A new model for philanthropy, the Just Transition Integrated Capital Fund offers foundations a learning vehicle to move endowed assets to BIPOC and working class controlled funds and grassroots projects through non-extractive financing in the form of 0% loans and catalytic grants.

The Just Transition Integrated Capital Fund (JTIC Fund) operationalizes the Just Transition Investment Framework in the form of a democratically controlled integrated capital fund governed by five democratically controlled investment funds stewarded by movement partners.

The guiding values of the JTIC Fund are local community control, non-extractive finance and right relationships, rematriation, and reparations.

Learn more about the fund here.

From Surdna Foundation: Join us at the Surdna Foundation for light bites and a panel discussion with Nonprofit Quarterly.

You’ll hear from NPQ editors, authors, and movement leaders exploring themes from NPQ’s latest economic justice issue about how movements today are advancing economic justice, and how grassroots efforts can be amplified by resourcing a national media platform.

Panelists will be in conversation with NPQ editors Steve Dubb and Rithika Ramamurthy:

Emily Kawano, U.S. Solidarity Economy Network and Co-Director of Wellspring Cooperative
José Garcia, Ford Foundation
Esteban Kelly, U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives.

Please RSVP by Oct. 6 to attend and let us know if you would like to invite any colleagues.

From Pam Breaux for NASAA: “I recently joined state arts agency leaders for the NASAA 2023 Learning Series session, Leading in the Face of Disaster. We all know that unexpected disasters are often devastating for communities, and the arts community is certainly no exception. Whether we’re thinking about weather and climate disasters like floods, fires and hurricanes or about other kinds of emergencies, in the aftermath of catastrophe there are important roles state arts agencies can play, especially to help the arts community connect to resources and pertinent information needed to begin recovering.”

“Unfortunately, weather and climate disasters have become so numerous and intense that it’s challenging to name all those most recently impacted. Top of mind for me at the moment are our colleagues in Florida because of recent storms, our colleagues in Vermont due to unprecedented flooding this year, and our colleagues in Hawaiʻi because of the devastating fires in Maui. There are certainly others, and the current hurricane season steadily making headlines isn’t helping any of us rest easily. In each of these examples, state arts agencies are leading and going about the work of understanding and illuminating the impact of disasters and connecting the arts community to much-needed resources.”

“Our speakers shared valuable perspectives, learning and resources that can help prepare state arts agencies to respond to disasters. Please check out the webinar and its related resources. I know you’ll join me in thanking our speakers for their leadership in this space and for sharing their knowledge with us.”

Read the full piece here.

From Leela Dance Collective: Leela Dance Collective, the Los Angeles-based internationally-touring kathak dance company that combines classical dance from North India with contemporary influences, announces today that it has reached its initial $1 million goal for The Leela Foundation. This endowment fund is the only one of its kind, designed to support the future of kathak dance and Hindustani classical music in the United States.

In 2020, The Leela Foundation granted inaugural Artist Awards, providing direct support to some of today’s leading musicians.These first Artist Awards were presented to artists Jayanta Banerjee, sitarist, musician and composer; Ben Kunin, sarod artist and senior disciple of the maestro, Ud. Ali Akbar Khan; Debashis Sarkar (posthumously), vocalist and musician; and Satyaprakash Mishra, tabla percussionist. In 2021 the fund supported three kathak dance artists: Gretchen Hayden, Joanna DeSouza, and Madhuri Devi Singh. In 2022, The Leela Foundation supported bansuri artist Jay Gandhi (Hindustani flute).

“A $1 million endowment is modest in the world of philanthropy and Western fine arts, but huge for our field of kathak and Hindustani classical music,” continued Mehta. “So many incredibly talented and acclaimed classical Indian dance and music artists struggle to support their artistry and lives financially. This endowment fund aims to provide artists with the support they need to thrive and advance these art forms. Without such support, these artists and artistic traditions are at risk. I know this is just the beginning for what our community can build together, to secure and grow the future of our art form. We are so incredibly grateful to the individuals and funders who have helped us reach this initial goal.”

“Leela Dance Collective is one of the very few professional touring companies elevating classical Indian dance and music on the world stage,” commented Shirish Dayal, Executive Vice President of the Tarsadia Foundation. “We believe in their mission to advance and sustain cultural traditions and strengthen infrastructure for kathak dance and Hindustani classical music, and are proud to provide lead support for The Leela Foundation.”

Read the full announcement here.

In 2022, after more than two decades of investing in this space, we launched a unique educational model that seeks to fill the gaps in the current educational offer in Puerto Rico through the integration and expansion of existing services; as well as the addition of new components adjusted to the needs of a global music industry in constant growth and technological transformation. 

The model consists of six phases of musical talent development: 1) Introduction to music, 2) Instrument specialization, 3) Performance, 4) Music instruments donation, 5) Preparation for university, and 6) Mini grants that support college education and the first steps on the students’ career path. It also integrates a curriculum focused on developing skills related to artistic technique, cultural context and historical context of music, musical entrepreneurship, and technology for the development of music.  

This model is implemented through our proprietary music education programs, such as Aceleración Musical (residential summer internship) and Revive la Música, and by  partner organizations that affect each phase: Make Music Happen, Asociación de Padres y Amigos de las Orquestas Secundarias y Superiores, Fundación Música y País, Taller Folklórico de la Montaña, Coro de Niños de San Juan, Corporación de las Artes Musicales, Programa de Música 100 x 35 (Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico). 

Learn more about Fundación Banco Popular.

You can also learn more about Fundación Banco Popular on the photo credits page.

From Nonprofit Leadership Alliance at the University of Houston: Vu Le (“voo lay”) is a writer, speaker, vegan, Pisces, and the former Executive Director of RVC, a nonprofit in Seattle that promotes social justice by developing leaders of color, strengthening organizations led by communities of color, and fostering collaboration between diverse communities. Known for his no-BS approach, irreverent sense of humor, and love of unicorns, Vu has been featured in dozens, if not hundreds, of his own blog posts at NonprofitAF.com.

Anyone interested in the nonprofit sector and social justice work in general is encouraged to join us for this virtual conversation. Feel free to share this invitation with other students, alumni, staff, and faculty.

The NLA program is open to UH undergraduates from across degree programs and Master of Social Work students. We support and empower students interested in a career in the nonprofit sector by helping them develop the skills and knowledge they need to be thoughtful, capable, and effective professionals.

The event takes place on Tuesday, October 3 at 6pm CDT. Learn more and register here.

Our community for executives of color grows. We’re thrilled to officially announce Catalyst Collective Cohort 2, drawn from our continued partnership with Kresge Foundation’s Arts and Culture & Human Services grantees! Through the ProInspire Catalyst Collective, these 18 senior leaders–all women of color–embark on a 12-month journey anchored in self-care, community care, and racial equity. Please join us in welcoming the members of Catalyst Collective Cohort 2 below.

The Catalyst Collective is a community of practice designed to support BIPOC leaders as they navigate the professional and structural challenges that leading nonprofit organizations often create. Our community of practice prioritizes holistic well-being, shifting organizational culture, and sustainability. Leaders also create meaningful connections and build shared power to advocate for tangible changes that will foster a more supportive and sustainable experience for BIPOC leaders.

Program Intentions

The vision behind Catalyst Collective is to create a space where leaders can show up fully and change decision making power within the social sector by bringing the dreams, desires, and self-determination of leaders of color to the forefront. Through virtual convenings and collaboration, Catalyst Collective will:

Provide opportunities for leaders to practice prioritizing their well-being and discover ways to model community-care in their organizations
Support leaders with understanding how their identity, in particular racial identity, informs their leadership approach and needs
Leaders build trusting and meaningful connections with other BIPOC leaders in the sector
Help leaders with building technical and adaptive strategies to accelerate race equity within their organizations

Learn more about the program and cohort here.

“Artificial intelligence is quickly transforming the way we live and work — and nonprofits are no exception. From using ChatGPT to jumpstart your grant proposals to building out responsible and secure A.I.-use policies, nonprofits are grappling with new questions on how to leverage the technology to advance their mission — while proactively navigating the risks,” said Sara Herschander for Chronicle of Philanthropy. “We spoke with several A.I. experts about the promise and perils of this technology for nonprofits, and what you need to know to get started.” 

Today, A.I. is the algorithm that filters your incoming email or fills your social media with eerily specific targeted ads. If you’ve browsed Netflix, searched Google, or listened to Spotify — you’ve used A.I.

In other words, “you’re already using it, you just don’t know it,” says James Ellis, managing director of EV Strategic Partners, which provides technology and A.I. consulting to nonprofits. And those uses have only exploded in the last couple of years as AI has grown by leaps and bounds.

Going beyond just recognizing patterns, generative A.I. — the type of advanced technology behind ChatGPT — can use data to generate entirely new text, images, and other media.

Fundraisers have used ChatGPT, which is free (for now) and simple to use, to offload time-consuming tasks like drafting thank-you notes to donors, completing lengthy grant applications, and scheduling social media posts. Other tools on the market, like Grantable, an A.I.-powered grant-writing assistant, and DonorSearch, which uses machine learning for donor prospecting, have made A.I. accessible to even the smallest nonprofit fundraisers.

Nearly 80 percent of nonprofits used automation for online fundraising — including 15 percent who used A.I. for donor prospecting — in 2021 and 2022, according to Nonprofit Tech For Good’s 2023 report.

Fundraisers have used ChatGPT, which is free (for now) and simple to use, to offload time-consuming tasks like drafting thank-you notes to donors, completing lengthy grant applications, and scheduling social media posts. Other tools on the market, like Grantable, an A.I.-powered grant-writing assistant, and DonorSearch, which uses machine learning for donor prospecting, have made A.I. accessible to even the smallest nonprofit fundraisers.

Nearly 80 percent of nonprofits used automation for online fundraising — including 15 percent who used A.I. for donor prospecting — in 2021 and 2022, according to Nonprofit Tech For Good’s 2023 report.

Read the full piece here.