Welcome to the Kleinert Foundation Weekly Reader! Each Monday, we deliver a variety of resources to help keep our community informed and engaged.
Articles, Blogs, & Reports
Could Pandemic In Any Way Be A Plus For Peer-To-Peer Fundraising? By: Forbes, David Hessekiel
“With many nonprofit development teams struggling to make virtual fundraisers generate 50% of the contributions they had expected from physical walks, rides and other events they had planned before Covid-19 hit, it’s hard to see how the pandemic has been anything more than an unmitigated disaster for peer-to-peer fundraising.
And yet, interviews by the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum with numerous program leaders has revealed that while the move to alternative campaigns has closed many doors, it has opened up a few as well.
Reporting on this phenomenon is not intended in any way to discount the devastation that the pandemic has caused, but rather to share some insights that development leaders can leverage to make the best of a bad situation.” Read more here.
How Philanthropy Can Help Governments Accelerate a Real Recovery By: SSIR, Michele Jolin & David Medina
“Philanthropy can play a unique and catalytic role in accelerating a real recovery by helping government leaders make smarter decisions, helping them develop and effectively use the data-and-evidence capacity they need to spotlight and understand root causes of community challenges, especially racial disparities, and increase the impact of government investments that could close racial gaps and accelerate economic opportunity. Philanthropy can uniquely support leaders within government who are best positioned to redesign and reimagine public systems to deliver equity and impact.” Read more here.
Impact Is the Spice of Life By: Cause Consumer, Swati Singh
“Northeastern Afghanistan might be the last place on earth that you’d expect to find inspiration for a new social impact business – especially in the food industry.
With short summers and jagged peaks that soar past 20,000 feet, the Hindu Kush mountains defy any attempts at profitable farming. But once a year, foragers head up the cliffs to gather wild mountain cumin, a favorite local spice that’s largely unknown in the rest of the world.
As a young aid worker stationed in Afghanistan, Ethan Frisch surely wasn’t the first Westerner to taste the stuff, but thanks to his background as a chef in New York City, he instantly recognized that it was something special.
That rare, tiny seed was the inspiration for Burlap & Barrel, a single-origin spice company that sources unique and beautiful products from smallholder farmers sustaining an ancient trade in some of the most remote parts of the world. The company aims to reduce inequality and exploitation in food systems by connecting farmers to high value markets.” Read more here.
Driving Equity at Every Step of the Grantmaking Process By: PEAK Grantmaking, Marc Schultz
“If you want your organization to better support the organizations closest to communities in need, you’ll need to tackle the structural bias that keeps traditional philanthropy from giving smaller, grassroots, and emerging nonprofits and those led by people of color a chance to compete equitably with mainstream, white-led entities – a major component of Driving Equity in grantmaking.
Of course, this is no small feat: Because structural bias is often embedded in every step of the grantmaking process, combatting it requires work and commitment from everyone involved. For that reason, PEAK has developed two member-exclusive How-To Guides for rethinking the process from start to finish: How to Reduce Bias in Grantmaking Strategy, Community Outreach, and Applications, and How to Reduce Bias in Decision-Making and Grant Awards.
To give you a preview of the guidance contained in these resources, here’s a brief look at some of the obstacles involved and solutions suggested for each stage.” Read more here.
Podcasts
Podcast on Crimes Against Women- Episode 13 - Survivor Leadership
“Survivors of abuse, exploitation and human trafficking are beginning to find their voices as public speakers, authors, advocates and experts in the field. An emerging role with increasing benefits to healing and survival is that of the survivor leader. Historically, survivors of other tragic experiences have often made the best teachers and also the most effective healers, so it stands to reason that the model of survivor as coach, counselor, educator or advocate is a valuable approach for the healing of victims of human trafficking and many other forms of abuse. To explore this topic we talk with two survivor leaders – Rebecca Bender and Christine Cesa - who are actively working with victims, law enforcement, government agencies and more. ” Listen here.
The Good Office Podcast- Episode 11- The Challenges Facing Trafficking Survivors
“In this episode, Jillian interviews Kara Christensen, Economic Empowerment Program Manager at the nonprofit New Friends New Life to discuss how businesses can be more inclusive and support Human Trafficking survivors to overcome the challenges they face when re-entering the workforce, and what is needed for healthy, trauma-informed (and trained) workplaces.
Kara shares how this nonprofit is restoring and empowering formerly trafficked teen girls and sexually exploited women and their children (their 'members'), and the triggers that most of their members struggle with during day-to-day activities, such as taking public transportation or reading body language. Jillian and Kara also discuss some shocking human trafficking statistics in Texas, and who is most at risk to be trafficked here in the US.” Listen here.
Upcoming Events
Celebrating Black Philanthropy- Texas Women’s Foundation
August 20, 2020 | 10:30 – 11:30 am CST
“You are invited to share with a friend and join us for our Virtual Viewpoints. This month’s Virtual Viewpoints features distinguished leaders examining the increasing role and responsibility of Black philanthropy in addressing economic and racial justice, and advancing social change.” Learn more here.
Genesis Women Shelter 27th Annual Luncheon
September 2, 2020 | 11:30 am CST
“To ensure the safety of our staff, supporters and the community as a whole, we are excited to announce that we are moving the Genesis Annual Luncheon to a VIRTUAL event! If you haven't yet bought a ticket, you can still tune in to hear actress Nicole Kidman, who received an Emmy Award, Golden Globe, Critics Choice Award and SAG Award for her portrayal of Celeste Wright in Big Little Lies. Kidman played a former attorney turned stay-at-home mom with a seemingly perfect life, but whose husband was abusive behind closed doors - effectively opening audiences' eyes to the fact that domestic violence can happen to anyone. Don’t miss your chance to tune into this event… purchase your ticket now!” Learn more here.
Austin Street Center’s 20th Annual Humble Beginnings Luncheon
September 25, 2020 | 11:30 am
“Tony and Grammy Award-winning performer, Leslie Odom Jr. will take the stage as the keynote speaker at Austin Street Center’s annual Humble Beginnings luncheon.
Best known for his breakout role as ‘Aaron Burr’ in the smash hit Broadway musical, Hamilton, Odom Jr. received a 2015 Drama Desk Award nomination and won the Tony Award for “Best Actor in a Musical” for his performance. He also won a Grammy Award as a principal soloist on the original cast recording. Odom Jr. was most recently seen on the big screen starring alongside Cynthia Erivo and Joe Alwyn in “Harriet”, the story of Harriet Tubman’s escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes responsible for freeing hundreds of slaves. This spring, he released a book – FAILING UP: HOW TO TAKE RISKS, AIM HIGHER, and NEVER STOP LEARNING. In 2018, Odom Jr. released “Mr” – his first album of original songs.” Learn more here.
Wed, Oct 28, 2020, 11:00 AM -Sat, Oct 31, 2020, 12:00 PM
“Building systems that are equitable for women and people of color expands prosperity for everyone. The opportunities for human-centered design, innovation and impact that will take us there are unprecedented. But even as there are growing reasons to hope, we must commit to reform through principles, policies, and practices that level the playing field and create opportunity. bigBANG! 2020 will lift up rightful disruption and its methods to dismantle injustice and intentionally rework and rebuild systems that provide equal opportunity for all people to participate with dignity in the economic life of our society.” Learn more here.
From Dallas Doing good
The Water Cooler: Coworking and Collaboration for Dallas Nonprofits and Funders By: Mary Martin
“The team at Lyda Hill Philanthropies is known for keeping their eyes on the future. Their penchant for listening well and planning ahead for community needs continues to pay off, especially in the areas of science, empowering nonprofit organizations, and improving communities through social impact. The latest Lyda Hill project, Water Cooler, is designed to foster collaboration across nonprofit organizations, nonprofit service providers, and funders.
Water Cooler will be a key component of Pegasus Park, a 23-acre, mixed-use office campus recently unveiled to bolster local biotech, social impact, and corporate innovation. Located at Stemmons Freeway and Commonwealth Drive, the iconic office building is being developed in partnership with J. Small Investments. Approximately 150,000 square feet of the 18-story tower will be dedicated to house nonprofit sector tenants.” Read more here.
From The Liberty Line Newsletter
Without a trace: human traffickers exploit the pandemic to separate children from their families By: The Telegraph, Joe Wallen
“Child trafficking had long been a problem in India, where around 22 per cent of people still live on less than £1.50-a-day.
In rural Jharkhand, 46 per cent of people live below the poverty line, far in excess of the national average and it ranked in second last place out of the 29 Indian states surveyed in its Child Well-Being Index of 2017-18.
While public health experts agree that the curfew measures implemented by the Indian Government between March 25 and June 1 gave hospitals time to prepare, it pushed 400 million Indians into further poverty and dramatically amplified child trafficking across Jharkhand. ” Read more here.
August Book of the Month
Anointed By: Aelicia Watson
“Aelicia Watson serves as an Urban Missionary to the women of the Bonton Neighborhood and women all over the greater Dallas metroplex. Aelicia has always had a servant’s heart and a strong desire to serve the Lost, the Least, and the Lonely. She began volunteering every month with several different organizations and ministries that serve the South Dallas – Bonton Community. In 2016 she answered God’s call into full time ministry. During that year, she felt that God was calling her to begin a new ministry, focused on women and their unique needs and problems. In 2017 in response to that call, she established “Redeemed Women”. This ministry will address the pain, suffering, brokenness and obstacles women who are victims of generational poverty face such as: homelessness, hunger, sexual abuse, teen pregnancy, educational deficiencies, transportation, physical and medical needs, unemployment, lack of a viable support system, and exploitation.” Learn more here. To purchase a book, please email chocolate@redeemedwomen.org.
August Product of the Month
Three Designing Women Custom Engraved Tumbler
Three Designing Women is a small but mighty female and minority operated wholesale manufacturer based in Dallas, Texas, that started with a simple yet ambitious objective: To produce the finest personalized goods in the world. Now entering its second decade, Three Designing Women has risen to become The Most Awarded Personalization Company in History! Each month TDW supports one or more non-profit organizations as recipients of their time and resources, and their retailers are integral to this outreach. To learn more please visit www.threedesigningwomen.com. To purchase, please visit Artisan Stamp.
By: Hannah Rabalais, Program Officer