#getcreative

2021 - A Year of Change

2021 - A Year of Change

Today, when I read this blog post on Exponent Philanthropy - Making a Little Go Far: How We Spark Economic Renewal in Our Rural Community I knew I had to share it as part of my Year of Change series.

I encourage you to read the full post, but here is a teaser.

Their COVID pivot was the 2020 Youth Corp campaign that employed 16 teenagers to paint curbs and buildings, pick up branches following storms, weed, help with story hours at the library, and more. A win-win for local teens and the community.

This post highlights creative thinking at its best. It is a reminder of the flexibility foundations have in awarding funding and of the impact of one man’s gift to his community. All of us can learn from Mr. Stretesky.

Photograph by Dan Meyers Dan Meyers @dmey503

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2021 - A Year of Change

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2021 - A Year of Change

Think back on your own lives as you were starting your working life and careers. Did you have someone helping with daily living expenses such as rent or groceries? And if that wasn’t an option, how would your life be different?

In following a theme of change, let’s take a look at a twist to anti-poverty efforts: providing regular cash payments to those in need.

Enter SEED (Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration). Through a partnership with the Economic Security Project the city of Stockton, CA offered people in need what they needed most: cash. SEED launched February 2019. 125 people were randomly chosen from low-income census tracks to receive $500 monthly, to use as they please. The only mandate was participation in the research element of this project.

Preliminary findings are in and they may surprise you. This blog is inspired by the Nonprofit Quarterly’s article, Stockton Study Shows Power of Universal Basic Income Support written by Martin Levine and published March 17, 2021.

Image by Daniel Cheung @danielkcheung

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Pivot - Mommies in Need

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Pivot - Mommies in Need

What to do when shelter in place orders shuts down your ability to send nannies into homes to care for the young children of parents dealing with a health condition? You Pivot to virtual communities. Mommies in Need’s staff created content specific to children ages 3-6. The curriculum along with printed materials, activities, toys, etc are delivered to homes of qualifying families and Chromebooks or tablets are provided if needed. But the work didn’t stop there. To provide the parent with a bit of a break, one-on-one virtual sessions are scheduled with nannies and the child - all at no cost to families.

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2020's Word of the Year - Pivot

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2020's Word of the Year - Pivot

Nonprofits have always been resilient but the global pandemic is allowing them to showcase their creative and innovative sides in whole new ways. Over the next several weeks I am rolling out “Pivot” - a series of posts on organizations that I believe are taking innovation to new levels.

What do you think? Who would you showcase?

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Philanthropy in Motion and the Restaurant Industry Amid COVID-19

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Philanthropy in Motion and the Restaurant Industry Amid COVID-19

A ray of hope during this pandemic. The intersection of philanthropy and innovation within the restaurant industry to help restaurant workers survive the downturn and to feed others in our communities who are struggling.