On March 9 – 11, eight foundation members from across the state shared their stories with elected officials and the value of philanthropy in their districts – which is now very significant as our communities are dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. This was my first year participating in FOTH, which was an experience I will not forget.
Every day we are learning more about precautionary measures to keep our communities safe. You’re probably receiving numerous emails, social media messages and news alerts about the COVID-19 outbreak and I want you to know the health and safety of our Philanthropy Ohio members and employees is our top priority and we are here for our members and communities. Amid what’s happening in our communities, I want to share the specific steps we’re taking to keep our staff, members and local communities healthy.
Regardless of how you answer the question of whether 2020 starts a new decade or ends the old one, there’s something about the symmetry of 2020 that particularly encourages me to look ahead and think about what the year might bring that relates to the work we do at Philanthropy Ohio.
A key component in developing Philanthropy Ohio’s strategic framework was to learn about national trends in the philanthropic sector. I interviewed seven regional and national thought-leaders and reviewed numerous reports and studies. I’ve now brought this learning forward with updated information on high-level trends which grantmakers need to pay attention to.
When you think about neighborhood parks, you probably think about properties and recreation areas owned or maintained by the city government. While this is often the case, here in Cleveland we are also seeing new public spaces created thanks to the initiative of local residents and organizations. These resident-driven development efforts demonstrate how we all can play a role in making our communities more vibrant.
The 2020 census is right around the corner and the U.S. Census Bureau’s work will begin to gear up in full swing. With so much work to be done and the importance census data provides our members, we checked around the state to see how Philanthropy Ohio members are doing their part to ensure a fair and complete count.
