FOCUS A PUBLICATION OF FOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS FOCUS P H I L A N T H R O P Y SPRING/SUMMER 2015 Pages 2-3 Centers for Giving Our Generous Donors Pages 4-5 Robinson Center for Civic Leadership and Community Programs Pages 6-7 News from our Partners and Region Page 8 Foundation News and Updates Photo by Nancy Pierce READ CHARLOTTE AIMS TO DOUBLE 3 RD GRADE READING PROFICIENCY Less than half of Mecklenburg County third graders currently read at grade level. A new ten-year initiative aims to boost literacy rates and help children who struggle with reading – children from every school, neighborhood and income level in our community. Read Charlotte was officially launched in February, now backed by nearly $5 million in support from area companies and organizations, including Foundation For e Carolinas. e effort is a community-wide initiative to double the percentage of third grade students reading at grade level, from 40 percent now to 80 percent in 2025. “If children can’t read, they lose confidence, fail in school and struggle in life, all at a cost our community and their families can’t afford,” said Katie B. Morris, Read Charlotte governing board member and chair of e Belk Foundation, who was a leader in the formation of Read Charlotte. e total fundraising goal for the first five years of the effort is $5.5 million, which will be used to support operations and to seed a Transformation Fund that will invest in evidence- based literacy programs. Read Charlotte will also seek to advise local funders on how they can support this important goal with their own philanthropy. Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board Chair Mary McCray reads Lola at the Library to schoolchildren during the Read Charlotte launch event on February 3, 2015. Read more on page 4 Detail from Fiesta Rose Kuhn is an American glass artist whose works are featured in the Sonia & Isaac Luski Gallery. Read more about Kuhn in A World Inside The Glass on page 5. FEATURED ARTIST JON KUHN
Transcript
FOCUSP H I L A N T H R O P Y
FOCUSP H I L A N T H R O P Y
A PUBLICATION OF
FOUNDATION FOR
T H E C A R O L I N A S
FOCUSP H I L A N T H R O P Y
FOCUSP H I L A N T H R O P Y
S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 5
Pages 2-3Centers for Giving Our Generous Donors
Pages 4-5Robinson Center for Civic Leadership and Community Programs
Pages 6-7News from our Partners and Region
Page 8 Foundation News and Updates
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READ CHARLOTTE AIMS TO DOUBLE 3RD GRADE READING PROFICIENCYLess than half of Mecklenburg County third graders currently read at grade level. A new ten-year initiative aims to boost literacy rates and help children who struggle with reading – children from every school, neighborhood and income level in our community.
Read Charlotte was officially launched in February, now backed by nearly $5 million in support from area companies and organizations, including Foundation For The Carolinas. The effort is a community-wide initiative to double the percentage of third grade students reading at grade level, from 40 percent now to 80 percent in 2025.
“If children can’t read, they lose confidence, fail in school and struggle in life, all at a cost our community and their families can’t afford,” said Katie B. Morris, Read Charlotte governing board member and chair of The Belk Foundation, who was a leader in the formation of Read Charlotte.
The total fundraising goal for the first five years of the effort is $5.5 million, which will be used to support operations and to seed a Transformation Fund that will invest in evidence-based literacy programs. Read Charlotte will also seek to advise local funders on how they can support this important goal with their own philanthropy.
Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board Chair Mary McCray reads Lola at the Library to schoolchildren during the Read Charlotte launch event on February 3, 2015.
Read more on page 4
Detail from Fiesta Rose
Kuhn is an American glass artist whose works are featured in the Sonia & Isaac Luski Gallery. Read more about Kuhn in A World Inside The Glass on page 5.
FEATUREDARTISTJON KUHN
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Queens University of Charlotte is one of a growing number of small to mid-size colleges and universities partnering with Foundation For The Carolinas.
The Queens University of Charlotte Endowment leverages FFTC’s investment and back office expertise. The part-nership allows the university to focus on what it does best: providing a comprehensive education in liberal arts and professional studies to more than 2,400 undergradu-ate and graduate students. All the while, FFTC manages the fund accounting and endowment investing to ease the burden of administration.
“A university’s endowment is essential on so many fronts: it underwrites student scholarships and supports the work of our academic community,” said Dr. Pamela Davies, president of Queens University of Charlotte. “We’re delighted to partner with Foundation For the Carolinas to protect and enhance this critical resource. From both an administrative and an investment per-spective, we know we’re in the right hands.”
Through its Center for Nonprofit Sustainability, FFTC offers clients expertise in all facets of endowment management, including reporting, accounting and complex spendable income policies and procedures. Rowan Cabarrus Community College and South Pied-mont Community College also joined the FFTC family of fundholders over the past year.
For more information about the Center for Nonprofit Sustainability, please visit www.fftc.org/nonprofitsustainability.
FFTC GROWS ENDOWMENT NICHE WITH QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE
Meg Goldstein, a local estate planning attorney with her own practice in Charlotte, has been a valuable FFTC partner for decades. Meg encourages clients to consider innovative, efficient ways to incorporate charitable giving in their current and long-term planning.
Q: What is your relationship with FFTC?
A: In the 1980s I helped a client establish an endowment fund at FFTC. For more than 25 years, I’ve worked with the Foundation to establish clients’ philanthropic funds. I have also had the privilege to serve on FFTC’s Cabinet of Profes-sional Advisors. My relationship with FFTC has been further strengthened through my volunteer service with various organizations in the Jewish community, including serving on the board of Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community.
Q: What value does your partnership with FFTC bring to your clients?
A: FFTC is “client-centric” by prioritizing each client’s goals. The organization combines optimal flexibility and a thorough knowledge of charitable tax laws to maximize each client’s philanthropic assets. A client recently wanted to establish a private foundation with illiquid and closely-held assets. I introduced him to FFTC and urged him to consider a fund there, in lieu of a private foundation. He has now established and funded a large account at FFTC, which will support the community within his lifetime and after his death. After much research and consideration, my client realized that FFTC could satisfy all of his administrative, investment and philanthropic goals at the lowest cost possible.
Q: How do you encourage clients to consider giving as part of their estate plans?
A: Luckily, I have clients who have a passion for charity, using me as a conduit to structure a customized estate plan encompassing both familial and philanthropic approaches. On the other hand, most clients do not come to the table with philanthropy in mind. During our initial conference, we discuss legacy giving. My motto is: “Everyone can be a philanthropist.” One person’s legacy gift, when combined with the gifts of others, will help our community immeasur-ably and encourage others to join in the effort.
Q: What would you share with colleagues who haven’t yet partnered with FFTC?
A: FFTC shares its charitable resources and know-how with the professional community. FFTC does not hijack the process, but instead works with the client and the client’s professional advisors as a team member. When once asked what one word I would use to describe FFTC, I responded with “integrity.” FFTC is a professional’s best partner and advocates to ensure that clients will achieve their philanthropic goals.
PROFESSIONAL ADVISOR SPOTLIGHT Q&A with Meg D. Goldstein
Meg D. Goldstein
Founded in 1857, Queens University of Charlotte provides transformative educational experiences that nurture intellectual curiosity, promote global understanding, encourage ethical living, and prepare individuals for purposeful and fulfilling lives.
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In April, a luncheon was held to welcome clients who opened new funds within the last year, and to introduce these new fundholders to the breadth of resources available within Foundation For The Carolinas.
Among those present were individuals and families who opened FFTC Donor Advised Funds, made plans for legacy gifts through estate plans, and established new funds with gifts of illiquid assets. FFTC also hosted several new institutional nonprofit and corporate clients from throughout our 13-county region. Thank you to our new donors. Your choice to partner with FFTC and our collective impact are true reflections of the philanthropic spirit of the region we call home.
For more information about the Centers for Giving, please visit www.fftc.org.
FFTC WELCOMES NEW FUNDHOLDERS
To deliver best-in-class service, FFTC has recently expanded its investment and account service functions with several key new roles:
Angie Allred has assumed a new role as Director of Investment Operations and Portfolio Oversight Manager. Angie will oversee and monitor FFTC’s investment portfolio, with a vision to grow its
overall performance and earnings.
Cynthia Bush has joined the Philanthropic Advancement team as the Director of Investment Reporting. Previously with TIAA-CREF, Cynthia will oversee several investment functions, including the
Investment Alliance Manager pools and performance reporting for FFTC clients and donors.
Mary Gallivan now serves as Director of Centers for Giving. Mary’s role has expanded from leading the Center for Corporate Philanthropy to also overseeing the Center for Nonprofit Sustainability.
Wendy Gates has joined the Finance team as Vice President of Account Services, working on a variety of accounting and finance functions at FFTC. Wendy is a CPA and brings extensive tax and
nonprofit accounting experience.
Evan Wolkofsky has joined the Philanthropic Advancement team as Associate Counsel and Planned Giving Officer. Bringing more than 15 years of experience as a corporate attorney, Evan will assist in all
aspects of FFTC’s growing legal work and planned giving activities.
STAFF UPDATES
Mary Gallivan
Evan Wolkofsky, J.D.
Angie Allred, J.D.
Cynthia Bush, CFA
Wendy Gates, CPA
FFTC welcomed more than 40 new fundholders at a spring luncheon held in the Kearney Solarium.
You already know that Foundation For The Carolinas is in the business of helping people, companies and nonprofits amplify the impact of philanthropy. But did you know we’re also in the “business” of commercial real estate, bill pay technology and Christmas tree farms?
That’s because business owners and entrepreneurs throughout our region partner with FFTC to transform complex assets into community impact. By gifting interests in LLCs, limited partnerships or closely held corporations, you can support the causes you value most while reducing your tax liability and retaining control of your business.
For more information, contact the Philanthropic Advancement team at 704.973.4500 or [email protected].
Philanthropy is Serious Business
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CIVIC LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
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FFTC will serve as the fiscal agent for Read Charlotte, which is led by a 17-member governing board and will be operated by a team of three. Munro Richardson was recently hired to lead as executive director (see story below).
Read Charlotte works across the entire continuum of birth through third grade. Four work groups will focus on aligning local programs with best practices and improving transitions between early language development, childcare and pre-K programs, the early elementary grades (K-3), and summer programs.
For more information and for a full list of funders and governing board members, visit www.ReadCharlotte.org.
READ CHARLOTTEcontinued from page 1
The 2015 Nish Jamgotch Jr. Humanitarian Award, facilitated by FFTC, has been awarded to Ric Elias, CEO and co-founder of marketing powerhouse Red Ventures. The award includes a $6,000 cash gift, which was presented in Ric’s honor to Golden Door Scholars.
Retired UNC Charlotte professor Nish Jamgotch established the award program to recognize those who demonstrate exceptional service to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region. With this annual award, Professor Jamgotch hopes to honor creativity and intellectual and scientific breakthroughs, and most importantly, those making a difference. Previous award winners include Thereasea Elder, a public health pioneer who was among the first to integrate healthcare in our region.
Munro Richardson recently joined Read Charlotte as executive director. Hailing from Kansas City, Munro’s startup career spans the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Most recently he was co-founder of LigoSphere, a tech startup that built a mobile app to help college students connect with others on their campus, and myEDmatch, a website designed for new teacher recruitment and job matching. In the nonprofit sector, Munro led the startup of an urban college prep charter school and a college access program that helped hundreds of low-income students attend college.
Munro previously worked at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. At Kauffman he held various leadership roles and was responsible for leadership of the Foundation’s education grant making portfolio. Munro holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas, master’s degrees from both Harvard University and Oxford University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. A Rhodes Scholar, Munro is married with three daughters.
ELIAS RECEIVES HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Nish Jamgotch Jr.
Munro Richardson
Read Charlotte, the $5.5 million community-wide initiative to double reading proficiency among third graders, was formally launched during a February 3 news conference.
READ CHARLOTTE NAMES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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Ric Elias, CEO and co-founder of Red Ventures, accepts the 2015 Nish Jamgotch Jr. Humanitarian award from FFTC executive vice president Brian Collier.
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Initiatives launched through the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership are supported by our generous members. These civic-minded individuals make possible the transformative initiatives that shape our community and create a more vibrant region.
FFTC’s flagship civic leadership program offers innovative and highly interactive membership. Benefits include:
Invitations to experiential events, which are tailor-made for our members
Educational programming, offering eye-opening and informative sessions
Engaging in dialogue about major community issues
You can become a member of the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership with an annual contribution of $1,000 or more. For those under the age of 35, Emerging Leaders membership begins at $500 annually.
We are pleased to announce the upcoming debut of a dedicated website for the Robinson Center. The site will be officially launched this summer – stay tuned!
To learn more about how you can get engaged, contact Ron Townsend at 704.973.4586 or [email protected].
Get EngagedUsing your smart phone, scan the QR to view a brief video about how you can get engaged with the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership.
GET ENGAGED THROUGH CIVIC LEADERSHIP
Twenty-one community leaders from widely diverse backgrounds were recently named to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force.
The mission of the task force is to develop actionable recommendations that can broaden access to economic opportunity for all residents of Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
FFTC, in partnership with the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the John M. Belk Endowment, is investing in and researching the issue of economic opportunity in our region. The initiative was launched in response to a widely-published study that ranked Charlotte 50th out of 50 major U.S. cities in terms of economic mobility.
The Task Force convened in May 2015 and will conclude its work in late 2016. “We are grateful to these volunteers, who bring a valuable mix of skills and expertise, a variety of perspectives reflecting our community’s diversity, and a commitment to broadening economic opportunity for all in Charlotte-Mecklenburg to this work,” said Novant Health physician Dr. Ophelia Garmon-Brown, co-chair of the task force.
The task force and its related economic opportunity work is a signature initiative of the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership at FFTC. “Our ongoing work in such areas as affordable housing, literacy and education already feeds directly into boosting economic opportunity,” said Brian Collier, executive vice president of Foundation For The Carolinas. “Investing in this initiative to remove barriers to economic mobility is a natural fit for the full scope of our civic leadership efforts.”
A full list of task force members, as well as additional information about the initiative, can be found at www.opportunitycharmeck.org.
In March, the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership hosted an event featuring Jon Kuhn, one of the leading glass artists in the world.
During the reception, Jon unveiled several uniquely dazzling creations to Robinson Center members. Jon’s work is featured in more than 40 international museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Vatican Museums, and the White House Permanent Collection. It is also prominently displayed in FFTC’s Sonia and Isaac Luski Gallery, which is free and open for the public to enjoy during weekday business hours.
The Robinson Center for Civic Leadership offers unique opportunities such as this reception throughout the year, exclusively for its members.
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TASK FORCE NAMED
A WORLD INSIDE THE GLASS
Expansive Rain by Jon Kuhn is on display in the Sonia & Isaac Luski gallery.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force held an informal meet-and-greet dinner in May at FFTC. Working sessions for the group will begin in June 2015.
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More than 1,500 corporate, nonprofit, government and community leaders attended the 2015 Foundation For The Carolinas Annual Meeting, a celebration of philanthropy and civic leadership in our region.
During the event, FFTC announced the following record financial results, which demonstrate the remarkable impact our clients, donors and partners have made in our region.
2014 Financial Results
Nearly $1.7 billion in assets
$627 million in contributions
$316 million in grantmaking
Keynote speaker for the sold-out event was Platon, a world-renowned and award-winning portrait photographer. Platon engaged guests with his stunning photography of global leaders and the powerful stories behind the images.
During his remarks, Platon also revealed captivating portraits of five nonprofit leaders who shape and enhance our region, the result of a special collaboration to celebrate local leadership.
Platon’s presentation was made possible by Keynote Sponsor Wells Fargo, who also announced a $2 million gift to the Carolina Theatre renovation project during the event.
Stories of Leadership
Two films were also shared that highlighted the leadership stories of generous FFTC clients. Among those featured were Bill and Betsy Blue, who are working to establish our region’s first holistic center for psychiatric treatment, as well as the family legacy story of local philanthropists Clay and Deidre Grubb.
To view these inspirational films, visit www.fftc.org/leadershipstories.
The sold-out 2015 Annual Meeting luncheon drew more than 1,500 attendees on April 2. Keynote speaker, Platon, presented stunning photographs of global and local leaders. Pictured above: Platon’s famous portrait of BIll Clinton for Esquire magazine.
2015 ANNUAL MEETING
Mayor Dan Clodfelter and Chairman Trevor Fuller address guests at the Annual Meeting.
Bill and Betsy Blue share the story of HopeWay Foundation.
Clay and Deidre Grubb introduce a film highlighting their family’s philanthropic legacy.
Charlotte Ballet’s Patricia McBride (background), a recent Kennedy Center Honoree, was among the area nonprofit leaders photographed by Platon.
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Brian Collier, executive vice president at FFTC, was recently honored with the 2015 Whitney M. Young Award. The award celebrates individuals who best exemplify the Urban League of Central Carolinas’ commitment to an inclusive society, by opening doors to opportunity and building bridges between diverse communities.
At FFTC, Brian oversees community programs and civic leadership, as well as affiliate board relationships through-out our 13-county region. His leadership can be seen in such major community initiatives as Project L.I.F.T, Carolina Thread Trail and newly launched Read Charlotte, to name just a few.
The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation recently hosted an evening with The Monuments Men author Robert Edsel at FFTC. Later produced by George Clooney as a feature film, The Monuments Men tells the true story of Allied soldiers who found and recovered countless artworks stolen by the Nazis during WWII.
A subsidiary foundation of FFTC, the Library Foundation advances the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s programs and services through advocacy, fundraising and building relationships.
For more information, visit foundation.cmlibrary.org.
BRIAN COLLIER RECOGNIZED BY URBAN LEAGUE OF CENTRAL CAROLINAS
AUTHOR ROBERT EDSEL HOSTED BY LIBRARY FOUNDATION
Brian Collier
Robert Edsel
The team that will lead the renovation of the historic Carolina Theatre is growing. FFTC has hired Gensler as associate architect for the renovation of the Carolina Theatre at Belk Place. Gensler, a top-ranked global design firm with local offices in uptown Charlotte, has extensive experience in creating more livable cities and smarter workplaces.
Their team of Ernie Munoz, James Hatley, Holly Christian, Jack Ossa and Jennifer Williams will be responsible for construction administration and the design of FFTC’s expanded workspace, which will rise above the theatre lobby. Gensler will be paired with lead design team on the theatre project, Westlake Reed Leskosky, an Ohio-based firm with deep expertise in the restoration of historic theatres.
FFTC has also hired Local Projects, a media design firm, to develop experiential elements of the theatre, including audience experience and collaborative storytelling. Local Projects is known for reinventing public spaces and creating new ways for people to interact with art, cities and one another. The firm is behind such innovative projects as the 9/11 Memorial Museum and the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.
In addition, FFTC has established two new roles to serve as dedicated staff for the theatre:
Richard Grubbs has joined FFTC as Construction Project Manager for the Carolina Theatre. Previously with the Charlotte office of national architectural firm Perkins+Will, Richard brings 20 years of architectural and construction administration experience to the project.
Emily McCallister will serve as Project Manager of Programming and Operations. Emily will be responsible for the day-to-day administration of all programming aspects of the Carolina Theatre restoration.
FFTC is restoring the 36,000-square-foot historic theatre, located adjacent to its headquarters, to create Charlotte’s premier civic engagement space.
The community foundation has raised $27 million toward its $35 million fundraising goal for the project. The theatre will serve as a catalyst for the North Tryon Vision Plan, FFTC’s broader effort to revitalize uptown Charlotte’s North Tryon Street corridor, in partnership with Charlotte Center City Partners and other stakeholders.
EXPERIENCED TEAM IN PLACE FOR CAROLINA THEATRE RENOVATION
Richard Grubbs
Emily McCallister
Supporters of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation gathered at FFTC for a presentation by author Robert Edsel about his acclaimed book, The Monuments Men.
Foundation For The Carolinas cares about the environment. This newsletter is printed with vegetable-based ink on paper manufactured from 10% post-consumer, recovered and mixed fiber from 100% certified sources.
220 North Tryon StreetCharlotte, NC 28202
www.fftc.org
Inspiring Philanthropy.Investing in Community.
Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage
PAIDCharlotte, NC
Permit No. 2098
Foundation For The Carolinas offers a breadth of stunning convening spaces, featuring
multiple unique event venues and 17 state-of-the-art conference rooms.
Contact us at 704.973.4500 to reserve space for your holiday parties, corporate gatherings,
board meetings and receptions.
Revenue generated from 220 North Tryon allows us to share our building with our community, and
to offer free meeting space to our region’s nonprofits during weekday business hours.
Visit www.fftc.org/events for more information.
Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community (FCJC) recently held its Annual Meeting at FFTC. During the event, FCJC, with net assets under management in excess of $112 million, celebrated its 2014 annual financial results, and the results of its highly successful “Create Your Jewish Legacy” initiative. Over the past two and a half years, 478 formalized legacy commitments have been created with a future value in excess of $11.2 million. More than 150 legacy donors and community leaders attended the celebration and cocktail event in May 2015.
From left: Nancy Kipnis, Create Your Jewish Legacy; Adam Bernstein, FCJC board chair; Arlene Schiff, national director, Life & Legacy; Phil Warshauer, FCJC executive director; and Judy August, FCJC incoming board chair
