This is a Hot Idea
Regular readers of this blog already know that the number of non-profits in this nation is exploding exponentially. Experts believe that we have 25-40% more non-profits today than we did just 10 years ago. One area, in particular, where we're seeing a multitude of new groups relates to climate change and global warming. Due to Al Gore's movie, the upcoming Live Earth concerts, and the ensuing national discussion, these climate crisis types of charity are the next new thing.
But you want to know how a problem like global warming really gets defeated? It's not by more groups fighting for the dollars, it's by more funders like the Gund Foundation. The Cleveland-based foundation announced recently that "all organizations that apply for funding will have to submit a climate change statement as part of their application." This means that anyone who wants money from the Gund Foundation, no matter what their program may be, will need to know what their carbon footprint is and have concrete plans in place to reduce it.
This is remarkable vision on the part of Gund, and a real-world demonstration of exactly how longterm sustainable global change takes place, when those with the money and the power decide to make it in their own best interest. The Gund Foundation has given out over $500 million during its existence and is not primarily focused on environmental causes (although they do give to some of those type of groups). Most of their giving has been within Cleveland, and they historically have supported education, arts, cultural, and human service groups.
But here, they've made a bold decision to try and have their cake and eat it too. They'll continue to fund the groups that do work with missions in which they believe, but they're going to insist that those that receive their funding honor their other commitment to reducing global climate change. If you want to play with the Gund Foundation's money, you're going to do it their way.
But you want to know how a problem like global warming really gets defeated? It's not by more groups fighting for the dollars, it's by more funders like the Gund Foundation. The Cleveland-based foundation announced recently that "all organizations that apply for funding will have to submit a climate change statement as part of their application." This means that anyone who wants money from the Gund Foundation, no matter what their program may be, will need to know what their carbon footprint is and have concrete plans in place to reduce it.
This is remarkable vision on the part of Gund, and a real-world demonstration of exactly how longterm sustainable global change takes place, when those with the money and the power decide to make it in their own best interest. The Gund Foundation has given out over $500 million during its existence and is not primarily focused on environmental causes (although they do give to some of those type of groups). Most of their giving has been within Cleveland, and they historically have supported education, arts, cultural, and human service groups.
But here, they've made a bold decision to try and have their cake and eat it too. They'll continue to fund the groups that do work with missions in which they believe, but they're going to insist that those that receive their funding honor their other commitment to reducing global climate change. If you want to play with the Gund Foundation's money, you're going to do it their way.
Labels: Cleveland, climate control, global warming, Gund Foundation
posted by Trent Stamp at 2:46 PM
1 Comments:
Good post Trent, that is exactly what has to be done. I think that making a million small non-profit groups does very little good, and that what they should all do is, get behind the already existing ones who have influence and have the best chance of getting dollars and support.
If not then we just have a lot of small non-profits trying to survive and not doing any good in the long run.
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