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The Standard’s 2011 Employee Giving Campaign Raises $1.7 Million for Nonprofits
Employee participation was a record-breaking 41 percent compared with 28 percent in 2010
PORTLAND, Ore. — February 9, 2012 — During the 2011 Employee Giving Campaign, current and retired employees at Standard Insurance Company (“The Standard”) pledged more than $871,000 benefiting more than 979 nonprofit organizations. After a dollar-for-dollar match by The Standard, total nonprofit contributions from the 2011 campaign will exceed $1.7 million, which represents a 13.5 percent increase compared to 2010. These contributions, which are in addition to The Standard’s regular corporate giving, are distributed to nonprofit organizations during 2012.
“The Employee Giving Campaign is an extension of what our business does every day: helping people when they need it most,” said Greg Ness, chairman, president and chief executive officer of The Standard. “I am really proud of how employees of The Standard answered the call to help make our communities better places to live,” Ness added.
More than 1,340 current and retired employees pledged support during the campaign.
The Oregon Arts Commission Upcoming Grant Deadlines
The Oregon Arts Commission announces upcoming deadlines for three grant programs for Oregon arts organizations and one for Oregon artists:
Arts & Cultural Tourism Grants
January 31, 2012, 5:00 pm electronic deadline
Proposals may be submitted by arts groups or units of local government that are working to increase tourism motivated entirely or in part by the arts-related offerings of a community or region. Grants can support activities undertaken by arts or tourism groups – and especially projects in which both collaborate to attract Oregonians and non-residents, to communities, regions and the entire state through the strength of the arts-related offerings. Up to $10,000 in matching grant funds may be requested.
Capacity Grants for Arts Organizations
February 1, 2012, 5:00 pm electronic deadline
Competitive grants are open to prior participants in Sustaining Oregon’s Arts programming, including participation or presenting at the annual Arts Summit, Leadership Exchanges and webinars. Additionally, applicants must have received competitive grant support from the Oregon Arts Commission during the past two fiscal years. Funds are intended to help build operating capacity, improve financial sustainability, refine artistic products, diversify audiences and/or strengthen management and board governance.
Arts Recognition Grants
February 9, 2012, 5:00 pm electronic deadline
Arts Recognition grants are $1,000 awards made to exemplary arts organizations that have a record of excellence in programming, service, and organizational capacity, but have not received other Arts Commission funding. The grants assist in raising an organization’s profile and in leveraging other funds and resources.
Career Opportunity Grants
February 14, 2012, 5:00 pm electronic deadline
Career Opportunity Grants support individual Oregon artists by enabling them to take advantage of unique opportunities to enhance their careers through the development of arts, business or professional skills; expanded marketing capacity and/or the further development of the nature or quality of their artwork. Additional funds available to mid-career Oregon visual artists from The Ford Family Foundation are awarded in tandem with this program.
Michelle Reynolds is the new Program Officer at James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation
January 20, 2012 ‐ The James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation recently hired Michelle Reynolds as its new Program Officer. Prior to joining the Miller Foundation, Michelle worked as the Senior Giving Manager at Portland Opera;Development Director for Chamber Music Northwest and Oregon Ballet Theatre and as the Executive Director of Oregon Repertory Singers.
Michelle began her non‐profit career in human services in the areas of community health and children’s advocacy and for seven years was a Guardian ad Litem in Juvenile and Superior Court. She holds a B.A in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Michelle currently serves as Treasurer on the board of Your Sisters, a girl’s orphanage in Tanzania. In addition, she is part of the 2012 cohort of Leadership Portland. In her spare time, she performs in a vocal trio, is an avid soccer player and adventurous cook.
Umpqua Bank Contributes Nearly 45,000 Volunteer Hours in 2011
Umpqua Bank’s Connect Volunteer Network Sets Industry Standard With 90 Percent Associate Participation
Portland, Ore. – Jan. 11, 2012 – Umpqua Bank, a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: UMPQ), achieved record-breaking associate participation through its Connect Volunteer Network™ (Connect) in 2011. With 44,946 combined volunteer hours, Umpqua Bank attained a new industry standard in corporate responsibility with more than 90 percent employee participation in its Connect program. According to research conducted by the Carroll School of Management Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College for their 2011 Community Involvement Index, a 90 percent participation rate is only seen by three percent of companies that offer paid time off.
“As a community bank, Umpqua has an obligation to the communities we serve and I could not be more proud to see so many of our associates make a positive difference by participating in our Connect program,” said Ray Davis, president and CEO of Umpqua Bank. “Collectively, the time they volunteered in 2011 is the equivalent of 22 associates working in our communities full time, and our company and neighborhoods are healthier because of their commitment.”
In 2011, the bank challenged its associates to do even more to assist its communities during a time of continued economic uncertainty. Together, Umpqua Bank associates increased Connect participation by 12 percent, with 2,217 associates donating their time to the youth-focused organization, school and community development program of their choice. Umpqua associates assisted more than 1,500 community organizations and schools across the bank’s four-state footprint.
“Effective volunteer programs can provide more than the expected benefit to the community at large – they can also make a measurable difference in core business functions for their companies, adding to employee retention, recruitment and team building,” said Colleen Olphert, director of membership at the Carroll School of Management Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College. “We urge companies to follow Umpqua’s lead and build volunteer programs that create high levels of involvement and help create a corporate culture of engagement while having a positive impact on the communities they serve.”
M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Awards Nearly $9.45 Million in Grants to Non-profits
A Letter From Steven Moore, Executive Director at M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust:
At our recent year-end meeting, we looked back with joy and appreciation on 2011: joy for the opportunity to partner with more than 420 organizations through our grants and programs; appreciation for the creative impact these organizations are having throughout the Northwest. Our grants and programs serving nonprofits totaled more than $35 million in 2011!
This includes our fall quarter grants meeting, where the Trust awarded nearly $9.45 million through 78 grants to non-profit organizations to continue our mission of enriching the quality of life in the Pacific Northwest by providing grants and enrichment programs for organizations seeking to strengthen the region’s educational, spiritual, social, and cultural base in creative and sustainable ways.
Attached is the list of organizations with whom we have partnered in this recent round of grants, the projects in which they are engaged, and their contact information. More information on the Trust and the grants program are available on our website at www.murdock-trust.org.
This coming year will undoubtedly hold its surprises, challenges, unexpected crises, and special opportunities. While naysayers and pessimists receive more attention than deserved, we are looking forward to joining you and many others to dream, think, collaborate, and work for a more hopeful and verdant future.
Sincerely,
M.J. MURDOCK CHARITABLE TRUST
Steven G. W. Moore, Ph.D.
Executive Director
GRANTMAKERS Calendar
Council on Foundations
February 21, 2012 at 11:00am
Webinar: Improving Internal Practices in Philanthropy Part II go to event >
The White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
February 23, 2012 at 8:00am
Connecting Communities for the Common Good go to event >
“My role in creating GRANTMAKERS Guiding Principles was an act of creating transparency - with our own standards of operation we can continue the flexible, entrepreneurial spirit that stands behind much of philanthropy. “
Kathleen Cornett, The Oregon Community Foundation