If you ask many people to describe the Arts and Creative Sector in their community, you’ll get answers like the ballet, the symphony, the opera and art galleries.  Some feel that the arts are only for the “rich” and if you can’t afford a tux or paying for a gala then you can’t participate.  There « Read more »

I know we’re all trying to do our best to be ‘environmentally friendly’ these days and here’s an opportunity to make it easy (for certain recyclables): https://planetgreenrecycle.com/index.php Sharing it to all in case you aren’t already using this method or have been looking for an easy way to do your part. Enjoy! Sam Woollard is a « Read more »

It seems like every day a new company is moving to Austin. They are flocking here to embrace the strong economy, vibrant cultural landscape, and the “weirdness” that makes Austin special. With the influx of new professionals coupled with Austin’s business establishment, it is easy to see that Austin is one of the most talented « Read more »

It’s impressive to know that there are over 130 companies who have all taken the Austin Gives Pledge to donate 1% of pretax earnings back to our community.  Even more impressive is this has happened in the first year that the program has been in place. What this tells me is a whole lot of « Read more »

At this week’s Austin Gives GeneroCity Awards luncheon, Roy Spence gave an inspiring speech about the power of purpose in business. He referred to Built to Last, by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras, who define CORE PURPOSE as the organization’s fundamental reason for being. Businesses have discovered that having purpose helps them to increase their « Read more »

  Erica V. Ekwurzel, CFRE, director of legislative affairs for the AFP Greater Austin Chapter recently highlighted a fact that will have a profound impact on individual and business philanthropy in the state of Texas in the years to come. “Given the growing reality of government meeting its budgetary restrictions and obligations, nonprofits are increasingly asked « Read more »

Giving money is probably the easiest way of donating. It’s fast, convenient and it’s what most businesses have done for decades. At the same time, it can be cold, unemotional and over in an instant. Volunteering is where philanthropic endeavours come to life and its rewards will turn it into the main way businesses give back in « Read more »

  All of a sudden, I started to see 3M employees everywhere. Every volunteer event I attended, there they were, donning white 3M T-shirts, laughing, smiling and just generally having a good time. I started to wonder what made these employee volunteering projects work? At the LifeWorks Home Improvement Challenge event last fall, for example, a « Read more »

There always seems to be a frenzy of giving at the end of each year. And that’s a wonderful thing except that I would love to see us keep this up all year. One way some businesses and individuals have made this happen is to have a philanthropy strategy, just like we do for our « Read more »

  Have you ever heard this? You probably have not if you’re reading this blog, but I’ve heard it too many times. It seems a lot of people don’t really know where nonprofit money comes from.   They figure that the government and corporations will “take care” of nonprofits and, while that may be true in some places, « Read more »