Newspapers / Philanthropy Journal of North … / Sept. 1, 1995, edition 1 / Page 1
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SEPTEMBER 1995 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 / $5.00 Philanthtx^jJqim^ Margin of excellence Foundations on UNC campuses control $700 million A Philanthropy Journal survey of private foundations within the University of North Carolina system finds their number and fundraising power are growing. Their independence and prolif eration comes at a time when the campuses are facing increasing financial needs and a conservative state legisla ture. By Vida Fodbister Chapel Hill Tucked away on the University of North Carohna system’s 16 public EDUCATION campuses are 70 private, nonprofit foundations that control more than $700 million in assets. Though hardly apparent to the casual campus observer, these independent organi zations play ever-larger roles in the growth and direction of the schools they represent. The publicly supported campuses say they are not getting the funding they need from state govern ment. Increasingly, the schools are relying on the money-raising power of their foundations to fill the gap between state funding and what university leaders say they need to remain competitive. In 1993-94, for example, the foun dations raised more than $100 million through gifts and income, and spent about $73 million to endow professor ships, provide academic and athletic scholarships, fund new research ini tiatives, provide general program support and cover their operating expenses. (See chart, page 25..) The growth of the foundations raises a number of issues: Can the UNC administrators are beginning to pay more attention to foundations at the system's 16 schools. universities exercise effective over- si^t of what essentially are indepen dent foundations? Are universities’ missions influenced too much by donors’ gifts? How should founda tions wisely invest the money they hold for their schools’ futures? OVERSIGHT As the size and influence of cam pus foundations have grown, UNC system officials have sought greater oversight and regulation of the foun dations. But like the universities they represent, the foundations tradition ally have operated with a great deal of freedom and independence from any type of central control. To fulfill their mission of raising, managing and distributing funds for Look for FOUNDATIONS, page 24 Bracing for change State officials eye effects of welfare reform Welfare reform legislation pending in Raleigh and Washington could mean a cut of $400 million a year in public assistance pro grams for North Carolina. By Barbara Solow State officials had some grim news in August for public and non profit agencies that work with the poor. Welfare reform legislation now being considered in Raleigh and Washington could mean a drop of as much as $400 milMon a year in funds for assistance to low-income families. At briefings in Raleigh and Winston-Salem, members of the state’s Human Services Task Force reviewed the specifics of proposed welfare block grant programs and their expected impact on North Carolina. “The potential consequences of these measures could be severe,” Peter Leousis, assistant human resources secretary for Children, Families and Youth, told the crowd of about 150 nonprofit and government agency representatives at the Raleigh session. “They could increase homelessness and could lead to less funding for child care. ‘“The good news is that there will be a lot more flexibility with block Look for REFORM, page 23 Turning potential into reality North Carolina nonprofits gear up for information age While some Tar Heel nonprofits are making impressive use of new information technology, the sector as a whole has a way to go before the potential of such high-tech tools as the Internet can be fully realized. By Barbara Solow When it comes to new information technology, Jeanne Bonds and her colleagues at the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center are thinking big. With the help of a $225,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Ralei^-based center is launching a project aimed at help ing rural areas of North Carolina link up electronically. The center, in cooperation with NCexChange - a trail-blazing technol ogy assistance program for Tar Heel nonprofits - will show groups in rural communities how to set up and use “home pages” on the Internet ^obal computer network. “We found that in rural areas, even for folks who’ve seen this tech nology, their problem is they often don’t know what they can do with it,” says Bonds, who is a senior policy associate at the Rural Center. “We’re going to put up a [World Wide] Web page where people can apply for grants and we’ll teach them to set up C their own Web pages” - computer doc uments that serve as electronic brochures, providing information on a nonprofit’s mission and services to Internet users. The Rural Center project is just one example of how North Carolina non profits are moving to take advantage of rapidly expand ing information technology. From electronic mail to computerized job Ustings, nonprofits are finding that technology can he a powerful tool in fulfilling their mis sions. But while advanced computer equipment and access to online net works represent vast opportunities for nonprofits, many organizations are strug^g to come up with the resources need ed to launch them into cyberspace. “I think when you get down to the grass roots level where most Art by Adam Bril! profits really are, a lot of them are wondering what the hype is all about,” says Brian Gullette, a com puter consultant and author of a sur vey on new technology for the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits. “How can this technology help us do what we do better? The organizations that are most successful are those ';hat sit back and take a look at iheir mission and use technology as part of that.” CONNECTING IN CYBERSPACE: In North Carolina, hospitals and universities are among the most active users of advanced comput er technology and on-line net- llj works. But foundations and , other nonprofits, ranging I from the United Way to rural churches, are not far behind. The number of 'Tar Heel non- nrofits that have joined the HandsNET computer network, for example, has grown to about 150 since it began about ei^t years ago, says Terry Grunwald, director of NCexChange, which is creating a model assistance program to identify and support nonprofit “information Look for NONPROFITS, page 9 Connections 3 Corporate Giving 12 Foundations 6 Fund Raising 14 Grants and Gifts 16 In September 16 Job Opportunities 20 Nonprofits 4 Opinion 10 People 17 Professional Services...!8 Volunteers 8
Philanthropy Journal of North Carolina (Raleigh, N.C.)
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