Philoptima : Open innovation Philanthropy http://www.philoptima.org/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 RSS Feed Generator by Philoptima Copyright: (C) Philoptima http://www.philoptima.org/executive-profile/ http://www.philoptima.org/executive-profile/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Philoptima Executive`s Profile. http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-consultancy/ http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-consultancy/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Philoptima connects grant makers to researchers with the latest solutions to a wide range of community problems. We accomplish this Mission by using an affordable system of prizes to attract a large pool of the best talent and a secure electronic platform to encourage competitive ideas. We also provide a way for prize makers to hear from non-profit organizations proposing to implement well-researched winning solutions. http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-challenges/ http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-challenges/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Foundations and donors can join Philoptima free and consultants, researchers, and experts may apply at any time free. Prizes are posted as they are funded but do not change until the project deadline is passed. Nonprofits may join and propose "problem statements" that are specific to their communities for funding consideration by prize makers. http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-challenge-intro/ http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-challenge-intro/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Registration is free. Fill out this form to register and see our Prize process. Registration does not obligate you in any way. http://www.philoptima.org/crowd-sourcing-expert/ http://www.philoptima.org/crowd-sourcing-expert/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Consultants, experts, and researchers, join the Philoptima faculty and be included in our database for grantmakers to search and access our design prizes in the fields of health, education, public safety, governmental oversight, and the environment. You can earn additional income and recognition for your well-designed responses to problems posed by our prize makers.You may also be selected to consult on various projects sponsored by foundations and other grantmakers. http://www.philoptima.org/nonprofit-registration1/ http://www.philoptima.org/nonprofit-registration1/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Nonprofit Organizations :The Philoptima solutions process has two phases. In Phase 1, grant makers describe a problem, post a design prize and choose a solution from among those submitted by members of the Philoptima faculty. In the optional Phase 2, nonprofit organizations compete for an implementation prize based on the winning solution selected by the prize maker in the first phase. http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-consultant-finder/ http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-consultant-finder/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Registration is free. Fill out this form to look for a consultant, researcher, or expert. Registration does not obligate you in any way. http://www.philoptima.org/prize-type/ http://www.philoptima.org/prize-type/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Your first step is to select the type of Prize you want to post. Prizes come in two types: "Design Prizes" for when you want research to start a project that intervenes in a community problem, and "Implementation Prizes" for when you have a design in mind but want to see how nonprofits would implement the program in your community. http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products/ http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Find useful sample policies and suggested procedures that help you meet the new IRS Form 990 requirements and that can be easily tailored for your organization. Or See our latest publications and our recommended reading list with our brief reviews and comments. Or Explore our upcoming seminar schedule for 2009. http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-platform/ http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-platform/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Join the worlds largest online community on philanthropic open innovation free. http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/107/pp/index/ http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/107/pp/index/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 With a whistleblower policy you will encourage and protect a corporate dynamic of ethical behavior and lawful activities. It helps your organization avoid improper or illegal activities by creating an environment that protects sensitive disclosures and helps honest people play a role in keeping their integrity in the workplace. Be fearless in setting the tone that illegal activities will not be tolerated; protect and reward whistleblowers. Price:$0000000009.5 http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/90/pp/index/ http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/90/pp/index/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 An employee code of conduct policy goes hand-in-hand with the conflict of interest policy. It is a necessity for any foundation or nonprofit organization to create a work culture of honesty and trust. The code of conduct spells out the type of working relationship employees should have with the company and with each other. Set your expectations high and you will be pleasantly surprised that people flock to your enterprise.Price:$000000000011 http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/120/pp/index/ http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/120/pp/index/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 The first place the IRS looks when investigating a foundation for illegal or inappropriate behavior is its compensation practices for the Chief Executive Officer. Adopt this policy for the most up to date way to handle the compensation decisions every organization faces. Compensate your Chief Executive fairly and competitively without worrying about tripping over this very common compliance hurdle. Price:$000000000009 http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/121/pp/index/ http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/121/pp/index/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Have you informed your employees that the foundation owns all emails sent on company equipment? You may find it important to establish the legal rights of the foundation. This policy is essential to modern offices that use computers, cell phones, and other electronic gear. All electronic computing and communications conducted by Foundation employees, whether for business or personal purposes, using Foundation-owned equipment or made during the course of performing work while employed by the Foundation are the sole property of the Foundation. Price:$0000000011.5 http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/80/pp/index/ http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/80/pp/index/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 A conflict of interest policy is essential for any nonprofit organization or private foundation. It sets the stage for ethical operating attitudes and defines the priorities of trustees, directors, management, and all other employees whenever they are faced with two competing actions, only one of which is in the company's best interest. Required by all nonprofit accrediting bodies and the new IRS Form 990.Price:$000000000011 http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/117/pp/index/ http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/117/pp/index/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 The stability and success of any organization depends heavily on having experienced, high quality, long term leadership in the office of the chief executive. The Board of Directors also considers stability in the position of CEO as critical to its long term success and that a smooth transition between holders of the office is a mark of a well-functioning Board. Bonus section: Foundation CEO Position Description.Price:$0000000009.5 http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/92/pp/index/ http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/92/pp/index/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Grow a respectful work environment and keep a professional, high-performance team functioning at its best. Any nonprofit or foundation seeking a workplace free from intimidation, hostility, or sexual harassment needs to start with a clear written understanding of expectations. This policy can be tailored for your business practices but it is invaluable to helping you set the tone. Price:$0000000012.5 http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/114/pp/index/ http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/114/pp/index/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 An Evaluation Policy helps a funder set high expectations as a learning organization. It clarifies for program officers and the staff that the foundation is interested in understanding what works and in learning from its mistakes. A policy eliminates the constant policy-level debate about what and how a grantee program is to be evaluated and what resources will be devoted to evaluation. It makes accountability part of the corporate culture and imbeds a higher-level of thinking about both grantee and foundation performance.Price:$000000000009 http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/131/ba/index/ http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/131/ba/index/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Written by Dr. Byron Harrell, Supercharged Giving helps donors to get the most from their gifts. Supercharged Giving is the ultimate professional's guide to strategic philanthropy. "If grant makers do not know what they want to accomplish, almost any act of charity can be deemed a success, but, with careful research and thoughtful planning, funders can build effective but simple pathways that boost the impact of every dollar they give to a nonprofit organization" Harrell says. Even more importantly, the donor's gifts and grants can be designed to minimize misunderstandings with grantees and enhance the effect of every dollar just like the world's biggest and best run foundations but without big investments in staff, time, and complexity. Dr. Harrell uses simple graphic trees to depict the pathways and reasoning behind any portfolio of grants and he ties key branches to measurable outcomes and metrics. It is easy to understand and implement but it is a very robust system that can be as complex as the most technically challenging grant. Every donor can develop a complete portfolio of grants that collectively strike at the heart of the issues they hold dear.Price:$000000038.95 http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/133/ba/index/ http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-products_details/1/133/ba/index/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Martin Lehfeldt, recently retired President of the Southeastern Council of Foundations, writes with his keen powers of observation and dry wit about his years spent among nonprofit leaders. He includes reflections about his experiences as a foundation program officer, fund raiser, consultant, and CEO. Price:$000000024.96 http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-open-design-prize-details/60/ http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-open-design-prize-details/60/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Grantmaker new to environmental challenges in urban settings in the United States seeking help in understanding the full range of typical grantmaking opportunities to establish a typology or categorization system for future grantmaking. Successful responses will provide a full topical range of typical urban challenges and include potential remediation practice summaries within each category to guide establishing structure. Best response will include comprehensive lists and links to known centers for various interventions and remediation modelling. http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-news-details/19/ http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-news-details/19/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Leave it to Google, the internet hot shot, to come up with a striking new way to conduct its philanthropic work.  The founders of Google, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, have started a new hybrid philanthropy and they gave it about $1 billion as seed money to help it carry out a wide-ranging mandate to tackle poverty, disease, and global warming. However, this is like no other philanthropic venture that we have seen and we like it so much we think we will copy it here at Philoptima.  The mandate itself is not particularly revolutionary even though it is attempting to confront some gargantuan problems.  The real innovation is the way it is structured. Google.org is referred to as a "double-breasted" hybrid organization because it is like a coin with two sides. It will operate two separate but coordinated entities.  One entity is a for-profit, tax paying organization, and the second is a nonprofit grantmaking charity funded at least partly by the earnings of the first entity. Not only is it uniquely designed to perform effectively and efficiently, it was seeded with a really big startup endowment.  $1 billion pales in comparison to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, but it is big enough money to keep it in the top handful of foundations in the United States. By organizing as a hybrid, Google is required to pay taxes on earnings by the for-profit component.  Gifts to the nonprofit component, however, are tax exempt and deductible.  Functionally, the for-profit status will greatly increase the range and flexibility of the two entities working together. The for-profit side can create and sell products, sell stock, borrow funds, etc. just like any company.  It can hire lobbyists to pressure Congress while the normal private foundation cannot.  But the nonprofit component can retain and grow assets tax free and accumulate wealth subject to the requirement that it donate 5% each year to charities or as internal expenditures that qualify as tax exempt spending. Great idea, Larry and Sergey!  Something new under the sun, again. http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-news-details/21/ http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-news-details/21/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Philoptima Resources, Inc. has been granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service.  If you represent a nonprofit organization in the fields of education, health, public safety, governmental oversight, or the environment, you can now join the Philoptima Implementation Team and post a problem description for an issue you want researched FREE.  Click on Nonprofits to join and go to "Create Unfunded Prize" to get our form. Your problem description is reviewed and (if accepted) posted on the site as an "unfunded prize" for philanthropists to review.  Your challenge may also qualify for financial support directlly from Philoptima Resources, Inc.  Any funder can choose to donate a prize to Philoptima Resources, Inc. and get the research started that you need.  You get the latest research at no cost to you and it will help you design the best, most effective modern program or intervention. Donors can also choose to donate directly to Philoptima Resources, Inc. from the home page to help defray the costs we incur for the charitable uses of the site.  Click on Donation. http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-news-details/7/ http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-news-details/7/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Philoptima™ has been granted trademark protection by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  As such, the name is protected from infringement by other parties and may not be used as to the words or the logo image without the written approval of the company. http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-news-details/10/ http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-news-details/10/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Philoptima advises foundations and other Prize Makers on the design of innovative programs with real impact. If you operate a foundation or philanthropy and need experienced consultation on systems design, evaluation, strategies, law & regulation, or best methods, Philoptima can help through its stable of experienced philanthropists headed by Dr. Byron Harrell. http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-news-details/14/ http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-news-details/14/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 A Philoptima Prizemaker has posted a new $5,000 design prize seeking guidance in establishing various categories of environmental challenges faced in urban populations in the United States.. http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-news-details/26/ http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-news-details/26/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Supercharged Giving should be required reading for every person entering the foundation world - and a handy refresher for the veterans. Concept Mapping deserves a "good housekeeping seal of approval!" The "Key Points to Remember" are solid reference points and formatted in a way that makes future scanning easy. The "Nominal Group Technique" module is a jewel and will help boards "do it right"! Bravo! Debra M. Jacobs President/CEO The Patterson Foundation http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-news-details/25/ http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-news-details/25/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Martin Lehfeldt, former President of the Southeastern Council of Foundations, posted a new message on the Philoptima website (http://www.philoptima.org) addressed to donors and foundations suggesting that we should be giving careful consideration to where our future leaders in philanthropy are coming from. He suggests the new skillset is more than just knowing how to make and evaluate grants but how to relate to community, board and the more subtle dynamics of vision.   Read what Martin has to say under "Martin's Column" from our home page and catch what Dr. Harrell has to add to the discussion among the responses. http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-news-details/27/ http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-news-details/27/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Curious about registration and how to use this site but concerned its too complicated or that you might end up committed?  Don't be!  Visit our newest site addition of a full site tutorial by clicking on the tour in the upper right-hand corner. Foundations and donors, open the tutorial and browse through the "Prizemaker" section risk free.  You can see everything that is up ahead in the site and you will learn exactly what to expect around each corner.  Researchers, consultants, and experts, visit the tour under the tab "Researchers" and you can quickly learn how to register and how to respond to open prizes or to post your availability to consult directly with foundations and donors. Nonprofits, get a glimpse of the next page before you click by opening the tour and the "Nonprofits" tab.  The site tour is a great way to navigate the site without joining or making any promises.  Try it out!   http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-news-details/28/ http://www.philoptima.org/philoptima-news-details/28/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Sign up for your free copy of the quarterly "Strategic Philanthropist" by joining our site as a general member.  The next issue contains Cliff Note #3 "How" to create a philanthropic strategy from our newest book "Supercharged Giving".  You can purchase your copy from our catalog on the home page or go to: http://www.superchargedgiving.com In the January issue of "Strategic Philanthropist", you will also find interesting interviews with thought leaders in the field of philanthropy and one of our latest tips in organizing for advocacy in your community and state. http://www.philoptima.org/open-inventions-faq/ http://www.philoptima.org/open-inventions-faq/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Need help? Read through the frequently asked questions below for answers. http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-guide/ http://www.philoptima.org/open-innovation-guide/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:37:46 -0600 Some useful terms frequently used in this site are explained here.