Re-structuring the structure.

In a news update from the Chronicle of Philanthropy, I've discovered a facet of the non-profit world that is sometimes overlooked: social-justice grant making. This effort is geared more towards sparking a reform in the structures that provide jobs to the disadvantaged rather than simply providing aid, and foundations are taking greater strides in expanding this idea. Reading about this topic has caused me to become cognizant of the depth to which philanthropic work needs to reach.

As a non-profit, the Athens Foundation is focused on bettering the community in which it resides, plain and simple. And while this is an obvious and noble goal, it is sometimes difficult to see past the charitable actions and into the results they hope to produce: change for the future. An example of an organization dedicated to truly producing a change of this nature is the Appalachian Staple Foods Collaborative. This group has centered its efforts around providing rural farmers with the necessary tools they need to be successful in the agricultural world, and this characteristic is what sets it apart. Other groups that choose to donate - whether it be seeds to farmers or food to the homeless - are not educating their constituents on how to alter their positions in life, and this is what needs to happen if any true betterment is to come.

As our society becomes more focused on this new and hopeful idea of change, perhaps it is time for non-profits to focus more on social reform as a way to move closer to a world where all are capable of helping themselves rather than simply being helped.

Feel free to read the Chronicle of Philanthropy article at: http://philanthropy.com/news/updates/index.php?id=8877

Former President encourages more philanthropic support for rural areas, appreciation from AF ensues

As an intern at the Athens Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing support to rural Athens, Ohio, it is pleasing to read that a prominent political figure realizes the need for more support in areas such as ours. An article in The Daily Tell, a publication that focuses on reporting good news rather than negative, featured a highlight on former President Bill Clinton who gave ideas for underdeveloped regions to receive more money. He said that there should be more options for philanthropists when it comes to donating time and money to rural parts of the country. This way, there are more diversified means of providing support.

During my time with this organization I have come to appreciate the way in which we assist the Athens community. Instead of simply giving money to any organization that is out to do good, we meticulously analyze how the money will be used and what the overall goal of the receiving organization is. Through the research I've done on the grantees and the interviews I've conducted, I have been fascinated by the creative methods organizations like Village Productions in Amesville and Kids on Campus here at Ohio University have employed to bring a better way of life to the underprivileged in Athens. Working closely with the people who are behind them has given a new life to the meaning of philanthropy, and I look forward to further educating myself on the diversified services that the Athens Foundation supports.

A link to the article referenced above can be found at http://www.thedailytell.com/2009/07/clinton-more-philanthropy-needs-to-be-focused-on-rural-areas/.

Interview with Gary Goosman

Village Productions operates out of Amesville’s Grange Building. This building was originally erected to house a 150 year old social fraternity, the Grange organization. Its main goal was to be a venue for farmers to learn new farming techniques and to socialize with other members in the industry. The Grange organization is now a means for all community members to become familiar with each other, and Village Productions is utilizing this idea in their attempts to broaden the cultural horizons of its constituents.

Although it began as a dance studio, Village Productions became a non-profit organization in 2005 and since that transition, classes have extended beyond dance. Popular classes include yoga and theater for children, adults and senior citizens. In this video, Gary Goosman, the president of Village Production’s board of directors, discusses his goal to modernize the organization while allowing it to remain a social network for community members, and explains how he will utilize the grant money that the organization received from the Athens Foundation. Also in the video are clips from a djembe drumming class.

Summer 2009 Interns

This summer, the Athens Foundation will be joined by two public relations interns from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Maddie Stevens and Mary Quinn. They will be working on projects such as the newsletter, the web site and advancing social media efforts, as well as working closely with this year’s grantees.

In these videos, Maddie and Mary discuss their summer experience with the Athens Foundation.

Maddie chose to work with the Athens Foundation in order to learn about nonprofit organizations and their means of productivity. She has previous experience working as an intern for the American Red Cross in Boardman, Ohio and is considering pursuing a career with Limited Brands or participating in Teach for America. Maddie’s favorite thing about Athens is the welcoming atmosphere. “It feels like home to me, and I want to give back to the place that already has given me so much,” Maddie said.

Mary is looking to gain experience in her field through her time with the Athens Foundation. “I’m interested in doing PR for a nonprofit organization,” she said, and wants to partake in a career that allows her to help others. She also is excited about getting to know other Athens community members and learning more about the Foundation’s grantees. Mary has worked as an intern for the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board in Columbus, Ohio. She doesn’t have just one favorite part of Athens – she loves everything! “It’s so beautiful, and I enjoy becoming more involved in the community and seeing things beyond OU’s campus.”

The Athens Foundation is glad to be working with these two for the summer!