It's December: Time for Bark, News and Amazement

Are you as surprised as I am that it's December?! I just hope the sun is shining down on you today as it is on us here in Portland. Speaking of the sun, check out the latest seasonal weather forecast for the Pacific Northwest to see how likely or unlikely we are to see more of it for the next three months. READ MORE

Alas, I have no fruit or flower photo to share with you this time but now that the trees are nearly bare, it's a great time to start noticing bark. Bark is so very cool. For example, check out the gorgeous rhytidome on this Crape Myrtle tree in Lan Su Chinese Garden.

So what's been going on since we last talked?

Well, for one thing, we have a winner in the fish verb contest! READ MORE

We also have a number of items to pass on that are of a more traditional philanthropic nature, to wit:

• MMT's Director of Policy and Strategy Barbara Gibbs will be leaving us at the end of December, as she explains in her blog. (All her projects will be covered by other staff.) Barb will be missed and we wish her the best! READ MORE  
• We've posted updates on two of MMT's strategic initiatives: Williamette River Restoration and Chalkboard Project.
• To follow up on an item in our last announcement, we found yet another nonprofit management program at an Oregon university: University of Portland offers an Executive MBA in Nonprofit Mangement.
• Because MMT was the first foundation to meet all the Foundation Center's Glasspockets criteria for foundation transparency, I was invited to blog about our experience. My first post has been published, with more to come. We would love to see your comments about our transparency efforts in the comment section following my post. READ MORE
• A new publication from CompassPoint identifies nine characteristics next generation nonprofit organizations will have and how fundamentally different they will be. Next Generation Organizations: 9 Key Traits is available for free download, as is a self assessment tool.
• Have you discovered the Event Calendar on our website (see the calendar icon and Events bar at the top right section of our home page)? We list all our proposal deadlines, meeting dates and events our staff members participate in. For example, Program Officer Kim Thomas will present at the 8th Annual Nonprofit Organization Board Training conference presented by Financial Stewardship Resources in Corvallis January 21, 2012. Kim will be joined by Ford Family Foundation Keavy Cook to talk about how foundations determine “readiness” as part of the grant review process: organizational strengths (including board leadership), community support and common red flags.

Since I like to leave things on a positive note, I wonder if you've heard about Ord, Nebraska? I was introduced to the Daily Yonder: Keep It Rural through twitter a few days ago, where I read the story of Ord and Valley County's pretty amazing economic development. For example, the county increased the number of non-farm jobs by 42 percent from 2000 to 2008 by connecting people with opportunity. Since this is such a big challenge for many rural communities we work with across Oregon, I thought you might enjoy reading a rural economic success story too!

And if you can stand more amazement, come with me to the sidewalk. SEE MORE

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