BizTimes Media will introduce a new column to the Nonprofit Weekly on Friday, Sept. 5, through a partnership with Milwaukee-based Donors Forum of Wisconsin.
The new column, “Connecting to Philanthropy,” will be contributed monthly by Jill Van Calster, president and CEO of DFW.
The forum, a professional membership association for grantmakers across Wisconsin, has been a resource for nonprofits and philanthropists for more than 35 years. DFW membership encompasses community foundations, corporate or company-sponsored foundations, corporate giving programs, family foundations, independent foundations and endowed operating foundations.
The association also serves donor-advised funds, supporting organizations of community foundations, individuals who issue grants of at least $25,000 annually, and public funders and federated funds.
The forum specializes in professional development opportunities and networking opportunities for members of the state’s philanthropic community. DFW also conducts and compiles research related to trends and policies impacting philanthropy across the state and country.
Through the “Connecting to Philanthropy” column, Van Calster will acquaint BizTimes readers with key findings from the association’s research as well as address trends that touch both the grantmaking and nonprofit sides of philanthropy.
“More transparency is needed to increase effectiveness for both our grantmaking members and the nonprofit organizations providing direct service,” Van Calster said. “DFW is in a unique position to be the connector of these two diverse and dynamic partners in our community by providing valuable information in the pursuit of advancing philanthropy.”
The “Connecting to Philanthropy” column is slated to run the first Friday of each month and will launch on Sept. 5 with advice for nonprofits on strategies to clearly communicate their “financial picture” to board members, donors and funders.
The first column will run in conjunction with a training session DFW and the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee are presenting on Monday, Sept. 15. The session will take a deeper dive into the financial assessment of nonprofit organizations, allowing participating organizations to learn how to analyze and explain the elements of their financial health.
For more information about DFW, visit www.dfwonline.org.
