Page 24 - 2024 October

GRANT PROGRAM COMMITTEE MINUTES (2) 5. LOIs
A list of Letters of Inquiry and responses had been circulated. During the discussion, a comment was made about the number of submissions that do not align with JSF’s revised education focus. When the new mission statement receives final approval and is posted on the website, it should help. Some screening questions or a pre-submission checklist might be helpful to applicants also.
A question was asked whether LOIs that are designated as possibilities for the future receive a different response from JSF. While they receive the same responses as other applicants, they are kept on an internal list. A brief discussion took place about JSF’s decision not to consider programs that do not lead to a degree. In some situations, programs that help students obtain an education that could eventually lead to a degree, such as the work of Weingarten Children’s Center, are still considered eligible candidates.
Also discussed was Mary’s Center Teen Program, an organization based in Washington D.C. that has been invited to submit an application. King is familiar with Mary’s Center and expressed support for this organization.
6. Other Programing Areas a. Update on UPS
A concession letter signed by Norman Brothers of UPS had been circulated. Attorney Nat Nason was instrumental in helping JSF obtain this letter which, if approved by the Board, will allow for a funding model modification. Under the new model, JSF will provide funding for qualified Florida UPS employees’ children “up to” the current funding calculation. This will rectify the current situation of an applicant pool that has not kept pace with the amount of JSF funding distributed to this program annually.
The Committee thanked Bobby and the staff for securing this outcome. A question was raised whether there are other situations like this that need to be addressed. It was pointed out that as a corporate entity, UPS has different priorities than the other Core institutions that are all in the education field.
b. Exponent Philanthropy Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy Program
A mid-year grant report from Exponent Philanthropy had been circulated. JSF is in Year 1 of a 3-year, $90,000 grant to support Exponent’s Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy (CLIP) program. A 6-part workshop for funders known as the On-Ramp to Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy was held in early 2024 with 18 funders participating. Malcolm served as one of 5 Catalytic Guides for the program, and he is also scheduled to be a presenter at Exponent’s annual conference in November. Exponent has continued to grow its Catalytic Philanthropy podcast, and a virtual workshop titled “Developing Your Policy Acumen: Advocacy Intensive” is scheduled for launch in late September 2024.
c. Northwest Indian College
A letter from Northwest Indian College (NWIC) Foundation’s Executive Director, Barbara Lewis, dated August 23, 2024 had been circulated. The IRS revoked the tax-exempt status of both the college and its foundation after they failed to file taxes in a timely way. Barbara blamed this failure on a cyberattack followed by the pandemic shutdowns. The college and its foundation are working through reinstatement procedures, though the letter does not give a timeline. Until the situation is resolved, JSF cannot make its planned $200,000 distribution for NWIC’s endowment or $87,705 for Entrepreneurship Scholarships.
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