Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leaders Gather in San Francisco for 2015 NCRP Impact Awards

SAN FRANCISCO, May 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Last night in San Francisco, leaders from some of the country's top foundations and the city's nonprofits gathered for the third annual NCRP Impact Awards. Hosted by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), these awards call attention to high-impact philanthropy that supports meaningful change in communities across the U.S. This year's recipients include: Blue Shield of California Foundation, Brooklyn Community Foundation, Needmor Fund, New York Foundation and Open Society Foundations.
 
"The winners of the 2015 NCRP Impact Awards are some of the smartest, most strategic grantmakers in the nation," said Aaron Dorfman, executive director of NCRP, in his opening remarks. "They know that to be effective, to really make an impact, requires investing in and helping to empower people and communities who have been left out, marginalized or forgotten."

Held in conjunction with the Center for Effective Philanthropy's national conference, the NCRP Impact Awards honor foundations that embody the ideals of smart philanthropy that empowers communities and produces positive lasting results that improve people's lives and the world. 

San Francisco's Blue Shield of California Foundation, the corporate foundation awardee, is the top private funder of domestic violence prevention in California. Its grantmaking bridges the gap between health care and domestic violence prevention, such as by pairing domestic violence organizations and community health centers. 

In his acceptance speech, President and CEO Peter Long explained why his foundation works to break silos: "Today, a woman in San Diego will be asked by her health care provider if she is safe in her relationship. If says is no, she will be immediately referred to a local domestic violence organization and can be transferred directly there to get help. [This partnership] gives her support and options ... She escapes abuse, and can create a better life, because her doctor asked her the right question, and knew where to find the right answers."

Brooklyn Community Foundation, the grantmaking public charity awardee, is lauded for extensively soliciting and incorporating community feedback in setting the direction of the foundation's future. Brooklyn Insights, its 2014 strategic planning process, identified the areas of greatest significance to the communities it serves, including racial justice, youth and immigrant communities.

President and CEO Cecilia Clarke said, "You might have heard that Brooklyn is a pretty hot place to live these days. But you might not have heard that nearly half of all Brooklynites live in or near poverty. … Our team set out to answer the question, 'How can we help make Brooklyn more just and fair, now and into the future?'" She added that the foundation "wanted to learn from Brooklyn communities, and be guided by Brooklyn communities – the real experts."

Toledo, Ohio's Needmor Fund, a small/midsize private foundation awardee, is well-known throughout the social justice world for supporting efforts that engage low-income communities in the democratic process. Its grantee Communities Creating Opportunity engaged thousands of disenfranchised voters in the Midwest during last year's midterm elections. 

"The Needmor Fund is a small pebble that has been steadfast in its commitment to social justice," said Executive Director Frank Sanchez. "Needmor has given much, but we have received much more in return from the hundreds of organizations we have supported over the years that organize on a daily basis for a healthy democracy and a more just and equal society."

New York Foundation, also a small/midsize private foundation awardee, is one of the oldest foundations in the country, with a long history of empowering citizens to participate in public spending, education reform, housing and worker's rights. Its grantee Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA) is bringing about crucial reform for affordable housing in New York City. 

"As a local funder, we are sometimes criticized … for not always placing our bets behind winners, groups that may have a track record for winning broad political changes," said Executive Director Maria Mottola. "But the way we see it, groups like [CASA] make sure that the impact of community organizing is not only transactional in some abstract way, but is also transformative in the lives of real people in neighborhoods." 

The awardee for large private foundation, Open Society Foundations, is a family of offices and foundations that promotes human rights and justice worldwide. It's a leading funder of prison reform in the U.S., and provided key support to California's successful Proposition 47, which reclassified many low-level non-violent offenses from felonies to misdemeanors.

In a prerecorded statement, OSF President Chris Stone said, "What happened in California over the last year is a great testament not just to those of us who have been able to support this work, but those who did it every day. And so we're happy to stand with them, with you, and honor all those in philanthropy who try to make a lasting difference." At the event, Leonard Noisette, director of OSF's Justice Fund, added, "We could not have made this headway without the support of our many allies, philanthropic partners and grantees, both here in California and nationwide."

**Photos highlights available here**

About NCRP

As the country's only independent watchdog of foundations, NCRP uses research and advocacy to ensure that philanthropy contributes in meaningful ways to the creation of a fair, just and equitable world. Visit www.ncrp.org for more information. 

SOURCE National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy

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