Philanthropy News

The Pope Foundation’s new Grantee Profile focuses on the Philanthropy Roundtable, a nonprofit based out of Washington, D.C., that seeks to foster excellence in the world of grant making: In listing societal institutions that are a force against big government, strong marriages, strong families, and strong churches immediately come to mind. But is philanthropy — the generous, voluntary donations to worthy causes — also an indispensible support of freedom? The Philanthropy Roundtable — a nonprofit based out of Washington, D.C., that seeks to foster excellence in the world of grant making — is proof that the answer is “Yes.” “Philanthropy is a huge bulwark of a free and independent civil society,” said Adam Meyerson, who has served as the Philanthropy Roundtable’s president since 2001. “It helps to prevent individuals from becoming too reliant on government. It’s particularly important at this time in history, when the future of independent civil society is at stake.” Bringing donors together to foster liberty and create private opportunities to meet needs in the community — those were the primary reasons that lead to the creation of the Philanthropy Roundtable in the 1970s. In 1991, the organization became an independent organization with its own board of directors. Read more Grantee Profiles here.

The Pope Foundation’s new Achiever Spotlight tells the story of Troy Kickler, Founding Director of the North Carolina History Project at the John Locke Foundation: Many historians refer to the years between 1890 and 1950 —commonly known as the “Jim Crow era” — as the nadir of race relations in the United States. Segregation was enshrined in law in the South, and de-facto segregation was culturally accepted in the North. Even in this hostile atmosphere, though, many African-American entrepreneurs — some former slaves — discovered economic niches, built businesses, and amassed sizeable fortunes. “These African-Americans were creating wealth and providing jobs,” said Troy Kickler, Founding Director of the North Carolina History Project, in describing his February 2013 series on entrepreneurship among African-Americans during slavery and the Jim Crow years. “How much wealth and how many jobs could they have created if they had been allowed to fully participate in the market?” This is one of many historical observations made by Troy, and one of many reasons why his initiative housed at the free-market think tank the John Locke Foundation has proved so valuable. Read more Achiever Spotlights here.

The Pope Foundation’s new Grantee Profile focuses on the North Carolina Opera, the Triangle area’s world-class company: Which fine art form beautifully connects an audience with hundreds of thousands of other people, people who lived in a different time and place in history? Which of the fine arts combines all of the fine arts into one seamless performance? Answer: The opera. And North Carolinians are fortunate to have an outstanding company in the state’s capital city of Raleigh. Since its creation in 2010, the North Carolina Opera has brought world-class performances to the Triangle area, giving residents an opportunity to see the present in light of the past. “The themes in opera are timeless, so that even music written hundreds of years ago is completely relevant today. Opera is a reflection of this common human experience,” said Eric Mitchko, General Director of the N.C. Opera. Like other classical forms of art in the western tradition, opera has a rich history. Its origins date back to the late 16th century in Europe. Some of the most highly acclaimed operas — including “Carmen,” “The Marriage of Figaro,” and “The Magic Flute” — date from the 18th and 19th centuries. Opera combines elements of all the fine arts — singing, dancing, theatre, the visual arts, and others — into a truly transcendent, beautiful experience. Read more Grantee Profiles here.

The Pope Foundation’s new Achiever Spotlight tells the story of Juan Nelson, who works as a case manager for StepUp Ministry‘s Life Skills program. Once employed and struggling with a drug addiction, today Juan helps others find jobs: It took five businessmen at a church in Charlotte, North Carolina, to set Juan Nelson on the path to new life. That was no easy task: Juan had just arrived in the Queen City seeking recovery from a nagging drug addiction. His criminal record scared away potential employers. But after he joined a ministry geared toward renewal through spiritual means, his life began to change. “The men in my church imparted a lot of principles,” Juan said. “Instead of telling me how to do it, they literally put their arms around me and showed me how to do it, how to change.” The process was slow and required a solid dose of humility up front, but soon Juan was hired in a supervisory role to help clean Harris Teeter stores. “It taught me how to work for someone else and humble myself,” he said. “It taught me how to be on time. It taught me how to pay my bills.” Juan soon wanted more, so he pursued an entrepreneurial endeavor: He founded his own moving company. Life was good. Juan had plenty of money flowing in. He could afford a nice place to live, and he provided plentifully for his wife and kids. But there was a downside, too … Read more Achiever Spotlights here.

The Pope Foundation’s new Grantee Profile focuses on SECU Family House, a 40-bedroom hospitality house located in Chapel Hill that offers an affordable, safe, nurturing home away from home for seriously ill patients: Before Family House opened in 2008, many patients were forced to sleep in hospital waiting rooms, on hospital couches, or in their own cars because they couldn’t afford to stay in nearby motels. SECU Family House solved that problem by offering standard rooms for $35 per night and $50 per night for a suite. Families who cannot afford those rates may pay even less. Family House provides a kitchen fully equipped to meet the demand of the 40 to 80 guests likely to be in residence on any given day. Every guest room has a private bathroom with a roll-in shower, its own phone with voicemail, an in-room safe, and a television. Family House fulfills its mission exclusively through the generosity of individuals, local businesses, and corporate and foundation grants — without any financial help from government.  Why is SECU Family House important? According to House Manager and Interim Executive Director Janice Ross, it’s because Family House offers patients a chance to ease their pain by providing healing and support along with a bed and a meal. “Folks here also support and encourage each other,” she said. “There are so many instances of our guests telling us how close they’ve become to other guests. Some of these friendships last for years after they’ve left Family House.” Read more Grantee Profiles here.