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DVG Appoints Debra A. Kahn as Executive Director
DVG is pleased to announce the appointment of Debra A. Kahn as the organization’s new Executive Director.She officially begins her duties as the organization’s leader on November 10th, bringing with her more than 25 years of leadership experience in government, business and nonprofit sectors.
Kahn was introduced to DVG’s membership on October 23 at the association’s annual conference and 20th anniversary celebration, where Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter recognized her for her longtime commitment to the community and many contributions toward improving public education and the quality of life in the city. |
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Kahn’s professional background includes having served as a Principal in the public issues consulting firm GoldsmithKahnAssociates, LLC; Philadelphia Secretary of Education in the Street Administration from 2000-2005; Executive Director of Philadelphia Futures; Assistant to the President of Temple University; Vice President of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at PNC Bank; and Special Assistant to Mayor William J. Green.
In addition to her strong professional experience, Kahn brings a broad community perspective from her various volunteer activities with cultural, educational, economic development and human services organizations. She was an appointed member of the Philadelphia Board of Education and currently serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors of Philadelphia Young Playwrights, Trustee of the Christopher Ludwick Foundation, Advisory Board Member of the Charles Ellis Fund, Ambassador Board Member of the Science Leadership Academy and Advisor to the Penn Autism Network.
Commenting on Kahn’s appointment, DVG Board President Frances M. Sheehan stated, “DVG is extremely fortunate to attract someone of Debra’s caliber and experience. As we seek to engage new partners in DVG’s work, Debra’s leadership skills and ability to build alliances will be an
incredible asset to our efforts. She has a deep understanding of the possible collaborative opportunities for the philanthropic community as we look to tackle some of our region’s toughest problems in increasingly difficult economic times.”
Remarking on her new role, Kahn said, “I am excited by the chance to work with the members of DVG to build a greater understanding about regional issues and determine how the philanthropic community can serve as both a leader and partner in addressing our greatest challenges.”
Kahn graduated from Franklin and Marshall College and earned a M.A. from the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. She resides in Center City Philadelphia.
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Council on Foundations Issues Open Letter to the Field on Economic Crisis
In "an open letter to council members and other leaders of our field” dated October 9th, the Council on Foundations issued a call to action for
philanthropy in response to the exigencies that are facing our sector as a result of the current global
economic crisis.
The letter, co-signed by COF President and CEO Steve Gunderson and Chair of the Board Ralph Smith, offers three broad recommendations for philanthropy to take a leaderhip role in adressing the challenges ahead. The three recommendations include: reaching out across the nonprofit sector to identify creative ways to weather the storm; playing an active role in helping communities assess the size and scope of the challenges and craft solutions; and paying special attention to situations where the loss of philanthropic resources (as in the case of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) could be the unintended consequences of mergers and consolidations that are the inevitable product of economic restructuring.
In the coming months, the Council plans to work with colleague organizations, including the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, to identify promising practices and enourage stakeholder convenings where sector representatives can come together to share their concerns and ideas.
>> Read the Council's letter.
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Philanthropy Responds to Disasters in Asia
As the devastation in the aftermath of the Asia from Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and the earthquake in the Sichuan Province of China continues to unfold, contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations are building. As of May 23, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reported that American relief groups have raised at least $58 million for victims of the recent disasters- about $27 million donated for the earthquake victims and $25 million for cyclone relief.
Because of the proximate timing of the two events, many relief groups and donors aren’t differentiating between the two crises and are providing support for the recovery and rebuilding efforts on both countries. While it has been somewhat more difficult to raise funds for the cyclone relief due to the political situation in Myanmar, corporate contributions, particularly from companies who have ties to China, have fueled the donor response to that disaster. Cash gifts by companies are bolstered by donations of products, services, and pledges to match employee contributions.
Many DVG members have made contributions to the relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts in Asia. A sampling of the contributions made by DVG members include:
- To date, IBM has committed $300,000 that includes technology, software and services. The company is providing services to install Open Source Software to assist in Disaster Management, servers, Websphere portal software, Tivoli Security software and several IBM crisis response team consultants and technical consultants.
- The ARAMARK Charitable Fund, ARAMARK's donor-advised fund at the Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program, made a $100,000 contribution to the American Red Cross International Response Fund for the China earthquake.
- Rohm & Haas Company, which has operations near Sichuan Province, has made a cash contribution of $70,000 U.S. dollars to the China Red Cross. The company will also match employee contributions up to $50,000; the company matching gift will go to the U.S.-based American Red Cross for the earthquake response.
- Capmark will match employee donations to Save the Children and CARE for the victims of Cyclone Nargis and the Red Cross for the China earthquake victims.
- The Bridge Fund, a project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors with solid experience in the region, has established the Sichuan Earthquake Compassion Fund to address the near and long-term needs of earthquake victims in China’s Sichuan province.
For grantmakers interested in learning more about guidelines for providing disaster grants, we recommend these resources:
For those wishing to make donations, below is a short list of some of the international relief organizations operating in Myanmar and/or China
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DVG Delegation Travels to Washington
for Foundations on the Hill 2008
On Wednesday, March 5, 2008 a delegation of DVG members
and staff joined representatives from around the country
for Foundations
on the Hill 2008. This annual advocacy
day is a chance for the national grantmaking community to
meet with members of Congress and their staff to educate
them on the important role philanthropy plays in improving
communities across the country and around the world.
Pictured (l to r) Ellen
Baker Ghelardi, Frances Sheehan, Bruce Melgary, Bernadine
Watson, Christina Edleman, Jan Shaeffer, Rep. Jim Gerlach,
Kim Flaville and Nancy Lanham |
Joining Nancy Lanham and Christina
Edleman from the DVG staff were: Frances
Sheehan (Brandywine Health Foundation), Bruce
Melgary (Lenfest Foundation), Kim Flaville (Connelly
Foundation), Jan Shaeffer (St. Christopher’s
Foundation for Children), Gisele Pinck (William
Penn Foundation), Ellen Baker Ghelardi (Dexter
F. & Dorothy H. Baker Foundation), and Bernardine
Watson (The Stoneleigh Center). The DVG delegation,
joined by Barbara Taylor, the Executive
Director of the Pittsburgh-based Grantmakers
of Western PA, had the opportunity to meet with the offices
of Senator Arlen Specter and Senator
Robert Casey to discuss the work of philanthropy
throughout the Commonwealth. Additionally, the group
met with the offices of Congressional Representatives for southeastern
Pennsylvania, including: Charlie
Dent (PA-15th), Jim Gerlach (PA-6th), Allyson Schwartz
(PA-13th), and Joe Sestak (PA-7th). During
the meetings, the group talked about issues of concern
to those in the philanthropic sector, including extending
the IRA charitable rollover, and flattening the excise
tax on private foundations. The group also asked our Representatives
to serve on the Philanthropy Caucus, which helps to keep
Congress informed about the important role that foundations
play in our communities and raises awareness of legislation
that affects foundations. Also discussed were ways that
DVG members could serve as a resource to our Congress members
and potential ways we could partner in the future.
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DVG
Elects 2008 Officers, Welcomes Five New Directors
On January 15, 2008, the membership of Delaware Valley Grantmakers
convened at the World Café Live in West Philadelphia
to celebrate its 20th annual meeting. At the gathering,
which featured keynote remarks by former South African Ambassador
James A. Joseph, the membership voted to approve the nomination
of a new slate of officers for 2008 and the election of five
new directors to join the association’s board.
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Elected as President was Frances
M. Sheehan, President and CEO of the Brandywine
Health Foundation in Coatesville, PA (pictured
at left). Sheehan
has served on DVG’s Board since 2005 and recently
led the organization’s first strategic communications
planning initiative. In December, Sheehan was
named by the Philadelphia Business Journal as
one their 2007 Women of Distinction. |
Also serving as officers for 2008 are: Vice President
Victoria K. Flaville Vice President, Programs,
Connelly Foundation; Secretary Robert C. Fernandez,
Esq., Executive Director, Genuardi Family Foundation;
and Treasurer Weston Somerville, Manager,
Community Resources, Prudential.
New directors who join the board for a three-year term beginning
immediately are:
- Kevin Dow, Mid Atlantic Community Affairs
Manager,
Wachovia Foundation
Dow joined Wachovia in 1989. He currently leads the investment
review and distribution process of the corporate foundation
in the mid-Atlantic region, which includes the management
of a $9 million annual foundation budget, as well as the
bank’s regional United Way campaigns, Reading First
program, Wachovia Volunteers!, board placement, and internship
programs. Among his many community leadership activities,
Dow serves as Chairman and President of the Vine Memorial
Federal Credit Union, and as President of the Philadelphia
Cultural Fund.
- Heidi McPherson, President, Chester
County Fund for
Women and Girls
In the 1990s, McPherson served as one of the founding board
members and then the first President of the Chester County
Fund for Women and Girls. Her professional experience has
included senior staff positions and consulting assignments
with UCLA, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Jefferson
Health System, AIDS Project LA, Chester County Community
Foundation, and breastcancer.org, among others.
- Sara S. Moran, Trustee, Seybert Institution
Moran is currently Chief of Staff at the Free Library of
Philadelphia, serving as top aide to the President of a $60
million city agency. Her prior professional experience includes
Executive Director of Delaware Valley Habitat for Humanity;
Deputy Director of the Delaware Valley Community Reinvestment
Fund, Executive Director of the Community Education Center,
and Corporate Contributions Officer for Provident National
Bank, now PNC Bank.
- Susan A. Segal, Program Officer, Lincoln
Financial Foundation
Susan has worked in the non-profit and government sectors
for over a decade. Susan ran the non-profit organization
responsible for Philadelphia’s annual summer Independence
festival from 1996-2000, and served in Former Mayor Rendell’s
administration from 1993-1996. Susan has worked on numerous
city-wide collaborative initiatives, including the opening
of the Pennsylvania Convention Center in 1993, the Republican
National Convention in 2000, and the opening of the Kimmel
Center for the Performing Arts in 2001. Susan’s knowledge
of the city and work with many arts, education, and human
service organizations were a strong base for her transition
to corporate philanthropy when she joined Lincoln Financial
in 2002. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Lincoln Financial
provides approximately $14 million/year to six key cities
through a variety of philanthropic programs.
- Mailee Walker, Executive Director, Claneil
Foundation
Walker leads the Foundation’s efforts to create healthy
communities in the Philadelphia region. Before joining
Claneil in 2007, she served as Vice President, Communication/Program
Officer of the Wachovia Regional Foundation, where she
oversaw the Foundation's marketing and communications and
helped with its grantmaking efforts.
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