Dear NYC Community Leaders:
I am writing to invite you to a briefing for community organizations by the California-based Greenlining Institute at 350 Fifth Avenue, Room 2925, in Manhattan on Friday, November 17, 10:00am–11:00am. (We should note that the New York Foundation is generously providing the space for, but not sponsoring, this event.) In November 2005, the Greenlining Institute (a policy, research, and advocacy center) issued Fairness in Philanthropy, a two-part report on an appalling lack of diversity in philanthropic giving. That study found that independent foundations nationally award only 3% of grant dollars to minority-led nonprofit organizations. Greenlining has advocated on this issue nationally, and the California state legislature has held hearings and will soon introduce legislation on the matter.
This November, Greenlining is releasing its second annual report on this topic: Investing in a Diverse Democracy: Foundation Giving to Minority-Led Nonprofits. This report goes a step further by ranking the top foundations according to their diversity in grantmaking. It also includes a short DVD with interviews of major foundation and community leaders.
We hope you will join us at our only NYC community briefing to discuss the results in this new report.
In order for us to ensure adequate space, please RSVP to Chris Vaeth at chrisv@greenlining.org or 510-926-4026.
Sincerely,
John C. Gamboa
Executive Director
The Greenlining Institute