As we consider what the next four years have in store for nonprofits, we imagine Abe Lincoln strapped into the Apollo 13 spacecraft hurtling toward disaster and repeating his famous saying, “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” MORE
Welcome to ‘Get to know Fairmount Ventures!’ a series of short Q+A’s with our team members, showcasing the many passions and personalities behind our firm. MORE
At the mid-point of this year’s dog days of summer, temperatures were especially high in and around the executive offices of Temple University. A growing rift was reported between then-Temple president, Neil Theobald, and members of the university’s Board of Trustees. In the end, Theobald stepped down in late July about a week after the board unanimously voted no confidence in the president. The culprit of this discord? According to The Philadelphia Inquirer (July 15, 2016), members of the board faulted Theobald for “failing to consult them on key issues…” MORE
Philadelphia nonprofits are catching a wave. Tidal forces like the Civic Commons project and city-wide efforts to create or revitalize community-based civic assets like parks, monuments, trails and libraries are already encouraging more social and economic integration. Like-minded organizations such as Bartram’s Garden, Smith Memorial Playground, Please Touch Museum and the Philadelphia Zoo are harnessing this newfound energy to re-examine the role Philadelphia’s venerable institutions play in impacting social good. And the results are triggering a sea change. MORE
Ebony Staton-Weidman, Assistant Vice President at Fairmount Ventures, will join a panel of communications leaders at Here’s My Chance’s “Breakfast with the Stars: Branding & Messaging Edition” event. The panel will examine how organizations communicate with their audience and share best practices on navigating the balance between digital, social media, and traditional communications. MORE
Recently Giving Tuesday launched a special contest called “My Giving Story” on Facebook to encourage people to share their most meaningful experience in supporting a nonprofit. Winners of the contest have the chance to win up to $5,000 for their designated nonprofit along with a personal gift card. MORE
How do you know when you’ve struck social innovation?
This was the topic of a recent panel event hosted by Exchange PHL, a contingent of organizations in Greater Philadelphia united by their intent to develop opportunities for collaboration, share promising ideas for social change, and build new networks. Luke Butler, Chief of Staff to the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Nick Torres, co-founder of the Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal shared insights about social innovation evaluation to about 20 attendees. MORE
Today marks the official launch of the Nonprofit Repositioning Fund (the Fund), an initiative dedicated to help nonprofits in Greater Philadelphia achieve greater success. The Fund specializes in facilitating strategic collaborations and partnerships among nonprofits in an effort to establish clearer leadership roles, reduce duplicate service efforts, and achieve adequate scale. Over the next three years, the Fund will award grants to facilitate those joint nonprofit ventures, including mergers. MORE
On September 18 Fairmount joined 200 nonprofit leaders and supporters to discuss nonprofit collaboration and partnerships. The Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal hosted the event, called “Innovation through Collaboration and Partnerships: A Look at How Working Together through Collaboration and Partnerships Can Drive Innovation and Sustainability in the Nonprofit and Social Sector.” MORE
Don Kligerman, President of Fairmount Ventures, will join a panel of experts at the Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal’s “Innovations through Collaboration and Partnerships” event. The event will look at how working together through collaboration and partnerships can drive innovation and sustainability in the nonprofit and social sector. MORE