Upcoming Event: Lunch and Learn, “The Shared Gifting Model”

SAVE THE DATE
EPIP Lunch & Learn: “The Shared Gifting Model”

Wednesday, August 24, 2011
12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m.

RSF Social Finance
1002 O’Reilly Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94129

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you turned grantees into grantors?  What would happen if you empowered your grantees to allocate funding to their peers through a gifting model? 

RSF Social Finance held the first Shared Gifting convening in the Bay Area with local San Francisco Food and Agricultural nonprofits to ask the question: how can gift money be used to foster community and collaboration? Join us for a lunch discussion to find out what they learned from this experience and explore how foundations can leverage funding to build grantee communities and increase impact.

Featured speaker: Kelley Buhles, Program Manager, Philanthropic Services, RSF Social Finance

Kelley Buhles has worked in Philanthropic Services at RSF Social Finance since 2005. RSF Social Finance is non-profit financial services organization committed to transforming the way the world works with money. In partnership with a community of donors and investors, RSF offers investing, lending and giving services and fosters spirited conversations about the role our monetary system should play in the development of humanity. At RSF Kelley manages the Philanthropic Services department which includes Donor Advised Funds and grant making programs. Previously she served as the Vice President of the board of the Haight Ashbury Food Program, acted as coordinator for the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition, and directed an interactive art theme camp at Burning Man. She graduated from San Diego State with a degree in Anthropology.

RSVP at bayarea@epip.org by August 19. Space is limited and preference will be given to current EPIP members.

Lunch will be provided. Group transportation details to RSF will be given when you RSVP.

Report Back from Hayes Valley Farm Sustainability Event on June 29th

Earlier this month, after days of rain, the sun broke through the clouds just in time to shine down on our chapter's volunteer outing at the Hayes Valley Farm. Once a freeway on-ramp, Hayes Valley Farm is currently a 2.2 acre non-profit urban permaculture demonstration site. With a small startup grant from the City and fiscal sponsorship from the San Francisco Parks Trust, the farm first opened their gates on Jaunary 24, 2010- and the farm is still going strong. 

We were amazed to learn that the farm is entirely, and successfully, volunteer run. Plant beds have been laid out strategically to make the most of the natural water flow after rain, most of the materials are either donated or sourced from waste streams, there's a colorful pastel patch of beehives, and any food grown is either gifted to volunteers or left outside the farm for community members to help themselves from. It was astonishing to learn how little money the farm needs to reach their goals, which they're clearly doing: raising awareness around sustainability and urban agriculture, offering educational opportunities, reviving a vacant lot, providing green job training, beautifying the neighborhood, and having fun. After our tour, we got down and dirty as we helped plant mini-flats of seedlings.

After the farm closed up for the day, we headed down the street to join other local EPIP-ers at Pause Wine Bar, a sustainably sourced new wine bar on Market.  Kevin Schuder,the head chef, came out to share some details about the food and history of Pause while we sipped our wine. The bartender was so knowledgeable about the wine that a few of us just let him choose our drinks- and we were glad we did. It was such a treat to be able to mingle with folks while tasting such amazing wine! The entire day was a blast and several chapter members mentioned wishing they could have been able to volunteer. Stay tuned-- there may be more events like this in the future!

Upcoming Event: Career Exploration Workshop

The Real Job Search  
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
4:00 – 6:00 pm
Refreshments provided. Happy hour to follow, location TBD.

James Irvine Foundation
575 Market Street, Suite 3400
San Francisco, CA 94105

Trying to decipher your career path? Following all the rules but still not getting the position you want? Thinking of making a move to a different sector in order to further your career?

Join us for a two part career exploration workshop!

4-5 pm: In the first part of our workshop, our guest speaker Dalya Massachi will discuss the DO's and DON'T's of pulling together the key pieces of your job search tools (resume and cover letter) to establish your position as a candidate worth interviewing. And you will leave with a handy tip sheet!

5-6 pm: In the second part of our workshop, EPIP exemplars Angie Chen, Adam Badwound and Phuong Quach will answer the question, "How did you get that job?!" Each panelist will share their experiences and advice about how they made a career leap and took their careers to the next level, either by obtaining a higher title, changing sectors or seeking a new organization.

About our speaker:
Dalya Massachi specializes in helping nonprofit professionals advance their missions through outstanding fundraising and marketing materials – online and offline.  A lifelong writer, Dalya’s first letter to the editor was published in her hometown newspaper before she was even a teenager.

For nearly 20 years, Dalya has worked professionally with community-oriented organizations as a trainer, writing coach, grantwriter, journalist, and organizer. She has crafted countless successful marketing pieces, grant proposals, and news articles, and currently pens "The Writer's Block" column on OpportunityKnocks.org (the national job website and career development destination focused exclusively on the nonprofit community). From 2000-2004, Dalya served as Founding Director of BAIDO: Bay Area International Development Organizations. She holds an M.A. in Communication & International Development and a B.A. in International Studies. 

Dalya’s award-winning book, entitled "Writing to Make a Difference: 25 Powerful Techniques to Boost Your Community Impact,” will be available at a special discount at the event (she’ll also sign your copy)! Her website and free e-newsletter are at: http://www.dfmassachi.net.

About our panelists:
Angie Chen, Program Officer, S. D. Bechtel, Jr Foundation

Adam Badwound, Major Gifts Associate, California Academy of Sciences 

Phuong Quach, Public Information Coordinator at Blue Shield of California Foundation 

*All panelists currently serve or have served on the EPIP steering committee.  

Please RSVP to bayarea@epip.org.