Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington
Barbara Harman
info@cfp-dc.org
202-955-6538 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sixth Annual Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington Now Available
WASHINGTON, DC, NOVEMBER 12, 2008 -- On November 17, more than 450 nonprofit donors, leaders, board members, and foundation and corporate giving executives will kick off the 2008-2009 Giving Season with the launch of the sixth annual Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington, which encourages people to get connected to community-based nonprofits. The current economic climate has many Washingtonians snapping their wallets shut, but now is really the time to reach out to those most affected by the economic down turn. The Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington is an invitation to do just that.
This November, 30,000 Catalogues and 100,000 post cards with a "Give Where You Live" message will be mailed to households throughout the region, offering individuals an opportunity to connect with trustworthy local organizations working in their own backyard. The Catalogue features nonprofits in the fields of education, health, the arts, human services, international, and the environment, all with budgets of $3 million or less.
Busy Washingtonians may be interested in the Catalogue's Donate Now/Decide Later Fund. Donors can write a single check to the Catalogue in December, and choose their recipients in January. Donate Now/Decide Later allows donors to receive their year-end tax deduction and, when the holiday rush has settled down, make thoughtful decisions on supporting the charities that mean the most to them.
The Catalogue shines a light on smaller, community-based nonprofits where individual contributions really make a difference. Born out of the realization that it's hard to identify the best nonprofits working at the local level, the Catalogue leverages the region's knowledge about philanthropy for the benefit of the entire community. Sixty expert reviewers from the region's foundations, corporations, corporate giving programs, giving circles, larger nonprofits, and the D.C. government evaluate applications to be featured in the Catalogue. The reviewers look for distinction, merit, and impact, resulting in a carefully vetted list of trustworthy nonprofit organizations. A CPA scrutinizes all finalists: cost-effectiveness and financial transparency are essential. This year, every featured nonprofit has been site visited, and 31 of the organizations are re-featured from previous years.
Featured nonprofits receive 100 percent of donations, thanks to support from local investors: the Harman Family Foundation, Meyer Foundation, Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Philip L. Graham Fund, J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, Booz Allen Hamilton, CGI, and TTR Sotheby's International Realty, among others.
Request a copy of the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington online at www.cfp-dc.org. The Catalogue offers hundreds of inspired ideas for holiday giving. Consider sharing the gift of philanthropy with the next generation by sending gift certificates to children and grandchildren. Catalogue President Barbara Harman notes, "It's all about the power of one--one donor to make a difference in the life of a charity, one charity to make a difference in the life of a family, one family to contribute to the well-being of a community. You can be the spark that sets it in motion."
About the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington
The Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington connects effective, trustworthy nonprofits with individuals who want to contribute to, and make a difference in, their community. An independent nonprofit organization, recognized by its annual publication, the Catalogue has helped its featured nonprofits raise more than $1.75 million in the last year, bringing its total amount raised since 2003 to more than $6.5 million. Donors and nonprofits agree that the Catalogue's stamp of approval provides benefits far beyond dollars raised, increasing visibility for featured charities and providing donors with the opportunity to connect with trustworthy organizations. When personal passions are aligned with philanthropic decisions, individuals harness their own capacity to make a difference.