IN THIS ISSUE
Encouraging corporations to take the lead in International Corporate Volunteering
FSG features recent work in strategy, evaluation and mission investing
Action
Coming in June: Community Foundation Benchmarking Webcasts
Good Measures: New Approaches to Evaluation
Advice
Client News
Firm News
Catch Us At...
FSG in the News
Achieving Social Impact
Encouraging Corporations to take the lead in International Corporate Volunteering
More than 90 corporate leaders and senior executives joined forces to generate discussion on international corporate volunteering co-hosted by The Brookings Institution; City Volunteers of New York; The Conference Board; the CSR Initiative, Harvard University; International Business Leaders Forum and FSG Social Impact Advisors. Participants shared their company’s effective practices in supporting local and global volunteering efforts that have benefited both business and society. FSG recently published one of the first comprehensive studies of international corporate volunteering, creating a strategic framework to help companies develop and achieve high-impact global programs. Download the report »
FSG Features Recent Work in Strategy, Evaluation and Mission Investing
FSG hosted a reception at its new San Francisco office last month welcoming friends and colleagues to participate in an evening of cocktails and content. More than 50 attendees dropped by to engage in an informal discussion of FSG’s recent cases in strategy, mission investing, and evaluation. Following its transition to 501(c)3 status, FSG was also pleased to share insights into its own efforts to measure social impact. If you would like to be invited to future FSG events, please contact Vivienne Yue at vivienne.yue@fsg-impact.org.
Action
Good Measures: New Approaches to Evaluation
FSG and Stanford Social Innovation Review will lead a one-day conference on new approaches to foundation evaluation on Thursday, May 22nd at Stanford University. This follows a recent report FSG published, "From Insight to Action: New Directions in Foundation Evaluation" which identified a fundamental transition in the way foundations use evaluation, moving toward more performance-centered approaches that provide foundations and their grantees with current information and actionable insights. If you would like to be invited to this conference, please contact Vivienne Yue at vivienne.yue@fsg-impact.org.
Coming in June: Community Foundation Benchmarking Webcasts
In June, Community Foundation Insights will host a series of free webcasts on its online benchmarking database. Each webcast will include a live demonstration of the database, including creative approaches to peer selection and innovative uses for the data that have been discovered by members. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage with CFI staff on topics relating to comparative data and benchmarking. Stay tuned for detailed information at www.cfinsights.org. If you would like to sign up for a free webcast, please contact Vivienne Yue at vivienne.yue@fsg-impact.org.
Advice
Client News
We've been busy with a broad range of exciting and challenging engagements largely focused within our primary practice areas: Global Health, U.S. Health Care, Education, Environment, Mission Investing, Global Development, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Among others, we are helping:
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a comprehensive five-year strategy for the Financial Services for the Poor Group (FSP). FSP is a part of the Foundation’s Global Development division, and focuses on enabling poor families around the world to access a portfolio of financial services in order to improve their lives.
Microsoft to refine the company’s Community Investment strategy, including the Community Technology Skills Program which promotes efforts to extend IT skills and economic opportunities to enable underserved individuals around the world to realize their potential. FSG is working with Microsoft to leverage the full range of corporate assets, in addition to cash and software, to increase the company's social impact through building capacity for individuals and non-profit organizations.
Silicon Valley Community Foundation to survey donors regarding their experience with the community foundation over the past year and their ideas and preferences for the future. The feedback gathered will be used to formulate a set of strategic recommendations aimed at helping the foundation to meet its goal of providing an exceptional donor experience.
Management Sciences for Health to design an organization-wide performance management system enabling the organization to more effectively manage service delivery and generate improved health and social impacts.
Rockefeller Brothers Fund to conduct a strategic review of its Fellowships for Aspiring Teachers of Color program. Over 300 fellows have received financial support from RBF to pursue careers in K-12 teaching. Nearly 60% of these fellows are still teaching, higher than the national average for teacher retention. FSG is helping RBF consider different strategic positioning options for the program moving forward.
The Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture to conduct an external review, looking in particular at the foundation’s perceived impact and unique added value to date and potential future strategies. FSG is also helping the foundation to understand its role among other funders of sustainable agriculture and economic development in developing countries.
Firm News
Catch Us At...
FSG in the News
Here’s a selection of our latest media coverage:
"Doing Good: Business and the Sustainability of Challenge" The Economist Intelligence Unit
"Just Good Business" The Economist
"A New Bottom Line for School Science" Science Magazine
"The Usefulness of PRIs" Fora.tv
"Measuring Social Responsibility" Podcast courtesy of Waggener Edstrom
Achieving Social Impact
Since our founding in 1999, we have been privileged to help a wide variety of exceptional organizations from around the world to increase their social impact. In this edition, we are pleased to share with you our work with Xavier University (Louisiana):
Xavier University (Louisiana)
FSG recently worked with education leaders in New Orleans and at Xavier University to develop a business plan for a new nonprofit, the Xavier Math and Science Teachers Institute (MSTI). Creating a new nonprofit in post-Katrina New Orleans, FSG addressed the systemic need to improve math and science achievement in a region that has historically underperformed in math and science achievement relative to state averages. This effort, initially funded by Exxon Mobil, will truly transform math and science education in New Orleans by helping math and science teachers build content knowledge in their subject, develop instructional strategies and receive school-based coaching. Having hired an Executive Director, the institute will begin serving teachers in 2008-2009 with the goal of serving 80 math and science teachers each year from the greater New Orleans region.
We hope you found the newsletter informative. Please feel free to email or call us with any questions. We'd be delighted to help.
FSG strives to achieve social responsibility in its own internal operations. We maintain a policy of carbon-neutral travel through the purchase of carbon credits from Native Energy.
FSG Social Impact Advisors
Email: info@fsg-impact.org
Phone: +1 617 357-4000
Fax: +1 617 357-4007
Web: www.fsg-impact.org
|
