Ten years ago when people heard the term venture philanthropy there were puzzled looks. Today, it has become considerably more mainstream. George Ellis and Bob Wright join us in this brief interview, defining what venture philanthropy is; “the marrying of the head and heart; a bridge between care based organizations”

George, Bob and David Hale Smith, collaborated in producing The Little Green Book of Venture Philanthropy; the subtitle defines what this fairly new philanthropic business model is… How Business Hats and Volunteer Hearts Can Learn to Play Well with Each Other and Make the World a Better Place.

To be successful, talent, expertise and strategic thinking need to be part of the mix. Venture philanthropists expect results and accountability from the organizations they work with. They are active donor investors who want change to happen fairly quickly. Taking a more hands on role in how their money is spent and managed, they expect a more business like operation.

Eleven years ago, Bob joined us and shared insights into this fairly new philanthropic model. His fellow panelists read like a who’s who of Philanthropy- Bill Drayton, then Chair and CEO of Ashoka-founded in 1980 and still the model for the world’s leading social entrepreneurs, Todd Wagner co-founder with Mark Cuban, of Broadcast.com, and Jim Jenkins, former Executive Director of| Entrepreneurs for North Texas. The philanthropic business models they discussed have become an integral part of the nonprofit culture.

Click here to view the McCuistion TV episode on venture philanthropy with Bill Drayton from several years ago.

Thanks again for joining me in conversations that matter…

Niki Nicastro McCuistion

Nonprofits bridge the gap of what businesses can’t afford to do as the financial returns are too small and that it may not be government’s job to do. In challenging economic times nonprofits address a critical void, often without the tools they need to fulfill their mission.

Panelists:

• Brent Christopher: President & CEO, Communities Foundation of North Texas
• Charlotte Keany: Director of Consulting, Center for Nonprofit Management
• Robert Wright: President: Executives in Action, Co-founder: Dallas Social Venture Partners

The world of nonprofits is evolving, emulating business best practices. This evolution incorporates different models including: venture philanthropy, social enterprise and proactive hands-on involvement from business leaders who bring business management and leadership advice to nonprofits.

Involved in different aspects of this new evolution, each of our panelists brings a fresh perspective to the world of philanthropy.

What’s changing in this world and what needs to change? Bob Wright, says, “we’re seeing a blurring, a combination of best practices of some of these sectors; business moving into nonprofit sectors with social enterprise, nonprofits emulating business practices as they try to become more accountable… We need to measure charities by their impact and effectiveness.” Bob joined us about 10 years ago on a program talking about the then fairly new concept of Venture Philanthropy. To date Bob has helped start 27 Social Venture Partners around the country.

Charlotte Keany, who started the Social Enterprise Alliance – Dallas chapter, talks about social enterprise, a model which helps nonprofits strengthen their business by taking a product or service they may already have and selling it to the public, thereby creating for themselves an unrestricted earned income stream. The earned funds can be used for much needed research, product development and revenue to run the nonprofit and grow the organization. The Center for Nonprofit Management has spearheaded over two dozen such entities.

We learn from Brent Christopher that there are over 700 Communities Foundations around the country, with Dallas being one of the largest. Communities Foundation was initially called the Dallas Community Chest Trust Fund, yes just like Monopoly. Today Communities Foundations nationwide serve the charities in their community, “helping donors who are ambitiously compassionate make tomorrow better” by making grants on their behalf that give back to the community they live and work in. Or a donor can choose to be more involved through donor advised funds.

Dan Pallotta, author of Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential, joins in via a previously taped interview and addresses the controversial question of charities being more business oriented in how they operate.  His response:

“There’s been a popular admonition in the last 15 years; we want charities to act more like a business. What we mean by that is we want to draw more blood from the stone. We want them do even more with less. That’s the opposite of how businesses succeed. Apple didn’t succeed by spending less researching the multi touch screen for the iPhone and iPad. I take tremendous issue with this advice to charities; you should start acting more like business. We’re not for a moment ready to allow charities to act more like business. We get upset when they pay their people the kind of money we pay in business… we get upset when they want to spend money on advertising… or take risks… Please stop telling charities to act more like a business when we won’t give them permission to do that. It’s abusive.”

There is no question that many charities, the great majority of which have budgets under $500,000, need to look at different ways of doing business to fulfill their mission. As the economy tightens and government cuts impact social services, nonprofits fill the gap. Yet we penalize the many for the egregious and public mistakes of the few and put restraints on charities, handicapping their ability to do their best work. To continue the work that charities do- new ways must be explored, current practices examined and decidedly more conversations like this one must take place.

We challenge you to get involved in your community by volunteering and writing that check. Investigate the nonprofits that resonate with your personal and corporate mission, jump in and change the world. It is your world after all.

Thanks for joining us as we talk about what really matters with people like you who really care.

Niki Nicastro McCuistion, CSP
Co-founder/ Executive Producer
Leadership and Nonprofit Consultant/Speaker
nikin@nikimccuistion.com

Uncharitable, by Dan Pallotta, challenges the traditional thinking of nonprofit organizations and their leaders. Unlike other books, of this genre; books that advise on ways to improve nonprofit performance, Uncharitable shatters prevailing paradigms. Stanford Social Innovation Review hailed this work with, “Deserves to become the nonprofit sectors’ new manifesto.”

A review by publisher Tufts University Press, says, “Uncharitable argues that the paradigm itself is the problem… Its insurgent thesis is that society’s nonprofit ethic undermines our ability to eradicate great problems, and, ironically, puts charity at a severe disadvantage to the for-profit sector at every level. We have two rule books; one for charity and one for everything else. This economic apartheid denies charity the powerful tools of capitalism, while everyone else is permitted to use them without restraint.”

Since an upcoming McCuistion TV program was on Philanthropy: The Business of Changing the World; and Dan happened to be in town for Dallas Social Venture Partners, and I think the book, well dog-eared, deserves a place on every nonprofit CEO and Development Directors’ desk… well of course I had to meet and interview him.

Belying his “revolutionary” work, Dan exudes a soft-spoken calmness and confidence. He knows his stuff, has been a success at fundraising, and has been thrown under the bus for “unconventional” approaches.

“Dan, in your work, you state, ‘I hope this book will give definition to a new cause, the challenge of transforming the very meaning of charity itself… I mean to create an uprising, a movement that questions all of what we have been taught, every rule, every constraint, every sacred cow- everything and anything that stands in the way of our ability to eliminate suffering and need.’

Fighting words Dan- what will it take to change these entrenched mindsets? Is it possible for charities to embrace a more business like way of running their operation?’”

Dan’s answer, “The culture does not allow it. We want charities to act more like a business- what we mean is wanting them to do more with less. We want to draw blood from a stone.”

Watch, question and enjoy. Dan may well change the way you think and act as he has thousands of others. And tune in to the McCuistion Program on Philanthropy: The Business of Changing the World, (www.mccuistiontv.com) airing soon, for more of Dan’s revolutionary and needed thinking; as well as Brent Christopher’s: President and CEO of Communities Foundation of North Texas, Robert Wright: President of Executives in Action and Charlotte Keany: Director of Consulting for the Center for Non Profit Management.

Thanks for joining me as we talk about inspiring transformational change through conversations that matter.

Niki Nicastro McCuistion: CSP
Executive Producer/ Producer
Speaker/ Consultant on Transformational Change
@McCuistionTV
nikin@nikimccuistion.com
214-750-5157

In Texas, the contentious issue of Congressional redistricting has postponed primary elections. Earlier this year, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, had agreed to temporary voting maps, placing two new Congressional seats in Hispanic dominated districts. The legal clash has reached the U.S. Supreme Court with minority groups alleging the Republican dominated Legislature had ignored the growing Hispanic population and drafted discriminatory redistricting maps.

Joining us are panelists:

• Tom Brunell, PhD – Professor of Political Science, University of Texas at Dallas
• Wade Emmert, JD – Chairman: Dallas County Republican Party
• Luis Roberto Vera Jr. – Attorney and Counselor at Law, LULAC National General Counsel
• Matthew Wilson, PhD – Associate Professor of Political Science, Southern Methodist University

While Abbott has said several minority groups agreed to the plan, other minority groups have chosen to fight the decision. The Mexican American Legislative Caucus argues that the new plan, which actually redraws boundaries for both Congressional and State legislative districts, dilutes minority influence in some areas. Joining us on this program, Luis Roberto Vera, LULAC National General Counsel, counters, “The deal means absolutely nothing… How do you try to navigate between these things that are essentially political and yet keep it fair? We need to strengthen the vote, not lessen it”.

The Census Bureau counts Americans every 10 years. Based on the population in each state, some states gain or lose Congressional seats. The 2010 Census resulted in Texas gaining four additional seats – from 32 to 36. Texas population growth in the last 10 years has resulted in 2.8 million more Hispanics, 523,000 more Afro-Americans and 465,000 more whites. Based on the new census figures, the minority groups want 3 of the 4 new districts. As is usual, the majority party (in this case, Republicans) re-drew the boundaries for all the seats, including the new ones. Texas is one of nine states subject to the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, which means, that a federal court has to approve the new boundaries. A San Antonio Court had redrawn the boundaries to favor Democrats. Republicans objected, as they believed these districts would vote Democrat. The resulting dissension over new voting maps has become a key and bitter issue, postponing elections until a “fair” outcome can be determined. Yet what is “fair”?

With the help of scholars, Dr. Tom Brunell and Dr. Matthew Wilson, on this program we discuss: what redistricting is, why and when it’s done, the need for proportionality, the influence of the Voter Rights Act, and the many lawsuits in this particular Texas case. Wade Emmert, Chairman of the Dallas County Republican Party and Luis Roberto Vera, Jr, with LULAC- give us their insights, arguments and perspective from their competing viewpoints.

The process of deciding where lines are drawn and how minorities are treated is complex. Some groups claim that the present system is discriminatory. Gerrymandering results in odd districts and drawing fair districts is critical.

Gerrymandering came to be exactly 200 years ago and is alive and well today. According to Oxford, to Gerrymander means to: “manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class. In Texas, as well as other states, the way seats are divvied up could be pivotal in determining which party – Republican or Democrat controls the U.S. House. With the upcoming Presidential election, these decisions could well influence who becomes our next president.

Don’t miss this lively “debate” and conversation about things that Really matter with people who Really care. This conversation affects your future. And we want to hear your comments so please post to our website and get the word out on Twitter.

Thanks for joining us,

Niki Nicastro McCuistion
Executive Producer/ Producer
Speaker/ Consultant on Transformational Change
@McCuistionTV
nikin@nikimccuistion.com
214-750-5157

***

2003 – 05/20/2012

Guest:  John Blundell, author of Margaret Thatcher: Portrait of An Iron Lady and Fellow at Institute of  Economic Affairs (IEA).  IEA was founded in 1955 and it started with lectures, conferences, and venues that targeted thought leaders, attempting to turn the tide of public opinion.

Former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, as told by Mr. Blundell, in his book Portrait of an Iron Lady, had innate qualities that led to her eventually being elected to Parliament in 1959.  The Iron Lady, as she is often referred to, had a strong commitment to free market economies, limited government and rule of law. She was well known for her strength of character, her unswerving willingness to fight for a cause that would make Britain stronger and for her ability to understand how government should work.

Her character and values played no small part in her resoundingly successful career as Prime Minister; helping to bring Britain to world class status once again.

Mr. Blundell’s work explains Margaret Thatcher to the American public: who she was, her values, principles and why she felt so strongly about limited ‘government’.

He gives us an intriguing insight into the events that led to Ms. Thatcher’s commitment to serving; from World War II and Britain’s rejection of Winston Churchill in the 1945 elections, the nationalization of public industries, the Tories being overthrown, and Britain’s luke- warm socialism for over 4 decades, to its being ranked 19th on the OECD ladder. All of this contributed to the way Ms. Thatcher governed and her determination to make Britain a world class power once again.

Join us for an inside look at the Iron Lady.

Thanks again for joining us as we continue talking about things that matter with people who care.

***

1913 – 07.17.11

The virtual loss in 2008 of the large investment bankers on Wall Street was shocking. The forced sale of Bear Stearns, the bankruptcy of Lehman, the controversial sale of Merrill Lynch and the changes at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have rocked the world.

This program addresses several areas that led to our system almost going down:

- Where were mistakes made and by whom? What changes are needed and by whom?
- What is the current mood of investors and how do they feel about corporate performance?
- What about Madoff, Stanford and other frauds?

Panelists Include:

• Max D. Hopper: Founder, Max D. Hopper Associates
• Robert J. Potter: President, R.J. Potter Company
• Shad Rowe: President, Investors for Director, Accountability Foundation

Dennis McCuistion starts by chronicling the above, “our nation’s source of building capital has instead become merely the capitol of greed.” He follows the statement by asking Shad Rowe why he is so angry.

Shad replies,

“I don’t look that angry. But I am angry at what’s happening in corporate America. Our system almost went down the drain. Why? The real cause in my opinion is that corporate boards are not representing owners, not thinking like owners and are allowing chief executives to make ‘heads’ I win; ‘tails’ shareholders lose, bets that have jeopardized our system.

Shareholders are directly represented by their corporate directors. It’s the law, but it’s not conventional wisdom and… it needs to become so, so we can preserve and enhance our system … Ownership is the litmus test. Private companies treated money like it was their own money. Directors are the legal representatives of shareholders!”

Bob Potter adds,

“Directors are absolutely responsive/responsible to stockholders. In the companies I serve as director, we have created incentive plans to management that are tied to stockholder performance. Some companies have allowed management to not act in the best interests of shareholders. We see excessive salaries, for instance. But they were approved by the compensation committee.”

Max Hopper says,

“Most corporate board directors really do represent shareholders. But some companies have gotten so big, that directors can not get their arms around what’s going on within the companies themselves. Too large a growth may be detrimental to their shareholders.”

All agree that more stringent rules need to be applied and that directors must act in the best interests of the shareholders. They also state that most companies are in fact doing their best to do so, yet we hear the bad news, not the good. Tune in for lively, straightforward talk about greed and Wall Street and what needs to happen to preserve capitalism.

As always we’ve been talking about things that matter with people who care. Thanks for joining us.

—

Niki Nicastro McCuistion
Executive Producer/ producer

And a special thank you to the Institute for Excellence in Corporate Governance, University of Texas at Dallas, School of Management, (http://som.utdallas.edu/iecg/) for providing the guests for this 4 part series on Corporate Governance.

***

12.27.09 – 1810

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Wall Street: Capitol of Greed or Builder of Capital?

Airing at 12:00 PM on KERA this Sunday, May 6th

The virtual loss in 2008 of the large investment bankers on Wall Street was shocking. The forced sale of Bear Stearns, the bankruptcy of Lehman, the controversial sale of Merrill Lynch and the changes at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have rocked the world.

This program addresses several areas that led to our system almost going down:

- Where were mistakes made and by whom? What changes are needed and by whom?
- What is the current mood of investors and how do they feel about corporate performance?
- What about Madoff, Stanford and other frauds?

Panelists Include:

• Max D. Hopper: Founder, Max D. Hopper Associates
• Robert J. Potter: President, R.J. Potter Company
• Shad Rowe: President, Investors for Director, Accountability Foundation

For more information browse our website or call Niki McCuistion at 214-750-5157 or email at nikin@nikimccuistion.com.