Newsletter Archives - Bernstein Family Foundation

ENEWS- March 2023

by Lindsey Roberts | Mar 9, 2023 | Newsletter

ENEWS-March 2023

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2022 Liberty Medal Ceremony Honoring President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The National Constitution Center honored Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the 34th annual Liberty Medal ceremony on November 7, 2022. The Liberty Medal honors men and women of courage and conviction who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe.

11 Trends in Philanthropy for 2023

The philanthropic sector is an ecosystem: a web of
interdependent actors, infinitely variable, striving constantly to build something greater than the sum of its parts.

26 Inspiring Nonprofit Leaders Who Will Impact the World in 2023

Nonprofit leaders within the nonprofit sector play a huge role in the economy, providing essential services that boost economic activity and generate economic growth.

Philanthropy Can Help Build a Thriving Democracy by Building Up Programs and Places That Fuel Civic Involvement

In an alternate universe, January 6, 2021, might have marked an inflection point in America’s decades-long story of democratic decline — a moment of collective epiphany and the beginning of a mass mobilization to rescue our nearly 250-year-old system of self-government.

Descendants of Jewish refugees escaping Nazis sue Guggenheim Museum for $200M Picasso painting

The heirs of a Jewish family that fled Nazi persecution are demanding the repatriation of a Pablo Picasso painting they once owned now in possession of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, which the family says is worth up to $200 million today.

Foundation Assets Plummeted Nearly 20% Last Year, Putting Grant Making at Risk

After three straight years of gains, foundation investments performed dismally last year, leading to a 19 percent decline in the value of their endowments, according to one estimate.

Why black Philanthropy matters

For the Black community, philanthropy has a unique history rooted in solidarity, self-determination and mutual aid. Throughout our history, Black leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., voting rights and anti-hunger activist Fannie Lou Hamer, and businesswoman Madame C.J. Walker all made philanthropy a staple of their legacy, while continuing to focus on fighting for justice and equity to make life better for their community.

Lullaby written for my mother in the ghetto will be in the spotlight at Carnegie Hall

When poet and partisan Shmerke Kaczerginski wrote a lullaby about my grandmother and mother in the Vilna Ghetto in 1943, he surely couldn’t know that some day, the descendant of these two women would make a documentary about the song. And that the song would be performed at New York City’s Carnegie Hall.

Watch: State of Our Union: Telling the American Story

Two of our country’s foremost cultural leaders, Mellon Foundation President Elizabeth Alexander and Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, recently came together to share their knowledge as builders of scholarship and institutions that have opened a fuller understanding of history and culture in the US.

Checkology Virtual Classroom: History of harm and distrust

This lesson has been years in the making and explores how mainstream news coverage of marginalized groups has historically done significant harm, resulting in legacies of distrust that persist today.

ENEWS- January 2023

by Lindsey Roberts | Jan 19, 2023 | Newsletter

ENEWS-January 2023

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Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden Revitalization: Rendering Hiroshi Sugimoto’s Vision

Hiroshi Sugimoto on the occasion of the groundbreaking of his revitalization of our Sculpture Garden. The ceremony, attended by the First Lady Jill Biden and Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, signals the start of this transformation which formally starts in spring 2023

People of the Book

People of the book harness the vast reach of social media to educate a new Arab generation about the Jewish faith and culture. Its videos foster curiosity and better understanding between Jews and Arabs; trying to shape a more peaceful coexistence.

Beyond Granite

Trust for the National Mall Reveals Exhibition, Six Participating Artists for Beyond Granite Initiative on the National Mall

2022 at Civic Nation

2022 was an impactful year for Civic Nation — and there’s still so much for us to accomplish. As we plan for 2023, we look forward to continuing our work, launching new initiatives, and so much more.

Arts in Action

2022 Midterm Election and
Impact on the Arts
Volume IV, 2022

Duke Ellington School

Duke Ellington Annual Report

2022 Liberty Medal Ceremony Honoring President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The National Constitution Center honored Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the 34th annual Liberty Medal ceremony on November 7, 2022. The Liberty Medal honors men and women of courage and conviction who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe

ENEWS- November 2022

by Lindsey Roberts | Nov 17, 2022 | Newsletter

ENEWS-November 22

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Museums Need to Be Braver. Here’s How College and University Art Galleries Can Offer the Sector at Large a Roadmap for Reinvention

Here are five ways campus museums model a more courageous future.

Keeping the Faith

Is intermarriage threatening American Judaism or renewing it? Contemporary Jews confront an age-old question — and discover surprising answers.

New Report | Access to nature and the workplace

Benefits of Nature, Design & Restorative Places, Health, Reports, Research

Arts Action News

The Quarterly Newsletter of the Americans for the Arts Action Fund

Unsafe Spaces

When being Jewish means you don’t belong.

Billionaire No More: Patagonia Founder Gives Away the Company

Gelles writes about the intersection of climate and the corporate world and has covered Patagonia for nearly a decade.

Truths we hold and share

The Founders Bequeathed Us Something Radical

Beyond Granite

The National Mall: home to an array of monuments, attracting millions of visitors who travel from all over the world to witness some of the most significant people and moments in US history.

 

ENEWS – July 2022

by Lindsey Roberts | Jul 18, 2022 | Newsletter

ENEWS-July 22

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WhatsApp’s reclusive founder has quietly become a megadonor to Jewish causes

Ascendant, together, this Juneteenth

This speech was presented by Darren Walker during “Ascendant Weekend,” in which over 400 descendants of enslaved people attended a rededication of the Burial Ground for Enslaved People at Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia.We move through projects in a goal-oriented way.

A (Re)generation of Artists

Artists in four US regions—and counting—are harnessing the creative power of regeneration to connect our communities to the past, present, and future.We move through projects in a goal-oriented way.

Singing with Israeli and Palestinian artists

This was easily the most rewarding music video process I’ve ever been a part of. Everyone who sang lines in this video wrote those words and live them. What a gift it was to work with The Jerusalem Youth Chorus. We move through projects in a goal-oriented way.

Take 5: Democracies and How They Thrive

A look at this form of government at a time when democracy is under stress around the world.

Public Art Transforms Illegal Dumping Sites in Camden, NJ

How can larger-than-life public art serve a community and inspire change? Camden, N.J.’s Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge winning project, “A New View” worked to transform illegal dumping sites by converting the spaces into multi-purpose community forums to host art installations and provide a visual narrative to the more than 65,000 people who travel through Camden daily.

The Well and the Will

Ward 8 residents are on the verge of new opportunities for food security, wellness and economic sustainability in the community. DC Greens is creating a new urban farm and garden space called The Well at Oxon Run Park to address this topic and build a legacy of sustainable health.

Art in the United States

American Jewish women have made major contributions to the art world as artists, photographers, gallery owners, museum curators, art critics, art historians, and collectors at least since the beginning of the twentieth century.

Arabella’s Racial Wealth Gap Practice

Changemakers and philanthropists know that good intentions are just the beginning. Impact is what matters. At Arabella, we share a commitment to expanding equity in the social sector and beyond. As part of that work, we launched the Racial Wealth Gap Practice in 2021 with the goal of focusing more intentionally and urgently on race and the systemic inequalities that permeate every aspect of our society and economy. We seek to support communities of color in accessing economic opportunity and prosperity.

Jewish Continuity: Are We Aiming Too Low?

As a community, we can afford to lift our gaze above the basic goals of survival and continuity. We ought to find ways to fulfill our potential and rise beyond the self through altruism and spirituality.

ENEWS – May 2022

by BFF RN | Jun 7, 2022 | Newsletter

Empathy. Wisdom. Intersectionality.

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“The best way to predict your future is to create it.”
~ Abraham Lincoln

A discreet network of activists, organized by Jews, is getting people out of Ukraine

Jewish organizations have delivered millions of dollars of aid to Ukrainians. This grassroots network has coalesced in tandem — focused on providing immediate assistance to civilians on a touch-and-go basis.

The Art of Diplomacy

Bust Unveiling Ceremony with Former U.S. Secretary of State James A. Baker, III

Inflation’s Impact on Charities

What donors don’t understand, and what fundraisers must tell them.

Philanthropy and America’s Racial Reckoning

Video of a conversation between Georgetown University President John DeGioia and Ford Foundation President Darren Walker.

A Plea for Remembrance as Ukraine Faces Horror

Reflections on the death of a Holocaust survivor in Ukraine.

Passover for Ukraine

A partnership between UJA-Federation of New York and Jewish Funders Network

Supporting Ukraine and the Values of Democracy

Reflections by Ford Foundation President Darren Walker

Passover and the Constitution

Lessons on liberty from the Jewish festival

Honoring Mackenzie Scott

Applauding a strong woman with vision and conviction

Israel’s Controversial Ukraine Refugee Policy

A thoughtful video reflection from OpenDor Media

The People’s Seder

The White House 2022 Virtual Passover Celebration

ENEWS – February/March 2022

by BFF RN | Mar 18, 2022 | Newsletter

Empathy. Wisdom. Intersectionality.

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“The best way to predict your future is to create it.”
~ Abraham Lincoln

Social Impact: “Inside Look”

See all the meaningful civic engagement happening at the Kennedy Center through the arts.

Philanthropic Harm: How “Doing Good” Can Go Bad

An honest discussion of philanthropy’s potential dangers.

The Big Dream

50 artists from 50 countries, portraying 500 dreams from all over the world in one epic video!

Goldman Sachs Foundation to Donate Up to $250,000 to 50 Black Women-Led Nonprofits

The bank’s One Million Black Women project seeks to improve the lives of at least a million Black women by 2030.

Giving to Community Colleges and HBCUs Soared Last Year

An encouraging wave of support for higher education.

Creating a Culture of Civic Participation with Dr. John B. King Jr., former U.S. Secretary of Education

An “In the Margins” podcast episode

What Is the State of Civics Today?

An interview with Janet Tran, Director of the Center for Civics, Education, and Opportunity at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation.

The Philanthropy 50

An analytical report on America’s biggest donors in 2021.

The Unknown Connection Between Black and Jewish Communities in America

Part 1 of an important video series from Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media.

International Women of Courage Awards – 2022

“Now in its 16th year, the Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award recognizes women from around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership”

Decades Later, Institutional Segregation Lives on in Bethesda

But so does the courageous legacy of Leo Bernstein in standing AGAINST segregation.

ENEWS – January 2022

by BFF RN | Feb 3, 2022 | Newsletter

Empathy. Wisdom. Intersectionality.

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“The best way to predict your future is to create it.”
~ Abraham Lincoln

Philanthropy Can Help Build a Thriving Democracy by Building Up Programs and Places That Fuel Civic Involvement

“Communities with strong civic infrastructure engender greater civic engagement and a sense of belonging.”

Senate Confirms Biden’s Pick to Lead the National Endowment for the Arts

“Maria Rosario Jackson, a national leader in integrating arts and culture into community development, was confirmed Saturday morning as the first African American and Mexican American to lead the National Endowment for the Arts.”

Meet the African-American Philanthropist Promoting Jewish Values

“Robert Smith is the chairman of the board of Carnegie Hall and the world’s foremost African-American philanthropist.”

Arts Groups Innovate to Battle Revenue Downturn from Covid

“Artists at Work, a new initiative that puts artists on a payroll to create and launch programs in their communities”

Why Embedding an Artist in Your Nonprofit Is a Sound Investment

“…the artist’s contribution to society is invaluable: Conjuring richer lives, creating space for critical conversations, demanding accurate storytelling, and reflecting real experiences.”

How 11 Washingtonians Remember the Jan. 6 Capitol Insurrection

A year later, the city reflects

“What Gives?” JFN Podcast Featuring Cintra Pollack

Seeking impact in grantmaking and investing

The Future of Metaverse Economy

A conversation on NFTs

Incarcerated Men Turn to Giving to Redefine Themselves

“Incarcerated men in the Lifeline Association provide critical funds to a free day camp for kids who live near the prison.”

Must-Reads for Impact Investors

“Some investing classics and more recent entries to align your money with your values”

Mellon’s “Humanities for All Times”

The “Humanities for All Times initiative recognizes the power of social justice-oriented curricula in solving societal challenges”

ENEWS November 2021

by BFF RN | Jan 4, 2022 | Newsletter

Empathy. Wisdom. Intersectionality.

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“The best way to predict your future is to create it.”
~ Abraham Lincoln

Ford Foundation to Divest Millions from Fossil Fuels

The Ford Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the United States, announced Monday that it will divest millions from fossil fuels.

Impact Investing in the Creative Economy

Invest with meaning.

Arabella Advisors Impact Report 2020

Arabella is a business with a mission: Help changemakers turn inspiring ideas into life-changing impact.

25 Influential Women Artists of the 20th Century

Stacker has compiled a list of 25 female artists from the 20th century you should know.

Hirshhorn – Liberty: Artist Talk with Abigail DeVille

DeVille joins Hirshhorn associate curator Anne Reeve to discuss the roles public art and performance can play in bringing to light untold and overlooked stories of our past, as we attempt to understand them in relation to our present.

NY Times: Outside Voices at Museums

Museums striving for diversity and inclusiveness are bringing in outside voices to interpret the art. (They’re not always experts.)

Museums vs. Business

The growing market for cultural digitization

What It Means to Design a Space for ‘Care’

Bloomberg CityLab: Planners and designers are linking labor, social services, and maintenance to building projects by prioritizing the concept of “care.”

Giving Tuesday Turns 10

Some charities celebrated by raising money for other nonprofits in 2021.

Disability-led Nonprofit RespectAbility Receives $1 Million Grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

Grant will be leveraged to achieve goals of new strategic plan

GivingTuesday Raises Estimated $2.7 Billion From Americans, a 9% Rise

In its tenth year, GivingTuesday bested all previous fundraising records.

ENEWS – October 2021

by BFF RN | Dec 9, 2021 | Newsletter

Empathy. Wisdom. Intersectionality.

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“The best way to predict your future is to create it.”
~ Abraham Lincoln

New Report Makes the Case for Arts Education: Recommends Access for All

The Commission on the Arts, at the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, says we are at a crisis point, where access to arts education is declining steadily—and action must be taken to reverse the trend.

A MONUMENTAL CONVERSATION

Up close with IN AMERICA: REMEMBER creator Suzanne Firstenberg

Jerusalem Youth Chorus

Shalom Salaam (acoustic) – Ziggy Marley & The Jerusalem Youth Chorus

What We Found When We Analyzed America’s Monuments

As part of the Mellon Foundation’s unprecedented Monuments Project, the Philadelphia-based nonprofit art and history studio Monument Lab undertook a comprehensive audit of our country’s commemorative landscape.

TOWARDS MORE PROXIMATE STORYTELLING IN PHILANTHROPY

The Skoll Foundation’s community of Awardees and grantees each have important, vital stories to share about their impact in the world.

Giving Together: Philanthropy and the Next Generation

A discussion on the changing role of philanthropy and effective strategies to maximize impact for positive social change

BMDC 25th & Final Season Performance

Bowen McCauley Dance Company at the Kennedy Center

Diplomacy and philanthropy with Ambassador Stuart Bernstein

An interview in Washington Jewish Week

Why Investing in Arts Can Support a More Equitable Society

Elizabeth Alexander, a poet and president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, talks about social- and racial-justice in philanthropy and the role of the arts in a healthy society.

BREAKING GOOD

Breaking news in social good

Five Ways Your Grants Management System Can Activate Trust-based Philanthropy

If the last tumultuous year has taught us anything, it’s that future-proofing your foundation’s grants management system (GMS) is more critical than ever.

How to Adapt Your Priorities as the Pandemic Subsides

Stay nimble, be willing to take risks, and know your “superpowers.”

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