crosscut.com : Nonprofits / Philanthropy

The making of an effective arts board

Crosscut — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:00:01 PDT

It's no easy task in a non-profit world of growing financial pressure. Two essentials: A board must partner with staff, and everyone needs to keep focus on furthering the community mission.

People for Puget Sound responds

Crosscut — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:17:01 PDT

Kathy Fletcher, the executive director of People for Puget Sound, has responded to Daniel Jack Chasan's Crosscut article about setting priorities — performing triage, essentially — as we plan to reduce the impact from the several million people who live around the inland sea. Here's what she wrote:

In the absence of an AIDS cure, prevention gains prominence

Crosscut — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 05:00:01 PDT

As vaccine research retrenches, scientists seek to provide a stopgap with new approaches to HIV prevention that were first explored with help from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Another change at the top for ACT Theatre

Crosscut — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:31:01 PDT

Seattle's A Contemporary Theatre has just replaced its managing director, the veteran Seattle arts administrator Kevin Hughes, with his second-in-command, Carlo Scandiuzzi, whose title will be executive director. George Nunes is promoted to general manager.

As PONCHO regroups, Seattle arts struggle

Crosscut — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:00:01 PDT

The key problem is the shortage of public funding for the arts, as private donors are realizing they can't shoulder all the costs.

Seattle and the elixir of growth

Crosscut — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:00:01 PDT

In some moods, I think that Seattle's business renaissance has peaked. Starbucks is contracting, Microsoft is stumbling, Boeing is losing bids, Safeco is sold, and Washington Mutual is sinking. Has our formula of rapid growth spreading across the globe run into the wall?

But then I look at the front page of today's "Marketplace" section of The Wall Street Journal, where three of the four stories are about Seattle-based companies. There's the story of Microsoft's scramble in the executive suite, with the sudden departure of Kevin Johnson, formerly in charge of the Yahoo merger campaign; Costco reporting an earnings squeeze as the prices for merchandise are rising faster than they can pass along costs to its value-seeking customers; and Amazon doubling its second-quarter profits as customers shift from shopping by car to shopping by online.

A building worthy of greenery

Crosscut — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Vancouver's in-city oasis, VanDusen Botanical Garden, hopes to go green big-time with a $23 million visitor center that could be the region's first structure to meet the most rigid sustainability standards.

Seattle Symphony diversifies the product line

Crosscut — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:00:01 PDT

The symphony embarks on some new, non-traditional programming directions as it faces a decline in season ticket buyers and tight finances. So far, it seems to be working.

Gift shops aren't just for gifts anymore

Crosscut — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:00:01 PDT

When looking for the next great addition to your wardrobe, try a museum store.

Health insurance coverage vs. science

Crosscut — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:00:01 PDT

A device to help those with autism and other conditions communicate has been excluded — and then included, and then excluded again — from health insurance coverage in Washington. At issue is the process by which insurers decide what's covered and why, which doesn't always reflect scientific consensus.

Bill Gates 2.0

Crosscut — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 21:00:01 PDT

Traditional methods of scientific research have not produced the medical breakthroughs he expected. Now he's going to use his money, through the Gates Foundation, to challenge old ways. The man is breathtaking.

City budget road show

Crosscut — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:00:01 PDT

Chapter 4: During May, Seattle City Council members listened to hours of public comment on how tax dollars should be allocated by the 2009-10 budget. Now what happens? Not much until autumn — then a flurry of activity.

Ruby and Shirley

Crosscut — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:00:01 PDT

Before Hillary, there were Ruby Chow and Shirley Bridge, here fondly remembered by a woman inspired by their early examples of setting a high bar for civic leadership.

The Wing Luke Museum takes flight

Crosscut — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 22:00:01 PDT

The handsome new space is a striking work of architecture, and the exhibits make up a "meta-museum," continually asking questions about how a museum should relate to its community.

Another mayoral spokesperson departs for the same nonprofit

Crosscut — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:57:01 PDT

Martin McOmber, senior communications and policy advisor for Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, will leave city employment on Wednesday, April 30, to join Casey Family Programs as communications director. McOmber will feel right at home at Casey, because the managing director of communications there, Marianne Bichsel, was herself spokesperson for the mayor before joining the foundation in Seattle last fall.

Alex Fryer, communications advisor at the Office of Sustainability and Environment, will fill in until the mayor names a new comm director — though the official City Hall announcement today sure makes it sound like the job is Fryer's to lose.

Discords in the violin sections

Crosscut — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:27:01 PDT

The concertmaster post (leader of the first violin section) is proving a hot seat in Seattle. Marjorie Kransberg-Talvi, longtime leader of the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra, has resigned that post, unhappy at criticism of her playing by conductor Stewart Kershaw, effective the end of this season. Ingrid Matthews is taking a one-year leave from being leader of Seattle Baroque Orchestra, citing a need to take some time off. And turmoil continues at the Seattle Symphony.

How about a nuclear museum on the UW campus?

Crosscut — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:00:01 PDT

I got a very interesting e-mail from Dr. Steven Gilbert, Phd., Vice President of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (WPSR). He'd read my recent piece about the possible tear-down of More Hall Annex (the old Nuclear Reactor Building) on the University of Washington campus, and he has a great idea for the facility: Turn it into a nuclear museum. In fact, WPSR is already at work on the museum project, and it might be the perfect tenant if the UW will reconsider its destruction of this fascinating, historic modern structure.

Bring on Lama-Palooza

Crosscut — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:00:01 PDT

But please don't ask about independence for Tibet.

Librarian Deborah Jacobs takes new job with Gates Foundation

Crosscut — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:24:01 PDT

Seattle City Librarian Deborah L. Jacobs, who joined the library system in 1997 and spearheaded a remarkable period of building new libraries, is leaving on August 10 to become deputy director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Global Libraries Initiative. The announcement is a surprise, as Jacobs had expressed her desire to serve many more years as City Librarian.

In Seattle, umbrella funds are adapting to the new philanthropy

Crosscut — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:00:01 PDT

An important organization in Seattle, the Alliance for Education, has announced changes in the way it will be distributing money. There will now be more targeting and accountability, and more meshing with the district's emerging strategic focus. Similar changes are going on with other umbrella agencies, including in the arts and social services.