March 2008 eNewsletter

Piper Staff Note

The economy is on our minds. We have all watched as the subprime mortgage crisis has continued to unravel affecting broader and deeper corners of the economy than we thought possible. While the economy has probably not bottomed out, we thought it was a good time to take the temperature of the nonprofit community. Girl Scout Cookies seem to be an indicator of the economy’s well-being; see our story below. Piper Bulletin also interviewed city, county and local leaders about trends they see at social service agencies. We would love to know what your nonprofit is doing in light of economic conditions: Innovative fundraising ideas? Budget restructuring? Other ideas? Follow the link in the Roundup section if you would like to share your insights and practices. Also, be sure to send us your news releases; we will publicize your good work in this publication.

Pulse on the Economy

When cookie sales drop,
the economy is going down.

Girl Scout Cookie sales reflect economic trends
What comes to mind when you think of Girl Scout Cookies? You might think about your favorite kind (for most people it’s Thin Mints), or picture a group of girls selling cookies outside a local grocery store. But if you’re Tamara Woodbury, you might also be thinking about the economy. As Executive Director of Girl Scouts - Arizona Cactus-Pine Council, Tamara has seen the correlation between Girl Scout Cookie sales and the economy for over 25 years.
Read more…

Donations sluggish for non-profits
The Arizona Republic, February 26, 2008
Local non-profit organizations expect individual giving to decrease more than 5 percent this year due to strains on the economy. Corporate giving is expected to shrink as well. Read more…

5 Recommendations to prepare for economic downturn
Marketwatch.com, February 13, 2008
As the nonprofit sector faces recession, Nonprofit Finance Fund outlines 5 recommendations to prepare for economic downturn. Read more…

Crisis Nursery in need of donations
The Arizona Republic, February 13, 2008
Parenting is the most important job most of us will ever have, but anyone who has raised a child knows it is also one of the hardest. Read more…

Snapshot on the Economy
In an effort to shed light on the current economic situation, Piper Bulletin asked human services leaders how the economy was affecting their clients.

Food banks are having to
dig into emergency funds
to purchase food.

Ginny Hildebrand, Association of Arizona Food Banks
"Food banks and the services we provide to some extent are the canaries in the mines. When we don’t have food to provide to people in need, it is important to take note. An increase in demand started mid-year in 2007 and only now are we hearing about the economic hardship in the media—seven or eights months later."
Read more…

Gloria Hurtado, City of Phoenix Human Services Department
"What we’re seeing in our family service centers, which we haven’t seen before, are working families, people who have never sought out social services before, coming into Human Services for financial help." Read more…

Annette Stein, Maricopa County Human Services
"What we’re talking about is almost like a perfect storm going on … every day there is another group of people being laid off … while projected budget cuts are going to reduce the number of people we can serve." Read more…

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News from Piper Trust

The Piper grant will cover elementary school building improvements.

Piper Trust makes award for Catholic elementary schools
Piper Trust awarded $8 million to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix to make needed elementary school building improvements to address important health and safety issues. The capital grant follows a needs assessment of the 25 Catholic elementary schools in Maricopa County, conducted by an independent firm, Architectural Resource Team, Inc. Read more…

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Grantee Highlights

Non-profit moving shelter into 2 former motels
The Arizona Republic, March 8, 2008
The happy kids playing on the various playgrounds outside of their classroom looked as if they just heard the news. Next year there will be even more slides, swings and toys. Read more…

The early literacy program
has captured the dedication
and interest of older adults.

Volunteers benefit schools' early literacy program
The Arizona Republic, February 27, 2008
For two years, Tempe has been giving adults age 55 and older a way to give back to the community while developing new generations of readers. Tempe's early literacy program places volunteers in four elementary schools to help kindergarten through third-graders improve their reading. Read more…

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale launches homework assistance program
Boys & Girls Club News Release, February 27, 2008
In response to the call for more effective homework assistance programs for low-income youth, Charity Projects Entertainment Fund (CPEF)/Idol Gives Back is providing $25,000 grants to support the continued implementation of Power Hour: Making Minutes Count in 180 Boys & Girls Clubs in communities with high poverty rates across the country. Read more…

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In the Media

Leaders from 5 Western states share ideas on ending homelessness
The Arizona Republic, March 12, 2008
Government leaders from several Western states who met Tuesday in Phoenix discussed their plan to end chronic homelessness over the next decade.
Read more…

Downtown arts thrive in shadow of potential development
The Arizona Republic, March 2, 2008
In 1989, Phoenix looked more like an urban wasteland than the beating heart of a growing metropolis. Back then, Art Detour was all too apt a name for a trek into downtown to visit galleries and studios. Read more…

New study links falling dementia rates, education
Seattle Times, February 23, 2008
Older adults today appear to have significantly less risk of memory loss and dementia than a decade ago, likely because they're better-educated, wealthier and receive better health care for cardiovascular disease… Read more…

Most Arizona high-school graduates are ill-prepared for university admissions.

Improve Arizona's education
The Arizona Republic, February 23, 2008
The Arizona Department of Commerce projects that by 2013, 84 percent of Arizona's newly created jobs paying a "livable wage" will require at least an associate's degree, while half will require a bachelor's or advanced degree. This is a 21st-century reality, yet too few Arizona high-school graduates possess the drive, qualifications and access to college to meet this challenge. Read more…

Read the Arizona Community Foundation reports:
- Educating Arizona: Assessing Our Education System (Birth - Grade 12)
- Building Our Foundation: Assessing Early Care and Education in Arizona

No time to relax: States want new retirees' experience
USA Today, February 22, 2008
The wave of baby boomers hitting retirement age threatens to create such a void in the workforce that states are crafting policies and programs to keep older Americans working and volunteering. Read more…

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