November 2008 enewsletter

Piper Staff Note

I had the privilege to study with professor and author Chip Heath when I was in the Executive Program for Philanthropic Leaders at Stanford University in 2007. He was as engaging as his bestselling book, Made to Stick, which he wrote with his brother, Dan. We then read the book in our Piper book club, and "sticky" ideas and messages became a standard of excellence for staff. But when we asked Chip to present a Piper Academy, he was already on to a new topic-How to Change … When Change Is Hard. We were thrilled to have Chip present concepts for his coming book at a recent academy. See what happened below.

When change is hard

Chip Heath used an elephant and rider analogy to discuss change.

Piper Academy with Chip Heath:
Some ideas on how to change when change is hard
Change is hard. Nonprofits know that. What if those of us in the nonprofit field could look at change as something to accept and use to our advantage?

Chip Heath, author of the best-selling book Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, presented a Piper Academy in late October to discuss concepts for a new book that he and his brother are writing on change. Some 40 executive directors attended. Read more…

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Piper Trust News

Volunteer delivers food
boxes.

Piper Trust announces second round of community relief grants for Maricopa County nonprofits
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust announced a second group of Community Relief Grants, part of a $1 million commitment to aid Maricopa County nonprofits providing direct assistance to the community. "Piper trustees made this commitment to provide relief to organizations strained to the breaking point as costs have mounted and donations have dropped," said Judy Jolley Mohraz, Ph.D., president and CEO of Piper Trust. Read more…

Virginia Galvin Piper

Piper Notebook/
Annual Report 07/08
The fall Piper Notebook highlights a coming biography of Virginia Galvin Piper and the move of Piper Trust to new offices in Phoenix. The annual report covers two fiscal years ending March 31, 2007, and March 31, 2008.
Read more…

Read a letter from Piper Trustees…
Read the President's letter…
Read the Chief Financial Officer's report…
See Financial Data…

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Grantee Highlights

TGen

Light-speed computer connection will slash the time it takes TGen-ASU to transfer huge amounts of genetic data
Translational Genomics Research Institute, November 12, 2008
Hot on the heels of a new supercomputer, plans for a new light-speed data line between the Translational Genomics Research Institute and Arizona State University could slash the time it takes to transfer genetic information.
Read more…

Gilbert Early College helps United Way partner agency
Mesa United Way, October 23, 2008
Students of Gilbert Early College, A LEADing Edge Academy spent a day at La Mesita in Mesa helping to prepare a new residence for a family. La Mesita is a program that works under A New Leaf… Read more…

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In the Media

$250,000 Nonprofit Collaboration Prize semi-finalists named by Lodestar Foundation
Market Watch, November 12, 2008
The recent economic shockwaves felt around the world have made a primary goal of The Lodestar Foundation-to encourage collaboration among nonprofits in order to eliminate duplication and create efficiency-more pressing than ever. Read more…

Priorities for a new President
The Atlantic Philanthropies, November 13, 2008
As Barack Obama prepares to enter the White House, he comes to power during a turbulent period in American history, with the nation facing a financial meltdown, two wars, and an increasing number of people… Read more…

Fifty-one percent of online
consumers plan to donate
online during November or
December, a new study
shows.

Signs that, amid tough times, Americans will keep giving
Christian Science Monitor, October 27, 2008
Will this holiday season be a cheerful one for charities? The last two months of the year rate as prime time for giving, but in 2008 Americans are reeling from a perfect storm of economic news. Even so, there are signs that many will stay with their generous ways. Read more…

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