Dear Giving Institute Members,
I hope this message finds you well and safe, particularly if you were in the path of Hurricane Florence this past week. Living in Charleston during this time of year is always an adventure. Those of you who joined us this July for the Summer Symposium know, first hand, how low the city is (hence the nickname the “Lowcountry”). Rising sea levels and king tides have made flooding top of mind for many. Although some may see this as misguided on my part, I don’t live near the beach or in the historic downtown, so I am spared much of the fallout when rain and wind come.
Professionally, I spend a good amount of time focused on disaster planning and relief efforts, both in terms of how we stand ready to help first responders and nonprofits participating in disaster relief and how we keep our own business running when our facilities are in a storm’s path, both of which were the case this time around. I also have the responsibility of determining when we will make a corporate donation, as we did this week to support the drought relief efforts in Australia. I am reminded at times like this that our customers deal with disasters every day, large and small. And I am thankful, both for all of you who have reached out to check on me over this past week and for the work you each do every day to help nonprofits do what they do best. We work in a special sector.
As for Giving Institute business, I hope you’re planning on joining us in November in Chicago for our next set of board meetings. Angela Hodson and the Programs Committee are working on the slate of offerings. On the Giving USA Foundation side, the team is preparing for the November launch of the next Special Report on giving by corporations.
Dates have also been set for the March meeting in….Nashville! Plan to join us March 7-8 as we continue to embrace feedback about meeting somewhere in the middle of the country.
Please do check out the great resources below. And until next time, be well.
Rachel Hutchisson
2017-2019 Board Chair
VP, Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy, Blackbaud, Inc.
