From Jim Eskin, External Relations Councel ....................... ................ July 2009

This issue introduces a brand-new look -- and a new format -- for Stratagems, the newsletter I started in 1996. I hope the delivery method will increase opportunities for us to exchange ideas. So let me hear your suggestions and comments often, especially regarding content, and improvements to the format and delivery.

Consulting Update
I'm delighted to report that Texans Can! and San Antonio Can! High School are my first client. I'll be working on a $3 million capital campaign to build a new campus. This is a public school of choice with a terrific track record. While the high school dropout rate in San Antonio at-large is a horrid 53%, San Antonio Can! has a 32% rate through relationship based education and training. There is a great group of business and community leaders on the Development Council.
 
I welcome your suggestions, ideas and leads on other prospective clients. The process starts with exploratory conversations with staff and board leadership. I want to hear about their dreams, priorities and needs. Then I can put together a proposal addressing how I can help them advance resource development objectives through a cost effective consulting relationship.

Hollywood Goes Goodworks
Did you catch the premiere of NBC-TV's The Philanthropist? I have mixed feelings. On one hand, it will be nice if it motivates more people to think about how their gifts of time, talent and treasure can make the world a better place.
 
On the other hand, it's a far-fetched depiction. The TV show seems to be more Indiana Jones and James Bond than Bill Gates and George Soros. Philanthropy is serious work, about making difficult choices, not between the good and the bad, but between the good and the good. The TV show is strong on adventure and action but doesn't reflect the due diligence that goes into prudent decision-making.
 
Did you know that The Philanthropist was inspired by the example of a Boston businessman named Bobby Sager? Sager sparked the interest of a producer two years ago while giving a speech at his son's bar mitzvah. An advocate of "eyeball to eyeball" philanthropy, his Sager Family Traveling Foundation and Roadshow will spend about $1.8 million on 10 programs this year.

America Keeps On Giving
The findings of Giving USA, the seminal annual report on the state of philanthropy, are both remarkable and inspiring. Charitable giving in the U.S. exceeded $300 billion for the second year in a row. Despite havoc in the economy and drastically compromised positions of individuals, corporations and foundations, donations in 2008 declined just two percent in current dollars over 2007.

It would have been very easy for donors to say "not this year" but they didn't -- a bold testimonial to the compassion and caring nature of the American people. Donors recognized and responded to the stark reality that in this troubled economy non-profits are being challenged to do more and more.
 
This is a positive sign that though goals and timelines may need to be revised, plans for campaigns and fundraising initiatives can and should move forward.  By all means, keep cultivating donors and prospective donors.

Political Gender Gap
The Gallup Poll sheds new light on the substantial gender gap that exists in American politics today. Not only are women significantly more likely than men to identify as Democrats, and less likely to identify as independents, but -- with only slight variation -- this gap is evident across all ages, from 18 to 85, and within all major racial, ethnic, and marital-status segments of society.

In the survey, 41% of women identify as Democrats, some nine points higher than the 32% of men who identify as Democrats. The 34% of men in this sample who are independents can be contrasted with the smaller 26% of women who are independents. There is little difference by gender in terms of identification as Republicans -- 28% of men are Republicans, compared to 25% of women.

Do Good ... And Live Longer
As people approach the waning years of their lives, those who live with some purpose in mind tend to live longer than those who don't, according a new study by Rush University Medical Center, in Chicago. The study echoes earlier findings by other researchers that retirees who volunteered were half as likely to die during a four-year follow-up period as people who did not volunteer during that time.

Days Of The Ugly American Are Over
The election of Barack Obama as has improved the political image of  the U.S. abroad. A GfK Custom Research survey examines the political and cultural influence of the U.S. from the perspective of 20,000 citizens in 19 countries.

Findings: More than half are optimistic as to how the political influence of America will change in future. Western Europeans displayed an above-average level of positivity, with three quarters expecting an improvement to take place. In Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, around eight in ten people anticipate that the political image of the U.S. abroad will become more positive.

Giving To Charity: Who Decides?
The Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund's study of charitable givers in America shows that women are playing a prominent role in their households and communities when it comes to philanthropy. Almost half of women surveyed say they have the decision-making role in their households for both how much money to donate to charity and which charities to support.
 
The study also classifies four profiles of givers in America today that illustrate distinctly different approaches to philanthropy:
· Mainstream Contributors (52%)
· Empathetic Givers (29%)
· Reactive Contributors (15%)
· Pioneering Givers (4%)

Leno's Endless Laughs
The Center for Media and Public Affairs calculated that Jay Leno told 33,331 jokes about public figures from his debut as permanent host of the "Tonight Show" in 1992 through 2008, over four times as many as his new replacement Conan O'Brien.
 
Leno's favorite target during that time was Bill Clinton, whom he zinged 4,468 times, nearly 50% more often than number two target George W. Bush (2,999 jokes).  Whether aimed at Democrats or Republicans, liberals or conservatives, most of these jokes were winners.

Donors Want Return On Investment
Susan Magill, of Pew Charitable Trusts, shared timely insight on philanthropic trends. She says the current emphasis is on investing proven models, existing initiatives, and organizations that have a track record of success.

What are donor partners looking for? The watchwords of the day are engagement and transparency.  Philanthropic investors are more interested than ever in knowing exactly how their investments are being managed and want to be a part of the strategic decision-making.  They want to be full partners in the process.

You Won't Forget Paris
The Anholt-GfK Roper City Brands Index captures consumer perception of the image and reputation of 50 major cities worldwide.

Paris ranks as the top overall city "brand," followed by Sydney, London, Rome and New York. The top 10 cities from the global survey are: 1. Paris 2. Sydney 3. London 4. Rome 5. New York 6. Barcelona 7. San Francisco 8. Los Angeles 9. Vienna 10. Madrid.

Attitudes On The Economy Are Better
Good news: Less of us are thinking the economy is the biggest problem. Two-thirds of Americans (65%), when asked by the Gallup Poll in an open-ended fashion, continue to name economic problems as the most important problem facing the country -- but this number has steadily declined from 86% in February.

The Job Hunt Jungle
The competition for a job is stiff.  Here's how tough. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports there are 5.4 job hunters for every advertised opening. The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey indicates the ratio was up from 4.8 in March, and up dramatically from 1.7 in December 2007, when the recession began.

Good Times Never Seemed So Good
The Fourth of July is traditionally a significant checkpoint in the life of a baseball season. For the global citizens of Red Sox Nation, things look pretty darn good. We've weathered a monster slump for Big Papi, shaky starts for aces Beckett and Lester, assorted injuries and the disappearance of Dice-K's skills.
 
I've been monitoring Boston TV and radio and the mood is downright cocky. It's an air of confidence unlike any I've witnesseed in my lifetime. It almost goes against the grain of being a BoSox fan. Let's hope we don't jinx it.

Quiz: How Old Would The Founders Be?
Stoke up the grill, Independence Day, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, will be soon here. If, the Founders were still alive, how old would they be? Match the following Founders and ages to answer this question. Answers can be found below. See you next month.

	Jim Eskin External Relations Counsel 10410 Pelican Oak Drive San Antonio, TX 78254 210-523-8499 (H) | 210-415-3748 (C) jeskin@aol.com
Stratagems is a copyright-free publication. Readers may duplicate and/or redistribute the information in each issue. Comments and suggestions are welcome! Send your feedback to: jeskin@aol.com

Answers: 1=c, 2=e, 3=b, 4=a, 5=d.

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