This Week in BDPA (Oct 7-13)

BDPA is a strong offering of programs in 45 cities around the nation. Are you taking advantage of these programs? Here is a weekly preview of upcoming events gathered from the centralized BDPA calendar :

• Oct 9: BETF - Communications, 'BDPA iRadio Show'
  
• Oct 13: New York - Workshops, 'Cyber Security'
  

Please let us know of other BDPA events that we may have missed.

You can always find BDPA programs, services or networking activity online at places such as:

• BDPA Facebook Group
• BDPA Foundation Facebook Page
• BDPA LinkedIn Network Group.

BDPA supports your efforts for career advancement in the IT industry. Our hope is that you find reasons to provide tax-deductible support to our Causes, our HSCC Scholarship Funds or Your Causes!

We encourage all BDPA leaders to take advantage of the centralized BDPA Groupsite Calendar to post your upcoming events!

Golden LEAF Foundation

The Golden LEAF Foundation sought proposals for a special $4 million initiative geared toward preparing North Carolina’s youth for careers requiring skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Organizations receiving funding under the Golden LEAF STEM Initiative can receive up to $750,000 for projects spanning a three-year period.

The Initiative focused on supporting successful models that increase STEM education for students in grades 4 through 9 in rural, economically distressed or tobacco-dependent counties of North Carolina.

Priorities

1. Comprehensive programs that are evidence-based and represent systemic approaches to STEM education that include in-school, out-of-school or extended day and support programs that provide assistance to students transitioning from elementary to middle and middle to high school.
2. Programs that represent collaboration among public schools, higher education, community and relevant industry partners.
3. Initiatives that target improved academic performance in and preparation for advanced STEM curricula by minorities, females and students from limited resource families.
4. Programs to serve students in 4th through 9th grades that place priority on curricular approaches that are integrated, utilize project and inquiry based learning concepts and prepare students for successful completion of Algebra I by 8th or 9th grade as a gateway to participation in advanced placement courses.
5. Competitive proposals will target under-represented minorities, females and limited resource students.

Proposals should include strategies that:

• are comprehensive,
• use integrated curricular approaches and inquiry and project based learning experiences,
• prepare students for success in Algebra I and advanced math and science courses,
• incorporate content specific professional development for teachers, and

• provide relevant career and work connections for teachers and students.

Applicants were encouraged to think regionally, draw connections to industry sectors, and align with outcome measures in college and career readiness, student achievement, participation and engagement, teacher effectiveness, and other economic impact measures important to the state.

Applicants sought funds to cover programmatic costs. Requests for capital or construction costs are considered low priority. Priority will be given to rural, Tier I & II counties that currently have low concentrations of STEM programs.

BDPA has two chapters in North Carolina. Neither chapter expressed interest in this funding source. Perhaps next time...

Sports Foundation Directory

Sports Philanthropy Project published a comprehensive Sports Foundations Directory that contains profiles of professional sports and athlete foundations throughout the United States. We believe it's the most comprehensive directory of its kind in North America.

Please visit the website to see if there are any sports foundations or athlete foundations that you want to approach for funding.

Top Giving Foundations: Texas

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and Communities Foundation of Texas are the top three giving foundations in California as determined by the Grantsmanship Center. [SOURCE]

There are 37 other top giving foundations listed. All of the listed foundations have a staff, issue RFPs, or otherwise indicate an interest in receiving proposals.

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is willing to work with our BDPA Austin chapter, BDPA Dallas chapter or BDPA Houston chapter leaders if they want to pursue grant proposals to any or all of these 40 funding sources!

Telling Philanthropy's Story

There are 717 community foundations in the United States making grants of about $4.6 billion in their communities. I know because it’s on the cover of a publication about community foundations.

What I don’t know is why anyone would care.

It’s not just that we should be talking about the impact that we have in our communities, the great work we do and support. It’s not that at all.

It’s literally a question of who cares about community foundations? It takes an unusual amount of self-absorption to get comfortable with the idea that a small set of obscure treasury regulations defines an inherently superior vehicle for philanthropy. In fact, I’m not sure community foundations are inherently better or worse as charitable giving vehicles, or more or less important than other forms of philanthropy to our communities.

And I run one.

Just imagine what the people who don’t run one think.

Read the rest of the Philanthropy article.

Wal-Mart Store and Sam's Club Giving Program

The Wal-Mart Foundation supports programs and initiatives addressing education, workforce development, economic sustainability, and health and wellness. For health and wellness in particular, the Foundation looks to improve access to healthcare, promote healthy lifestyles and behaviors, and reduce disparities.

Grant awards range from $1,000 to $5,000.

Eligible applicants include organizations with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)3, recognized government entities, volunteer Fire Departments, K-12 Public Schools/Districts, Charter Schools, Colleges, Universities, Private Schools with tax-exempt status, and faith-based organizations.

Take Five Interview: Beverly Place (Quest Diagnostics)

Beverly Place is a certified IT Six Sigma Black Belt employed by Quest Diagnostics. She has been a BDPA member for the past six years ... most recently serving in a leadership position with our BDPA New Jersey chapter. She agreed to be a participant in our ongoing 'Take Five interview series'.

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1. How did you get involved with BDPA? - I became involved with the organization through my employer, Quest Diagnostics. I became aware of BDPA back in 2006 when Quest Diagnostics became a corporate sponsor. Several employees of Quest Diagnostics were provided with corporate memberships into BDPA. I did my research and ultimately begin submitting extracts to be a presenter at the annual national conferences. I have had the opportunity to be a presenter at least 5 times since joining BDPA. I am also proud to have been nominated as President-Elect for the chapter in 2011.
2. What do you see as the biggest benefit of your BDPA membership? - The most valuable asset that I have experienced is the opportunity to network with such a large group of talented and well-connected individuals. It also provides a resource for increasing one's knowledge by participating in the various workshops. Lastly, BDPA conferences and the overall participation keeps an IT Professional aware of what the market needs and changes are.
3. What future evolution or change would you like to see in BDPA? - I would like to see the organization partner with other organizations that are not necessarily IT-focused but instead serve as a Talent Management function. By doing this, I think that the participants of BDPA can use their membership to better connect with and become aware of jobs that are or might become available in their arena. I think also that by partnering with other organizations (e.g., National Association of Black Accountants or International Institute of Business Analysis) we will give members other avenues to advance their careers.
4. What would you like Corporate America to know about BDPA? - Overall, I would like Corporate America to be aware of the tremendous pool of talent that makes up the BDPA organization. Corporate American should embrace and partner with BDPA in order to find a direct connection for resources that might be required for their organization. Finally, I would like to see Corporate America 'Embrace Diversity' in numbers and not just words.
5. Any advice for people considering donation to the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF)? - My simple advise to donors would be that this is an opportunity to 'get what you pay for'. Good talent is hard to find but by making the investment, there is benefit for all parties involved.

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You can find Beverly on the LinkedIn Network or the BDPA Groupsite.