Archive for the ‘Education’ Category

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Bill Gates Learns to Give… Better

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

bill-gates-thinker.jpg
(photo credit: Steve Jurvetson)

Or, maybe, “Bill Gates learns to give to learn to teach so kids can learn?” Or something like that…

What we’re getting at here is that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, by far the biggest charitable foundation in the world, has given away billions of dollars total, and hundreds of millions to education, however, they’ve had little measurable impact in the last ten years on the one thing they were really trying to change – how many kids from disadvantaged neighborhoods are going to college.

Luckily, the last 10 years in schools have taught Bill Gates something – that he needs to learn more! Taking an idea from the private sector and applying it to education, the Gates Foundation thinks that a little R&D is exactly what the educational system needs to come up with innovative solutions to its big problems. And that’s where he’s going to put his money now.

It turns out that the business world and non-profit world aren’t so different. A lot of what we do spending and growing our money has real impact on society and the environment, and things we do in one are of our financial lives can apply to other areas in new and cool ways.

It’s not always just about giving more, but about learning to give better.

Teaching and Learning in the South Bronx

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

evan-piekara.jpg Evan Piekara is an alumnus of Teach For America, a national organization that works to ensure educational opportunities for students of all backgrounds. During his 4 years as a corps member, he taught 6th and 7th grade in the South Bronx. He’s also worked as an Institute Staff Member, helping to train the 2008 and 2009 corps. As a result of his classroom experiences, he developed some interesting views on education in America and the importance of gaining financial understanding at a young age.

TILE: What inspired you to become involved with Teach for America?
Evan: I was inspired by its mission that all children deserve an excellent education, and the fact that TFA works tirelessly to ensure that your income level or where you grew up does not determine your future.One thing that has always impressed me about TFA is that it is constantly looking to improve and become more effective. It has both a short-term strategy of getting people involved in education who may not have entered in the first place with a long-term mission of them using these experiences whether as teachers, business leaders, lawyers, doctors, politicians, or advocates to continue to support the mission and improve education for all.

TILE: What qualities do you look for in teachers who become part of your organization?
Evan: TFA places a huge emphasis on leadership, teamwork, resilience, and achievement. These are all qualities that are utilized in the classroom and help you to work towards becoming a successful teacher who will move students forward.

TILE: What are some important things you have learned while working for Teach for America?
Evan: It’s helped me learn a great deal about myself, grow as an individual and as a professional, and it’s really helped me to become much more analytical, reflective, and use out-of-the-box thinking to find a solution to any number of problems or obstacles.

TILE: What kinds of core knowledge, skills and values do you hope to instill in students?
Evan: I want to instill in them a sense that they can succeed on every level and although things might not always be easy, through hard-work, determination, and using their education they can be successful in whatever they aspire to do. A lot of our discussions center around goal-setting, mutual respect, using strong communication skills, independence as well as working in a team, and being a leader.

TILE: Why might it be important to help students obtain financial literacy?
Evan: It is important because it can help them to avoid the pitfalls that many people struggle with, and also to open doors for them in the future. For example, they might realize that college is a viable option through managing scholarships and student loans that they can pay-off once they start their professional careers.

TILE: What advice would you offer to your teenage self (financial or otherwise)?
Evan: Education is so important and each day in class and outside is an opportunity to learn and grow.For me, I was fortunate to have parents who instilled those values in me, and who financially stretched money, made me work for money, and taught me the value of a dollar.

>> TILE brings you exclusive opinions, explanations, and interviews from experts in every industry. To read more, click on Ask the Experts in the TILE Library.

Have a burning question or an expert you’d like to see interviewed? Just Ask TILE!

It’s the Enthusiastic Youngsters Who Will Be Fired First

Friday, May 13th, 2011

teachers-union.jpeg
(credit: kevindooley)

New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg just announced a budget that will require 4,100 public school teachers to be laid off. That’s pretty tough news for a city with a challenging (to say the least) public school system. But what’s even tougher is the way those unlucky teachers will be chosen.

We’ve written about the last-in-first-out rule before (LIFO). In New York, the law says that teachers must be fired in reverse order of when they were hired. That means that an idealistic 24-year old with enough energy to start her career in an overcrowded, underfunded public school in the Bronx is more likely to be fired than an underperforming veteran.

What’s interesting is that many of the young teachers who are set to be laid off are actually participants in programs (like Teach for America and NYC Teaching Fellows) designed to bring new energy and drive INTO the public schools.

Well, there goes that idea. How do you think the public education system can be improved?

Is education a favorite cause of yours? Do you know what is? Visit Your Causes to start figuring it out!

Holding Charities Accountable for Their Accounting

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

schoolboys-afghanistan.jpeg
(photo credit: isafmedia)

“People like to read the books,” says Daniel Borochoff, president and founder of the American Institute of Philanthropy in Chicago. “But the expense statement tells a story, too. Not as entertaining, but perhaps just as revealing.”

This seems like an appropriate follow-up to yesterday’s post about operational costs… A prominent organization dedicated to building schools and increasing access to education in Afghanistan – the Central Asia Institute – has recently gotten some bad press about its alleged money mismanagement.

Well, not money mismanagement exactly… more like financial nondisclosure. State auditors, donors, and charity ratings organizations have been surprised to find that more than half the CAI’s annual budget was spent in the U.S. instead of being sent overseas to pay for bricks and pencils.

Now, no one’s being accused of embezzlement – but it does seem like, at the very least, the organization’s finances were pretty incompetently handled. This is a great example of why it’s so important to do your homework before you give. Most charities are required to make their financial statements public, and you can use sites like GuideStar.org to help you get a better picture of where a nonprofit’s money is really being spent.

It’s also a pretty good example of how important it is to be on top of your finances. Even if you’re a great person (or organization), someday you’re going to be held responsible for the money coming in and going out of your account. SPEND.GROW.GIVE. will help you keep track, but you can get involved by setting a budget and sitting down with your advisor to talk about where you want your money to go.

Smart Philanthropy in the Wake of a Disaster

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011


(photo credit: Kei!)

When something really bad happens in the world, we all feel hurt. And helping each other out is one of the best ways to alleviate that pain. But that common sense advice about not shopping when you’re hungry and not investing when you’re anxious also applies to giving.

Saundra Schimmelpfennig at the Chronicle of Philanthropy shared some advice on how to give smart in an urgent time of need. She encourages “disaster philanthropists” to think carefully before pledging their money to an emotionally compelling cause.

Here are some of her points that we think are especially important:

  • Make sure the organization you’re donating to actually has permission to operate in the affected area. (This is a no-brainer, but some governments refuse or limit access to foreign aid organizations.)
  • Consider giving to organizations that were operating successfully in-country before the disaster. They may have more resources and connections than many of the big-name international nonprofits.
  • Don’t be sucked in by projects that tug at your heartstrings. Sure, donating to an animal shelter seems like the natural thing to do after seeing this picture, but does directing your resources there really address the most critical needs on the ground?
  • Give aid organizations the freedom to choose what your donation pays for. They know better than you what the most important projects are.
  • Don’t forget about the disaster as soon as the news outlets do. Most of the expense and hard work happens after the initial emergency relief efforts end. Rebuilding houses, schools, communities, and lives can take years. Your donation will mean just as much in six months as it does today.

Ready to make an impact? Text a friend and ask them to donate with you. With two researchers on the job, you can probably find a perfect organization – and double your donation in the process!

Government Accountability Office Finds 56 Different Federal Programs for Helping People Understand Finance

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

“The GAO examined numerous federal agencies, including the departments of defense, agriculture and housing and urban development, and pointed to instances where different arms of the government should be coordinating or consolidating efforts to save taxpayers’ money.

The agency found 82 federal programs to improve teacher quality; 80 to help disadvantaged people with transportation; 47 for job training and employment; and 56 to help people understand finances, according to a draft of the report reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.”

What do you think?

Have any of these fifty-six programs helped YOU? How about SPEND.GROW.GIVE?

Let us know at ask@tilefinancial.com!

North Carolina Schools Attempt to Modernize Educational Integration

Friday, March 4th, 2011

little-rock-school-integration.jpg
(photo credit: The U.S. Army)

The Wake County school system has led the nation in fighting educational inequality for forty years. But a series of challenges have forced leaders to be creative when it comes to integration that pleases parents.

  • The system’s race-based attempt at integration was deemed unconstitutional in 2001, so it switched to school assignment based on socioeconomic status (wealth and income). But keeping schools balanced between high- and low-income families meant students were frequently bumped from school to school.
  • In 2009, a new conservative school board decided that students should be sent to the schools closest to their homes, ensuring that the racial and economic barriers in the broader community would be repeated at school. The decision sparked outrage throughout the country.
  • As a compromise (and a nod to the results-oriented business community), a new proposal suggests that students be permanently assigned to schools based on achievement. That way, no student is forced into a low-achieving school simply because of their race, class, or location, and school shuffling will be kept to a minimum.

Facts & Figures

  • Under the current integration plan, each school has 40% of students qualifying for free lunch and 60% who do not qualify
  • Under the new proposal, each school would have 70% of students at grade level or higher, and 30% performing below their grade level

Best Quote

“What’s the use of living in a gated community if my kids go to school and get poor all over them?” – Stephen Colbert, Fake News Reporter

What do you think?

How will students be labeled as high or low-achieving? And what happens if a low-achieving first-grader becomes a highly successful third grader?

Get to it!

Does educational inequality get you riled up? Make a statement.

“Last In, First Out” Rule Could Make Some Schools Nearly Teacherless!

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

“Some of New York City’s 1,600 schools would lose more than half their teachers while others would lose none under Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plan to lay off 4,600 teachers if the last-in, first-out policy is not changed.

…

Under the last-in, first-out policy, schools that are new, have grown heavily in recent years or are situated in high-poverty neighborhoods would be hit the hardest. Columbia Secondary School on West 123rd Street would lose 14 of its 20 teachers, or 70%.”

What do you think?

How would you handle teacher layoffs? Is there any way to balance the city budget without cutting public school jobs?

What An “Advanced Economy” Really Looks Like

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

“It’s time for us to stop lying to ourselves about this country.

America is great in many ways, but on a whole host of measures — some of which are shown in the accompanying chart — we have become the laggards of the industrialized world. Not only are we not No. 1 — “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!” — we are among the worst of the worst.” (from the original opinion piece)

Click here to see the chart.

What do you think?

Are we as bad as the chart says? Where do you see room for improvement?

How can you, as a philanthropist, help the U.S. improve its standing?

Donors Funding Again, But Younger Donors Fund Different Causes

Friday, February 11th, 2011

old-couple.jpg
credit: keithusc

Under 50? Then you’re not likely to be donating to your alma mater in 2011.

  • The recession hit everyone hard – including nonprofits and foundations. A study by The Chronicle of Philanthropy shows that big donations were way down in 2010, due mostly to fears about a “double-dip” recession and confusion about tax laws.
  • But so far in 2011, the economy is looking more stable and the tax code has finally been clarified. This may be the long-awaited make-up year for nonprofits that rely on funding from philanthropists.
  • Importantly, the study also revealed generational changes in giving styles. None of the big donors who made the list under 50 years of age donated to colleges or universities. Instead, they preferred to fund education, medical, human rights, and social entrepreneurial ventures.

Facts & Figures

  • Of Forbes magazine’s top 400 wealthiest Americans, only 17 appeared in the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s list of the most generous 54 donors
  • 9 people on the list donated more that $100 million in 2010, compared with 18 donors in 2006
  • The top two donors on the list were 80-year-old hedge-fund manager George Soros ($332 million) and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg ($279.2 million)
  • Mark Zuckerberg, the youngest donor to ever appear on the list, came in 10th place ($100 million)

Best Quote

“I can think of no less needy charity than Harvard. I have to struggle to think of anyone in my age group who has given big money to a traditional charity.” – Philanthropist Whitney Tilson on the new generation of philanthropy

What do you think?

Do you support the same causes as your parents? Do you give to the same organizations as your friends?


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