Community Foundation’s 100% Giving Award Reflects 100% Commitment

There’s Still Time for Your Organization. Deadline is Nov. 1.

Service is an important value. And when we think of service, we frequently think of sacrifice. I can tell you that this description fits thousands of people in our community who serve and sacrifice daily to help others. Through charitable organizations, board members serve to address our medical needs, environmental needs, to help those who need basic services in order to survive. They work to help during times of disaster, and to enrich lives through education and the arts. These valiant volunteers give to support life, to make life livable, and indeed, to make life worth living.

Board service is a noble and critical component of our society, and of our community. And it is not easy. The IRS has strict rules for how charities operate, and the Nevada Revised Statues also supplement those rules with state regulations, further accompanied by laws and ordinances in our local jurisdictions. Serving on a board of a charity is not to be taken lightly. It is a great responsibility.

Yet, giving of time is not all that is required. In addition to ensuring an organization is well governed, the board members must also ensure that the organization is well funded. If the members of a board are 100% committed, they also give of their “treasure.” The late Henry Rosso, author and founder of the Center of Philanthropy, described the need for board members to give their best. He said, “a board member who does not believe in giving or is unwilling to commit a gift in advance of any solicitation is not in a strong enough position to ask others to give.” He also said regarding the gift amount, “Is this gift a true expression of my commitment to this cause? Is this the kind of gift that would be considered generous by a peer?”

Rosso’s key point was that charity board members need to ask for support, and if they themselves are not giving, how can they legitimately ask? Rosso summed it up by saying that “a contribution in the form of time, talent, and energy in the performance of board duties is not sufficient to accommodate the requirements of true stewardship.” I couldn’t agree more and if you look around to see the organizations that are best run, and which best achieve their important mission work, they all have 100% giving boards.

So, in support of this concept and truism, in 2008 the Community Foundation launched the 100% Giving Board Award. While it is called the 100% Giving Award, every organization that qualifies receives this honor and is added to the prestigious list. To qualify, 100% of the membership of a board must make a personal, financial gift to the operating fund of their organization each year. I am pleased to share that in 2020 there were 88 organizations that met this standard, with their personal gifts totaling $2,433,705.55. Each year, the Community Foundation's 100% Giving Board Award recognizes those nonprofit organizations for having each of their board members financially support that organization’s work in the region. These stellar organizations are well governed by boards whose members lead by example.

Are the charities you support listed? Are their board members 100% committed? I could not be prouder of the Board members of the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada whose generous giving each year places us on this list and demonstrates their 100% commitment to our organization, to our mission, and to our community.

While this year’s Nov. 1 deadline is fast approaching, there is still time for your organization to become part of the 2021 program. For more information and the application form, visit our website. You can also call us at (775) 333-5499, or email us here. 

The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada is strengthening our community through philanthropy and leadership by connecting people who care with causes that matter.

Oct. 16, 2021