Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington
Barbara Harman
info@cfp-dc.org
202-955-6538 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, DC; October 25, 2007 — On November 5, more than 400 nonprofit leaders, board members, donors, foundation executives, and advocates will kick off the 2007-2008 Giving Season with the launch of the Fifth Anniversary Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington. Sidney Harman Hall will buzz with excitement as the new class of Catalogue charities is introduced at an inspiring program that features, among others, the Kennedy Center's Michael Kaiser, guest essayist for this year’s catalogue. Kaiser writes, "The freedom to choose what one wants to support is the great joy of being a donor [and] the Catalogue is a perfect roadmap for our participation."
The Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington shines a light on some of the best nonprofit organizations in Metropolitan Washington. This November, 30,000 catalogues and 100,000 posters will be mailed to households throughout the region, offering individuals the invitation to connect with local organizations working below the radar — where individual gifts can really make a difference. In the past four years, the Catalogue has helped featured charities raise more than $4 million from new donors. Organizations also report that they benefit greatly from the “seal of approval” that the Catalogue provides.
The Catalogue features nonprofits in the fields of education, health, the arts, community service and the environment, all with budgets of $2 million or less. Fifty-five volunteer reviewers — from the top regional foundations, family foundations, D.C. government, corporate giving programs, and larger nonprofit organizations — evaluate Catalogue applications for distinction, merit, cost-effectiveness, and financial transparency, resulting in a carefully vetted list of trustworthy nonprofit organizations.
Charities receive 100 percent of each donation thanks to support from local sponsors: the Harman Family Foundation, Meyer Foundation, Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, CGI, and Chevy Chase Trust, among others.
Busy Washingtonians may be interested in the Catalogue’s new Donate Now/Decide Later Fund. Donors can send a single check to the Catalogue in December, and inform them in January who the recipients will be. Donate Now/Decide Later allows donors to receive year-end tax deductions and, when the holiday rush has settled down, make thoughtful decisions on supporting the charities that mean the most to them.
Request a copy of the new Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington online at cfp-dc.org. For further information, contact Barbara Harman, executive director of the Harman Family Foundation, the lead sponsor of the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington at (202) 549-6369 or bharman@harman-foundation.org.
About the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington
The Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington is an independent nonprofit organization recognized by its annual publication, which shines a light on some of the most effective nonprofit organizations in the region. Small local charities submit applications to be featured in the Catalogue. Reviewers evaluate the applications for distinction, merit, cost-effectiveness, and financial transparency, resulting in a carefully vetted list of trustworthy nonprofit organizations. In less than five years, the Catalogue has helped featured charities raise more than $4 million from new donors. Charities receive 100 percent of each donation thanks to support from local sponsors, which include the Harman Family Foundation, Meyer Foundation, Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, CGI and Chevy Chase Trust, among others. For more information, visit www.cfp-dc.org.