Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington
Barbara Harman
info@cfp-dc.org
202-955-6538 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Annual event highlights pioneering new Web site and corporate giving portal
WASHINGTON, DC; Nov. 11, 2009 -- The Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington will unveil a newly redesigned Web site and introduce its upcoming corporate giving portal at its annual kick-off on November 16 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Harman Center for the Arts in Washington, DC, where over 500 attendees are expected. The Catalogue facilitates high-impact giving by connecting Washington-area donors with top local nonprofit organizations that have annual operating budgets under $3 million.
“We’re very excited about this new initiative,” says Barbara Harman, president and editor of the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington. “The redesigned site will make it easier than ever for individuals to identify and help the best and most effective local charities.”
After its relaunch on November 16th, the Web site will feature new and innovative giving opportunities, including a gift registry, gift cards, and a special section designed to introduce children to philanthropy. Other innovative tools include a “donate now/decide later” fund that allows contributors to donate to the Catalogue for Philanthropy before the end of the tax year and choose their recipients in January. The site also gives donors access to opportunities for deeper engagement with Catalogue charities. New features include customized links with information about volunteer opportunities, events, media, and more.
The kick-off will showcase the 2009-10 Catalogue, which features 68 outstanding nonprofits in the greater Washington area. These organizations were selected by a panel of 90 expert reviewers from local foundations, corporate giving programs, giving circles, and non-profit organizations. In addition, the Catalogue will announce the winners of its annual 2008 Enterprise Awards, which recognize organizations whose innovative fundraising ideas during the past year have leveraged the honor of being selected by the Catalogue.
At the event, the Catalogue will also give attendees a sneak peak at its groundbreaking new corporate portal -- an online resource designed to deepen community engagement activities. It provides a roadmap to community-based nonprofits that can help employees who want to give, volunteer, or get more involved in philanthropic activities. Company projects that involve Catalogue charities are combined with a company's own signature charity affiliations, news, and events. Sites carry the company's brand while tapping into the Catalogue's rich database of information on over 300 vetted, high-impact nonprofits.
The Catalogue enables smaller nonprofits to tell their stories to individuals who would otherwise never hear about them and to encourage those individuals to give. It also provides charities with a stamp of approval that tells donors they can invest with confidence. In 2008-09 the Catalogue raised over $1.8 million for featured charities. Since 2003, it has generated over $9.7 million to support Catalogue nonprofits. More than 20,000 individuals and hundreds of family foundations will receive copies of the print Catalogue in the mail this year.
“These are truly among the best small charities in the greater Washington region,” says Harman. “We handpicked them to highlight the important work they’re doing, and we’ve showcased them in a way that makes it easy for interested donors to support their efforts.”
***
About The Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington
The Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington connects effective local nonprofits with individuals who want to contribute to, and make a difference in, their community. An independent nonprofit organization, the Catalogue has helped groups featured in its annual publication raise more than $9.7 million since its inception in 2003. Charities receive 100% of donations made through its Giving Form thanks to support from local sponsors, including the Harman Family Foundation, Meyer Foundation, CGI, Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, RAFFA, PC, Booz Allen Hamilton, and others. To learn more or make a donation, visit cfp-dc.org.