Will Smith’s Post

There’s just so much to love in this piece! Inc. Magazine’s 2023/2024 winter issue ranks a women’s soccer club as ‘’Best in Business’’ for redefining its business model to demonstrate that mission and capital can co-exist. The Angel City Football Club of Los Angeles, one of the 12 teams in the National Women’s Soccer League, co-founded by Julie Uhrman, venture capitalist Kara Nortman, and actress/activist Natalie Portman – and backed by such notable investors as Jennifer Garner and Serena Williams – gives 10% of its sponsorship revenues to local nonprofits. Talk about a winning goal! As companies flock to associate their brands with the team, they do so knowing that they are also giving back to the community. So far, the club cemented $55 million in sponsorship deals through 2025, and has already allocated $2.3 million to various community organizations, including one delivering meals to people in need. This is yet another example of how women innovate in business – not only to increase the bottom line, but also to transform society around them for the better.  https://lnkd.in/eDTJmjAV

"We both start with a dream." 🌟 Our chairman, Arthur M. Blank, often speaks about the profound impact of sports on society. Recently, he added a new perspective: sports give people a chance to dream - about playing, competing, and winning. This insight resonates deeply with our philanthropic mission. Just as athletes envision victory, we envision a better world. Our dream? A society built on love, fairness, and equitable opportunities. Sports and #philanthropy may seem different, but they share a common thread: the power of dreaming big and working tirelessly to turn those dreams into reality. Learn more in AMBFF President Fay Twersky’s annual letter: https://lnkd.in/eY4wi5eR

Whenever Mandy Van Deven writes something, I'm eager to pour some tea and get to reading. Her latest piece written with Jody Myrum is a cogent amalgamation of collective wisdom about how to fund narrative ecosystems. It models the very guidance it uplifts – that narrative change is fundamentally a collective endeavor – by sharing insights from a wide range of narrative practitioners. Thank you both for sharing these learnings with us! "Philanthropy plays a critical role in the narrative ecosystem. Funders need to make sustained contributions to narrative power building across generations—because that is the time horizon on which narrative change takes place. In addition to making long-term, unrestricted grants—a practice that grantmakers can adopt immediately—funders need to provide resources in a way that centers the ecosystem rather than individual organizations." https://lnkd.in/eYaPtik8

Leadership

Check out this news feature from Channel 13 on our Good Scout Awards fundraiser event!

We expect young #Olympic athletes to overcome adversity and pursue excellence. I think the nonprofit world should have the same high expectations of our emerging leaders. Social change requires excellence. My column in The Chronicle of Philanthropy https://lnkd.in/giUPkzkU

As we get further into the season, you may hear more about the MLB Players Association (MLBPA). So it's important to ask, what is the MLBPA? The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) is the labor union representing all current Major League Baseball players. All players, managers, coaches, and athletic trainers who hold or have held a signed contract with a Major League club are eligible for membership in the Association. The MLBPA consists of three sections: the labor union (for players and coaches), the Players Choice Group Licensing Program (handling commercial and licensing agreements), and the Major League Baseball Players Trust (a charitable foundation supporting youth baseball and various causes chosen by members). An important highlight is the Players Choice Group Licensing Program. This program safeguards members' likenesses, managing rights to names, numbers, nicknames, and signatures. Organizations seeking to use these features negotiate with the MLBPA for marketing and branding rights. Meanwhile, the MLB Players Trust funds community development and addresses specific issues in players' communities. Programs supported by the MLB Players Trust include Buses for Baseball to promote youth baseball, the Michael Weiner Scholarship assisting students with education costs, and the Players Choice Awards granting funds to charities chosen by award winners. Want to learn more about the MLBPA? Check out the full video here: https://lnkd.in/eiqYjKpX

"One big advantage of philanthropic collaboratives, especially ones as large as Blue Meridian, is that they can back major projects and initiatives on a scale that the individual partners might not be able to do on their own... For its current, big-ticket investment through its Place Matters portfolio, Blue Meridian strategically picked three locations with different characteristics, strengths and challenges... Dallas, while also in Texas, represents yet a third type of community. It has one of the most robust cradle-to-career backbones in the country, according to Shelton, and a Child Poverty Action Lab that works with neighborhoods to solve specific problems like teen pregnancy. It’s wealthier and more sophisticated than the other two communities in terms of data use, working with large-scale partners and engaging in more extensive policy work."

🎉 Exciting News: Twinkle Toys Teams Up with the NFL for Education & Play! 🏈🌿 We are thrilled to announce that Twinkle Toys is partnering with the National Football League (NFL) to champion the cause of education and create waves of positive change among children across the United States. Our collaboration with the NFL isn’t just about play—it's a commitment to shaping futures through our philanthropic efforts. As a first initiative, we’re rolling out a donation program that will benefit wonderful organizations such as St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, supported by the NFL. This partnership brings together two powerful forces: the dynamic spirit of American football and our innovative educational toys like the Ocean Guardians VR and Wildlife Wonders AR Tales. It’s a convergence aimed at educating young minds on the importance of sustainability, environmental stewardship, and global betterment—values that both Twinkle Toys and the NFL hold dear. Poonam Kaur, the CEO of Twinkle Toys, states, “Aligning with the NFL empowers us to reach a broader audience and inspires children through the power of play. We are eager to work alongside an organization that mirrors our dedication to fostering education and positive values in the community.” Together with the NFL, we are poised to make learning through play an adventure that every child remembers and cherishes. This is more than a partnership; it's a promise to our youth—the leaders of tomorrow. Stay tuned for the incredible journey ahead!  #TwinkleToys #NFL #EducationThroughPlay #Sustainability #InnovativeToys#PartnershipForTheFuture

"Too often, community organizing, and arts and cultural organizing are viewed as distinct and separate rather than inextricably intertwined. In philanthropy, foundations often put these efforts into different funding streams—and can sow division by fostering competition for resources. If we divorce governance from culture, we end up with institutions and developments that lack the context of our rich, meaningful history." In this piece for Nonprofit Quarterly, Jessica Norwood, Allen Kwabena Frimpong, Tia Oso, and Nwamaka Agbo, MPA collectively reflect on the essential role that art and culture play in reclaiming neighborhoods and communities. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gHdNyuHf