Tipping Point Community Blog

Field Notes from the 2011 Transition Age Youth Funders Group Panel

2012-01-10T10:19:00.000-08:00

By: Rebecca Cherin, Managing Director of Programs, Tipping Point Community

In San Francisco alone, there are 80,000 people between the ages 16 and 24 years old[i]. Most of these youth will move smoothly and successfully into adulthood by graduating from high school, landing jobs and finding safe homes, and by building lasting relationships with those around them. However, for the five to ten percent of young people at risk of long-term unemployment, homelessness or justice system involvement, this period of life is a particularly vulnerable one.

We can prevent poverty by intervening to offer critical support at this stage in a young person’s development. At Tipping Point Community, we have a two-pronged approach to finding, funding and partnering with programs that support young people to enter the workforce and pursue post-secondary education. First, we work with organizations like First Place for Youth, Larkin Street Youth Services and New Door Ventures, which have been in the community for over a decade and are trusted resources for working with current and former foster children, homeless young people and other youth in need.

We also look for groups that exist successfully in other places around the country and support their replication or expansion to the Bay Area. We began funding Year Up in this way; the organization grew from its first location in Boston to a thriving program here the Bay Area in 2008. And just this past November, an alternative education program called Gateway to College, which is originally from Portland, Oregon, became a Tipping Point grantee. Thanks to our partnership with Social Innovation Fund recipient, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, we will continue to look for opportunities to bring phenomenal models of support for young people to the Bay Area.

Once an organization becomes a part of our portfolio, we do as much as we can to add value and streamline services. Because Tipping Point works within a relatively small geography and has clusters of grantees in various cities around the Bay Area, we can bring grantees together to share information and make referrals. We’ve seen that youth-serving organizations in particular, some of which offer housing as their core program focus while others provide high-quality employment or education programs, benefit from this opportunity. We believe that all of these ingredients together are necessary to lift a young person out of poverty.

Finally, we work to respond to common needs that arise from across our portfolio. Through our Mental Health Initiative, for example, we have provided a series of grantee staff trainings on motivational interviewing, an evidenced-based technique for working with youth and adults who engage in self-sabotaging behaviors. In some cases, we are able to follow up on group trainings by supporting our expert trainers to go more in depth with specific grantee organizations, aiding in the use of these practices on the ground.

Prior to joining Tipping Point Community five years ago, Rebecca Cherin worked in program, development and management at San Francisco’s Larkin Street Youth Services. She helped design and implement an employment and education program for run-away, homeless and emancipated foster youth who faced mental health challenges, the pull of street economies, and a general distrust of adults.

[i] Disconnected Youth in San Francisco, Mayor’s Transitional Youth Taskforce, 2007 http://www.heysf.org/download/TYTF%20final%20report.pdf

Tipping Point Community Holds Fifth Annual Awards Breakfast

2011-12-08T11:36:00.000-08:00

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Tipping Point Community, the Bay Area's leading poverty-fighting organization, honored grantees Aspire Public Schools, Ravenswood Family Health Center and the SF State Guardian Scholars Program at its Fifth Annual Awards Breakfast this morning. In addition, HP was honored with the first-ever Tipping Point partner award presented to an organization or individual that has given dollars, time and effort to support Tipping Point and its grantees. The event was held at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco.

Presenters at the breakfast included Tipping Point Board Chairman Alec Perkins, Tipping Point Board Member David Zierk and Michael J. Holston, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at HP and Tipping Point Board Member.

"In today's world, there are so many reasons to feel hopeless. Some call growing national homelessness and soaring unemployment a crisis, but I call it an invitation to act," said Daniel Lurie, Tipping Point Founder + CEO. "Because if we don't act, we let the potential of the 600,000 Bay Area families and individuals who are ready to do the work required to move out of poverty fade, and I can think of no bigger crisis than that."

Each year, Tipping Point Community honors Bay Area organizations working to prevent poverty in the region. The 2011 grantee honorees will each receive a grant of $50,000 from Tipping Point.

The 2011 Tipping Point grantee honorees:

James Willcox, CEO, Aspire Public Schools
Aspire Public Schools operates high-performing public charter schools across the state of California that focus on one goal—preparing urban students for college.

"We are a team of people who care deeply about the families we serve, who work to build great schools, who teach our students as if they were our own children, and who will continue to be guided through this financial crisis with our values as our compass. We have a saying that we live by—College for Certain. It means that we're all going to college—it's not a matter of whether your parents went, or if you know the way—we're all going together." – James Willcox, CEO, Aspire Public Schools

Luisa Buada, CEO, Ravenswood Family Health Center
Ravenswood Family Health Center is a federally qualified community health center that provides healthcare for the underserved, uninsured and most vulnerable low-income residents of communities in southeastern San Mateo County.

"It felt like someone had put this community in a little container. Like they just decided the people in East Palo Alto didn't have the desire to work or contribute, so we didn't deserve the same things other communities did. I kept thinking, 'How is this possible? We are right in the middle of everything, and yet, we have nothing.' I did not have a lot of money to give, but Ravenswood taught me how to use my voice and my story to inspire people. Ravenswood starts with quality healthcare, but there is a ripple effect. It reminds me of an elephant stomping its foot – you can feel the vibration throughout the entire community." – Carlota Flores, Ravenswood Family Health Center Community Board Member

Xochitl Sanchez-Zarama and Dr. Sonja Lenz Rashid, Co-Founders, SF State Guardian Scholars Program
Guardian Scholars addresses the barriers facing former foster youth attending San Francisco State University by providing the emotional, social, academic, housing and financial support they need to stay in school and graduate from college.

"I knew I'd go to college, but I didn't know how I'd pay for it or where I'd live. After applying to eight schools, Xochitl from Guardian Scholars spent over an hour on the phone with me answering my questions about SF State—this experience just didn't happen anywhere else. I had no idea who this lady was, but her friendly voice made me feel safe. A few weeks later, when she called to say that I had been accepted, I couldn't stop crying. I'm the first in my biological family to go to college and I'll be the first to graduate. My dream is to go to law school and to represent foster children who have been abused or taken from their families." – Jessie Peterson, Guardian Scholar

The 2011 Tipping Point partner honoree:

Michael J. Holston, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, HP
Michael J. Holston joined Tipping Point's board of directors in 2009. Over the past three years, HP has contributed more than $1.2 million in cash to the fight against poverty as well as over $1.3 million-worth of new products, including servers, computers and printers, to 13 organizations in the Tipping Point portfolio. In addition, HP employees have committed 160 volunteer hours to training Tipping Point grantee staff and clients on legal and technology matters.

"Today, I ask all of you to join me in honoring Tipping Point – our partnership with them makes us feel like a success every day. As each of my colleagues at HP who has become involved with Tipping Point would tell you, they get far more out of their association with Tipping Point than they have ever given." – Michael J. Holston, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, HP

About Tipping Point Community
Tipping Point Community screens non-profits rigorously to find the most effective groups connecting Bay Area individuals and families to the services and opportunities needed to break the cycle of poverty and achieve economic self-sufficiency. Tipping Point's board underwrites all operating and fundraising expenses so that 100% of every dollar donated goes directly toward the fight against poverty. More information about Tipping Point Community is available at Tippingpoint.org.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tipping-point-community-holds-fifth-annual-awards-breakfast-135258658.html

Daniel Luire Awarded the 2011 University of San Francisco California Prize for Service and the Common Good

2011-11-07T09:29:00.000-08:00

Last week, Tipping Point Community CEO + Founder, Daniel Lurie, was awarded the USF California Prize for Service and Common Good. The prize is awarded annually to an individual or organization for outstanding service to those living in poverty as well as innovative accomplishments in the pursuit of the common good.

Click HERE to see the film that was shown at the 2011 gala, as well as additional details on the award HERE.

Tipping Point Raises $6.5 Million to Prevent Poverty in the Bay Area

2011-06-01T10:48:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO, May 25 -- Tipping Point Community, the Bay Area's leading poverty-fighting organization, today announced that its annual benefit held last Thursday raised $6.5 million, and 100 percent of the money raised will go to local nonprofits that provide education, housing, employment and wellness services to low-income individuals and families, as Tipping Point's board underwrites all event costs.

As California has now sunk to 43^rd in the nation in per-student spending and consistently ranks in the bottom quartile of student achievement, Tipping Point Community's benefit this year focused its major fundraising efforts on supporting education and the most effective educational programs serving students and their families in low-income communities.

This year's auction raised $4 million from 290 donors and was largely focused on filling the gap in education funding created by California’s budget crisis. In an environment of growing class sizes and shrinking support staff, teachers and school leaders are stretching to do more now with fewer resources than ever before. And with less access to learning materials and individualized attention, children from low-income communities are falling quickly behind their more affluent peers. Tipping Point funds will cover everything from increased professional development for teachers, to supplies and services to support low-income youth to and through college.

"We have a responsibility to dream big for every child in the Bay Area,” said Tipping Point Community Founder + CEO, Daniel Lurie. “A college degree is a one-way ticket out of poverty. You graduate from college and you double your earnings. It’s that simple."

The benefit was co-chaired by Lisa and John Pritzker, Katie Schwab Paige and Matt Paige, Owen Van Natta, and Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins. Comedian and Bay Area native Brad Wollack hosted the 5th annual event, while Tipping Point board chair Alec Perkins, San Francisco Giants owner Larry Baer, and Jed York, owner of the San Francisco 49ers and also Tipping Point board member, addressed the guests as well. Beck entertained the nearly 1,700 guests who gathered at Pier 48 for the fundraiser, and DJ Ruckus spun for the spirited after party.

Of the evening, Mr. Lurie commented, "Thanks to an extraordinary $1 million match from Google’s Sergey Brin and his wife Anne Wojcicki, we saw members of Tipping Point Community make gestures of remarkable generosity tonight. We’re humbled to take part in creating educational opportunities that will end the cycle of poverty for the next generation of Bay Area residents."

Visit tippingpoint.org to learn more and to get involved.

About Tipping Point Community

Tipping Point screens nonprofits rigorously to find the most effective groups connecting low-income people to the services and opportunities needed to break the cycle of poverty and achieve economic self-sufficiency. Tipping Point's board underwrites all operating and fundraising expenses so that 100% of every dollar donated goes directly toward fighting poverty. Beyond dollars, Tipping Point provides its grantees with the communications, technical and management assistance they need to grow and increase their impact. More information about Tipping Point Community is available at tippingpoint.org.

CONTACT: Jen Pitts at Tipping Point Community, +1-415-348-1240, jpitts@tippingpoint.org; or Shawn Pattison at Abernathy MacGregor, +1-212-371-5999, shp@abmac.com

New Yorker Feature on Dr. Nadine Burke and BCHC

2011-03-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

We are excited to share that last year's Be A Tipping Point benefit auction package for the Center for Youth Wellness and Dr. Nadine Burke, Medical Director of CPMC's Bayview Child Health Center (BCHC), are the focus of an article in The New Yorker magazine. The article focuses largely on Dr. Burke and her work at BCHC and explores the emerging link between trauma and wellness and the potential for the Center for Youth Wellness to be a groundbreaking solution.

The Center for Youth Wellness will be an innovative approach to meeting the needs of youth exposed to violence by integrating wellness, mental health and abuse-response services with pediatric care. We continue to see that no other center in the country does all these things in one place.

This is a wonderful opportunity to share the important work Nadine has done with both the Bayview Child Health Center and the Center for Youth Wellness. We also want to acknowledge the other amazing leaders and institutions that are all working together to create this Center: Katie Albright of the San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center; Dr. Victor Carrion, a child psychiatrist and trauma expert at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University; California Attorney General Kamala Harris; California Pacific Medical Center; and several departments of the City and County of San Francisco.

Click HERE for the article's abstract.

All my best,
Daniel

$1 Million Gift to Tipping Point in Honor of Ruth Kay Debs

2010-12-21T07:30:00.000-08:00

Dear Tipping Point Community,

I am humbled to announce that John and Catherine Debs have committed $1 million to Tipping Point in honor of John’s mother, Ruth Kay Debs, who passed away last week at the age of 100.

Ruth embodied an unwavering commitment to helping those less fortunate, especially in the area of education. She, like Tipping Point, was never satisfied with just writing a check to the many Bay Area institutions she supported.

Given the recent passing of so many great philanthropists in the Bay Area like Don Fisher and Richard Goldman, many have asked me if I believe the next generation will continue this incredible tradition of generosity. The answer is in the leadership shown by donors like John and Catherine and so many of you who have chosen to take an active role in the fight against poverty.

Ruth wasn’t trying to save the world; she believed in helping one person or one group at a time in concrete ways. With more than 1 million people in the Bay Area unable to meet their basic needs, we stand ready to follow Ruth’s example and turn your good intentions into tangible results.

All my best,

Daniel

CEO + Founder

MAKE POVERTY PREVENTABLE

www.tippingpoint.org

Board of Directors

KATE HARBIN CLAMMER

PHAEDRA ELLIS-LAMKINS

MIKE HOLSTON

CHRIS JAMES

DAVID LAMOND

RONNIE LOTT

DANIEL LURIE

KATIE SCHWAB PAIGE

ALEC PERKINS

GINA PETERSON

ERIC ROBERTS

JED YORK

GIDEON YU

Tipping Point Honors 3 Grantees with $150,000 at 4th Annual Awards Breakfast

2010-12-13T13:57:00.000-08:00

Dear Tipping Point Community,

At last week’s Fourth Annual Tipping Point Awards Breakfast, we presented three of our grantees with $50,000 each for their extraordinary work in the fight against poverty. Click HERE, or on the individual links below, to watch the honorees tell their stories of leadership and personal transformation.

Christa Gannon, Executive Director + Founder, Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY)

FLY, an organization based in the South Bay, reduces juvenile crime through legal education, leadership training and positive role modeling.

“In high school I got caught with drugs and a weapon and was put on probation. FLY helped me get back my self-respect. Without them, I never would have graduated [from] high school. Now I have a job I love as an office manager and medical assistant. Today I am a strong young woman, who is focused, dedicated and responsible.” -- Darshaie Smith, former client

Tess Reynolds, CEO of New Door Ventures

New Door rebuilds the lives of at-risk San Francisco youth through job training, support and employment.

“Young people at New Door are fighting histories of homelessness, addiction and crime. Most have never had a positive role model. Without intervention, without New Door, they would have no chance at a real future. We’re so grateful to be a part of this community that gives young people a chance at winning, and the more they do, the better our city becomes, for generations to come.” -- Tess Reynolds

Michele Jackson, Executive Director of Shelter Network

Shelter Network runs 13 programs that provide housing and comprehensive support to more than 4,000 homeless families and individuals throughout San Mateo County.

"Yes, Shelter Network provided me with food, clothing and a roof over my head. But, they did so much more than that. I walked out of Maple Street Shelter a better person than when I walked in. And not [just] better than a man living in a car with his cat, but a better man than I had been all my life.” -- Steve Carey, former client

With 1 million people in the Bay Area unable to meet their basic needs, we have a responsibility to dig deep and give generously on behalf of our neighbors. Be a Tipping Point in the fight against poverty: DONATE NOW!

We are ever grateful for your support and wish you and your family the happiest of holidays!

All my best,

Daniel
CEO + Founder

MAKE POVERTY PREVENTABLE

www.tippingpoint.org

Board of Directors

KATE HARBIN CLAMMER

PHAEDRA ELLIS-LAMKINS

MIKE HOLSTON

CHRIS JAMES

DAVID LAMOND

RONNIE LOTT

DANIEL LURIE

KATIE SCHWAB PAIGE
ALEC PERKINS

GINA PETERSON

ERIC ROBERTS

JED YORK

GIDEON YU

Guest Blogger: Leo Guzman, Program Director, Compass Family Services

2010-11-23T09:13:00.000-08:00

Compass Family Shelter Relocation Project

Compass Family Shelter (CFS) has undergone dramatic changes within the last year, and it would not have been possible without Tipping Point’s partnership. For the past ten years, we were located on the corner of Turk and Taylor in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco. This area is notorious for its high crime rate, drugs and violence. Also factoring into our need to move was that we shared the building with another program that serves federal inmates transitioning back into society. Needless to say, it was a complicated partnership – we struggled to serve two polar opposite populations on the same site. We were desperate to relocate to a healthier environment that would be safer for our families

The search for a new site began in earnest in the fall of 2008 with the collaboration of Tipping Point and the SF Department of Human Services. We needed a space with at least 24-30 rooms, private bathrooms if possible, a community kitchen and a children’s activity area. We visited potential sites everywhere – from downtown hotels to vacant convents all across the city. Paul Picciani, a Tipping Point Partner and commercial real estate broker, found numerous leads on possible buildings and would always accompany us to meet building owners and ensure that the meetings went smoothly. Tipping Point also connected us to a team of architects from Tom Eliot Fisch and contractors from Plant Construction Co. to evaluate the sites to see if each one could meet our needs. Tipping Point’s support gave me the hope and motivation that we would accomplish this project, even when it looked bleak.

Then, in the spring of 2009, Tipping Point spotlighted our CFS relocation project at its annual fundraiser, and raised $500,000! These funds made it possible to continue our search for the right building, and to continue our negotiations with the City. Thanks to the generosity of Tipping Point donors, we were able to prove that the shelter relocation was possible and that the financial burden to the City would remain minimal even during such tough economic times.

Eventually, we teamed up with the Tenderloin Housing Clinic to focus on obtaining the Mayfair Hotel, a building used previously as dorms for the Culinary Academy.

I’m proud to say that on July 8^th, 2010 we signed a 10-year lease at our new site the Mayfair Hotel, located at 626 Polk Street. We’re now two blocks from City Hall and are able to provide a healthy environment within which our families can succeed. We currently have room for 22 families, each of whom may stay up to four months at the shelter. Every family gets a remodeled room with a private bathroom. Going forward, our plan is to use Tipping Point’s grant to build-out the basement area into a community kitchen, children’s space, dining area and office space.

Over the last few months, we’ve heard nothing but positive feedback from the community about our new shelter site. The final build-out of the basement will complete this incredible transition, and enable to us to fully serve all of our families’ needs to our maximum potential. If it wasn’t for Tipping Point’s financial support, connections and partnership, the relocation of the shelter simply wouldn’t have been possible.

2010 Tipping Point Holiday Cards

2010-11-09T09:26:00.000-08:00

Give the Gift of a Better Bay Area This Holiday Season!

With Tipping Point holiday cards, you can send season's greetings to your loved ones while helping Bay Area individuals and families in need. 100% of the proceeds received from the sale of our holiday cards will go directly to the most effective groups working to educate, house, employ and support the 600,000 Bay Area residents living in poverty.

Tipping Point is proud to partner with Tiny Prints again this year. In addition to proceeds from the 2010 Tipping Point holiday cards, 15% of the profits from all photo holiday cards, baby announcements and invitations purchased through Tiny Prints will benefit Tipping Point-supported organizations. Click here to find the perfect holiday card and be a Tipping Point in the fight against poverty in the Bay Area.

For additional information please contact

J`aime Law at 415 348 1240 or jlaw@tippingpoint.org

www.tippingpoint.org

To the Decimal Point: Jamie Austin on Metrics

2010-10-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

From the very beginning, Tipping Point has committed to helping students living in poverty. To do so, we must first find Bay Area schools that enroll students most in need of support.

One way that schools describe student need is by the percent of children that qualify to receive either free or reduced price meals and milk. This common measure of poverty is known as free and reduced lunch (FRL) eligibility. Kids whose family income is $28,665 (equal or below 130% of the federal poverty line for a family of four) qualify to receive free school meals; while students whose household income ranges from $28,665 - $40,793 (between 130% and 185% of the federal poverty line for a family of four) may receive a reduced price meal.

In 2005, our first grant-making year, Tipping Point supported one network of five charter schools. During 2009/10, we supported three charter networks* for a total of 20 schools. Although the portfolio has grown, our original promise of supporting the neediest children remains the same. Since our inception, the percent of Tipping Point Community students that qualified for free or reduced price meals each year has been at least 12 points greater than the California state average.

*This 2009/2010 count excludes Rocketship Education, which became the fourth Tipping Point-supported charter school entity in September, 2010.

Tipping Point gives 100% to cut poverty

2010-10-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

Full Article from San Francisco Business Times

Friday, October 15, 2010 -- by Sarah Duxbury

Daniel Lurie comes from a family of San Francisco philanthropists with names like Lurie and Haas.

But when Lurie began to think about what kind of impact he wanted to have on his community, he decided none of the old philanthropic models would do. He created Tipping Point Community in 2005.

Tipping Point is modeled on two key elements of New York’s Robin Hood Foundation: It focuses on Bay Area poverty, and its 13 board members cover all operating expenses from their own pockets. It won’t disclose the actual operating budget, but all board members contribute at least $100,000 and a 15-employee nonprofit with an $11 million grant-making budget that also does fundraising would typically have a budget over $2 million.

“People trust that when they give money to Tipping Point, 100 percent of it is going right out the door and right to work in areas where it’s desperately needed right now,” Lurie said. “We have proven time and again that we are selecting the very best organizations to support.”

If numbers tell stories, Tipping Point’s got a heck of a yarn.

It raised $6 million in 2005. This year, in the midst of a rotten economy, it raised $11 million from 800 donors.

The average donation to Tipping Point is $5,000. Some are as small as $25, and others are big, like $1 million from Google Founder Sergey Brin and his wife, Anne Wojcicki.

Tipping Point’s average grant to its nonprofits is $140,000 of valuable general operating support. This year Tipping Point added four new groups to its portfolio of 30-odd vetted organizations. All are in the Bay Area, and they range from SingleStop (which Tipping Point helped bring here) to charter school organizations like Aspire to housing and family wellness organizations like Bayview Childrens Health Center or First Place for Youth.

Where Robin Hood was nurtured and funded by New York’s hedge fund community, Lurie has strived from the start to reach supporters from a wider range of industries. The board includes Ronnie Lott, a 49er hero, Chris James, the founder of Partner Fund Management, Gideon Yu of Khosla Ventures and Facebook before that, and Jed York, president and CEO of the 49ers.

“Lower dollar donors who give to us are getting pooled with all these other dollars, and their investment is getting maximized unlike any other donation they can make,” Lurie said.

Tipping Point has lined up cash or in-kind support from major corporations like Hewlett-Packard and Cisco, and it has McKinsey consultants doing a project every quarter for a Tipping Point organization at no cost to donors. Tipping Point’s staff also provides technical and management services to nonprofits.

Figuring out the social return on a philanthropic gift is increasingly standard practice for organizations like Tipping Point, but there is, of course, no single metric that works for all causes, or that is universally used.

Considering its mission to fight poverty in the Bay Area, Tipping Point has recently resolved to measure its success by looking for changes in the earning potential of clients of the organizations it supports.

“In my book, $11 million, when we are looking at the need and the opportunities out there to do good, is a drop in the bucket,” Lurie said.

Guest Blogger: Bob Lenz, CEO/Executive Director, Envision Schools

2010-10-08T09:18:00.000-07:00

With the welcome spotlight on the deepening crisis in our public education system around the release of the film “Waiting for ‘Superman,’” I’d like to discuss what I believe is really at stake: perpetuating or ending the cycle of poverty. If we agree that our goal in reforming the education system is to end the cycle of poverty, then we must focus on a single outcome: college success.

I believe that education done right is the silver bullet for preventing poverty. Our work at Envision Schools is about giving kids access to the opportunities and choices that can move them beyond their parents’ struggles. It is, at its heart, about social justice. In the day-to-day work of running schools, trying to shift policy, or doing research, many of us engaged in education reform don’t often explicitly talk about our motivations. However, our collective mission is simple: we get up in the morning to ensure that a generation of kids at-risk may participate fully – economically, socially, civically – in American society.

But what sort of education are we talking about here? The “basics,” including reading, writing and arithmetic offer a necessary but insufficient foundation for success in today’s world. The extent to which a young person possesses a critical, creative mind and is capable of using, applying, and communicating knowledge is ultimately what will determine success in college and beyond. In today’s global, interconnected, digitally driven economy, one must collaborate, be technologically adept and remain aware of intellectual strengths and areas of growth.

Envision Schools has been successfully modeling this kind of education for First Generation College Bound students for almost a decade: 93% of our graduates attend college and 95% of our graduates are still enrolled in college. We, and other high-performing public schools, have shown that it’s possible to deliver a relevant, premier public school education. The next challenge is how to democratize these models and best practices so that an excellent, innovative, college preparatory high school experience is available to all students.

“Waiting for ‘Superman’” engages the nation on exactly this point. Do we turn around the education system by expanding the number of charter schools? By training teachers better? Adopting common standards? Ending tenure? It’s a suitably daunting question. In order to unravel the answer, we must remain focused on the goal of college success; since, for this generation, unlike the generation before, a high school diploma is not enough.

I run a charter management organization, but not because I think charter schools are necessarily the only solutions to what ails American education. Envision Schools was started to fulfill the original intent of the California Charter School Act of 1992: “to spur innovation…in the public school system.”1 Our goal was to design and test innovation in high schools to make college success accessible for all kids, and to serve as a model for other schools with that same goal. As we’ve been building and testing schools, others, such as the School Redesign Network at Stanford University, have been engaged in cutting-edge research on school design, curricula and testing. Still others have been creating the next generation of educational tools, such as Open Educational Resources (OER) sponsored by the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation.

We are at a tipping point. This is the decade that our efforts will coalesce into a unified education reform movement. Envision’s task is to share our best practices via our newly established Center for College & Career Success at Envision Schools. We will also collaborate with others to change the policies and systems that stand in the way of proven reform strategies. We are advocates for people and structures that encourage the adoption of proven models. We are just one part of the profound education reform work that is being done to make the endpoint of public education a college diploma in every hand.

“Waiting for ‘Superman’” is a call to action for all of us. The time is now.

Bob Lenz regularly blogs about happenings at Envision Schools and shares his thoughts about public education in general. Envision Schools was also recently profiled by Barbara Chow, director of the education program at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. To read about how Envision’s model promotes what Chow calls “Deeper Learning” click here.

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[1] Charter Schools Act of 1992: Senate Bill 1448 (Hart)

SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND IN THE BAY AREA

2010-09-30T13:15:00.000-07:00

In July, we announced our role as proud co-investor in bringing federal Social Innovation Fund (SIF) dollars to the Bay Area. Today, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation (EMCF), a leader in this effort, began its open competitive search and selection process to identify and advance 8-10 high-performing, youth-serving organizations across the country.

We invite those Bay Area groups who meet EMCF’s criteria to submit a notice of intent to apply by October 25, 2010 through the EMCF website. The application deadline is November 1, 2010. Further information about this opportunity can be found at here or using the links below:

As a co-investor, Tipping Point will provide up to $5 million in matching dollars over the next three years to select EMCF-approved grantees with a Bay Area presence or those looking to replicate in our region. We are delighted to join in this exciting effort to scale our country’s most promising solutions to fighting poverty.

Tipping Point to help leverage SIF award in the Bay Area

2010-08-04T12:55:00.001-07:00

Dear Community,

We are honored to announce that Tipping Point will be joining the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation (EMCF) in leveraging the federal Social Innovation Fund (SIF) grant in the Bay Area.

SIF will award $10 million to EMCF, which subject to a 3-to-1 match, will be distributed to high-impact organizations affecting academic achievement, work readiness and avoidance of high-risk behaviors among low-income youth ages 9-24. EMCF will focus their initial efforts in Northern California, North and South Carolina and Oklahoma.

While Tipping Point will not receive funds from the SIF award, as a co-investor we are excited to assist with securing matching funds to maximize these efforts in our community and support EMCF as they identify and vet outstanding Bay Area organizations.

In the coming weeks we look forward to sharing more with you regarding this innovative public/private partnership. Click HERE to learn about EMCF’s plans as a SIF intermediary, including information about its open competitive process for selecting sub-grantees.

All my best,

Daniel

ABOUT SIF: The Social Innovation Fund (SIF), a new public/private investment vehicle established by the 2009 Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, is distributing $50 million to fund effective community based organizations addressing critical social challenges among low-income communities.

MAKE POVERTY PREVENTABLE
www.tippingpoint.org

Tipping Point Community partners with Eventbrite

2010-06-01T10:48:00.000-07:00

Eventbrite for Causes, a recently introduced program designed specially for NPOS, launched with Tipping Point Community's 2010 Benefit. The program is dedicated to helping the nonprofit community further their missions through successful events. Click HERE to read more about our partnership and the program.

Big Bucks ($6 Mil) & John Legend @ Tipping Point Benefit

2010-05-25T15:25:00.000-07:00

Another year of rave reviews on Miss Bigelow's Social City. We "love" your support!

49ers President + CEO, Jed York, Makes ‘Point’ to Get Involved

2010-05-13T16:36:00.000-07:00

“Tipping Point makes it so much easier for individuals that want to donate money but don’t know how to connect with the right non-profits. We do that for you,” York explained. Click here to read the entire article.

Thank you Jed for your incredible leadership on our board!

Tipping Point Raises $6 Million to Fight Poverty in the Bay Area

2010-05-13T11:22:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO, May 10 -- Tipping Point Community, the Bay Area's leading poverty-fighting organization, today announced that its annual benefit held on the evening of May 6 raised $6 million, and 100 percent of the money will go to organizations that provide vital services to local individuals and families in need, as Tipping Point's board underwrites all of the event's costs.

With healthcare making headlines in 2010, Tipping Point Community's benefit focused its major fundraising of the night on bringing integrated pediatric care to the city's most vulnerable youth.

This year's "Be a Tipping Point" auction package raised $4 million from 95 donors to revolutionize urban healthcare by providing child abuse prevention, pediatric care, mental health, and educational resources all within a single building located in southeast San Francisco. With San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center at the helm, this groundbreaking resource will gather the city's best youth-serving professionals to give low-income parents everything they need to keep their children healthy and safe in one accessible location.

"Having a good doctor is essential – but in the communities we serve, it simply isn't enough. You need doctors, social workers, police, nurses, lawyers and city agencies talking to each other in one location to treat the whole child," said Tipping Point Community Founder + CEO, Daniel Lurie. "We are in a region built on innovation. We can be the first in the country to bring top quality streamlined healthcare and abuse response to low-income families."

The benefit was co-chaired by Chris and Bradley James, David Lamond and Kelsey Fithian, Bill and Leigh Matthes, and Tipping Point's newest board member, Jed York. Mr. Lurie served as host of the 4th annual event, while Tipping Point board member Ronnie Lott, Twitter and Square Co-Founder Jack Dorsey and Olympic skier Jonny Moseley also addressed the guests. John Legend entertained the nearly 1,500 guests who gathered at The Warfield for the fundraiser. DJ Ruckus spun for the well attended after party.

Of the night Mr. Lurie commented, "This evening's record-breaking results, coupled with an outstanding fundraising year led by a signature $1 million gift from Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin and his wife Anne Wojcicki, will enable Tipping Point Community to double its funding to the best poverty-fighting organizations in the Bay Area. We're pumped!"

Visit Tippingpoint.org to learn more about participating.

Tipping Point Awards Breakfast

2009-12-15T10:24:00.001-08:00

Last week we gathered to celebrate the extraordinary work of three of our grantees in the fight against poverty in the Bay Area. Homeless Prenatal Program, Canal Alliance and KIPP Bay Area Schools are all working to show that demographics do not have to determine destiny. See videos below from the Third Annual Tipping Point Community Awards Breakfast.

Tipping Point Announces $1 M Gift at 3rd Annual Tipping Point Awards Breakfast

2009-12-08T12:42:00.000-08:00

SAN FRANCISCO, December 8, 2009 — Tipping Point Community, a charitable organization dedicated to preventing poverty in the Bay Area, announced a $1 million donation from the Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki Foundation. Tuesday’s donation was made at Tipping Point Community's Third Annual Awards Breakfast and is one of Tipping Point’s largest donations to date.

In the Bay Area, one-quarter of families are too poor to meet their basic needs. “When it comes to poverty, it’s too late for pessimism,” said Tipping Point Founder and CEO, Daniel Lurie at the annual Tipping Point Awards Breakfast. “We thank Sergey and Anne for their generous donation, which will allow us to further our mission to break the cycle of poverty for good.”

Click HERE to read more!

KIPP featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams

2009-10-08T10:17:00.000-07:00

See how KIPP is working to close the achievment gap:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/33182615#33184467

Tipping Point Community Grantees to Receive $290,000 in HP Technology

2009-08-24T14:48:00.000-07:00

San Francisco, Calif., Aug. 24, 2009 – Tipping Point Community announced today that HP has donated $290,000 worth of technology to KIPP Bay Area Schools, Homeless Prenatal Program, and Shelter Network, three of the Bay Area’s most dedicated organizations in the fight against poverty. The donation nearly doubles the initial commitment HP made in February 2009 to provide $150,000 worth of state-of-the-art technology to organizations funded by Tipping Point Community.

“Without access to this technology, KIPP schools in the Bay Area would be at a serious disadvantage to other schools across the country. HP’s extremely generous donation lets our teachers take full advantage of technology-based innovations so that our students can continue to learn and succeed,” said Richard Barth, Chief Executive Officer, KIPP Foundation.

To view the full press release click HERE.

Speaker Pelosi Announces Expansion of SingleStop

2009-08-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

On August 10th, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined us at the Homeless Prenatal Program to announce the expansion of SingleStop in the Bay Area. "There is no work more important than what is being done here. We're talking about our children and the future of our country," Pelosi said. "What I saw today is a national model, of national significance, about how we can better invest our resources."

Press:

"Bay Area to get two new SingleStops" – Sarah Duxbury, SF Business Times
"Pelosi Visits Homeless Prenatal Program In San Francisco" – Wall Street Journal
"SF provides Pelosi shelter from D.C. storm" – SF Chronicle
Official press release – SingleStop USA

What we're reading at Tipping Point this week

2009-07-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

"10 Ways to Support Charity Through Social Media"
Mashable, July 14, 2009

"Social media is about connecting people and providing the tools necessary to have a conversation. That global conversation is an extremely powerful platform for spreading information and awareness about social causes and issues. That’s one of the reasons charities can benefit so greatly from being active on social media channels. But you can also do a lot to help your favorite charity or causes you are passionate about through social media..."

"How to get your teen off the sofa this summer"
Associated Press, July 13, 2009 (Reading Partners, a Tipping Point grantee, is mentioned on page 2!)

"One organization that lists opportunities on the site is Reading Partners, which provides one-on-one tutors in California elementary schools. A third of the group's 900 volunteers are high school and college students, including Nalini Jain, 16, who organized a summer Reading Partners program at a Mountain View elementary school..."

Read more about Tipping Point's relationship with Reading Partners HERE.

What we're reading at Tipping Point this week

2009-06-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

"Bay Area has lost 130,000 jobs"
SF Business Times, June 19, 2009

"The Bay Area lost 90,000 jobs in the year from May 2008 to May this year, pushing unemployment to 10.7 percent from 5.4 percent last year, according to employment figures released Friday by the state Employement Development Department.

That doesn’t include 40,000 jobs lost in the south bay during the same period..."

"More Studies Extol Virtues of Green Jobs"
NY Times, June 18, 2009

"Following on the heels of a study from the Pew Charitable Trusts last week, two more reports from a broad coalition of environmental groups and research institutes suggest that clean-energy investments have the potential to kick-start the economy and employ millions of workers — particularly those at the lower end of the economic scale..."

What we're reading at Tipping Point this week

2009-06-11T14:16:00.000-07:00

"5 Job Hunters for Each Opening in April"
by Tom Abate
From the SF Chronicle -- June 10, 2009

"There were more than five job hunters for every job opening in April, according to a new U.S. Labor Department report that looks at employment in a different light.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey, released Tuesday, estimates how many U.S. firms are hiring in a given month. These detailed figures usually come about 30 days after the monthly unemployment rate is released.

Tuesday's report said there were 2.5 million job openings in April, the lowest number on record since this survey began in December 2000..."

Video from the Tipping Point Benefit

2009-06-05T12:34:00.000-07:00

Watch Tazo, one of the young adults served by Year Up, deliver a heartfelt speech at the 2009 Tipping Point Benefit. (We raised $3 million that night!) Tazo is an amazing example of what your dollars make possible.

"America's Top Philanthropists Hold Private Meeting to Discuss Global Problems"

2009-05-21T16:16:00.000-07:00

This sounds like a great meeting -- we need more leaders to step up like this...

May 20, 2009: "America's Top Philanthropists Hold Private Meeting to Discuss Global Problems"
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
By Maria Di Mento and Ian Wilhelm

"Auction brings in $3 million to fight poverty"

2009-05-19T09:27:00.000-07:00

Willie Brown: "Now that's what I call a stimulus package." Click here to read Mayor Brown's column in the SF Chronicle.

"3 Million Reasons to Smile: Tipping Point"

2009-05-12T17:04:00.000-07:00

From 7x7's The Bigelow Report. Thanks to Ms. Bigelow for such a glowing review!

"A benefit you can't touch"

2009-05-12T10:13:00.000-07:00

From today's San Francisco Examiner, with a lovely spread of color photos.

2009 Tipping Point Benefit - tomorrow night!!

2009-05-06T15:27:00.000-07:00

We can't wait...

Tipping Point Grantee Year Up in the Sunday Chronicle!

2009-03-30T15:55:00.001-07:00

"Year Up Students Learn Business and Life Skills"
by Julian Guthrie, March 29, 2009

"An estimated 85 percent of Year Up graduates find jobs within four months of graduation and earn on average $15.59 an hour..."

Year Up apprentice Beaunca Wilson talks about the impact of the program:

"...I'm learning about information technology and learning things like how to greet people, how to show respect even if you don't get it, and what language is appropriate for professional settings...This is a new and wonderful world for me."

Click here to read the article in full.

Daniel Lurie and Ronnie Lott on NPR

2009-03-24T16:22:00.000-07:00

In case you missed them on NPR's Forum with Michael Krasny last week, you can listen to the show HERE.

http://www.kqed.org/epArchive/R903181000?itemMD5=196328dd557b778353a270ace13891e7

Youth from Tipping Point Grantee writes letter to SF Chronicle -- published today!

2009-03-17T14:04:00.000-07:00

Terri Larkins, a young woman who spent 13 years in foster care before finding First Place for Youth, wrote a moving letter-to-the-editor that was published in today's SF Chronicle. You can read the article HERE (halfway down the page).

"...On my 18th birthday, my "caregiver" literally dropped me off at a bus station with my worldly possessions packed in a duffle bag. I felt like a ship lost at sea with no destination, no gas and no motivation. I quickly realized I would have to survive by any means necessary.

"Fortunately for me, I found First Place for Youth, a Bay Area program that is considered a national model for supporting former foster youth in making a successful transition to adulthood. Through First Place, I moved into my own subsidized apartment, found a full-time job and am going to school."

Click here to learn more about Tipping Point's relationship with First Place for Youth.

Daniel and Ronnie Lott on Forum with Michael Krasny -- Wed, March 18

2009-03-17T11:33:00.000-07:00

Don't miss Tipping Point Community President + Founder Daniel Lurie and Board Member Ronnie Lott on NPR tomorrow at 10:00 AM!

ABC Spotlights Tipping Point in "Focus on Solutions" Report

2009-03-02T14:43:00.000-08:00

VIDEO: "Philanthropists Work to Break Cycle of Poverty"
By Cheryl Jennings
February 27, 2009

"SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- There is a very different effort underway to fight poverty in the Bay Area that involves philanthropists who are young -- in their twenties and thirties. They are part of what is known as the Tipping Point community. In this Focus on Solutions report, a look at why these young people started this and who they are helping..."

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/focus_on_solutions&id=6682931

Federal Money for Single Stop

2009-02-27T12:15:00.000-08:00

I know it’s been a while since I’ve written, but I need to tell you about some really exciting news.

I just got off the phone with Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Chief of Staff – she informed me that the Omnibus Bill the House passed on Wednesday has $190,000 set aside to help ramp up Single Stop right here in the Bay Area. And that’s just for this year!

We are thrilled to hear about this news. With additional food stamps and EITC money embedded in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, there will be more dollars available for low-income families than ever before. But those families need help claiming these tax credits; too often public benefits are left on the table before reaching the people who need them most. Single Stop solves this problem.

I can’t tell you how proud we are at Tipping Point to be partnering with Speaker Pelosi and Mayor Gavin Newsom to bring this life-changing program to the Bay Area. With three sites up and running and three more to come, we’ve only seen the beginning of what this innovative initiative can do!

All of this, of course, is thanks to the unwavering commitment of our donors. Thank you for helping us build a better Bay Area.

All my best,
Daniel

Tipping Point Meets Million Dollar Match

2009-02-18T09:44:00.001-08:00

On December 1st the Tipping Point Community Board of Directors announced a $1 million match, pledging that every dollar raised between December 1 and January 31 would be matched dollar for dollar up to $1 million.

Thanks to the overwhelming support of our donors, Tipping Point Community raised more than $2 million in the past two months -- 100% of which will go directly out the door to the best poverty-fighting organizations in the Bay Area.

We would like to thank all 250 donors who participated in this campaign. Special thanks to Hewlett Packard, who stepped up to finish off our Match with $100,000 in cash and an additional $150,000 in technology for our grantees! (Click HERE to read more)

What we're reading at Tipping Point this week...February 2, 2009

2009-02-03T09:35:00.000-08:00

SF Chronicle: "Bay Homes Lost $202B in Value in 2008"
by Carolyn Said, February 3, 2009

"Bay Area homes lost $202 billion in value in 2008, according to a real estate valuation service...Zillow's report showed that 27 percent of Bay Area homeowners now have negative equity, meaning they owe more than their home is worth."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/03/BUFC15LT56.DTL&tsp=1

NY Times: "Economy Shed 598,000 Jobs in January"
by Edmund L. Andrews, February 6, 2009

"The United States lost almost 600,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent, its highest level in more than 16 years..."
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/business/economy/07jobs.html?hp

Tipping Point Staff Member, Abby Rubin, featured in Stanford Social Innovation Review

2009-01-27T14:07:00.001-08:00

From the Winter 2009 edition...

"Clicking for Smart CSR: National Instruments’ partnerships not only energize science education, but also boost the company’s brand and employee morale"
by Abby Rubin
Senior Program Associate, Tipping Point Community

Click HERE to read the article in full

PBS features Tipping Point grantee, Year Up

2009-01-12T11:12:00.000-08:00

From The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
Dec 23, 2008

Watch the PBS segment HERE.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/video/stnmodule.html?mod=0&pkg=23122008&seg=3

NY Times features Tipping Point grantee, EARN

2009-01-09T11:09:00.001-08:00

"Cost of Living: Coaches for a Game of Money"
by M.P. Dunleavey

View the article in its entirety HERE.

7x7 Covers Tipping Point Awards Breakfast

2008-12-19T11:39:00.000-08:00

http://www.7x7sf.com/blogs/bigelow-report/tip-season

Tipping Point Board Member Ronnie Lott "Helping Players Give Back"

2008-11-21T13:16:00.001-08:00

"Ronnie Lott Helping Players Give Back"
by Darren Rovell, November 20, 2008

"...'In all of my professional endeavors, football or business related, I have always looked for ways to assist those around me who are less fortunate and need a hand to get to the next level,' Lott added...'By marrying the business of charity with the charitable work itself, we can all do the most amount of good for the widest possible audience, and that is how we can move ahead as a society.'"

http://www.cnbc.com/id/27662232

What we're reading at Tipping Point this week...November 10, 2008

2008-11-10T15:42:00.000-08:00

NY Times: "Jobless Rate at 14-Year High After October Losses"
by Peter S. Goodman, November 7, 2008

"The American economy lost another 240,000 jobs in October, the government reported Friday, as cash-strapped consumers pulled back and businesses hunkered down, intensifying the distress gripping much of the country..."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/08/business/economy/08econ.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&em

NY Times: "Some Philanthropists Are No Longer Content to Work Quietly"
by Stephanie Strom, November 6, 2008

"...Foundations are spending increasing amounts and raising their voices to influence public policy — a marked shift from their traditional position. Among those speaking out to advance causes are George Soros, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York, Warren E. Buffett, Jeff Skoll and Bill Gates..."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/us/07charity.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

7x7 Features Tipping Point in "7 Things To Know Right Now"

2008-10-31T15:15:00.000-07:00

From the November 2008 issue:

Don't forget to order your holiday cards!

Grantee Spotlight: New Door Ventures

2008-10-30T16:55:00.000-07:00

Have t-shirts to print? Need something embroidered? We at Tipping Point recommend using Ashbury Images, a New Door Ventures social enterprise.

Ashbury Images trains and provides internships for at-risk youth, helping them become employable for the rest of their lives. They do high-quality screen-printing and embroidery on t-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, caps, bags -- basically anything you can think of customizing.

They also just finished their new website, made possible by Tipping Point and the Taproot Foundation. Check out Ashbury Images here.

Mashable features "8 Poverty Resources You MUST Check Out" -- Tipping Point mentioned

2008-10-16T10:01:00.000-07:00

Check out the article here:
"...The Robin Hood Foundation was founded in 1988 to help the poverty stricken residents of New York City. It is now considered a model for what organizations can do in other cities and has served as the inspiration for groups such as the Tipping Point Community in San Francisco..."

http://mashable.com/2008/10/15/poverty-resources

Tipping Point Holiday Cards featured in Splendora!

2008-10-10T15:36:00.000-07:00

Check out their "What to Care About" section this week:

Click HERE to visit our Holiday Cards page.

Commentary from Ben Mangan, President & CEO of EARN

2008-10-10T10:40:00.000-07:00

"The Politics of Who's Poor"
by Ben Mangan
Asset Policy Initiative of California; October 7, 2008

"...How would you define the point at which a family is poor in this country? How about in San Francisco? Most people are shocked when they learn how the federal government measures poverty..."

http://www.assetpolicy-ca.org/blog/?p=120

A Recent Piece of Foster Care Legislation

2008-09-30T17:20:00.000-07:00

SF Chronicle: "A Way to Help Foster Youth to Age 21"
September 29, 2008

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/29/EDLK135IVO.DTL

Tipping Point Grantee in the News

2008-09-22T17:03:00.000-07:00

SF Chronicle: "Students at KIPP Perform Better, Study Finds"
Sept. 18th, 2008

"...Jessica's English scores were in the 16th percentile when she arrived as a fifth-grader -- meaning that 84 percent of the nation's fifth-graders did better in English that she did. 'At the end of the year, I was in the 75th percentile,' she said.

How did that happen?

'Because I'm smart,' Jessica said...."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/18/BA6H12VQKQ.DTL&hw=KIPP&sn=001&sc=1000

Happy 4th of July and Thank you

2008-07-02T17:07:00.000-07:00

As July 4th approaches I wanted to take a moment to wish you all a happy and healthy holiday weekend. This is a weekend to step back and reflect on how lucky we all are to live in such an incredible region in such an incredible country. America is truly the land of opportunity--and every single one of us and our neighbors deserves a chance to make the most of our lives. However, not everyone has been given such an opportunity. Our Tipping Point family is all about providing opportunities to those individuals and families that have fallen down, been left behind, or simply been forgotten about. Our partners are working incredibly hard every day to make sure that everyone gets the attention, support and love they deserve. To our donors, I say thank you for your incredible support--without you Tipping Point would not have the good fortune to be partnering with our 21 inspirational groups. And to our 21 groups, I say, we are counting on you. You are the glue holding our community and our families together. Thank you for your incredible efforts--we are behind you. Have a safe and happy 4th of July.
-Daniel

Slate Calls SingleStop, "The Best Poverty-Fighting Bet"

2008-06-02T14:22:00.000-07:00

At the 2008 Tipping Point Community Benefit, donors contributed a remarkable $1.5 million to seed six SingleStop sites in the Bay Area.

SingleStop USA, an expansion of SingleStop NY created by the Robin Hood Foundation, bridges the information gap separating low-income families from life-changing public benefits, tax credits and other essential services that remain untapped and inaccessible.

To find out why Slate calls SingleStop "The Best Poverty-Fighting Bet," click here: http://www.slate.com/id/2192724/

To learn more about why Tipping Point is bringing this initiative to the Bay Area, watch our film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfD2Xkmt3xY

What we're reading at Tipping Point this week......February 21, 2008

2008-02-21T11:54:00.000-08:00

Poverty is Poison by Paul Krugman
NY Times; February 18, 2008

"...neuroscientists have found that many children growing up in very poor families with low social status experience unhealthy levels of stress hormones, which impair their neural development. The effect is to impair language development and memory — and hence the ability to escape poverty — for the rest of the child’s life."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/18/opinion/18krugman.html?ex=1204174800&en=0fe16bf6d26ac6cc&ei=5070&emc=eta1

Tipping Point Grantee, WISE, featured in SF Chronicle, February 16:

2008-02-20T11:09:00.000-08:00

"A preschool in San Francisco. An Aztec restaurant in Oakland. A pest-control outfit in Vallejo. A massage studio in San Jose. These ventures, which seemingly have nothing in common, share a crucial reason for their existence: Women's Initiative for Self Employment, a Bay Area nonprofit marking its 20th anniversary this year.

A microenterprise training and microlending organization, Women's Initiative has helped low-income women start or expand more than 1,600 businesses in Northern California."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/02/16/MNUFV3EO3.DTL

What we're reading at Tipping Point this week...January 17, 2008

2008-01-17T16:27:00.000-08:00

NY Times Business Section

Can Foundations Take the Long View Again? by Denise Caruso

AS business leaders like Ted Turner, Bill Gates and George Soros have moved vast swaths of their private wealth into the philanthropic sector, market expertise has migrated there, too. As a result, foundation directors, trustees and advisers from corporate America have taken a stance that the return on charitable dollars should be tangible and measurable, and should drive capital flow in much the same way that earnings figures do in commerce.

But a small and increasingly vocal group of foundation leaders is challenging the benefits of this approach.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/business/06frame.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&emc=eta1

San Francisco Magazine calls Ben Mangan, CEO of Tipping Point grantee, EARN, the "American Dream Catcher"

2008-01-07T09:41:00.001-08:00

"We applaud the heroes of international microfinance who transform lives with loans as small as $50. But, right here, in the nothing-comes-cheap Bay Area, Ben Mangan has found a way to vault people making less than $20,000 a year into the middle class."
http://www.sanfranmag.com/story/american-dream-catcher

What we’re reading at Tipping Point this week…December 26th, 2007

2007-12-27T14:18:00.001-08:00

THE MIDDLE-CLASS EQUATION

Bay Area residents have to earn a lot more to reach that threshold - 2 jobs for a combined $77k income

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/12/16/INASTRNTG.DTL

What we’re reading at Tipping Point this week…November 12th, 2007

2007-11-12T13:12:00.000-08:00

NY Times Giving Section

Forging Ahead With Life’s Tests, One Day at a Time

By LAURA NOVAK

A plethora of services await the homeless at San Francisco’s Homeless Prenatal Program (A Tipping Point grantee since 2005).

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/12/giving/12PRENATAL.html?ex=1352610000&en=04b036e0a0117eed&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

What we’re reading at Tipping Point this week…October 17th, 2007

2007-10-17T10:32:00.000-07:00

The Green-Collar Solution

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Published: October 17, 2007

Van Jones has been on a crusade to help disadvantaged communities understand why they would be the biggest beneficiaries of a greener America.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/opinion/17friedman.html?ex=1350273600&en=5fd7a3b1d8743d0f&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

PS: Van Jones is an Advisory Board member of Tipping Point

What we’re reading at Tipping Point this week…October 8th, 2007

2007-10-08T16:04:00.000-07:00

Daniel Lurie, Tipping Point President + Founder, featured in 7x7 Magazine's October issue:

http://www.7x7sf.com/people/profiles/9766302.html

What we’re reading at Tipping Point this week…September 14th, 2007

2007-09-14T09:15:00.000-07:00

San Francisco to Offer Care for Uninsured Adults

By KEVIN SACK
September 14, 2007

An initiative, known as Healthy San Francisco, is the first effort by a locality to guarantee care to all of its uninsured.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/14/us/14health.html?ex=1347508800&en=bde7868192b7971a&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

What we’re reading at Tipping Point this week…September 6th, 2007

2007-09-06T08:40:00.000-07:00

Big Gifts, Tax Breaks and a Debate on Charity

By STEPHANIE STROM

Published: September 6, 2007

Some ask if the public benefits of philanthropy are worth the tax breaks that givers receive.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/06/business/06giving.html?ex=1346817600&en=3fbae627fb38813b&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

What we’re reading at Tipping Point this week…August 22nd, 2007

2007-08-22T16:07:00.000-07:00

After years of struggling to reform the state's deeply troubled juvenile justice system, the legislature has agreed on a potentially historic realignment that will slash the number of youths in juvenile prisons in half and place them in their home counties.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/22/BAGADRNBSN5.DTL

What we’re reading at Tipping Point this week…August 9th, 2007

2007-08-09T16:58:00.000-07:00

We love hearing how are groups are making dreams a reality for their clients. Here is a great story about WISE helping out.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2007/08/06/moneytales.DTL

What we’re reading at Tipping Point this week…July 16th, 2007

2007-07-23T18:02:00.000-07:00

This article on HPP is in The Potrero View: “Homeless Prenatal Program Changes Lives." We love to see our groups in the news getting credit for their incredible work!

http://potreroview.net/Archives/PV_July_2007.pdf

What we’re reading at Tipping Point this week…July 16th, 2007

2007-07-16T10:25:00.001-07:00

In yesterday's Sunday New York Times this article appeared on the front page: "Today’s titans often see themselves as pillars of a new age of prosperity, one in which their successes and philanthropy have made government less important. "

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/15/business/15gilded.html?ex=1342238400&en=96cb71bacf64440e&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Posted articles are intended to promote discussion, education and contemplation and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Tipping Point Community! Enjoy.

What we’re reading at Tipping Point this week…

2007-06-25T15:44:00.000-07:00

Part of being effective and innovative means staying on top of current philanthropic trends; click on this external link to read today’s Wall Street Journal blog entry, “The Poor, or the Arts?” Posted articles are intended to promote discussion, education and contemplation and are not necessarily representative of the views of the Tipping Point Community! Enjoy: http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2007/06/25/the-poor-or-the-arts/trackback/

Tipping Point is moving!

2007-05-15T15:20:00.000-07:00

Tipping Point is moving offices on Saturday, May 19th! Our new offices are just up the street at 703 Market (corner of 3rd Street).

The official address is :
703 Market Street, Suite 708
San Francisco, CA 94103

Our phone and fax number will remain the same:
Office: 415-348-1240
Fax: 415-348-1237

$1.2 million raised on April 4th!!!

2007-04-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the incredible willingness of our donors to GIVE more than $1.2 million on April 4th, children and families in the Bay Area will GET the services and support they need to break the cycle of poverty.

And, we guarantee that those philanthropic dollars will yield maximum impact -- 100% of donations to the GIVE*GET benefit will go out the door as grants to the very best poverty-fighting organizations in our community.

We can't thank you enough!

SOLD OUT!

2007-04-03T20:35:00.002-07:00

Thank you all for helping Tipping Point sell out its first inaugural GIVE*GET benefit.

Inaugural GIVE*GET Benefit

2007-02-02T11:45:00.000-08:00

You can be the Tipping Point that makes poverty preventable,

not inevitable, for Bay Area children and families in need.

Please join us on Wednesday, April 4th, 2007 for

Tipping Point Community's inaugural GIVE*GET Benefit

For more information contact Tricia at 415-348-1240 or email tricia@tippoint.org

2007-01-31T14:54:00.000-08:00

Hi! Welcome to Tipping Point Community's Blog. We'll be updating this periodically to let you know the latest on our latest investments in non-profits fighting poverty in the Bay Area. Check out our website at tippoint.org

Best,
Daniel