A reader was appalled that several government agencies contributed to a Portland non-profit called Opal, a self-described environmental justice organization.
No one (or entity) gives away money without expecting something in return - a quid pro quo. Governments at all levels give out grants if the recipients agree to do something that accomplishes the goals of the grantor. The same goes when foundations grant money to government entities (or NGOs), and for all grantors and grantees along the food chain. The mkney flow can go from government to government, government to private organization, or private organization to government. The public is largely unaware of this spread of influence and how their government process (We the people?) works.
Some people see grants as "free" money, but when the recipient has to perform certain acts and often has continuing costs when the grant money ends, the grant becomes a Trojan Horse - a gift with hidden, or not so hidden strings attached.
Some people see grants as "free" money, but when the recipient has to perform certain acts and often has continuing costs when the grant money ends, the grant becomes a Trojan Horse - a gift with hidden, or not so hidden strings attached.
Here's an example of how it works:
Three federal agencies join forces to create a network of organizations to promote the Smart Growth philosophy to every community in America.
HUD - DOT - EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities
www.epa.gov/dced/partnership/index.html
Three federal agencies join forces to create a network of organizations to promote the Smart Growth philosophy to every community in America.
HUD - DOT - EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities
www.epa.gov/dced/partnership/index.html
Partnership Website: sustainablecommunities.gov.
The EPA sponsors Smart Growth America as a means to disseminate information and money to organizations willing to take the message to their communities and advocate for land use and societal change.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
www.epa.gov/dced/grants/index.html
smartgrowthamerica.org. Check out the Our Coalition page where you can find the American Planning Association and the Congress for New Urbanism.
And through many twists and turns, the money dribbles down to local non-profits.
Check out the DOT and HUD for their sustainable partners. Or not. They all sound the same.
www.epa.gov/dced/grants/index.html
smartgrowthamerica.org. Check out the Our Coalition page where you can find the American Planning Association and the Congress for New Urbanism.
And through many twists and turns, the money dribbles down to local non-profits.
Check out the DOT and HUD for their sustainable partners. Or not. They all sound the same.
I don't have time to unscramble the web of connections between various organizations - below are some sites you might want to unwind yourself. At one time I thought it would be fun to connect all the dots, but when I found out how many layers and interconnections there were, it didn't matter anymore - it was enough to know what was going on.
There should be more investigation into private foundations, their philosophies and goals, and how they are furthered in their gifting. Many - probably most - activist groups survive on grants from a variety of groups, both public and private, and not on donations.
The understanding then is that the donating groups want someone else, or many someone elses to show "broad community support" for their causes, so they buy their love. No wonder activist groups have time and resources to be involved in so many causes. How can the average person compete with these paid lobbiests? Imagine the amount of money being thrown into the messages we and our elected officials are receiving - a lot of it comeing from our own taxes!!
sustainable.org
smartgrowth.org
There are light rail and streetcar groups, sites for walking and biking, complete streets, groups that serve governors and cities CEOs, sustainabIe everything, and a multitude of sites with the word justice in them. Good luck. If you find anything especially good, drop me a line, but I bet you can't count them all or trace the money trail.
There should be more investigation into private foundations, their philosophies and goals, and how they are furthered in their gifting. Many - probably most - activist groups survive on grants from a variety of groups, both public and private, and not on donations.
The understanding then is that the donating groups want someone else, or many someone elses to show "broad community support" for their causes, so they buy their love. No wonder activist groups have time and resources to be involved in so many causes. How can the average person compete with these paid lobbiests? Imagine the amount of money being thrown into the messages we and our elected officials are receiving - a lot of it comeing from our own taxes!!
sustainable.org
smartgrowth.org
There are light rail and streetcar groups, sites for walking and biking, complete streets, groups that serve governors and cities CEOs, sustainabIe everything, and a multitude of sites with the word justice in them. Good luck. If you find anything especially good, drop me a line, but I bet you can't count them all or trace the money trail.
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