[UgaBYTES] Monsanto fund

[jeff buderer]

About Monsanto...Just be aware of who you are involved with.

Monsanto has a reputation in the US as one of the worst corporate
performances with regards to the environment.

In particular with regards to use of the GMOs which significant peer
reviewed research exposes legitimate concerns about.

I do believe we need to have more leverage in ensuring that those who
give us money do have policies that are "as advertised." I am just now
grasping the idea of Participatory philanthropy. It is this idea of
engaging donors in a process by which they actively participate in the
development of programs and seek input from a variety of actors in the
process of evaluating the giving out of the money, the evaluation
process and also the alignment of the organizational mission of the
donor with the actual way in which that donor gets it money. 

http://www.pbs.org/idealab/2008/08/participatory-philanthropy-par.html 

The new term is exposing the reality that those who do development both
in field and support positions provide value to the donors and their
business and financial efforts. I believe it is important that we ensure
that donors whether they are foundations, corporations, governments or
even individuals are authentically committed to that which they claim as
their enhanced mission to provide a public service towards improving the
state of humanity.

Specifically with relation to Monsanto corporate social responsibility
is about this idea of not only delivering profit to investors but
promoting social good for all as influential global economic actors. 

The bottom line is whether we should consider where the money is coming
from and be more judicious or exacting especially when we consider that
there are subtle ways in which philanthropists forward their agendas
through the public face of philanthropy.

The reality is that most NGO organizations dont have this luxury, thus
it might be worth considering how the tables could be turned
otherwise... why should we be surprised when corporations use
philanthropy as basically as good PR to change their negative image (as
the case of Monsanto in the USA) in the public eye when in truth nothing
has really changed.

Jeff Buderer
oneVillage Foundation

On Fri, 2008-11-21 at 14:46 +0300, Pamela Ogwal wrote:
> Dear All,
> 
> The Monsanto Fund invites applications for its Africa grants.
> 
> These aim to improve the Earth's ecosystem and the well-being of people by
> supporting projects in the following primary areas:
> 
> ·  Improving nutritional well being through agriculture
> 
> ·  The environment
> 
> ·  Science education
> 
> ·  Communities
> 
> Public charities, government units, private schools, private hospitals and
> medical research organisations are eligible to apply.
> 
> *Funding will only be considered for projects over $25,000. All grant
> requests must be for $25,000 or more.*
> 
> All Organizations from outside the United States interested in applying for
> a Monsanto Fund grant need to fill out a World Area Grant Application and
> forward it to the respective world area representative
> 
> International organizations must make initial contact through a Monsanto
> country manager or appropriate employee, who will ensure that they meet the
> tax-exempt status and other qualifications before initiating further
> discussions.
> 
> *Deadline:* 1 January and 1 July every year
> 
> *Africa*
> Kinyua Mbijjewe
> Monsanto Nairobi
> I&M Building, 6th Floor
> 2nd Ngong Avenue, Ngong Road
> Nairobi, Kenya
> Email: monsanto.fund[at]monsanto.com. For more details, below is the link.
> 
> http://www.monsantofund.org/asp/Qualifications_and_Procedures/NONUSA_procedures.asp
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Pamela.<http://www.monsantofund.org/asp/Qualifications_and_Procedures/NONUSA_procedures.asp>
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