Power of Good

Elevate conference aims to increase nonprofits' impact on state STORY BY BOB BLALOC K PHOTOS BY BILL SN OW A 12 ALABAMA POWER'S FIRST ELEVATE conference ended on a high note. Provocative philanthropist Michael Weinstein of the robin Hood Foundation and the CEOs from Alabama Power and Alabama – Charles McCrary and Gov. robert Bentley – spoke at dinner, wrapping up a day in which nonprofits from across the state converged on Montgomery on Aug. 28 to learn, to share ideas and to network with Alabama Power officials and each other. McCrary and Bentley applauded the efforts of the nonprofit groups. "What you do day to day makes a huge difference," McCrary said. "It takes a special person to be able to deal with the problems that you deal with." Bentley said there was no greater example of nonprofits and volunteers shining than in the aftermath of the April 27, 2011, tornadoes that killed more than 250 people in Alabama. He saluted their continuing service to Alabamians. "Every person that you serve, every community that you help, gets us one step closer to making sure Alabamians are cared for, that they're fed and they're clothed and their physical and emotional needs, and their spiritual needs, are met," Bentley said. "So tonight, let me encourage you as you continue to serve the least of these, and to thank you for all that you do for the communities of our state. Because smartly. Others have referred to it as without you, Alabama would not be a high-impact philanthropy – making great place." the biggest difference possible for the en, Alabama Power Foundation amount of money invested. President John Hudson welcomed "We don't have the right to spend that Weinstein, who joked that "after that money casually," Weinstein introduction, you probably said. "We don't have the right think I'm a nice guy. But I Michael Weinstein not to maximize the impact assure you by the end of this of the anti-poverty of those dollars." little talk, you will dislike me Robin Hood Foundation Here's how relentless compared to your current addresses attenmonetization works: As an feelings." dees at the Elevate conference. example, a grant to a school at's because Weinstein boosts high school graduaobsesses "about counting, tion rates and improves health. e metrics and holding nonprofits robin Hood staff assigns a dollar value, accountable for what they do." based on research, to a diploma and to "is is a profoundly serious topic," improved health, because both are said Weinstein, an MIT-trained econopoverty-fighting benefits. en the staff mist and program director of the compares what would happen to those robin Hood Foundation. who participated in a foundationat foundation, whose mission is to funded program with what would fight poverty in New York City, is happen if they had not received help. noted for what Weinstein calls "relentless monetization" – using a system of e staff uses the estimates to figure metrics to spend donors' money benefit-cost ratios, which allow the

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