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The Gulf Coast: Lessons on Community Building and Re-building

Making a Difference

The Gulf Coast: Lessons on Community Building and Re-building

Hurricanes and subsequent levy breaks and flooding devastated the Gulf Coast in August 2005.  This natural and man-made disaster was particularly destructive in low-income communities.  Years later, communities continue to re-build and engage all residents in envisioning a new future for the region.  Donors like you, from the Gulf Coast region and around the country, have made a real difference in shaping a brighter, more equitable future for the Gulf Coast.  Along the way, lessons have been learned which can help instruct community building efforts all over the United States. Read More…

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Welcome to SmartLink!    
A service of The Community Giving Resource

SmartLink (formerly communitygivingresource.org) is your one-stop-shop for free and useful ideas and insights, created just for donors, foundation trustees and others who give locally, to neighborhoods and communities.  SmartLink solves your toughest giving problem:   it helps you learn who is building strong communities, what is working to make a difference, and how to connect your giving (whether modest or substantial) to the most effective ideas and projects. 

Connect, with just a few clicks!

Among the treasures you will find here are candid profiles of donors and small foundations from all over the country, making a difference on a range of issues in their communities . With a few clicks on the left navigation menu, you can search briefs and tools focused on six key issues—including Housing, Education, Health and Wellness and Healthy Environments.

Don't stop there, drill deeper to explore action- and results-oriented topics and strategies.  We won't tell you where to give; instead, SmartLink makes your giving smarter and more focused on making a difference.   Please note:  CGR is not a grantmaker.

In the News

  • Coalition supports 'green' affordable housing initiative. The Enterprise Foundation (Columbia, MD) and the Natural Resources Defense Council, have announced a five-year, $550 million Green Communities Initiative to build environmentally friendly, affordable housing nationwide. Read More...
  • KIDS COUNT is a national and state-by-state effort to track the status of children in the U.S. KIDS COUNT includes the most timely data available on Education, Employment and Income, Poverty, Health, Basic Demographics, and Youth Risk factors for the U.S., all 50 states and D.C.  Read More...
  • State Children's Health Insurance 101: A simple guide for understanding how the State Children's Health Insurance works Read More...

Facts & Figures

  • Two-thirds of the states with the highest standards for Pre-Kindergarten quality are in the South.
  • 61.2 million adults volunteered in the United States in 2006, representing 26.7% of the population
  • More than 200 cities are engaged in climate protection activities in the US
  • One in eight veterans under age 65 are without basic health insurance or access to a veterans' hospital, according to a new study from the Harvard Medical School.