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Melville Charitable Trust sees giving as venture capital

Making a Difference

Melville Charitable Trust sees giving as venture capital

Charged by his dying mother to discover a mission for the fledgling Melville Charitable Trust, Frank Melville agreed, with one stipulation: he wasn't interested in supporting “horse shows and bad art.” With little background in philanthropy, Mr. Melville wondered how his small family foundation could truly have an impact in his community. 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.

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Facts & Figures

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  • Nearly 47 million Americans lack any health insurance and millions more have inadequate coverage.