Foundations 2.0
Having recently transitioned from the world of politics to that of ‘foundationland,’ I was excited to attend my first CoF Conference and help reaffirm in my own mind how foundations can play a more dynamic role in their local communities through a modernization process of what I have been commonly…
Complete (Social) Capital
This article was originally published on the Interaction Institute Blog.
Last week I represented IISC as a presenter/facilitator in a “deep dive” session at the Council on Foundations Conference for Community Foundations. The title of the session was “Complete Capital” and was inspired by an SSIR…
We Are Brand New
Throughout the fall conference, I had been prefacing every comment or question, every new introduction, with “I’m brand new, only six weeks in as a program officer.” I heard many others, too, more than I expected, who are only a few months, or, in several cases, a few days into the incredible (and…
Applicant’s Bill of Rights
The Center for Effective Philanthropy recently released a report titled Working Well With Grantees, and as any program officer might expect, the importance of the relationships that nonprofit applicants and grantees have with program officers is crucial to their perception of the foundation. Not…
Public-Private Partnership: Difficult but Essential to Serving Veterans
Government officials, philanthropists, and foundation staff often discuss the importance of providing services to our veterans and their families. However, we don’t often link the importance of those services to protecting the all voluntary military force. Today’s working lunch emphasized the…
The Shop Around the Corner
I attended the “What is place-based philanthropy?” site visit, and it got me thinking about the role of private business in community foundation projects. There are fruitful relationships and productive roles we could do more to develop, and San Diego has some interesting models.
We visited “urban…
Community Foundations Hall of Fame Session: Outstanding and Replicable Success Stories
A packed room came to hear how community foundations are successfully listening and responding to their communities. The work we heard about was innovative, sometimes controversial, and completely inspiring.
The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) facilitated conversation about…
It’s Only Money, Honey!
At the “Trends and Realities” plenary, the panelists all recognized economic issues in their communities as being among those things that kept them up at night. But my biggest take-away came from Mariam Noland, President of the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan. When she noted that “…
Checklist for Community Foundations: Do You Support Policy Change?
This blog was originally posted on bolderadvocacy.org
Across the country, community foundations are recognizing the power of public
policy work to advance their missions. Some do so by awarding grants for advocacy activities like public education and research. Others support nonprofits to lobby.…
California’s Shift is a Wake Up Call for Philanthropy
While folks here in California are no strangers to the earth moving beneath their feet, they are currently witnessing a seismic shift of another kind. Earlier this year, for the first time, the population of Latinos in California equaled the number of whites. And by early 2014, California will…
Data-driven Philanthropy for Community Foundations
One of the most pressing topics for community foundations is the reinvention of their position as catalysts for change. Foundations are increasingly taking on new, proactive roles within their communities, capitalizing on their ability to lead and advocate. They are independent and unencumbered…
Key Tools to Weave a Richer Civic Fabric
What: Learning Lab, Key Tools to Weave a Richer Civic Fabric
When: Monday, September 23, 2013 (4:45pm-5:15pm)
Where: Elizabeth Foyer, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
It is crucial to have a broad base of civically engaged citizens who have positive relationships with public agencies and…
Balancing Donor Engagement and Financial Impact: How to Evaluate Your Spend on Donor Technology
Are you making technology harder than it needs to be?
If you are in an executive leadership position at a community foundation, the answer to this question is probably yes. Why is that? Why do we cringe, ever so slightly, when we hear the word? Technology often seems overwhelming and complicated.…
Servant Leadership & Return-on-Investment
The philanthropic goals of being a servant leader and achieving greater return-on-investment are not mutually exclusive. In fact, we believe they are intertwined. At the Council on Foundations Conference on Community Foundations in San Diego, come explore these ideas in a highly interactive…
The Challenges and Opportunities Foundations Face in a Post-Newtown World
The shootings in Newtown, prison overcrowding, disproportionate minority confinement and Attorney General Holder’s recent advocacy for increased judicial discretion for “low level” offenders have placed increased pressure on community foundations to respond to new community and policy realities.…
Older Adults as Community Assets, or Taking an Encore in Maine
Last week a member of U.S. Senator Susan Collins’ staff called to ask for my help. Senator Collins, who is the ranking member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, was launching a newsletter focused on the issue of aging. She wanted to be sure to cover the most important and interesting topics…