Upcoming Courses
Want to learn how ESS was developed? Click here to see who is responsible for the series.
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Who Developed ESS?
Essential Skills & Strategies for New Grantmakers was developed by several organizations that believed the field would benefit from a standardized curriculum that would provide a common introduction to grantmaking.
The ESS curriculum was developed by a volunteer leadership team that included representatives from the Council on Foundations (Council), the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers (Forum), the Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF), and Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania (GWP). Development of the ESS curriculum was supported by Council on Foundations grants from The Lumina Foundation for Education and the Ford Foundation.
Background
In 2005–2006, the Council, the Forum, GWP, and CMF formed a project partnership and convened colleagues from foundations and philanthropic infrastructure organizations to design a fieldwide new grantmaker curriculum. The Council on Foundations contracted VeraWorks, Inc., to design the curriculum model using an instructional strategy based on the principles of adult learning. The curriculum’s real world case examples and frameworks used in each workshop are drawn from field experience. Four regional associations piloted the curriculum in 2006; the participant and faculty suggestions and revisions were incorporated into each workshop. The Forum and regional associations of grantmakers are key partners in the development and delivery of ESS.
ESS Workgroup
Curriculum Development Team
Judith Donaldson
former Executive Director
Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania
Jennifer Hollahan
former Director of Executive Education
Council on Foundations
Mary O'Neill
Director of Programs
Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers
Vicki Rosenberg
Vice President, Communications, Education and External Relations
Council of Michigan Foundations
Consultant:
Bea Boccalandro
President
VeraWorks, Inc.
Advisory Group
Deborah Bennett
Program Officer
Polk Brothers Foundation
Robin Berkson
Vice President, Member Relations
Donor Forum of Chicago
Imani Constance Burnett
Vice President
Southeastern Council of Foundations
CJ Callen
former Director, Effective Philanthropy
Northern California Grantmakers
Jonathan Goldberg
Grants Administrator and Manager of Information Systems
Surdna Foundation
Mae Hong
Program Director
Field Foundation of Illinois
Jan Jaffe
Senior Director
The Ford Foundation
David Landers
Deputy Director
Philanthropy Northwest
Jane Roxbury
former Director of Member Services
Forum of Regional Association Grantmakers
Marjorie Rutimann
Director of Professional Services
New York Regional Association of Grantmakers