Archive for July, 2009

Community Foundation Insights has undertaken research with over 90 US community foundations to follow up the analysis of the impact of the recession on the field it published in late 2008. Partly funded by the Council on Foundations’ Community Foundation Leadership Team, “Taking Informed Action in Challenging Times” is very detailed and technical in some respects but its summaries and key findings are accessible for use and adaptation by community foundations in other countries and at different stages.

The report conveys the pressures and problems for community foundations themselves as they face the recession and it gives much evidence of how they are using limited resources to meet greater community needs and have emerged as strong community leaders through increased convening, capacity building, and collaboration. The researchers hope that it will inspire future action for increased community impact and sustainability.

The writers list some findings that compare community foundation activities late last year with action being taken now:

•     A five-fold increase in the number of foundations engaged in activity directly linked to the economic downturn, such as conducting targeted research on the impact of the downturn on the community or asking grantees to shift funding to basic services

•     A five-fold growth in the number of foundations that have conducted a scan to know which local organizations are heavily reliant on government funding

•     Three times the number of community foundations that have first – responder lists, provide operating support, and act as a convener of other large funders

•     Approximately twice as many community foundations as before now have safety net funds, shorter decision cycles, and a policy of supporting mergers

•     The number of organizations that make program related investments has grown by 50%.

 As host of TCFN, Community Foundations of Canada will build on the success of the last 10 years of work, engaging existing as well as new participants in topics and issues that strengthen their individual and organizational knowledge, skills and community leadership roles. 

With support from the Bertelsmann Foundation and the C.S. Mott Foundation, an advisory group (consisting of TCFN participants) will develop an action plan for expanding the Network’s reach, impact, and presence.

While there are many topics surrounding the exact steps that need to be taken operationally, the goals that drive a successful expansion are listed below:

 Goals of expansion

• To expand in depth (embed a deeper learning in our existing participant communities) and in width (expand across a rapidly globalizing movement of community foundation work)
• To preserve the intimacy of TCFN’s programming while expanding presence in and participation from a wider segment of the  transatlantic region
• To build on the transatlantic intention of TCFN while adopting a more global perspective
• To identify how to build stronger relationships with organizations globally that focus on community philanthropy
• To identify clear objectives that are communicated to all stakeholders (all TCFN participants, donors, and supporters)

As the advisory group on expansion continues its work, your comments would add tremendous value in guiding the process over the coming months.  Please know that your ideas and thoughts are more than welcome as we put the ideas into action.

Thanks so much for your involvement, and we look forward to your contributions!

Click here to leave your thoughts and ideas.

The Global Fund for Community Foundations invites letters of intent for its main grants round in 2009. Grants will be awarded in the following areas:

1. To support exploration, capacity building and experimentation among individual community foundations, local philanthropic institutions and start-up initiatives

2. To promote collaborative approaches and develop and strengthen networks of community foundations and other philanthropic institutions, nationally, regionally and internationally.

The Fund has a two-step application process. The deadline for letters of intent is 7^th August 2009. Organizations invited to submit a full application should do so by 30^th September 2009.

Letters of intent are also invited for a new grants programme, aimed at supporting and promoting research and thinking around policy development, advocacy and ways strengthening the linkages between community foundations and local philanthropy with the efforts of governments and international donor institutions to promote community-driven development. There is no date restriction for letters of intent and the Fund welcomes inquiries.

Further details are available on the GFCF’s website. Questions or inquiries should be sent to info@wings-globalfund.org.

The Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City has recently concluded the spring 2009 Emerging Leaders International Fellows Program.  This fellowship provided training through applied research and professional mentorships to young scholar-practitioners from overseas, as well as from communities of color under-represented in the U.S. grantmaking sector.

Below please find a brief description of the work completed by this year’s cohort of Emerging Leaders:

Ms. Eva A. Maina Ayiera (Nairobi, Kenya)
(Head of Collaborative Initiatives, Urgent Action Fund-Africa) explored women’s strategies for building community and philanthropy in resource-challenged settings in Kenya and beyond.

Mr. Anderson Giovani Da Silva (Florianópolis, Brazil)
(Consultant, Community Fund for Youth Social Entrepreneurship, ICom – Institute Comunitário Grande Florianópolis) investigated strategies for engaging small and non-traditional donors in community foundations and strategic giving.

Ms. Zuzanna Komornicka (Kraków, Poland)
(Coordinator, “Act Locally” Program, The Snow Mountain Community Fund) considered youth grantmaking programs as a model for building social capital in Poland. 

Mr. Charles Ugalde (Oakland, USA)
(Program Officer, United Way of the Bay Area) researched approaches that can be used by community foundations to adapt to changing environments and increase relevancy.

Ms. Paola Vallejo (Quito, Ecuador)
(Independent Consultancy/Corporate Communications Advisor, IRSE – Instituto de Responsabilidad Social Empresaria) identified emerging models for social change among the Ecuadorian diaspora. 

Ms. Rana Zincir Celal (Lefkosa, Cyprus / Turkey)
(Vice-President, Programs, The Chrest Foundation) considered social responsibility as a paradigm for change in North Cyprus.