Forum Bits 
The newsletter of the regional association network
 
June 5, 2015    
In This Issue
Book Your Room at the Hotel Monaco Baltimore
Find Your Next Program in the Grantmaker Education Programming Directory
Introducing Wisconsin Philanthropy Network
Product Teams Framework for Forum Network Technology
The Network Responds to David Callahan Op-Ed
This is Creative Placemaking
MCF's Ron McKinley Philanthropy Fellowship Highlighted by NCFP
Laurie Liles Hired as CEO of Arizona Grantmakers Forum
Recent RA Releases
Mark Your Calendars for Upcoming Programming
NTEN's Leading Change Summit Discount Available
Reminder: Webinar Series on Philanthropy Consulting
Forum Network in the News
RA Blogging Highlights
Upcoming Events
Forum Office Contacts
Forum Resource Spotlight

 

Our online calendar highlights the Network's upcoming events including RA conferences, annual meetings, major trainings, etc. Please send any event details to Courtney Moore for inclusion.

 
Forum Office Contacts
 
Have a question for the 
Forum Office?
 
 
Be Sure to Read

Associations Now May June 2015
  

The latest issue of ASAE's looks at why personalization matters more than ever for associations

Reports from the Field


Change Agent, Vol. 1 (The Communications Network)

Foundation Funding for Arts Education: An Update on Foundation Trends (Grantmakers in the Arts and Foundation Center)

Top 10 Association Management & Operations Resources

 

3 Tips for Writing Great Intros

 

Building Community Takes Time

 

Do You Really, Seriously Need a Board Retreat?

 

Going from Good to Great by Repurposing Content

 

How Fellowships Can Inform Talent Management

 

Membership Memo: Who Matters Most?

 

Plan Meetings with Introverts in Mind

 

The Remote Office: Putting Free Video Conferencing Tools to the Test

 

Story Time: Member Engagement Gone Awry 

 

Why Talk is Making a Comeback

 

Top 10 Philanthropy Resources

11 Paths to Effective Giving - Recapturing What Is Powerful

Borrowing is the New Innovation

Building a Bigger Tent for Effective Philanthropy

Forecast for Major Funds: Increased Giving in 2015

How Flexible Are You, Really?


Implicit Bias and Its Role in Philanthropy and Grantmaking


Philanthropic Checks and Balances


A Proven Playbook for Increased Effectiveness

 

A Watch-Out for Private Foundations Offering Prizes


Why is it important to have an internal mission that is separate and distinct from an external mission?

 

Newsletter Archive

Miss an issue of Forum Bits?
 
Network Hires

The Council of Michigan Foundations has welcomed two new members to their team: Katie Janowiak as Director of Communications and Information Services and Bobby Siporin as Program Coordinator.

Vrylena Olney has joined Maine Philanthropy Center as its new Program and Communications Director.

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Book Your Room in Baltimore This Summer

Hotel Monaco Baltimore Are you planning to join us in Baltimore, MD July 21-24 for our Annual Conference, PolicyWorks Institute, or Drupal-Salesforce Users Group Session? We encourage you to secure your room at the Hotel Monaco at our discounted rate, $169/night plus tax. This special rate will only be available until Monday, June 29 but there is a limited quantity of rooms and may sell out beforehand. 

 

Book your room online or by calling 1.800.Kimpton and ask for "2015 Forum Annual Conference". Our group code is 17401002373.
 

Also don't forget to register! Visit each event's webpage for registration, agenda, and other event information.

Find Your Next Program in the Grantmaker Education Programming Directory

Looking for ideas for your RA's next program? Search the Grantmaker Education Programming Directory to find past programs that have been successful for other regional associations in the Network. This database is easy to search and filter to help you find your next great event. 

 

Have your own program to submit? Submitting a program is easy through our web form.


If you have any questions about the directory, please feel free to contact Dan Brady.

 

Introducing Wisconsin Philanthropy Network

Wisconsin Philanthropy Network As of May 19, Donors Forum of Wisconsin is now Wisconsin Philanthropy Network (WPN).

 

According to Jill Van Calster, President and CEO, "Wisconsin Philanthropy Network more fully expresses our mission and vision for the future without deviating from the values and principles that our organization has embraced over the past 37 years."

 

Check out their new name and look at wiphilanthropy.org!

 

Product Teams Framework for Forum Network Technology

Jon Stahl Jon Stahl, Communications Director at Philanthropy Northwest recently shared a piece to the Forum's blog on applying a "Product Teams" framework to the Drupal-Salesforce Project.

 

You know that feeling you get when someone lays out a framework that explains a whole set of your experiences and intuitions all at once and gives you unexpected insights into your work? (I'm sure there's a long German word for that, but it eludes me right now.)

 

In any case, that was the frisson that went up my spine when Sam Dorman first told me about his work building "digital product teams" with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). He recently wrote a fabulous article about it for Greenpeace's Mobilisation Lab, and there are strong parallels to a project near and dear to my own work as one of the participating regional associations on the Forum's Drupal-Salesforce Platform.

 

The gist of the product teams approach is recognizing that great technology is essential to delivering our programs and creating the impact we want to have in the world. Each key technology system is treated as a "product" and managed by a team comprised of both technology people and "domain experts" who bring in-the-trenches programmatic and business process knowledge. Most importantly, though, products are resourced and managed on a permanent, ongoing basis, not as one-time, "big-bang" initiatives.

 

Continue reading for Jon's full post

 

Forum Network Responds to David Callahan Op-Ed

On May 31, an op-ed appeared in the New York Times, Who Will Watch the Charities?, from David Callahan, founder and editor of Inside Philanthropy, calling for more oversight of the philanthropic sector and presents four ideas for reform. The Forum and Philanthropy New York, along with others in the field, have submitted responses over the past couple of days.

 

On Connecticut Council for Philanthropy's blog, Maggie Osborn highlights philanthropy's positive relationship with the state's regulators and its Guiding Principles and Effective Practices for Connecticut Grantmakers. It also features both the Forum's and PNY's letters to the editor. Read the full post

 

Other responses:

This Is Creative Placemaking 

ArtPlace Last month, Dan Brady, the Forum's Communications Manager, had the pleasure of attending the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers (ABAG) Annual Meeting at the Walters Art Museum in downtown Baltimore. The keynote address by ArtPlace America's Executive Director Jamie Bennett introduced the idea of "Creative Placemaking" to ABAG's membership. 

 

ArtPlace America (ArtPlace) is a ten-year collaboration among a number of foundations, federal agencies, and financial institutions that works to position arts and culture as a core sector of comprehensive community planning and development in order to help strengthen the social, physical, and economic fabric of communities. ArtPlace focuses its work on creative placemaking, which describes projects in which art plays an intentional and integrated role in place-based community planning and development.
 

Ultimately, the regionally defined approach championed by ArtPlace and regional associations such as ABAG lead to real, positive change in our communities. As Jamie said in his presentation, the "creative" part of "creative placemaking" is an adverb describing the making, not the place. Creative solutions are what's needed to address today's challenges. Given recent events, no one understands that more than the citizens of Baltimore. 

 

Continue reading for the full post

 

MCF's Ron McKinley Philanthropy Fellowship Highlighted by NCFP

Ron McKinley Philanthropy Fellowship The latest issue of Family Giving News from the National Center for Family Philanthropy features a story on fellowship programs in the field and how family foundations might use them as a strategy to enhance the impact of their grantmaking mission. One of the three fellowship programs highlighted is The Ron McKinley Philanthropy Fellowship, hosted at Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF).

 

Read the article to learn more about this fellowship and others in family philanthropy

 

Laurie Liles Hired as CEO of Arizona Grantmakers Forum

Laurie Liles

Arizona Grantmakers Forum Board of Directors has named Laurie Liles as the next President and CEO of Arizona Grantmakers Forum, effective June 1, 2015.

 

Laurie brings more than two decades of association leadership and advocacy experience and previously served as CEO of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association. Prior to assuming that role, she was AzHHA's senior vice president of public affairs and led the association's state and federal advocacy efforts for 19 years. Her career began working on the research staff of the Arizona House of Representatives and holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Northern Arizona University. In December 2014, she earned a master's degree from Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

 

Continue reading for the full announcement

 

Recent RA Release

ABAG Logo

Funder Brief: Supporting Justice for LGBTQ Marylanders
The second in a series of briefs as part of a project developed by Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers (ABAG) with its member, the Maryland Legal Services Corporation, to increase awareness and understanding of the value of civil legal aid. Find out more about this project.

Fast Forward Series Logo Fast Forward: George Cheung
Latest podcast from Minnesota Council on Foundations featuring MCF's Bob Tracy talking with George Cheung about Joyce Foundation's democracy strategy, the meaning of civic engagement grantmaking, and resources grantmakers can use to learn more.


Mark Your Calendars for Upcoming Programming
Register Now

Public Policy Round Robin

Tuesday, June 9: 2-3 pm ET

 

These monthly calls are an opportunity for regional association staff to exchange information on policy work, both legislative and administrative. 

This month, we will hear from Bob Tracy at Minnesota Council on Foundations about their efforts to engage and mobilize their public committee members. 

 

Please register in advance

 

NTEN's Leading Change Summit Discount Available

NTEN LCS 2015 The Forum has signed on as a Supporting Organization of NTEN's Leading Change Summit, the strategic retreat for nonprofit staff involved in leadership, strategic development, technological evolution, and creating true social impact.

As a Supporting Organization, regional associations and your members receive a discounted registration rate. Use promo code 15LCSMEM to receive this special rate!

The Leading Change Summit (15LCS) on Sept. 13-16 in Washington, DC is your own strategic planning retreat, where you can bring an idea, meet new partners, engage in workshops, and gather input, so you leave ready to put your plan into action! Learn more and register.
 

Reminder: Webinar Series Opportunity on Philanthropy Consulting

NNCG logo

Please consider sharing this opportunity with your members.

 

Based on the groundbreaking Spring issue of The Foundation Review, the first edition dedicated to the practice of philanthropy consulting, the National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers (NNCG) is presenting a series of seven webinars that will dive deeper into many of the publication's article topics.

 

This series is co-sponsored by the Council on Foundations, the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, The Foundation Center, Learn Philanthropy, Northern California Grantmakers, and The Foundation Review.

 

NNCG members can register at no cost and non-NNCG members can receive a multi-webinar discount. 

Learn more about the series and how to register

 

Forum Network in the News

Recent media mentions of regional associations around the country:

Minnesota Council on Foundations: Science Museum head to lead Minnesota Philanthropy Partners (quotes President, Trista Harris)

San Diego Grantmakers: Baltimore Riots Show America Has Forgotten King's Lesson (highlights from a SDG program featuring Ben Jealous, former head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)

Highlights from RA Blogging

 

Upcoming Events

Calendar of Events

FOR REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS


Tuesday, June 9, 2-3 pm ET: Public Policy Round Robin. Conference Call. Register to participate.

 

July 21-23, 2015: Forum Annual Conference. Baltimore, MD. Book your stay!

 

July 23-24, 2015: Drupal-Salesforce Users Group Meeting. Baltimore, MD. 

 

July 23-24, 2015: PolicyWorks for Philanthropy Institute. Baltimore, MD. 

 

FOR REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & YOUR MEMBERS  (Upcoming 90 Days) See Full Listing


June 8-10, 2015:2015 Family Foundation Forum. Williamsburg, VA. Philanthropy Southwest and Southeastern Council of Foundations.

June 11, 2015: 2015 WV Community Foundations Institute. Roanoke, WV. Philanthropy West Virginia.

June 18-20, 20152015 WV Philanthropic Ethics & Leadership AcademyMorgantown, WV. Philanthropy West Virginia.

Wednesday, June 24, 1-2 pm ET: The Use, Roles, and Capabilities Needed from External Consultants in Philanthropy. Webinar. National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers.

Wednesday, July 15, 2-3 pm ET: Quarterly Policy Webinar: Food Policy Initiatives. Webinar. Save the Date!

Wednesday, August 12, 1-2:30 pm ET: Tri-State Community Foundation Partnership Webinar Series: Data Visualization- Turning Data into Compelling Pictures. Webinar. Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, Council of Michigan Foundations, Philanthropy Ohio.  
 
Forum Office Contacts
OfficeDan Brady, Communications Manager (202-521-9161)
  • Contact Dan with questions about the Knowledgebase, content management, listservs, social networking, and online content strategy.
Courtney Moore, Member Services and Operations Manager (202-888-7428)
  • Contact Courtney for general information about Forum membership and services, regional association contact information, conference and teleconference logistics, member surveys, and orientation for new regional association staff. Courtney is also the main contact for regional association staff updates.
Mary O'Neill, Interim Director (202-457-8784)
  • Contact Mary with questions about grantmaker education, public policy, organizational partnerships, and special projects such as the Essential Skills and Strategies for New Grantmakers.
Val Rozansky, Director of Knowledge Services (202-888-7430)
  • Contact Val with questions about the Forum's Knowledge Management Initiative, KM system partnerships, membership databases, and all issues relating to technology and electronic communications. 
Erin Skene-Pratt, Director of PolicyWorks for Philanthropy (517-402-2440)
  • Contact Erin with questions about the Forum's public policy work including protecting the charitable deduction, building capacity of regional associations to engage in policy, and the PolicyWorks for Philanthropy initiative.
Courtney Moore, Member Services and Operations ManagerForum Logo
Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers
202-888-7428|[email protected]