|
|
|
| Forum Resource Spotlight |
The results of this annual survey allow you to compare your regional association to others across the country on a variety of topics including membership numbers and types, budgets, services offered to grantmakers, and board characteristics.
|
| Forum Office Contacts |
Have a question for the
Forum Office?
|
|
Be Sure to Read
| |
The latest issue of ASAE's magazine looks at how to attract top candidates in the current job market, creating videos, maintaining influence in the community, and much more.
|
| Newsletter Archive | |
Miss an issue of Forum Bits?
|
|
Network Hires
| |
Bill Cosper joins Donors Forum as its Vice President, Development and Communications. Bill is responsible for leading fundraising and communications planning and activities to achieve the organization's strategic goals.
Paul Kim joins Philanthropy Northwest as Member and Donor Program Associate where he works on engagement and outreach with PNW's learning network.
Leah Lundquist joins Minnesota Council on Foundations as Program Manager- Leadership Development. Leah's responsibilities include designing and facilitating in-person and virtual leadership programming and helping coordinate the Ron McKinley Philanthropy Fellowship.
Jordan Roeda joins Council of Michigan Foundations as Membership & Information Services Coordinator. Jordan assists new members with their application, processes membership renewals, gathers statistics, identifies resources for foundations in Michigan and conducts research projects on topics of interest to our membership.
|
|
|
|
Access Resources from 2015 Forum Annual Conference
| |
 A couple of weeks ago, over 150 attendees from regional associations, sponsor representatives and national affinity groups and other colleague organizations came together in Baltimore, MD for the Forum's Annual Conference. It was our largest conference yet!
Check out #ForumCon15 to see all the great thoughts and selfies shared over the week.
Additional Reflections from Attendees
Session Resources
Pre-Conference Session: RA Staff Summit
Includes notes from job alikes:
- Curriculum for New Grantmakers
- Understanding Your Membership Through Data
- Working with Corporates
- Making the Most of Your Membership Committees
- Get on the Map Engagement
- Managing Up
- Expanding the Reach Across Geography
- Moving Conversations Forward
Annual Meeting
Includes 2014 audited financials, board slate, and Get on the Map Celebration presentation
Share Your Story: It's Been A Long Year Without You My Friends, Let Me Tell You All About It Now that We're Here Again
Includes responses from over 18 regional associations on their biggest challenges, successful recruitment strategies, program or service no longer being provided, and methods to gather member feedback
Breakout: 50 Shades of Engagement
Includes presentation slides, sample documents, and additional reading
Breakout: Philanthropic Investing for Social Innovation
Includes presentation slides, sample documents, and additional reading
Breakout: The Future of Digital Engagement for Associations: 5 Web Trends to Follow
Includes presentation slides
Event Roster (must be logged in to view)
Don't forget to take a look at the full list of registrants with photos and contact information
A big thank you to our hosts, Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers, and our planning committee for helping us put together such a great event!
Have additional materials to share? Please send them to Courtney Moore for inclusion on the Forum's site.
|
|
Updates from Forum Annual Meeting
|  We are excited to welcome two new directors to our board, Ronna Brown, Philanthropy New York and Karen Freeman, Southern California Grantmakers! Joanne Kelley, Colorado Association of Funders, and Janine Lee, Southeastern Council of Foundations
were also elected to a second three year term. Our new officers include: - Chair: Marissa Manlove, Indiana Philanthropy Alliance
- Vice Chair: Jeff Poulos, Associated Grant Makers
- Secretary: Janine Lee, Southeastern Council of Foundations
- Treasurer: David Lindberg, Council of Michigan Foundations
- Immediate Past Chair: David Biemesderfer, Florida Philanthropic Network
We'd like to thank the following outgoing board members for their years of service to the Network: - Tamara Copeland, Washington Regional Associations of Grantmakers
- Laurel O'Sullivan, Advocacy Collaborative, LLC
- Nina Stack, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
|
|
10 Questions or Less for Dwayne Marshall, SECF
| 
10 Questions or Less is a feature through which we get to know regional association staff members a little better- their work, what drives them, and more. This week we talk with Dwayne Marshall, Director of Programs and Partnerships at the Southeastern Council of Foundations. If you would like to suggest someone for a profile, contact Dan Brady.
In your role as Director of Programs and Partnerships at Southeastern Council of Foundations, how does the Forum network contribute to your work?
The Forum supports my role at SECF by helping me connect with my peers in the regional association network to foster opportunities for partnerships and collaboration throughout the calendar year. Through the Forum network, I'm able to both gather and share "best practices" around innovative in-person and virtual programming offerings for our diverse membership base. In addition, I'm able to review the Forum's Grantmaker Education Directory to generate new program ideas that I can possibly implement within our region.
Walk us through a typical day in the SECF office.
I will typically begin the day by reviewing my calendar to assess the list of meetings and conference calls that I have scheduled. Upon review, I'll gather any additional materials or research needed so that I can be fully prepared. My colleague (Will Kauffman) and I will usually have a quick check-in meeting in the morning so that we can determine key deliverables that we want to complete by the end of the day or week based on priorities. My days usually involve a great deal of outreach to both members and various SECF partners regarding programming that we are currently planning in the coming months. We conduct and design a lot of programming with the support of member-led committees so I have quite few committee calls during the week or sometimes multiple committee discussions in one day depending upon how soon a core program is coming up. Lastly, I conduct outreach to potential sponsors and partners that can support SECF programming and have products and services that would be of value to our membership. As you can imagine, there really isn't a day that is typical but I try to start each day with a game plan so that I can feel that I've been productive when the day is done!
Continue reading
|
|
Foundation Center Releases Special Report on Foundation Giving to Philanthropic Infrastructure
| 
In a new special report, Foundation Giving for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Infrastructure 2004-2012, Foundation Center presents the first-ever analysis of U.S. foundation support globally for nonprofit and philanthropic infrastructure organizations and services. This analysis spans nine years of funding, encompassing 717 different funders and 12,200 grants. It was created with funding from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Highlights of the findings are available here:
|
|
What Was Your Best Program of Q2?
| |
What was your regional association's best program of the second quarter? Have you added it to our programming directory?
Submitting a program is easy through our web form.
Latest Additions to the Directory
Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers' 2015 Annual Meeting
Featured a keynote address from Jamie Bennett, Executive Director, ArtPlace America on the role of funders and artists in community development and creating place.
Workshop with donors, trustees and family foundation staff to share experiences of documenting donor intent and putting family history to work for your philanthropy.
Thank you Elisabeth Hyleck, Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers, for the latest additions!
If you have any questions about the directory, please feel free to contact Dan Brady. |
|
Recent RA Release
|  Annual Report 2014 | 2015
Associated Grant Makers' annual report shares highlights of its programming, resources and special initiatives, financials, and members and supporters demonstrating AGM's voice in our philanthropic community.
 2014 Report to Members
Minnesota Council on Foundations' highlights a year of accomplishments including an office move, success in diversifying vendors, addition of new membership categories, increased role in public policy, and finances overview.
|
|
|
|
|
Associated Grant Makers Annual Meeting Recap
| |
Guest post from Gail Pinkham, Associated Grant Makers
In June Associated Grant Makers hosted over 200 foundation and philanthropic leaders for our 46th Annual Meeting at the State Street Pavilion in historic Fenway Park. It was the perfect day to be at the ballpark and the program lineup hit it right out-of-the-park!
The all-star line-up of speakers included our honored guest and speaker Governor of Massachusetts Charlie Baker, Center for Effective Philanthropy's Phil Buchanan, Ellie Buteau, Kevin Dolduc and Mary Beckman from the Public Charities division of the Attorney General's office. The program featured a dialogue focused on moving from rhetoric to best practice in philanthropy and attendees took part in networking, active learning and sharing with colleagues. Check out highlights, including selfies with familiar faces and sporty backgrounds on our storify of the AGM's Annual Meeting.
Also read a recap of the event from Maggie Gunther Osborn, Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, on AGM's blog.
Photo Credit Bluefin Studios
|
Forward Thinking - a Podcast Series Exploring the Future of Philanthropy
| |
Trailblazing entrepreneurs and next-generation philanthropists are transforming philanthropy with innovative strategies and ideas. Join host Dori Kreiger, Director of Client Experience at Foundation Source, as she explores the insights and experiences of inspiring individuals who are redefining giving. With nearly 20 years in philanthropy, Dori brings vast experience with funder networks serving philanthropic individuals and families.
Whether you are a member of a philanthropic family or serve multi-generational families in an advisory capacity, Forward Thinking offers advice, experience, and insight into important issues facing philanthropy.
Listen to a preview or check out the latest segment, Succession Happens, with Mary Galeti, Executive Director and Vice-Chair of the Tecovas Foundation. The content is free and easily accessible on iTunes or on Foundation Source's website.
|
|
Reminder: Webinar Series Opportunity on Philanthropy Consulting
| |
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. Remaining webinars include:
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.
|
|
Harnessing the Power of the Nonprofit Vote
| |
Independent Sector, National Council of Nonprofits, Nonprofit VOTE and United Way Worldwide have joined together on a new nonpartisan initiative to encourage nonprofit staff, board members and other volunteers to get registered and vote. Voting and active citizenship are vital to our mission, programs and impact on public policy as nonprofits. Having our staff, board members and other volunteers registered and voting makes us stronger and more effective nonprofits better positioned to encourage our communities to engage as well.
Nonprofit Votes Count's resources and tools are designed to make it easy for nonprofits or any civic organization to ensure all people connected to your work are registered and ready to vote in the next election.
Find out more at www.nonprofitvotescount.org
|
Forum Network in the News
|  Recent media mentions of regional associations around the country:
Council of Michigan Foundations: 8 ways to improve your conference with Google tools (highlights CMF's use of a hashtag for its upcoming annual conference)
Donors Forum: Future of Chicago Non-profits Uncertain (highlights the Building Stronger Illinois" campaign)
Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers: A simple way to make an impact in a complicated world (quotes report on giving circles)
Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington: How Oregon Communities are Fixing the Racial Gap in Political Leadership (cites data from Grantmaking to Communities of Color in Oregon)
San Diego Grantmakers: zero8hundred Eases Military Transition to Civilian World (highlights San Diego Grantmakers contributions to veterans issues in the region)
Southern California Grantmakers: LA Seeks Child Protection Rainmaker (quotes President, Chris Essel)
|
|
Upcoming Events from Our Colleagues in the Sector
| |
Please consider sharing these opportunities with your networks
The Victories of the Paid Leave Movement - Will Legislative Wins Reach the Low Wage Workforce?
Friday September 11, 2015 | 1-2 PM EDT
Hosts: Workforce Matters and Grantmakers Income Security Task Force (GIST)
This webinar for funders will provide an update on the passage of paid family leave laws in the states and what needs to be done to ensure the laws are implemented, families are aware of these benefits, and outcomes evaluated. Special guests include CLASP, Family Values@Work, Family Forward Oregon, A Better Balance, and Seattle Office for Civil Rights.
Join to learn about how advocacy groups are organizing around implementation, what are the most pressing issues, emerging successes, and opportunities for action and investment.
GCYF Annual Meeting: Learning from the Past, Preparing for the Future
November 3-4, 2015
Washington, DC
Host: Grantmakers for Children, Youth & Families
This year marks GCYF's 30th anniversary of promoting effective grantmaking that integrates research, policy and practice to bring about systemic change for children, youth and families. The convening will consider lessons we have learned as CYF grantmakers, and consider how these lessons apply to the future - not only to the individual work of grantmakers, but the work we do collectively to strengthen philanthropy to take on the many challenges that children, youth and families face.
|
|
Highlights from RA Blogging
| 
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers (via the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation blog)
|
|
Upcoming Events
| 
|
|
Forum Office Contacts
|
 Dan 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.
- 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.
- 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 Manager  Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers |
|
|
|
|
