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| Forum Resource Spotlight |
RA members receive a special 20% discount off the Toolkit +Coaching, a 16-week guided strategic planning process for community engagement to help companies develop thoughtful strategies that leverage corporate assets to benefit the community.
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| Forum Office Contacts |
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Be Sure to Read
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This guide from Arabella Advisors, Exponent Philanthropy, and Mission Investors Exchange addresses the challenges and highlights the opportunities for small-staffed foundations. It demystifies the process of designing and implementing an effective impact investing strategy, offering advice, tools, and real-world examples of impact investing by foundations with few or no staff.
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Top 10 Association Management & Operations Resources
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15 Ideas for Easy, Sharable Video Content
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Top 10 Philanthropy Resources
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| New Hires in the Network | |
Rocio Bonsall has joined Southern California Grantmakers as its new Public Policy Manager. Rocio served as SCG's Public Policy Fellow last year.
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| Newsletter Archive | |
Miss an issue of Forum Bits?
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What Does Your RA Offer for New Grantmaker Training?
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Based on the interest and excitement in the Network around the new grantmaker curricula being offered by regional associations around the country, the Grantmaker Education Committee would like to build on this amazing energy by creating an organized system for collecting and sharing what RAs are using to train your members who are new to their jobs. The Grantmaker Education Committee guides the Forum's efforts to support RAs' needs related to grantmaker education and is also working through discussions and ideas on a potential new collective national curriculum for the Forum Network.
How to Share Your RA's Process
We are interested in learning about what each RA offers as new grantmaker training. Our goal is to use this knowledge to develop a system for sharing and collaboration on these programs and others.
We ask that every RA respond to this brief survey (one respondent per RA please) by Friday, October 9. The survey should take 5-7 minutes to complete.
Using the results of the survey, the committee will develop and share a set of recommendations for next steps.
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Three RA CEOs Named Among Top Women in Philanthropy
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Chatman, who boasts more than 325,000 followers on Twitter, wrote: "Whether writing a book, giving a speech at a philanthropy forum, sitting down for a national radio or television interview, connecting with people through social media outlets or sharing their philanthropic story with investors, employees, grantees or volunteers, these Top 20 Women Executives, Thinkers and Experts are some of the philanthropic sector's most influential leaders."
More than 400 nominees for Top 20 Women in the philanthropic community. You can see the full list on Chatman's website.
Congratulations Marissa, Janine, and Trista!
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Keep 5 Local Campaign Launches in West Virginia
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Philanthropy West Virginia has launched a statewide campaign, Keep 5 Local, with its Give2WV: Community Foundations Network to encourage West Virginians to give 5% of their assets to their local community foundation.
Philanthropy West Virginia's President and CEO, Paul Daugherty explains the importance of the campaign: "A century of wealth accumulation is transferring from generation to generation, and this is an opportunity not to be missed. We can transform our state, but we have to start now. A lot of that wealth is expected to leave the state, but if we manage to keep just 5 percent of it in West Virginia, our future could see thriving communities in every corner of the Mountain State."
Visit the Keep 5 Local website for resources on why residents should participate, how to get involved, and a full list of community foundations in the state.
Research for Keep 5 Local was completed by the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy West Virginia with multiple investments from local community foundations.
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Recent RA Releases
|  2015 Profile of Education Giving: Highlights
In 2015, ABAG disseminated an online survey to all ABAG members about the education-related organizations they support and their education focus areas. The findings provide a useful snapshot of the various types of education giving and the broad scope of community investments in local education efforts.
 From Grand Vision to Grand Action: Revitalizing a Downtown and Demonstrating Philanthropy
The resurgence of Grand Rapids, Michigan, starting with a focus on its downtown, demonstrates the benefits resulting from long-term collaborative action in philanthropy. This report from The Philanthropic Collaborative and The Council of Michigan Foundations highlights this accomplishment.
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It Isn't Enough to Talk About Diversity: 4 Ways to Tell if You're Doing Enough
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Trista Harris, President of Minnesota Council on Foundations, recently wrote an opinion piece featured in The Chronicle of Philanthropy on what additional questions organizations should be asking about their own operations around diversity and equity and highlights some of MCF's DEI work.
Nonprofit and philanthropic organizations have long valued diversity, economic development, and equity. We write about those principles, campaign for them, and incorporate them into our goals. We talk a good game.
But do we go far enough to carry out those goals? Here are some questions to help your organization think that through.
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Looking for Program Ideas?
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Have you searched the Grantmaker Education Programming Directory? This searchable database of regional associations' "best" grantmaker education programs, favorite speakers, and planning tools, was developed by and for regional associations to help them more effectively and efficiently meet their members' diverse educational needs. It is easy to search and filter to help you find your next great event.
What was your regional association's best program of the summer? Have you added it to the directory?
Submitting a program is easy through our web form.
If you have any questions about the directory, please feel free to contact Dan Brady.
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The Music of Philanthropy
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Maggie Gunther Osborn, President of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, contributed the latest post in an occasional series on the Center for Effective Philanthropy blog providing perspectives from regional associations on philanthropy and foundation effectiveness.
These past few months have marked my third summer living in Connecticut. After far too long, I decided it was finally time to take advantage of New England's incredible music scene. And so I spent an amazing evening at the Newport Jazz Festival and another, a few weeks later, at Tanglewood to hear the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Both were breathtaking concerts. While I took in the cool air and amazing music, I allowed my mind to wander. Remembering that I had volunteered to write this blog post, I started to think about philanthropy. As the sounds washed over me, I began to think about the characteristics of effective philanthropy and how they relate to music - is effective philanthropy more like classical music or jazz?
Continue reading
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Resources from Recent Programming
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Public Policy Round Robin
Wednesday, September 9
These monthly calls are an opportunity for regional association staff to exchange information on policy work, both legislative and administrative.
Listen to the recording
From Get on the Map to Regional Giving Reports
Tuesday, September 15
This webinar with our Foundation Center colleagues discussed how we can leverage the data collected for Get on the Map to develop a model for creating regional giving reports, including ideas for operationalizing the model in 2016.
Covering Nonprofit Costs - Update on Government Action and the Role of Philanthropy
Thursday, September 17
This webinar discussed the current implementation status of the OMB Uniform Guidance and how regional associations and state associations of nonprofits are working to educate members and policymakers on the general issue of indirect costs. Speakers included: Nancy Jamison, San Diego Grantmakers; Jan Masaoka, CalNonprofits; and David Thompson, National Council of Nonprofits.
Sponsored by The Wallace Foundation, this webinar for regional associations and your members provided a guided tour of StrongNonprofits.org, its key tools and guides, and how a training evaluation informed the creation of the site.
Watch the recording and download the slides
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Upcoming Programming for Grantmakers- Share With Your Members
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Through colleagues in the Network and partnerships with other organizations in the field, the following webinars are available to members of regional associations. Please consider sharing with your networks and contact Mary O'Neill with any questions.
Essentials for Creating an Incredible Corporate Community Involvement Program (Hosted by Changing Our World)
Tuesday, September 29, 12:30-1:30 pm ET
This webinar will help you chart a clear and attention-worthy plan to ensure your program not only reaches its core constituents, but also extends beyond its philanthropic function to serve as a valuable marketing and branding asset for your company and clearly demonstrates impact on an organization.
Speakers
- Alice Truscott, Program Manager, Alcoa Foundation
- Lindsey Marshall, Vice President, Research, Ketchum
 Exploring the State of Opportunity for Boys and Men of Color (Hosted by Council of Michigan Foundations)Tuesday, September 29, 1-2:30 pm ET
Recent events in Ferguson, Baltimore, Cleveland and elsewhere have catalyzed conversations at kitchen tables and foundation boardrooms about challenges facing boys and men of color.
A new alliance of foundations from Michigan and beyond is providing essential leadership for replacing those challenges with opportunities.
Join Tonya Allen, president and CEO, The Skillman Foundation and co-chair, the Executives' Alliance to Expand Opportunities for Boys and Men of Color and Shawn Dove, CEO, Campaign for Black Male Achievement to further understand how foundations are working together to achieve change. Learn how this work impacts the communities it serves and how to leverage the alliance's learnings to inform your foundation's work.
 Revitalizing Our Cities - How Foundations and Grantmakers Can Invest in a Better Economic Future (Sponsored by Venable LLC)Wednesday, October 21, 1-2 pm ET
Register to participate
Across the country, large cities are grappling with the challenges of increasing economic disparity and urban decline. Alongside the efforts of state and local governments, private foundations and grantmakers can play a leading role in fostering economic revitalization and creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs and visionaries who see a brighter future for our cities. Please join Venable LLP and the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers for an analysis and discussion of program-related investments and similar strategies to make a meaningful impact on the economic landscape. Our panel will address both legal and practical considerations for foundations, including case studies, and lead a conversation on current priority areas for some of the cities at the forefront of these efforts.
Speakers
 What Every Funder Needs to Know to Evaluate Technology Requests (Hosted by Idealware) October 27 & 29
This two-day webinar (October 27th and 29th ) will empower more program officers and other decision makers to look closely at proposals that include technology requests and determine when it is the right fit for a particular project and when it's an unnecessary "extra."
Become a Promotional Partner By working with Idealware to promote the course, your members will receive a discount code that allows them to register for $10 off the registration fee of $95. You'll also receive a full list of your participating members. As an added bonus, you'll be invited to send a staff member from your RA through the training series for free. As a promotional partner we ask that you market the course to your members by sending, at a minimum, one standalone email. Want to do more? To support your marketing efforts, Idealware has created a detailed marketing packet that includes a course description, emails, and social media posts written with your members in mind. Contact Lauren Zdunczyk at Idealware if you would like more information and she will send you a specific discount code, a link to the registration page, and the marketing packet.
Building a Program-Based Budget, and Other Secrets to Successful Financial Management (Sponsored by The Wallace Foundation)
Tuesday, Nov. 3rd, 2-3pm ET
Do you know the real cost to your nonprofit of running each individual program? Developing an accurate budget can help you better understand your program's true costs. This webinar will demonstrate a free, newly developed planning tool designed to assist nonprofits with aligning budget line items for restricted (and unrestricted) revenue sources.
Participants will receive a free copy of the tool for use in their own organizations, as well as a virtual tour of StrongNonprofits.org- a free, web-based financial management toolkit and an introduction to some of its other top tools, such as:
- A cash flow projection template
- A guide to budget development
- A tool for making decisions on new funding opportunities
- A webinar to help board members understand their financial responsibilities
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Reminder: Webinar Series Opportunity on Philanthropy Consulting
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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.
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Forum Network in the News
|  Recent media mentions of regional associations around the country:
Donors Forum: Summer counseling aimed at getting more high school grads in college (cites a report sponsored by Donors Forum on Chicago's college access and success landscape)
Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers: Women's Giving Circle of Harford Celebrates 5 Years of Philanthropy (references the Handbook for Giving Circle Hosts)
Minnesota Council on Foundations: Foundations pave the way for more racially diverse young leaders (uses MCF's Ron McKinley Philanthropy Fellowship program as an example of cultivating new leaders in philanthropy) and Tim Walz praises nonprofits, talks policy with nonprofit leaders (coverage of a joint event featuring U.S. Rep. Tim Walz as speaker)
Philanthropy New York: Kevin Spacey and Cal Ripken Jr. to Team Up for Fund-Raising Gala (quotes President, Ronna Brown)
Philanthropy Ohio: Wean takes philanthropy in the Valley to higher level and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 2015 Award (coverage of awards given out at recent annual conference)
Philanthropy West Virginia: New 'Keep 5 Local' program in WV urges to give back (article about Philanthropy WV's Keep 5 Local campaign)
Wisconsin Philanthropy Network: Connecting to Philanthropy: Viewpoints conference offers grantmakers and nonprofits unique learning opportunities (co-written by President and CEO, Jill Van Calster, and Director of Development, Laura Worcester)
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Highlights from RA Blogging
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Upcoming Events
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FOR REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
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Forum Office Contacts
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 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.
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Courtney Moore, Member Services and Operations Manager  Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers |
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