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| Forum Resource Spotlight |
Looking for advice from your regional association peers? Have a great idea to share? Consider sharing over one of 9 listserves available to RA staff.
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| Forum Office Contacts |
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Forum Office?
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Be Sure to Read
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This publication from Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) begins an exploration into the set of influences shaped by grantmakers' founders and leaders that affect organizations' internal cultures. Funders can use this document to support conversations among board and staff to articulate and understand the origins of organizational assumptions, examine beliefs and behaviors, and identify aspects of culture that drive or impede effective work.
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Top 10 Association Management & Operations Resources
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Top 10 Philanthropy Resources
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| New Hires in the Network | |
Melissa Leon has joined San Diego Grantmakers as its new Administrative Coordinator.
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| Newsletter Archive | |
Miss an issue of Forum Bits?
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New Member Benefit: ClickTime for Time & Expense Tracking
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The Forum has partnered with ClickTime, a leader in nonprofit timesheets, to offer a 66% discount on its time and expense tracking services to regional associations and your members. Thousands of grantmakers and other nonprofits use ClickTime to increase efficiency, ensure compliance, and better manage programs and grants.
The Forum staff have begun using it and it's been tremendously helpful. The package includes:
- Timesheets
- 60+ Pre-Built Reports
- Mobile App
- Complex Billing Rates
- Timesheet Approvals
- Time Off
- Expenses
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Collaborating with the State Priority Partnership in Your State: Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington
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This is the second in a series of 3 examples of how regional associations are working with the State Priority Partnership organization in their regions.
Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington (GOSW) relies on the Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP,) home of the State Priorities Partnership in Oregon, to inform members on issues related to poverty. Most recently OCPP worked with GOSW to present an overview of poverty in the region including poverty in communities of color and rural areas, underlying factors that causing people to struggle financially, and how philanthropy can help.
"GOSW members turn to the OCPP for reliable statistics on poverty in Oregon," said Joyce White, Executive Director, Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington. "OCPP's analysis informs our members' funding decisions and their efforts to address some of the most complex problems facing our communities. Having research as the basis of decision-making ensures that resources are being invested wisely."
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Sabbaticals Matter
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Sab-bat-i-cal, as defined by Merriam Webster, "is a period of time during which someone does not work at his or her regular job and is able to rest, travel, do research, etc."
For the two months of August and September, thanks to the support of the CNJG board and the dedication of the staff, I was able to have a sabbatical to do all that and a whole lot of etc., etc., etc. The experience was beyond my wildest dreams and I often felt that I was moving within an amazing state of grace.
August was a total immersion into New York and its bounty of culture. I blogged about what I was doing, seeing, and experiencing at cultureeveryday.tumblr.com, which you are welcome to check out.
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Resources Now Available: White House Briefing on Immigration for Regional Associations
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 On September 28, the White House hosted a special briefing on immigration for regional associations with Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR). The meeting was a special opportunity for regionals to learn about relevant demographics and current immigration issues; examine recent policies and programs; and discuss the role of funder networks and potential partnerships with government agencies.
Resources from this meeting including notes and presentation slides are now available on the Forum's website (login required)
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Latest Regional Releases
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In this episode of Donors Forum Radio, Senator Heather Steans (D-7th) speaks with Doug Schenkelberg, Donors Forum's Vice President of Strategy and Policy, about the Illinois budget crisis.
Hear her two reasons why there hasn't been meaningful action on the budget, why philanthropy can't "fill the gaps," what it will take to get movement, and more.
 In this interview, Akhtar Badshah, founder and chief catalyst of Catalytic Innovators Group, talks about impact investing, mission-driving corporate giving, and the importance of putting a face and name to the communities grantmakers serve. He led Microsoft's global community investment and employee program for 10 years and will be speaking at the Minnesota Council on Foundation's Annual Conference.
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Mark Your Calendars for Upcoming Network Programming
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Public Policy Round Robin
Tuesday, November 10, 2-3 pm ET
These monthly calls are an opportunity for regional association staff to exchange information on policy work, both legislative and administrative.
Register to participate
New RA Staff & CEO Orientation
Tuesday, November 17, 2-3 pm ET
Join the Forum for an orientation webinar for new regional association staff and CEOS. This is a great opportunity to learn more about what the Forum Network is, what regional associations of grantmakers are, and how to connect with the Network of over 200 fellow regional association staff. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions directly to Forum staff and each other.
Register to participate
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Update Your Profile in Member Directory
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Help us create a vibrant Member Directory by updating your profile!
Our Member Directory is a powerful tool for connecting with your peers. Quickly find your colleagues' contact information, explore their areas of interest, and connect on social media. Add your photo, update your information, and learn more about the people in our network!
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What Has Been Your Most Successful Program This Year?
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Have you submitted it to 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.
Submitting a program is easy through our web form.
If you have any questions about the directory, please feel free to contact Mary O'Neill.
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Upcoming Programming for Grantmakers- Share With Your Members
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Through 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.
 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
 21st Century Civic Infrastructure: An Opportunity for 21st Century Grantmaking (In partnership with the Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions)
Thursday, November 12, 3-4 pm ET
In the 21st century, our 20th century problems persist and in some cases have grown worse. We have a widening income gap, ongoing racial inequities and injustice, and environmental challenges that threaten our planet. Our political system leaves more and more people out of the equation, and increased political and social polarization makes problem-solving more difficult.
To truly address these 21st century problems, our society needs 21st century systems and solutions - but what does that look like? How do we get there? Where do we start?
Join Jill Blair and Malka Kopell, authors of the Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions' recent publication, " 21st Century Civic Infrastructure: Under Construction", to discuss what 21st century civic infrastructure could accomplish if we built it with intention. Share with colleagues when you have seen and supported a 21st century effort - or why you haven't!
This will be an engaged dialogue among participants - an opportunity to share experience, ask questions and identify opportunities to employ the capacities we now have as a society to solve the problems we still face. Once you sign up we will ask you to share your questions so that we can build a conversation you want to join!
 Stand For Your Mission (In partnership with the National Council of Nonprofits) Monday, November 16, 1-2 pm ET
No matter what mission your organization and your members are committed to, we're confident that more people standing up for your mission can help make the difference. Join us for a webinar to learn about the Stand for Your Mission campaign and, in particular, why board members can be the most influential advocates for the mission of your organization. During the presentation you will hear examples of how nonprofit and foundation board members are serving as ambassadors for this work and learn about tools that can help board leaders further the advocacy work of their organizations.
Stand For Your Mission is a coordinated campaign designed to raise awareness - specifically among nonprofit board members - that being an external advocate for the nonprofit's mission is an important and expected role for every board member. Stand for Your Mission was initiated by BoardSource - together with the Alliance for Justice, the Campion Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the National Council of Nonprofits, and the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers - to unleash the full potential of the nonprofit sector to advance their missions in their local communities by engaging board members more directly as ambassadors on behalf of their organizations.
*This webinar is open to regional associations of grantmakers board and staff and their members, as well as state association of nonprofit staff and board members.
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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:
Indiana Philanthropy Alliance: Local not-for-profit execs' pay lags that of U.S. peers (quotes President/CEO, Marissa Manlove)
Iowa Council of Foundations: Building Youth Philanthropy in Greater Des Moines (quotes former President, Laura Sauser)
New Mexico Grantmakers Association: Homeless shelter gets tech savvy to promote cook-off event, draw donations (quotes Executive Director, Cathy Frey)
Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia: Collaborating by Example (highlights the creation of Nonprofit Repositioning Fund)
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Highlights from RA Blogging
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Upcoming Events
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FOR REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Monday, November 16, 1-2 pm ET: Stand For Your Mission. Webinar. Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers and National Council for Nonprofits.
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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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