So what's new?...
New Members of the EPIP Board of Advisors. I am proud to announce that the following individuals will join EPIP's national governance body in 2004:
Rohit Burman, J.P. Morgan Global Foundations Group
Dolores Estrada, The California Endowment
Sonya Garcia, Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training
Melissa Johnson, The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro
In addition, we are excited to welcome to the Program Committee of the Board of Advisors the following:
K. Emerson Beyer, GrantCraft, A Project of the Ford Foundation
Milano Harden, Healthcare Georgia Foundation
Danielle Hicks, New Ventures in Philanthropy, A Project of the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers
These individuals exemplify the diverse individuals, foundations and partner organizations that are creating the EPIP network. They are all committed to strengthening the next generation of grantmakers, and advancing effective social justice philanthropy. Congratulations to all!
Networking Highlight of the Day - The KnowledgeWorks Foundation. This Wednesday I had a great conference call with about five EPIP constituents at the KnowledgeWorks Foundation . I will just call it KWF. KWF is a "conversion foundation." Like the healthcare conversion foundations (California Wellness Foundation, Healthcare Georgia Foundation, etc.), it was created when a non-profit became a for-profit, and had to get rid of its tax exempt assets, thus creating a foundation to carry on its nonprofit mission. In the case of KWF, however, it was not a healthcare entity, but a student loan provider. So the foundation is focused on education. On top of that, it is an operating foundation - it uses its assets not to give grants, but to do research and operate programs of its own. There are not many of these kinds of foundations either. KWF is a rarity all around. The staff are generally new to the field, and working on some innovative approaches to things. One is really interested in foundations and public policy. Another is pondering how their foundation can explain itself to its community and the public. And yet another is curious about how EPIP and others define "social justice philanthropy," and why it seems like a great idea to some in the field, and an anathema to others. And they are all looking to gain stronger connections in the foundation community, and with colleagues across the Midwest.
Regional EPIP Networks. In fact, my phone call with KnowledgeWorks was part of an upcoming effort in 2004 to explore the possibilities of an EPIP regional network across the Midwest -- to help bridge EPIP constituents in Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Flint, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Chicago, amongst other places. We will also be exploring such options in the Southeastern region, where we have constituents in disparate areas such as Durham, Greensboro, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Knoxville.
Workshop at COF Annual Conference 2004. For another taste of what is coming in 2004, I will tell you about an upcoming workshop. For those of you planning to attend the next Council on Foundations annual conference (in Toronto!), EPIP is working with the GrantCraft Project on a highly interactive and exciting workshop. The session is titled "The Power to be Authentic: Leadership Development at Work in Foundations." Here's our description... How do emerging grantmakers get supportive, learning experiences from their foundations? How do established leaders support, mentor and develop the staff working at their organizations? This workshop will bring together senior foundation leaders, program staff and emerging practitioners to explore the challenges of taking up their roles, and engaging in mutual support. The session will help participants, who are often caught in the middle of competing demands, to be as authentic as possible (or simply live with themselves) in negotiating the dynamics of life in their organizations. Participants will get to engage with one another with regard to these issues, and be introduced to networking resources and concrete tools.
That is all for now. Over and out,
Rusty
Friday, December 12, 2003
Friday, December 05, 2003
Ford Foundation to Maintain Major Support for the EPIP Network.
We received confirmation today from the Ford Foundation that a grant has been approved to the New World Foundation for $150,000 over two years to support the Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy. New World is our fiscal sponsor and provides pro-bono office space. Thanks to the staff in the Community Philanthropy and Civic Culture program at Ford for their continuing support of this growing network.
New at EPIP.org - Chapter Pages.
Check out the new pages now live at http://epip.org/networking.htm. Each EPIP chapter now has a page of its own, providing some basic info and listing its leadership. The chapter pages will allow each local network to present information about its goals and programs! This has been too long in coming.
Networking Highlight of the Day - Alabama Giving.
I talked for the first time with Beth Dennis of Alabama Giving (www.alabamagiving.org), told her about the EPIP network, and how we are trying to increase our presence and services in the Southeastern part of the country. She was excited about finding ways to get involved. Alabama Giving is a four-year program to increase, promote and encourage philanthropy statewide. It is one of many local and regional coalitions intent on increasing and improving philanthropy in their communities, all funded by a special initiative called New Ventures in Philanthropy, which is in turn a program of the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers. To see a list of all the New Ventures groups, check out http://givingforum.org/about/ventures_community_grantees.html.
Shwewww. There are so many things going on at the local, national and international levels in this field that it is hard to keep up. Plus we had a snow storm in New York City today, which makes it hard to concentrate and stay warm...
Have a great weekend everybody!
Rusty
We received confirmation today from the Ford Foundation that a grant has been approved to the New World Foundation for $150,000 over two years to support the Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy. New World is our fiscal sponsor and provides pro-bono office space. Thanks to the staff in the Community Philanthropy and Civic Culture program at Ford for their continuing support of this growing network.
New at EPIP.org - Chapter Pages.
Check out the new pages now live at http://epip.org/networking.htm. Each EPIP chapter now has a page of its own, providing some basic info and listing its leadership. The chapter pages will allow each local network to present information about its goals and programs! This has been too long in coming.
Networking Highlight of the Day - Alabama Giving.
I talked for the first time with Beth Dennis of Alabama Giving (www.alabamagiving.org), told her about the EPIP network, and how we are trying to increase our presence and services in the Southeastern part of the country. She was excited about finding ways to get involved. Alabama Giving is a four-year program to increase, promote and encourage philanthropy statewide. It is one of many local and regional coalitions intent on increasing and improving philanthropy in their communities, all funded by a special initiative called New Ventures in Philanthropy, which is in turn a program of the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers. To see a list of all the New Ventures groups, check out http://givingforum.org/about/ventures_community_grantees.html.
Shwewww. There are so many things going on at the local, national and international levels in this field that it is hard to keep up. Plus we had a snow storm in New York City today, which makes it hard to concentrate and stay warm...
Have a great weekend everybody!
Rusty
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Today I am working on a workshop that EPIP will be presenting with GrantCraft, a project of the Ford Foundation (www.grantcraft.org) during the Council on Foundations annual meeting in April 04.
The workshop is dubbed "The Power To Be Authentic: Leadership Development at Work in Foundations." Emerson Beyer, who works at GrantCraft, and I have been planning the session to be highly experiential, using a case study and role play amongst participants. If you are an EPIP member and plan to attend the Toronto conference, let me know -- we will need some volunteers! Here's the workshop description:
The Power To Be Authentic: Leadership Development at Work in Foundations
How do emerging philanthropic leaders experience foundations and grantmaking? How do established leaders respond to their needs? This workshop, presented by the GrantCraft (a project of the Ford Foundation) and Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy, will bring together senior foundation leaders, program staff and emerging practitioners to explore the challenges of taking up their roles. This session will help participants, who are often caught in the middle of competing demands, to be as authentic as possible (or simply live with themselves) in negotiating the dynamics of life in their organizations. Participants will get to discuss these issues with one another, and be introduced to concrete tools for making use of their experiences and drawing lessons that they can share.
Rusty
The workshop is dubbed "The Power To Be Authentic: Leadership Development at Work in Foundations." Emerson Beyer, who works at GrantCraft, and I have been planning the session to be highly experiential, using a case study and role play amongst participants. If you are an EPIP member and plan to attend the Toronto conference, let me know -- we will need some volunteers! Here's the workshop description:
The Power To Be Authentic: Leadership Development at Work in Foundations
How do emerging philanthropic leaders experience foundations and grantmaking? How do established leaders respond to their needs? This workshop, presented by the GrantCraft (a project of the Ford Foundation) and Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy, will bring together senior foundation leaders, program staff and emerging practitioners to explore the challenges of taking up their roles. This session will help participants, who are often caught in the middle of competing demands, to be as authentic as possible (or simply live with themselves) in negotiating the dynamics of life in their organizations. Participants will get to discuss these issues with one another, and be introduced to concrete tools for making use of their experiences and drawing lessons that they can share.
Rusty
Monday, December 01, 2003
Thanksgiving vacation was good. Now it's back to the daily EPIP grind!
On returning to the office this morning today, I found two new memberships in the mail, from staff at the California Wellness Foundation and the Southern Californa Association for Philanthropy. Thanks, guys. It always feels great to get new members.
Later today I had a good talk with Marcelle Good from the Appalachian Community Fund (ACF). We talked about how EPIP could build a helpful regional network in the Southeastern US, and also about generational issues in progressive philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. We also talked about the different models of philanthropy, and how much they involve donors, grantee leaders and others in decision making. ACF is a member-institution in the Funding Exchange, a network of local public foundations that empower their grantee community to make grantmaking decisions alongside or in place of traditional donors. I told her that I hope EPIP can work with others in the field to develop case studies about these and other models, to help EPIP members think about how they could make innovative structural changes that fit the needs and missions of their own foundations.
Now I am off to sit in on a class at the New School University, a course about nonprofit advocacy. Today's session is about the role of funding -- and it should be fascinating to this philanthropy nerd.
Goodnight.
Rusty
On returning to the office this morning today, I found two new memberships in the mail, from staff at the California Wellness Foundation and the Southern Californa Association for Philanthropy. Thanks, guys. It always feels great to get new members.
Later today I had a good talk with Marcelle Good from the Appalachian Community Fund (ACF). We talked about how EPIP could build a helpful regional network in the Southeastern US, and also about generational issues in progressive philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. We also talked about the different models of philanthropy, and how much they involve donors, grantee leaders and others in decision making. ACF is a member-institution in the Funding Exchange, a network of local public foundations that empower their grantee community to make grantmaking decisions alongside or in place of traditional donors. I told her that I hope EPIP can work with others in the field to develop case studies about these and other models, to help EPIP members think about how they could make innovative structural changes that fit the needs and missions of their own foundations.
Now I am off to sit in on a class at the New School University, a course about nonprofit advocacy. Today's session is about the role of funding -- and it should be fascinating to this philanthropy nerd.
Goodnight.
Rusty
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)