A milestone for the Forum's new vision was its 2016 Annual Conference held on July 18â20 in. Indianapolis .... voice f
New Vision Update: Creating a New Kind of Philanthropic Network October 2016
Background The Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers is the largest network serving philanthropy in America, consisting of 33 regional associations with more than 5,500 participating organizations. In mid‐ 2015 the Forum embarked on a new vision to be the place where philanthropy’s infrastructure comes together. Under this new vision the Forum will expand its network to bring together the assets of the Forum’s current regional association members with the assets of national philanthropy‐serving organizations (PSOs)—such as national issue‐based, identity‐based and practice‐based affinity groups. The Forum has spent the past year refining and putting into action its new vision through an inclusive, collaborative, iterative and co‐designed process, led by a Vision Design Group comprised equally of representatives of regional and national PSOs.
An Expanded Network of Philanthropy Infrastructure Starts to Form A milestone for the Forum’s new vision was its 2016 Annual Conference held on July 18‐20 in Indianapolis. The conference put into action the potential power of the Forum’s new vision, marking the first time an event had brought together the staff and CEOs of regional, national and international PSOs to focus on their unique role in serving, informing and advancing the philanthropic sector. It was the Forum’s largest‐ever conference, with more than 190 participants, including 60 people from 40 different national PSOs. The conference received high marks, with 72% of participants giving the conference an overall rating of “excellent” and everyone else rating it “good.” Kathleen Enright, President and CEO of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, described the conference as a “watershed moment” for philanthropy infrastructure. Austin Amanda Andere, CEO of Funders Together Long, Director, Assessment and Advisory Services for the Center for to End Homelessness, was among many Effective Philanthropy, called the conference a “powerful moment” national PSO leaders to present at the Forum’s 2016 annual conference for philanthropy‐serving organizations. At the Forum’s annual membership meeting during the conference, Vision Design Group members presented highlights of the next steps for moving forward to implement the new vision. Here’s a sampling of the many positive comments about the vision from national PSOs in the evaluation: • “There was a real spirit of community and by the time the announcement about the strategic shift was made it felt like a completely natural shift. As a national PSO I felt completely woven in.” • “I feel a lot of optimism for this new direction—undoubtedly there will be bumps in the road, but I think so many of the people at the conference share that optimism.”
New Vision Update: Creating a New Kind of Philanthropic Network • “I love this vision and look forward to seeing how it plays out over the next couple of years. I think it will be great to have everyone under the same tent.”
Moving Forward Building on the momentum from the conference, the Forum is moving forward to implement its new vision through the rest of 2016: Final board approval for new vision: At its meeting on July 17, the Forum’s Board of Directors approved the expansion of the Forum membership to include national PSOs, starting in January 2017, guided Dennis Quirin, President of Neighborhood Funders Group, by recommendations of the Vision Design Group. presented next steps for implementing the Forum’s new vision National PSO leaders join Forum Board: At the Forum’s annual at the Forum’s annual meeting, along membership meeting on July 19, Forum members elected five new with other members of the Vision Design Group Directors to the Forum’s Board, including representatives of two national PSOs: Susan Taylor Batten, President and CEO of ABFE, and Daranee Petsod, President of Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR). Even before the Forum opens up its membership to national PSOs, the Forum Board felt that it was important to get the voices of national PSOs on the Board right now. Finalize new membership criteria. Forum staff are working with the Vision Design Group and Board of Directors to finalize new membership criteria and related bylaws revisions, a new dues structure and other details for the expanded network. Those details will be presented to the Forum Board for approval on October 20. Revise Forum bylaws. If the bylaws revisions are approved by the Forum Board on October 20, GCIR’s Daranee Petsod (front 2nd from left) and ABFE’s Susan soon afterwards the Forum membership will be Taylor Batten (front 3rd from left) became the first national PSO asked to approve the bylaws revisions. leaders to sit on the Forum’s Board of Directors Invite national PSOs to join Forum: If Forum members approve the bylaws revision, which will take 4‐6 weeks, the Forum will send invitations to national PSO leaders to become a member of the Forum starting in January 2017. The Forum expects to send these invitations by mid‐December.
Transforming How We Work Together The Forum’s expanded network will benefit regional and national philanthropy‐serving organizations, and the broader philanthropic sector, in many key ways:
PSOs work together better. The Forum’s expanded network will allow regional and national PSOs to work together in a much more strategic, comprehensive and systematic way than what is occurring today, resulting in less duplication, more collaboration and greater efficiencies in philanthropy’s infrastructure. The Forum will work with each national PSO member to help them leverage the 2
New Vision Update: Creating a New Kind of Philanthropic Network Forum’s nationwide network of regional and national PSOs to share content through programming, communications, and in many other ways. Regional PSOs will have easier access to a broader array of the field’s best national expertise and resources.
PSOs build stronger relationships. The Forum is the only place where staff and CEOs of regional and national PSOs can meet all of their PSO peers who are also working to support, inform and advance the philanthropic sector. The Forum will expand the in‐person and virtual opportunities for regional and national PSOs to network and connect with each other; the Forum’s 2016 annual conference was just the beginning! The Forum's 2016 Annual Conference demonstrated the power of
PSOs get needed support for their work. The Forum is the only organization focused on supporting and advancing the work of philanthropy infrastructure organizations. The staff and CEOs of national PSOs will receive professional development opportunities to support them in their unique role of working for a philanthropy infrastructure organization, in a way that’s not available to them today. The staff and CEOs of regional PSOs will see their current professional development opportunities enhanced by the inclusion of their national colleagues, and with greater resources the Forum will be able to expand its professional development offerings to regional PSOs.
PSOs have a stronger voice. The Forum is the only organization focused on providing a stronger voice for the value of philanthropy’s infrastructure. The Forum will raise its profile to lift up the voice of the Forum Network and increase awareness of the value of regional and national philanthropy‐ serving organizations to the philanthropic sector.
building stronger relationships between regional and national PSOs
The Forum is excited about the possibilities of bringing together all philanthropy‐serving organizations in one network to help us all work together better and smarter. We believe we’re on the cusp of creating something important that will be of tremendous benefit to our organizations, our field and our communities.
Questions? Please contact Forum President & CEO David Biemesderfer at 202‐888‐7533,
[email protected].
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