Lessons Learned Jessica David, vice president of Strategy and Community Investments for the Rhode Island Foundation says the Innovation Fellowship been an ongoing learning process in a range of ways. Among her key takeaways for managing an initiative that is a departure from traditional…

  The problem was as vast as the ocean – or in our case, the Gulf of Mexico, floor. Over time, the reef system in the Gulf waters bordering Collier County in SW Florida had been destroyed by hurricanes and shifting currents. For fish and other marine life, there was nowhere to run – or hide –…

A lot has been accomplished over the years since HIV/AIDS first was discovered. Scientists have come a long way toward finding a cure, and in the process many of those afflicted with the disease are living much longer than in the past. It’s the incremental steps made by scientists around the world…

At a recent gubernatorial candidate forum I attended in Rhode Island, a Brown University professor presented on the challenges of climate change for the Ocean State. His last slide gave three examples of “win-win solutions.” At the top of the list was the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI…

Smart investors believe in California. They flock to it for the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that has made it the world’s 8th largest economy. Now, with Los Angeles County facing a major college graduation crisis, these same smart investors are backing the educational future of low-…

  Silicon Valley Community Foundation is in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area, close to the campuses of companies like Google, Facebook and Apple. Companies like these have made the region a leader in the global economy and a hub of innovation. The Bay Area is home to a diverse…

  The proudest moment of Ruben Garcia’s life was when he watched his first child graduate from Boulder High School last spring. The father of three and his wife know how much it took for their son to reach the important milestone. They will tell you that their work with him started before…

  The Community Foundation of Western Nevada embarked upon a resident engagement initiative in 2013 centering on improving the lives of runaway, homeless and aging-out foster youth, ages 12-24. Expectations for the estimated 1,300 unsupported young people who experience homelessness in Reno,…

Are you looking for ways to improve innovation at your organization?  Sometimes innovative ideas aren’t shared because people don’t know who to take them to.  Or, they think that others would judge the idea’s value based on the person contributing it.  If you are looking to spur…

Lessons Learned For organizations, seeking to engage with the communities they serve in more meaningful ways requires an openness to new ideas, perspectives, and approaches. Denver Foundation President David Miller recommends exploring the Asset Based Community Development approach that focuses…

Last year, Knight Foundation published the Giving Day Playbook, a soup-to-nuts guide to 24-hour online campaigns that community foundations are increasingly organizing to promote local philanthropy. Now, with foundations across the country participating in Give Local America on May 6, we have…

Do you know more about apps for your phone than apps for your browser? Many are unaware that apps and other add-ons are available for their browsers, are often free, and can provide unique tools to make their online experience better. So if you are a busy philanthropic professional, what apps might…

  This post is part of the #CF100 Series of blog posts. The Council on Foundations is marking the 100th anniversary of the nation’s first community foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, by highlighting the roles of community foundations with this series. Monterey County, California, is a…

  This post is part of the #CF100 Series of blog posts. The Council on Foundations is marking the 100th anniversary of the nation’s first community foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, by highlighting the roles of community foundations with this series. In the Quad Cities, a bi-state…

Lessons Learned Julie Leeth, Executive Vice President for the Community Foundation of the Ozarks says many lessons emerged from the effort to develop and sustain the Rural Schools Partnership. Here are some of her takeaways about how to get strong alignment and support behind a major…

The Community Foundations of Canada’s Vital Signs is an annual community check-up, conducted by community foundations across Canada – and now around the world – that uses data to measure the vitality of our communities. The effort started in the late 1990s at the Toronto Community Foundation (TCF…