Community Foundation Update - May 2018

Over the last 18 months, I’ve continually talked with community foundation leaders about the role philanthropy is playing in driving inclusive economic development.

Last year, in response to member inquiries to National Standards and the Council’s legal team, we hosted a workshop with Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy on how community philanthropy can drive prosperity.

• Check out resources and PowerPoints from the economic development workshop;
• or, the Economic Development as a Charitable Activity chapter in the Legal Compendium

To build on that work, we are hosting our first Inclusive Economic Prosperity convening in Spartanburg, South Carolina on May 23-24.

This convening has a comprehensive agenda and will focus on philanthropy’s role in building inclusive community and economic development in the South, bringing together a diverse set of partners that address this issue from varied perspectives, including:

• Community, corporate, and private foundations
• SECF, as a regional association
• Regional and state economic development leaders
• National subject matter experts, including Aspen Institute, Living Cities, and Forward Cities
• Federal Reserve and federal government agencies
• Leading equity investors and trustees vested in impact investing
• Technology experts and entrepreneurship pipeline developers
• Higher education leaders and innovation ecosystem-builders

We will highlight how foundations can stimulate, strengthen and sustain measurable economic inclusion and competitiveness outcomes across regional innovation ecosystems.

Designed with highly transferable peer-exchanges, top-tier expertise and critical understanding of the broader issues, as well as high profile keynote speakers like Steve Ballmer, co-founder of Ballmer Group and former Microsoft CEO.

If you can’t join us this month in Spartanburg, please register today for our second Inclusive Economic Prosperity convening in Minneapolis, MN on Aug 28-29, focusing on opportunities in the Midwest.

Thanks for all you do and check out below for many exciting developments unfolding for the summer months ahead.

Regards,
Brad Ward
Director, Community Philanthropy
brad.ward@cof.org | 703-879-0640

Grantmaker Salary and Benfits Survey Closing

Time is running out to complete the 2018 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits (GSB) Survey. 
The deadline is 2:00 p.m. PT Monday, May 14.

As a former community foundation executive, it was the only reliable source we could benchmark against the national field and sector, and easily aggregate for our use by supplementing with local knowledge. Community foundations are active contributors to the salary and benefits survey, so act before it is too late.  You then have free access to the report—to be released in mid-September—to inform your budgeting and staff recruitment and retention efforts.

Only survey participants receive a complimentary GSB report AND access to Benchmark Central, the Council's dynamic online benchmarking tool to run deeper salary, benefits, and demographics.

Engage with the Council

In the months of May and June, I’ll be in joining our CFE Finance in Iowa, back in South Carolina for the first convening of our Inclusive Economic Prosperity strategic initiative, visiting with members in New Jersey and providing a keynote address in upstate Pennsylvania, travelling to our office in Washington D.C., and hosting the Legal Matters Workshop in Milwaukee.

Reach out if I’m be in your area to see how we can connect!

Balancing the ‘How’ and ‘Why’

On occasion, I get the pleasure of using my own experience as a leader of a community foundation to help members figure out ‘how’ to do their work most effectively—and I’m delighted to offer this support when needed.  But knowing the ‘why’ behind your work is our most critical role:

• To understand the context in which you are and will be operating.
• To address the fast-evolving role you are asked to play.
• To recognize the new domains community foundations will move to remain competitive, relevant, and thrive as established community philanthropy institutions in the next century of leadership and purpose.

I serve as a “Member Concierge,” – you can call on me and my Council colleagues to talk through whatever your foundation needs.  Last month, I worked with members on issues of FASB and agency endowments, giving circles, provisions in a donor advised fund when a couple divorces, building fiscal sponsorship and endowed funds for community projects, and many other relative issues associated with our business model. 

Our goal is to help you cut through the noise, see what is transpiring more broadly in the field, and make connections where needed.  We are here because of you and for you.

Upcoming Virtual Convenings (free for Members)

5.16.18 – Lunch with Legal Counsel: Motivations for Corporate Giving—Proceed with Caution!

5.22.18 – The New Power of Philanthropy with Henry Timms, founder of #GivingTuesday

5.31.18 – Developing an Investment Strategy

6.13.18 – National Standards Conference Call

Session Submissions Open for Leading Together 2019 (Member-only benefit)

The Leading Together 2019 Call for Sessions is your opportunity to share your expertise and successes in tackling the some of the world’s greatest challenges with a 1,000+ foundation CEOs and C-Suite executives and big idea makers from business, government, academia, media, and beyond.

All session submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. PT May 31, 2018. Only Council members are invited to submit proposals.

Proposals must broaden our perspective and address one or more of the convening’s core themes—Bridging Divides, Inclusive Economic Prosperity, or Climate Impacts and Vulnerability.

Leading Together 2019 will take place in Miami during the best time to visit—when the sun shines with temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s during the day. There is no better backdrop to showcase your knowledge and attract new partners, while also raising you and your organization’s profile.

Upcoming In-Person Convenings

Multiple Dates—Legal Matters for Community Foundations workshop

Join in Milwaukee, WI (6/28), Raleigh, NC (7/24), Hartford, NC (9/27), and, just added on the West Coast, Spokane, WA (10/11)

First in Series—Inclusive Economic Prosperity Convening in the South

• Schedule of Events
• Register: May 23-24, 2018, Spartanburg, SC
• Register: AUG 28-29, 2018, Minneapolis, MN