Through the new CF Leadership Coalition, Policy and Communications Add-On, Council members have the option to receive expanded, direct support to navigate and influence public policy on top of their existing membership benefits.

Council staff will go in-depth on the expanded benefits available to members that choose to upgrade, and how you can join this growing network of community foundations leading on policy issues nationally and in their communities. They will also be joined by Alison Helland, Director of Research, Advocacy, and Advisor Engagement at the Madison Community Foundation, who will share what its creation means for her organization and the broader field looking to strengthen its collective voice.

Topic: Utilizing Data to Inform Strategy

Data has become an essential tool for community foundations seeking to deepen impact, strengthen decision-making, and align strategy with community needs. Yet many organizations are navigating how to effectively leverage their data – across systems, teams, and initiatives – to inform both day-to-day operations and long-term planning.

This peer discussion will bring together CF Insights Add-On members to explore how data can be used as a strategic asset. Participants will discuss how foundations can integrate data into their strategic planning process, what metrics matter most, and how insights are translated into action.

The conversation will highlight the role of technology systems – from donor management platforms to grants management and community data tools – and how they can be leveraged to support more informed, cohesive strategies. Attendees will have the opportunity to share challenges, lessons learned, and practical approaches to improve data quality, accessibility, and use within organizations.

This session will be conducted in a roundtable format designed to encourage peer dialogue and shared learning among participants. Come ready to share!

Speaker: Danny Freund, Director of Grant Operations and Analytics, Princeton Area Community Foundation