Professional Development

Meet the 2024 Career Pathways Cohort

justin.wiens@cof.org — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 19:11:29 +0000

Meet the 2024 Career Pathways Cohort justin.wiens@cof.org Monday, February 12, 2024 - 2:11 pm

Blog

Meet the 2024 Career Pathways Cohort

Monday, February 12, 2024 - 2:11 pm

The new year brings new opportunities for growth, and nothing demonstrates that more than our Career Pathways program. This selective leadership development program cultivates bold, representative, and inclusive decision-makers – and that’s exactly what you’ll find with the 24 members of the 2024 cohort.

Starting in March and continuing through November, participants will take part in skill-building and strength-defining experiences, which include defining leadership styles and strengths and completing case studies or capstones addressing specific barriers to equity impacting their organization or the broader philanthropic sector.

Participants will engage with peer circles, live and virtual learning sessions, individual executive coaching meetings, and more through learning modules that focus on individual, field, and organizational leadership. Last year was our first cohort to meet in person since 2019, and we’re excited to gather in-person again this year during select learning sessions in Washington D.C. and another location to be announced soon.

Not only will participants graduate with a clear definition of their authentic way of leading and the enhanced skills and network to leverage it right away, but they’ll also leave with elevated career advancement prospects - nearly 90 percent of Career Pathways graduates are now senior-level executives within foundations.

So without further ado, meet the members of the 2024 cohort, representing philanthropic organizations across the country. We can’t wait to kick off this program!

Professional Development

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Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - November 2024

jill.gordon@cof.org — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 19:51:56 +0000

Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - November 2024 jill.gordon@cof.org Mon, 11/13/2023 - 14:51

Training

Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - November 2024

Save the date! A well-trained staff and an informed board are critical to the success of community foundations in our fast-changing world. This course helps new and growing stakeholders build the essential skills they need to balance governance and management with the broader understanding of community foundations within the philanthropic sector.

Date & Time

Wednesday, November 13 - 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, November 14 - 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday, November 20 - 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, November 21 - 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET

Location

Live Virtual - Not Recorded

Cost

Council Members = $560
Nonmembers = $699
Group rate (5-7 participants) for Council members only = $505

Email educate@cof.org to register a group.

A well-trained staff and an informed board are critical to the success of community foundations in our fast-changing world. This course helps community foundation staff that are new to the field build the essential skills they need to balance governance and management with the broader understanding of community foundations within the philanthropic sector.

Created and led by experienced community foundation leaders and Council attorneys this course includes:

Basic information on governance, resource development and donor relations;
Updates on key legal and legislative issues;
Information on grantmaking; and
Review of community leadership and fiduciary responsibilities.

Originally developed in conjunction with Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, this course helps community foundation staff, board members and volunteers master the unique aspects of the community foundation field. You'll learn about effective practices, get helpful tools and information, and have the opportunity to network with others in the field. Comprehensive and engaging, these courses are an efficient and affordable way to increase your knowledge of the field. Please note, this course is limited to Community Foundation staff and Board members only and is recommended for individuals that have been in their positions for less than a year to three years.

Facilitators

This virtual course will engage a variety of seasoned and experienced community foundation leaders and Council experts.

Course Agenda

November 13-14 and 20-21 | 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET each day

Review community foundation's history, emerging goals, unique characteristics and future trends
Discuss governance and board responsibilities respective to their roles and goals
Engage in a discussion on why and how donors give to community foundations
Learn of various gift types, developing gift agreements and planned givings
Understand resource development procedures in attracting gifts
Listen and learn from the Council legal team to comprehend all legalities from nonprofits to donor control
Ascertain key tips and tools about stewardship, accountability and fiduciary responsibilities within your community foundations
Discover ways to set grantmaking priorities and understand roles in community leadership

*Council events are not opportunities for solicitation of any kind, including asking for business, fund management, or grants. All types of solicitation are strictly prohibited. For more information, read our no solicitation policy.

Questions?

Connect with Council Staff

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Legal Matters for Corporate Foundations and Giving Programs - Virtual - August 2024

jill.gordon@cof.org — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 16:33:23 +0000

Legal Matters for Corporate Foundations and Giving Programs - Virtual - August 2024 jill.gordon@cof.org Thu, 11/09/2023 - 11:33

Training

Legal Matters for Corporate Foundations and Giving Programs - Virtual - August 2024

Led by the Council's legal team, this workshop is designed to answer your broad legal and practical questions on corporate foundation and giving activities.

Led by the Council on Foundations Legal team, this workshop is flexibly organized to ensure that your broad legal questions for administering funds, grants, and corporate foundation activities are addressed. The legal team will provide technical and practical understanding of complex rules and regulations. Throughout the workshop, sessions will be curated with the help of insight gleaned from the Council's top-notch legal team that interacts with nearly 2,000 foundation leaders each year, as well as trends spotted by our broader team. It will be timely, relevant, and a deeper dive than the basics, surfacing critical insights and expertise to advance your knowledge of the corporate foundation inner workings--from administration to governance, self-dealing to grantmaking.

With each session, there will be time for questions and a deep exploration of the answers. This workshop is open to any board or staff member supporting a corporate foundation or giving program that is eager to dive into the legalities of business models and unlock the truth to effective management and leadership of corporate philanthropy.

Sample Agenda

(2 Day Virtual Series)

Specific topics will be defined in advance of the workshop as attendees begin to submit ideas, pressing issues, and assist with the defining of sessions. This event is designed to be time sensitive and relevant to current issues. The format will be discussion-oriented, question and answer-based learning alongside peer sharing.

DAY 1: August 21 — 1:00-4:00 p.m. ET

General Overview of rules, regulations, and developments for corporate philanthropy – Discuss latest new rules and regulations impacting companies, their foundations and corporate giving programs.
Deep Dive: Foundation Governance and Giving Strategies - Learn about foundation operations, the nuances of corporate giving vs. corporate foundations, advocacy rules and the use of DAFs.
Deep Dive: Self Dealing – Assessing the most common inquiries from the field nationally, Council attorneys will delve into pressing subjects and issues such as disqualified persons, conflicts of interests and scholarships.
Discussion: Most common legal complexities facing corporate foundations– Participants will delve into pressing subjects and issues such as employee assistance funds, advertising, events and sponsorships.

DAY 2: August 22 — 1:00-4:00 p.m. ET

Deep Dive: Grantmaking and Hot Topics– Assessing the most common inquiries from the field nationally, Council attorneys will delve into pressing subjects and issues such as expenditure responsibility, scholarships, global funding, and disasters.
Discussion: Most common legal complexities facing corporate foundations – Participants will delve into pressing subjects and issues such as reputational risks, merging foundations, and global grantmaking.

Speakers

Remy Barnwell

Staff Counsel

Council on Foundations

Ben McDearmon

Director, Legal Resources

Council on Foundations

Questions?

Connect with Council Staff

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Practice and Purpose of Policy: A Training for Community Foundation Leaders

jill.gordon@cof.org — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 15:53:31 +0000

Practice and Purpose of Policy: A Training for Community Foundation Leaders jill.gordon@cof.org Thu, 11/09/2023 - 10:53

Training

Practice and Purpose of Policy: A Training for Community Foundation Leaders

As organizations committed to strengthening community foundations, CFLeads and the Council on Foundations are partnering to offer a new public policy and advocacy training course for community foundations. This updated training will provide community foundation leaders and staff with the knowledge and resources needed to excel in advocating for the nonprofits and communities doing the hard work of social change.

Register Now!

Workshop Hours

Tuesday, May 21: 1:00-5:00 p.m. ET
Wednesday, May 22: 1:00-5:00 p.m. ET

Government policies and programs affect almost every aspect of our lives, from housing, healthcare and the environment to education, transportation, and safety. For foundations striving to create equitable, inclusive, and widely prosperous communities, it is necessary to focus on strengthening and reimagining policies and systems.

Participation in advocacy is an essential strategy to advance the mission of community foundations. Yet a lack of understanding of the rules of advocacy and lobbying, confusion about the appropriate governance and risk management, as well as a dearth of tools and internal capacity needed to be successful prevents many community foundations from engaging in public policy.

This learning opportunity is intended for CEOs and senior leadership staff from community foundations of all sizes that are committed to getting more involved in policy and advocacy work.

This training will provide community foundations across geographies and of all sizes with:

Increased understanding of the importance of public policy to improve outcomes
Improved policy practice
Increased advocacy action

In this training, participants will:

Understand a comprehensive picture of possible community foundation strategies to engage in effective public policy advocacy that advances the greater good
Understand the complex dynamics around foundation staff’s relationships with policy advocacy organizations and explore the optimal relationship for your foundation
Learn how to build support for advocacy among your foundation’s staff and board
Learn how to improve your foundation’s grantmaking to more effectively participate in policy advocacy

Offered in partnership with:

Speakers

Len Bartel

Vice President of Learning and Impact (Capacity Building)

CFLeads

Jenn Holcomb

Vice President, Government Affairs and Legal Resources

Council on Foundations

Questions?

Connect with Council Staff

Related Resources

Global Grantmaking Essentials - April 2024

jill.gordon@cof.org — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 15:37:04 +0000

Global Grantmaking Essentials - April 2024 jill.gordon@cof.org Thu, 11/09/2023 - 10:37

Training

Global Grantmaking Essentials - April 2024

Date & Time

Wednesday, April 10: 1:00-5:00 p.m. ET
Thursday, April 11: 1:00-5:00 p.m. ET
Tuesday, April 16: 1:00-5:00 p.m. ET

Location

Virtual Zoom Meeting

Cost

Council Members = $499
Nonmembers = $799
Group Rate for Council members only (5-7 people) = $450

Members can email educate@cof.org for the group rate discount.

This course is sold out. Still interested in Global Grantmaking Essentials? Join us in October.

The Global Grantmaking Essentials course provides a thorough overview of the laws governing global grantmaking and offers practical solutions for foundation staff responsible for making grants abroad. Led by Council on Foundations staff with decades of collective experience with global philanthropy, this course will also feature guest speakers with deep knowledge on specific issues or countries.

Who Should Attend

This training is primarily designed for grantmaking, program, or legal staff at U.S.-based foundations with no prior experience making global grants or for staff with working knowledge who are seeking additional insights and tools.

Global Grantmaking Essentials is open to staff at independent and family foundations, corporate grantmakers, community foundations, and public charity grantmakers such as global intermediaries. This training is also open to board members of foundations.

About Global Grantmaking Essentials

The Global Grantmaking Essentials course is built on the Council’s more than 40 years of experience in supporting foundations who work and grant internationally.

This three-day training will provide attendees with a thorough understanding of the regulatory frameworks governing global grantmaking, offer tools and resources to help navigate these complex systems, and suggest better ways of operating internationally based on trends, data, and research.

Global Grantmaking Essentials also includes time for networking and discussion based on the type of grantmakers in attendance, providing unique space for dialogue and reflection among peers.

Course Topics

Introduction to Global Grantmaking

What are the various mechanisms or methods grantmakers can use to make international grants?
Who are the main actors and which foundations do global grantmaking?
What does the data say about global funding trends from the U.S. over time?

The Legal Basics of Global Grantmaking

What laws and regulations do global funders need to follow?
What are expenditure responsibility and equivalency determination, and when to use each one?
How do funders need to report on global grants?
How to fund general support, capital assets, foreign governments, and international organizations?

The Scary Acronyms

What are OFAC, FATF, AML, CFT, FCPA, and FARA?
How can global funders navigate sanctions, money-laundering, and counter-terrorism laws?
What are trends in the global enabling environment for philanthropy?

Receiving Country Laws

How do other countries regulate their nonprofit sectors?
What are some of the common challenges global funders face in getting money to nonprofits in other countries?
Which countries make it difficult to make grants to their nonprofits and which countries cannot receive grants from U.S. foundations?

Working with Intermediaries

What is an intermediary and why or when would they be used?
How do U.S.-based intermediaries differ from those registered in other countries?
What are the nuances in different types and structures of intermediaries?
What are some reasons to choose one intermediary over another?

Locally Led Development

What is locally led development and similar ideas like localization, decolonization, shifting power, and funding proximate leaders?
How can funders authentically practice locally led development?
What are some of the challenges funders face when practicing locally led development?

Please note, this course is limited to foundation staff and board members only. Foundations registered outside of the U.S. are welcome to participate but the course is targeted to U.S.-based grantmakers with a focus on U.S. law as it impacts global grantmaking.

Unable to attend this training? Global Grantmaking Essentials will be offered again October 9, 10, and 16, 2024.

Speakers

Brian Kastner

Director, Engagement

Council on Foundations

Natalie Ross

Vice President, Membership, Development and Finance

Council on Foundations

Ben McDearmon

Director, Legal Resources

Council on Foundations

Caroline Kronley

President

Tinker Foundation

Shaheen Kassim-Lakha

Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships

Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

Questions?

Connect with Council Staff

Related Resources

Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - July 2024

jill.gordon@cof.org — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 15:31:34 +0000

Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - July 2024 jill.gordon@cof.org Wed, 11/01/2023 - 11:31

Training

Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - July 2024

A well-trained staff and an informed board are critical to the success of community foundations in our fast-changing world. This course helps new and growing stakeholders build the essential skills they need to balance governance and management with the broader understanding of community foundations within the philanthropic sector.

Date & Time

Wednesday, July 17 - 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, July 18 - 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday, July 24 - 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, July 25 - 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET

Location

Live Virtual - Not Recorded

Cost

Council Members = $560
Nonmembers = $699
Group rate (5-7 participants) for Council members only = $505

Email educate@cof.org to register a group.

Created and led by experienced community foundation leaders and Council attorneys this course includes:

Basic information on governance, resource development and donor relations;
Updates on key legal and legislative issues;
Information on grantmaking; and
Review of community leadership and fiduciary responsibilities.

Facilitators

This virtual course will engage a variety of seasoned and experienced community foundation leaders and Council experts.

Course Agenda

July 17-18 and July 24-25 | 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET each day

Review community foundation's history, emerging goals, unique characteristics and future trends
Discuss governance and board responsibilities respective to their roles and goals
Engage in a discussion on why and how donors give to community foundations
Learn of various gift types, developing gift agreements and planned givings
Understand resource development procedures in attracting gifts
Listen and learn from the Council legal team to comprehend all legalities from nonprofits to donor control
Ascertain key tips and tools about stewardship, accountability and fiduciary responsibilities within your community foundations
Discover ways to set grantmaking priorities and understand roles in community leadership

Questions?

Connect with Council Staff

Related Resources

Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - April 2024

jill.gordon@cof.org — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 15:28:16 +0000

Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - April 2024 jill.gordon@cof.org Wed, 11/01/2023 - 11:28

Training

Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - April 2024

SOLD OUT

Date & Time

Thursday, April 25 - 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Friday, April 26 - 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday, May 1 - 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, May 2 - 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET

Location

Live Virtual - Not Recorded

Cost

Council Members = $560
Nonmembers = $699
Group rate (5-7 participants) for Council members only = $505

Email educate@cof.org to register a group.

The April/May course is SOLD OUT. You can register for the July 17-18 & 24-25 course instead.

Created and led by experienced community foundation leaders and Council attorneys this course includes:

Basic information on governance, resource development and donor relations;
Updates on key legal and legislative issues;
Information on grantmaking; and
Review of community leadership and fiduciary responsibilities.

Facilitators

This virtual course will engage a variety of seasoned and experienced community foundation leaders and Council experts.

Course Agenda

April 25-26 and May 1-2

1:00-4:30 p.m. ET each day

Review community foundation's history, emerging goals, unique characteristics and future trends
Discuss governance and board responsibilities respective to their roles and goals
Engage in a discussion on why and how donors give to community foundations
Learn of various gift types, developing gift agreements and planned givings
Understand resource development procedures in attracting gifts
Listen and learn from the Council legal team to comprehend all legalities from nonprofits to donor control
Ascertain key tips and tools about stewardship, accountability and fiduciary responsibilities within your community foundations
Discover ways to set grantmaking priorities and understand roles in community leadership

Questions?

Connect with Council Staff

Related Resources

Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - February 2024

jill.gordon@cof.org — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 18:17:14 +0000

Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - February 2024 jill.gordon@cof.org Tue, 10/31/2023 - 14:17

Training

Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - Virtual - February 2024

Date & Time

Wednesday, February 14 - 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, February 15 - 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday, February 21 - 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, February 22 - 1:00-4:30 p.m. ET

Location

Live Virtual - Not Recorded

Cost

Council Members = $560
Nonmembers = $699
Group rate (5-7 participants) for Council members only = $505

Email educate@cof.org to register a group.

Created and led by experienced community foundation leaders and Council attorneys this course includes:

Basic information on governance, resource development and donor relations;
Updates on key legal and legislative issues;
Information on grantmaking; and
Review of community leadership and fiduciary responsibilities.

Facilitators

This virtual course will engage a variety of seasoned and experienced community foundation leaders and Council experts.

Course Agenda

February 14-15 & 21-22

1:00-4:30 p.m. ET each day

Review community foundation's history, emerging goals, unique characteristics and future trends
Discuss governance and board responsibilities respective to their roles and goals
Engage in a discussion on why and how donors give to community foundations
Learn of various gift types, developing gift agreements and planned givings
Understand resource development procedures in attracting gifts
Listen and learn from the Council legal team to comprehend all legalities from nonprofits to donor control
Ascertain key tips and tools about stewardship, accountability and fiduciary responsibilities within your community foundations
Discover ways to set grantmaking priorities and understand roles in community leadership

Questions?

Connect with Council Staff

Related Resources

Career Pathways 2024 Application Office Hours

caroline.healey@cof.org — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 18:57:49 +0000

Career Pathways 2024 Application Office Hours caroline.heale… Tue, 09/05/2023 - 14:57

Peer Event

Career Pathways 2024 Application Office Hours

Join this informal conversation to learn about the 2024 Career Pathways leadership development program and discuss your application.

Career Pathways is a leadership development cohort program designed to accelerate the careers of diverse professionals in the philanthropic sector. Graduates of the program will deepen their expertise, expand their networks, and hone their leadership skills to advance the field. To date, over 200 alumni have graduated from the program.

Career Pathways empowers individuals to become the best candidates they can be by cultivating philanthropic acumen, confidence, and networks. Participation in this program will build an individual's capacity to become even more effective in their current roles and more deliberate in their contributions to the field of philanthropy.

Learn more about Career Pathways

Join these informal office hours to answer your questions about the program and prepare your best application.

Applications for the Career Pathways 2024 are open now and due Wednesday, November 1st.

Facilitator

Daniela Rodriguez Ranf

Director, Leadership Development and Training

Council on Foundations

Questions?

Connect with Council Staff

Human Resources & Operations

Leadership Development

Related Events

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Career Pathways 2024 Application Office Hours

caroline.healey@cof.org — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 18:55:09 +0000

Career Pathways 2024 Application Office Hours caroline.heale… Tue, 09/05/2023 - 14:55

Peer Event

Career Pathways 2024 Application Office Hours

Join this informal conversation to learn about the 2024 Career Pathways leadership development program and discuss your application.

Learn more about Career Pathways

Join these informal office hours to answer your questions about the program and prepare your best application.

Applications for the Career Pathways 2024 are open now and due Wednesday, November 1st.