February 5, 2010
The aftershocks of the earthquake in Haiti will be felt for generations. What role should philanthropy play in rebuilding?
I listened in on a recent conference call organized by the partners of Katrina @ 5 about philanthropy’s response to the earthquake in Haiti. Several speakers from government and philanthropy spoke about the current relief efforts in Haiti and the long term role for foundations in disaster response. You can listen to a recording of the conference call here and learn more about Katrina @ 5 on their website. Also, see how Minnesota grantmakers are providing support to Haiti on the Minnesota Responds webpage.
The panelists on the call offered advice to foundations thinking about engaging in disaster philanthropy. Regine Webster, from Arabella Philanthropic Investment Advisors, emphasized these recommendations:
- Support organizations with long standing history of working in the affected area, especially those organizations that have solid relationships with people in the area.
- Support disaster risk reduction, like disaster-proof construction and other proactive efforts.
- Support underfunded needs in disaster recovery, like mental health and other psychosocial support.
- Commit multi-year funds to rebuild public goods, like schools and transportation systems.
- Support advocacy efforts, not only by encouraging government efforts like debt relief, but also for the creation of more sustained and coordinated disaster preparedness and response.
Rebecca Hove from the Bridgeway Foundation spoke about the importance of developing relationships with people on the ground and with organizations already working in the affected area. She said that the Bridgeway Foundation is providing unrestricted support to local implementers in Haiti who have proven distribution and communications methods and can make sound assessments of urgent critical needs. Bridgeway Foundation has also built a local coalition called Houston Helps Haiti. Hove said that their strong collaborations with organizations and people on the ground has prepared them to mobilize and respond more quickly than many of their colleagues.
Chris Page from Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors addressed the reasons why the situation in Haiti is so different from other developing areas struck by disasters. He believes it is because so many institutions in Haiti simply haven’t existed or haven’t been reliable. The recovery in Haiti will be less about rebuilding the country, and more about building anew. Page encouraged donors to look at phases of redevelopment and think about strengthening the country to protect against future losses. Building trust in individuals and institutions creates stability that can lead to a transparent and functional democracy that is more prepared to respond to disasters in the future.
Patrick Corvington, Senior Associate of the Annie E. Casey Foundation and CEO Designate of the Corporation of National and Community Service, is a Haitian American and came to the United States as a teenager. He talked about using his emotional and personal connection with this disaster to help the Annie E. Casey Foundation think about its response. He talked about focusing on one area of relief and thinking through these questions:
- Can we act?
- What value can we add?
- How do we engage?
Corvington said that foundations that do not have relationships with Haiti, do not do disaster relief, or cannot respond as quickly should think about what they do well and how they can contribute in the long term, without getting in the way in the short term. If a foundation can’t respond in the immediate relief effort, how can the organization play to its strengths and provide recovery support months or years after the disaster has occurred?
All of the panelists talked about the long term infrastructure for disaster philanthropy. Here are some suggestions they offered for the foundation community to consider:
- Stay on mission. Either add disaster funding to an existing mission or stay with what you know best and provide information and resources to those working in affected areas.
- Promote donor and philanthropic engagement with established international relief organizations.
- Promote more collaboration between foundations, government, and NGOs in disaster response.
- Instead of taking on a first-responder role, philanthropy should focus on the rebuilding and transforming phases of disaster recovery.
- Philanthropy can help ensure that attention is paid to the long term, ongoing issues the affected areas face after the immediacy of the situation has subsided.
With donations for Haiti slowing, this is an opportunity for foundations to step up and do what they do best: invest in extended and focused support on the needs of a community in order to have a systemic, enduring impact.
The question we should ask ourselves about Haiti should be the kind of question foundations should ask every time they consider responding to a disaster: What kind of Haiti do we want in the future?
- Stephanie Jacobs, member services manager
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disasters, international | Tagged: Annie E. Casey Foundation, Arabella Philanthropic Investment Advisors, Bridgeway Foundation, Corporation of National and Community Service, Disaster Philanthropy, Haiti, Houston Helps Haiti, Stephanie Jacobs | 
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Posted by Stephanie Jacobs
May 6, 2009
Learning about microfinance in Akbarpura, India - by lecercle
MCF’s International Funders Network recently held a discussion on what international funders and donors need to know about microfinance in order to succeed.
Three experts were invited to provide information on this complex topic: Rob Scarlett, a member of ACCION International’s President’s Council and a trustee of Sundance Family Foundation (an MCF member); Monte Achenbach, VP for international programs at American Refugee Committee; and Jason Cons, director of research and project design at The Goldin Institute.
During the Q & A session, attendees had the opportunity to inquire about their specific areas of interest. Here is a flavor of the conversation:
Q: Is Microlending working?
A: It depends — it’s not working in Bangladesh where people have taken out multiple loans to pay for everyday living expenses and are now overextended. It is working in Bolivia. The answer is different depending on the country, regulations, and division between NGOs and for-profit lenders.
Q: How do funders work successfully with for-profit lenders?
A: The lack of government oversight and regulation makes this difficult. Funders really need to build a long-term relationship and communicate their needs with their lender.
Q: How do you determine and measure the impacts of giving?
A: There are many ways to make determinations and measure impact. The impact can be social, economic, societal – and all can be measured in different ways. Once you’ve determined what you want to measure, it’s recommended that you build in an ongoing, long-term process of internal and external accountability at all levels, and that you incorporate a community engagement process into your data collection and reporting activities.
Q: Where can we find more information about microfinance?
A: In addition to ACCION International, ARC and the Goldin Institute, you can find information at CGAP: Consultative Group to Assist the Poor and The MIX Market. These organizations are also in the beginning stages of reporting social key indicators and eco-mapping that can be used for comparison data.
- Submitted by Lisa Johnson, MCF’s manager of professional development and e-learning
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Posted by Lisa Johnson
March 30, 2009
On March 26, the Minnesota Council on Foundations, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy and PFund Foundation held a briefing on capacity building and community engagement for social change at the Northwest Area Foundation in St. Paul.
The National Gender & Equity Campaign, a demonstration project of AAPIP and PFund Foundation, shared best practices and key lessons from their community engagement approaches. Grantmakers also heard various community perspectives about the NGEC and PFund Foundation’s community engagement processes. They shared their reflections and insights in to the impacts on the ground and how to enact approaches that stay relevant to community contexts.
This sparked a thoughtful discussion among participants. The discussion revolved around the questions: How can we keep our organization relevant to our audience? How can we reflect the needs of the community back into the community through responsive services? How can we make the evaluation process more realistic? Once you’ve participated in the community engagement process, how do you move forward strategically? One attendee remarked, “The community engagement process helps to debunk myths and satisfy truths. It helps you keep your organization relevant.” In light of today’s economic environment, I think we can all agree that we need to attend to the needs of our audiences now more than ever before.
The National Gender & Equity Campaign, a demonstration project of AAPIP, has produced ”A Guide on Community Engagement: Making Social Justice Work Inclusive”. This facilitation guide shares a framework, tools and methods for community engagement. If you’re interested in engaging the communities you serve, check out the full facilitation guide on NGEC’s website.
- Lisa Johnson, MCF’s manager of professional development and e-learning
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Posted by Lisa Johnson
December 31, 2008
As 2008 draws to a close, the Foundation Center has published its annual review of philanthropy news over the past year:
From the historic candidacies of Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, to the credit crisis and implosion of the U.S. economy, to the spectacular Olympic Games staged by a rising China, it was a year to remember. And philanthropy was very much a part of it, doing what it has done best traditionally even as it sought to become more efficient, more effective, and more relevant to the networked global economy of the twenty-first century.
This special section takes a look at the economy, diversity, legislative news, global trends, noteworthy gifts, and more. The section ends with a look ahead at what’s to come in 2009.
Leave a Comment » | diversity, economy, government, in the news, international | Permalink
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