How Do Foundation Program Officers Gauge Grant Impact?

April 1, 2013

measuring-impactIf you work for a nonprofit, perhaps you’ve wondered what happens to a status or final report you’ve written and submitted to a foundation, reporting on a grant. Well, wonder no more.

The Minnesota Council on Foundations hosted a conversation with five program officers from its member foundations about evaluating grants and grantees. The complete conversation will run in the spring issue of Giving Forum –MCF’s publication covering philanthropy news by and for grantmakers, givers and nonprofits.

Participating program officers were:

  • Joanna Ramirez Barrett, program operations and evaluation director, Northwest Area Foundation
  • Monica Bryand, senior program officer, Headwaters Foundation for Justice
  • Nate Dorr, program officer – grants, Northwest Minnesota Foundation
  • Susan Voigt, program manager, Medica Foundation
  • Laura Zimmermann, arts program officer and director of artist fellowships, The McKnight Foundation

Program officers answered questions about what types of follow-up reports they request from grantees and how they use and share the data contained within. They were candid about changes they’ve made to processes at their foundations based on grantee feedback, and they told us how they measure their own success as grantmakers. Find out if they believe their success is dependent on the accomplishments of their grantees.

Sneak Peek Video Online Now
Here’s a glimpse into the Giving Forum feature where three program officers (Barrett, Voigt and Zimmermann) give advice on providing measurement data to funders, explain why they believe it is important to do so and recommend resources nonprofit staff can use to learn more about successful evaluation strategies.

To read the complete conversation, look for Giving Forum, in your mailboxes and online by mid-April. If you don’t already receive the free quarterly 16-page print publication, subscribe by creating an account on mcf.org, so you don’t miss the spring issue “Progress Through Evaluation” and future 2013 issues focused on “Corporate Philanthropy” and on “Giving – and Working – Across Generations.”

- Susan Stehling, MCF communications associate

Our special thanks to Pollen for running this as the feature article in today’s issue!

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Journey to Indian Country Holds Lessons for Grantmakers

August 1, 2012

There are undeniable disparities between Native peoples and the general population in education, health, and other fundamental measures of well-being.

Yet, organized philanthropy appears to have relatively little engagement in Indian Country:  National research indicates that less than half of one percent of all foundation dollars are directed specifically to Native people.

Recognizing this disconnect, Philanthropy Northwest set out in 2006 to promote more philanthropic engagement in Indian Country. Its recently released report, Lessons for Philanthropy: A Journey Into Indian Country (PDF), reflects on seven lessons learned while engaging more deeply with Native Nations:

  1. Listen first. Martin Jennings, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, program officer at Northwest Area Foundation, observes that “funders too often focus on deficits or problems. Their thinking needs to shift to asset-based approaches that build on local cultural values, Tribal assets, and knowledge that exists in Indian Country.” Philanthropy should first seek to strengthen its understanding of, and appreciation for, Indian Country.
  2. Cultural identity matters. Cultural traditions are fundamental to improving – and then maintaining – Native peoples’ well-being. For example, Dr. Martina Whelshula, Arrow Lakes, executive director of the Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations, how ceremonies and cultural practices powerfully transform youth in her organization’s treatment program for chemically dependent teenagers.
  3. Honor native voices. The 21st-century world relies on reports, contracts, email, and predominantly impersonal business transactions. In contrast, Native people place a high value on long-standing personal relationships and oral communication. Philanthropic organizations must be prepared to invest time and energy in authentic conversations with potential Native partners.
  4. Learn from mistakes. Grantmakers interested in Indian Country may have a fear of failure.  Consider viewing potential failure differently: Mistakes will be made, but funders who proceed with honesty, clarity and respect for the land and people will find loyal partners in Indian Country.
  5. Recognize the importance of storytelling. To build relationships between traditional philanthropists and Native leaders, Philanthropy Northwest held a series of small-group conversations. These discussions allowed adequate time for people to get to know each other, and they led to more honest and unstructured conversations between grantmakers and grant recipients.
  6. Build true partnerships. Breaking down walls between grantmakers and grantseekers is certainly difficult, but it is not impossible. Seek out proven strategies for building new and deeper relationships.
  7. Take the long view. Working successfully in Indian Country requires long-term engagement. Investing in organizations that train leaders, build community and encourage new political alliances can build the capacity of Native people to chart their own destiny.

Ultimately, Philanthropy Northwest recognizes that funders will make a bigger contribution to life in Indian Country if they listen to and learn from their Native partners.

Join the conversation: Do you have any best practices that have helped you collaborate successfully with grantees of diverse backgrounds? What lessons from Indian Country may also be applied to other communities?

Further Reading:

Several recent publications explore foundation engagement with Native Nations:

-Anne Bauers, MCF research manager

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Making Prosperity Possible for All

June 18, 2012

What are some practical, fundamental policy shifts that can help low-income people build the futures they want for themselves and their families?

If you have an idea, MCF member Northwest Area Foundation, the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Affairs want to hear from you.

They’ve launched the Ideas for Action Award to develop and promote new thinking and policies to reduce poverty long term. With more than 46 million people currently living in poverty, and many efforts to address poverty both proving insufficient and facing cutbacks, this initiative seeks to find new, imaginative, integrated and concentrated efforts that capitalize on the best in the public, nonprofit and private sectors.

The ideas generated through this competition can help chart a different course by bringing high energy, creative ideas for new directions, and a fresh look at existing initiatives that may not have been brought to scale. Lifting up imaginative approaches will improve the practice of fighting poverty in America and in the Northwest Area.

If you have an idea, start writing now: 600-word letters of inquiry are due Friday, June 29. Select applicants will then be invited to submit full proposals in July, with ten award winners announced by Northwest Area Foundation in October. Winners will receive support for travel for presentations at specific conferences and partnership opportunities. Each winner will also receive a monetary award of at least $5,000.

Find out more about this new anti-poverty challenge at the Evans School of Public Affairs website.

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Guest Post: All of Us are Smarter than Any of Us

May 29, 2012

Today on the blog we welcome Marcia Avner, senior fellow at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and faculty, Masters in Advocacy and Political Leadership at University of Minnesota Duluth. She draws on her many years of experience in the sector to reflect on the value of convening, and why she’s excited for this year’s Grassroots & Groundwork conference held by MCF member Northwest Area Foundation.

“All of us are smarter than any of us.” When foundations and nonprofits come together to share stories, ideas, and insights, we build powerful strategies for change. One of the strengths of our sector is that our work is highly relational. We build and rely upon networks that connect us to emerging ideas, to the buzz about effective programs, to shared anticipation of pending opportunities, and to leaders who inspire us. As a consequence, our organizations encourage a variety of convenings to advance our work.

Sometimes frequent gatherings of small cohorts result in deep relationships, partnerships, and accomplishment. In the 1980s, we worked together to change food systems and farming practices with an intent to protect family farms, increase local assets, and sustain strong communities.

Other convenings help us turn crises to opportunities. When welfare reform threatened Minnesota’s programs, foundations, nonprofits, and the faith community convened quickly and dubbed their collaborative MC3: Minnesota Council on Foundations, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, and Minnesota Council of Churches. MC3 tapped its networks to examine best practices for state-based responses. Gathering large groups of people who provide services, other thought leaders, and program participants, MC3 found ways to move people out of poverty, not just off welfare. A government and foundation partnership was formed, The Minnesota Futures Fund, and our state developed the soundest model for reform in the nation.

Our sector comes together to share intelligence and solve problems. We count on several key conferences to understand the state and direction of our work. These include the annual conferences of the Minnesota Council of Foundations and Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, as well as meetings of the national Council on Foundation’s affinity groups. Conferences put on by EARN, the Association of Social Workers, Human Rights Advocates, and the Minnesota Citizen for the Arts consistently provide platforms for effective, time- and money-saving models and tools. They all help us put names and faces to efforts that help our society address critical needs and build on-ramps to better futures.

For those intent on reducing poverty, the Northwest Area Foundation’s Grassroots and Groundwork has proven to be a thought provoking and highly interactive opportunity for learning, developing ideas, and connecting to funders and activists working to address equity and opportunity.

The 2012 conference, Working Together to Reduce Poverty and Build Prosperity, will be held June 6-8, at Mystic Lake Casino, Prior Lake, MN.  This event is one example of how we can become the best that we can be at making a difference in our communities. I hope to see you there. But understand, if you attend, your questions, criticisms, ideas and perspectives will be sought. In addition to breakout sessions, keynote speakers and workshops, the conference will feature facilitated conversations to tap the wisdom of the room. For information and to register, visit www.grassrootsandgroundwork.org.

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Save the Date! Grassroots & Groundwork Conference June 6-8

December 14, 2011

The Northwest Area Foundation, an MCF member, is gearing up for their annual Grassroots & Groundwork 2012 conference. It will be held June 6-8 at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake.

The conference will shine a light on practical and innovative approaches being used to help people lift themselves out of poverty for the long term.

The break-out sessions will give attendees an opportunity to examine and question these models and the presenters. The conference will also provide opportunities for participants to connect and share information to reduce poverty.

It will explore strategies involving public policy, social entrepreneurship, affordable housing and much more.

Expect to see:

  • 20+ presentations on innovative poverty reduction methods and tools
  • Site tours of exceptional poverty-reduction initiatives in the Twin Cities
  • Renowned keynote speakers
  • An optional half-day Community-Builder Institute

If you have been part of an innovative poverty-reduction initiative and would like to share it, get your proposal ready. The call for presentations will go out in December and close on January 10, 2012.

Keep checking back at the Northwest Area Foundation website for upcoming announcements about the conference, including the roll out of the conference website with new features for networking and sharing around the work of poverty reduction.

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Strengthening Reservation-based Native Businesses

October 17, 2011
Northwest Area Foundation, an MCF member, has launched a Native American Social Entrepreneurship Initiative in an effort to increase the number and strength of reservation-based Native businesses.

Supported by $1.59 million in grants, this two-year undertaking aims to bolster Native financial institutions. Native social entrepreneurship uses business principles to build wealth and formulate solutions to social issues.

“Historically, less than one-half of one percent of philanthropic dollars is invested in Native American programs, and studies indicate that number is decreasing. This initiative seeks to invest in Native communities’ ability to reduce poverty and build prosperity,” says Kevin Walker, president and CEO of Northwest Area Foundation.

To learn more about this innovative effort, use the links below and watch for a Q&A with Martin Jennings, Northwest Area Foundation program director, in the fall issue of Giving Forum - in your mailbox soon.

Oregon Native American Business and Entrepreneurial Network (ONABEN) will lead the initiative and support an educational cohort in which the participating organizations will meet regularly to learn and share best practices.

Six additional grants have been awarded to nonprofits participating in the cohort.

  • Four Bands Community Fund Inc. will create a green business development curriculum. Four Bands will work in partnership with Cheyenne River Tribal Ventures.
  • Hunkpati Investments Inc. will receive a grant for its Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), which seeks to stimulate economic growth on the Crow Creek Sioux Indian reservation.
  • Lakota Funds will support a pilot project for a children’s matched savings program known as Children’s Development Accounts (CDA).
  • Northwest Native Development Fund (NNDF) will implement its Growing into Our Footprint project to expand business training, outreach, tax preparation assistance and access to loans.
  • Taala Fund of Taholah, Wash. will receive funding for the Quinault Asset Building initiative, which introduces youth to financial management and business principles, paving pathways to future prosperity.
  • Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation – Business Service Center will provide business and financial education as early as elementary school.

- Susan Stehling, MCF communications associate

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