True Needs, True Partners Approach: You’ve Got to Have the Conversation Megan Coupland, Grants Manager, The Wyatt Trust

The Wyatt Trust Established in 1886 A leading South Australian philanthropic foundation Priority areas of Education, Housing, Employment, Financial Wellbeing Unique funding model focused on the individual Place-based philanthropic model

The Wyatt Trust Over 80 funding partnerships with local organisations In 2014/2015 over 3,800 individuals assisted through partnership funding arrangements Over1,200 households assisted through small grants Collaboration with 96 referring organisations

Funding Environment Government funding Corporations and business Philanthropic trusts and foundations Individual donors Income generation and social enterprise Evolving mechanisms eg. Social Impact Investment / Giving Circles

How do we develop or access the amount of ‘the pie’ that we think we need?

“ You can’t have a partnership without a relationship, and you can’t have a relationship without a conversation. You’ve got to have the conversation.”

True Needs, True Partners Approach Engaging in collaborative, creative funding solutions – relationships are key Clarity of organisational purpose Clear understanding of the need/s you’re addressing

Collaboration Exercise: Three Things in Common in Three Minutes

Organisational Positioning: Uta Hagen’s Nine Questions Who am I (my organisation)? What time is it? Where am I? What surrounds me? What are the given circumstances? What are my relationships? What do I want? What is in my way? What do I do to get what I want?

Need identification for funding: clarify the real issue/s Describe the problem – not the solution Don’t assume a funder or potential partner knows the importance or urgency of the issue Use evidence – not assumptions or assertions Know what else is being done by others Cast your net – and conversations – wide Embrace collaborative approaches and shared measurement systems

Developing True Partnerships: Seven Key Principles Get funders’ attention – start those conversations Communicate a clear vision Understand your organisation’s funding model Identify funding gaps and opportunities Embrace creativity and flexibility Be passionate about what you do – this can be your trump card! Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate!

Case Study: Resilient Futures SA

Resilient Futures SA Partnership between SAHMRI, Wyatt Trust, James and Diana Ramsay Trust, SA State Government and others High impact project – 850 young people over three years Action research – improved mental health outcomes, more active participation in the community, increased self confidence and increased resilience to stressful life events for vulnerable young people.

Case Study: Resilient Futures SA

Why an effective example? Applied the seven Key Principles of Funding Partnerships Relationship-building was key – so many conversations! Great vision: an organisation that knew what it was and what it wanted Clear articulation of the need for the project – this was a project that Wyatt didn’t know it wanted to support. Ushered in a stream of ‘High Impact’ action-research granting for us Future-looking – based on the future needs of the young participants

“When it comes to Not for Profit sustainability, Boards, leaders, researchers, consultants and think tanks alike are often engaged in a limited conversation that starts and ends with funding models. This closed loop thinking is made so by planning practices that ignore long-term value creation.” George Liacos, Spark Strategy

“So, leaders must do two things: Anticipate the long term future value demanded by their communities; and generate ideas for adaptive business models to deliver this future value better than anyone else. The funding model will follow.” George Liacos, Spark Strategy

Resources: “In Search of Sustainability: Thinking Beyond Funding Models” “Together We Do Better: Perspectives on Partnership” “Grant-Seeker’s Guide to Trusts and Foundations”

Questions?