Community Impact Workshop ORGANIZING A GRANTMAKING PROCESS WITH BEST PRACTICES April 22, 2005 Ames, Iowa

Community Impact Workshop You have a unique opportunity… to distinguish your foundation to boost your local profile to make new connections to make a difference The good news

Community Impact Workshop Your landscape is changing New demands Donors” “we want clearer returns” Boards “we want better measures” Trends Intensifying competition Changing community needs Increasing opportunities for local leadership

Community Impact Workshop Explore ideas & tools to help your grantmaking of your Unrestricted Fund: Achieve greater impact Boost your foundation’s profile Tell a better story Develop your Grantmaking Plan Get started planning! Presentation Goals

Community Impact Workshop Designing Your Grantmaking Plan for your Unrestricted Fund Based on “Making A Difference,” a capacity building series for community foundations, by the Council of Michigan Foundations.

Community Impact Workshop It’s not just about making grants You make an impact through grantmaking… and as a community leader

Community Impact Workshop Community Organizer Finder of Funding Intermediary Coalition Builder Mediator Initiative Manager Convenor Knowledge Broker community leadership Grantmaker Community Impact Roles

Community Impact Workshop Q: How can I get better at achieving and highlighting our community impact? Grantmaking Plan for your Unrestricted Fund A: Be more strategic in your approach by mastering six core competencies of impact.

Community Impact Workshop The six core competencies of impact Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators grantmaking community catalyst Strategize Make Effective Decisions Grounded in current National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations

Community Impact Workshop Impact starts with understanding your community Assess community needs, opportunities and resources scan Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions

Community Impact Workshop 1.What is being done? 2.Who is doing it? 3.Is it being done well? 4.What is the biggest challenge? 5.What is your dream? Scan Answers Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions

Community Impact Workshop We use scanning results to determine priority areas of work We look for priorities at the intersection of: Community needs and opportunities Community capacity Foundation roles and resources prioritize Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions

Community Impact Workshop We use scanning results to determine priority areas of work We look for priorities at the intersection of: Community needs and opportunities Community capacity Foundation roles and resources prioritize Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions

Community Impact Workshop Criteria Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions 1. Meets mission 2. Total county needs 3. Potential for impact 4. Population served 5. Allies to address need 6. Long term-impact

Community Impact Workshop Other Criteria Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions 1.Must be done? 2.Easy to do? 3.Difficult to do? 4.Want to do?

Community Impact Workshop How to make effective, strategic decisions? What types of grants? To whom? Grants not to do? What kinds of community leadership activities? strategize Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions

Community Impact Workshop 1.Matching grants 2.Reward collaboration 3.Infrastructure items strengthen organization 4.Recognize your grant give credibility to grantee Strategic Decisions Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions

Community Impact Workshop 1.Small or large or combination 2.Emphasis on specific area 3.Facilitate services for many nonprofits such as grant writing workshop or only one nonprofit Types of Grants Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions

Community Impact Workshop (c) 3 organizations 2.Government entities To Whom? Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions

Community Impact Workshop 1.Individuals 2.Outside of area 3.Fundraising events 4.Debt repayment 5.Political organizations Types Not To Do Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions

Community Impact Workshop 1.Doing site visits to grantees 2.Providing educational programs such as grant writing seminars 3.Assist philanthropy 4.Start a grantmakers council Leadership Activities Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions

Community Impact Workshop Work with grantees and community partners to clarify: Goals Outputs/outcomes Indicators of success Designing is a collaborative process. Grantees and community partners will benefit from being involved—and their involvement will benefit the community foundation design Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions

Community Impact Workshop 1.Grant makers Foundations Gaming Authority United Way 2.Nonprofits 3.Government Your Partners Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions

Community Impact Workshop We work with community partners and grantees to track and measure progress Measuring is also a collaborative process measure Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions

Community Impact Workshop 1.Final Report results 2.Articles done on grants 3.Community response Measure by CF Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions

Community Impact Workshop 1.Focus Groups 2.Surveys 3.Needs assessment 4.Establish indicators and review annually Measure by community Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions

Community Impact Workshop Communicate your activities and results to key stakeholders Donors Grantees Grantseekers Community partners Policymakers and community leaders News media communicate Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions

Community Impact Workshop 1.News Releases 2.Annual Report 3.Annual Meeting 4.Brochures 5.Grant Reception 6.Grantee Board meeting communicate Measure Track Against Indicators Prioritize Determine Community Foundation Priorities Scan Assess Community Needs, Opportunities, Resources Communicate Share Priorities, Strategies, Activities and Impact Design Develop Outputs, Outcomes and Indicators Strategize Make Effective Decisions

Community Impact Workshop Explore ideas & tools to help you: Achieve greater impact Boost your foundation’s profile Tell a better story Develop your grantmaking Plan Get started planning! Presentation Goals

Community Impact Workshop ORGANIZING A GRANTMAKING PROCESS WITH BEST PRACTICES April 22, 2005 Ames, Iowa

Community Impact Workshop Basic Grantmaking How-To From Request to Report Once your funding strategies are mapped out, you are ready to begin the actual process of grantmaking. Your handouts contain SAMPLE documents: –Grant Application Form –Press Releases –Committee Procedures –Terms of Grant and Report Forms –Calendar

Community Impact Workshop Procedures & Timeline Grant Cycle- What is it? How many should you have? Steps to plan for: –Request for Proposals –Receipt of Proposals –Staff/Committee Review –Committee Meeting –Report to Board for Approval –Notify Applicants –Terms of Grant/Grant Payment –Announce/Publicize Grants –Grant Reports due –Start Over!

Community Impact Workshop Important Documents Application Form Terms of Grant Report Form

Community Impact Workshop Committee with a Purpose “Distribution Committee”, “Grants Committee”, “Governing Committee”- whatever you call it, they have an important job to do! –Committee Job Description –Committee Procedures –Committee Confidentiality & Disclosures

Community Impact Workshop Tips & Tricks Be Creative (consider matching challenge grants, last-dollars-in grants) Be Clear about requirements for Applicants & Grantees Be Flexible (consider grant extensions- work with your grantees) Be Ready for grants to be returned now and then Expect the unexpected

Community Impact Workshop Tana Odean Community Foundation of the Great River Bend Carolynn Sween Community Foundation of Waterloo/Cedar Falls & Northeast Iowa