FavoriteKey Points The act of transforming community outcomes requires diverse stakeholders across an array of settings to become actors of change. While this movement to action lies at the heart of effective community change, it also remains one of the most challenging aspects of collective work. Drawing from the ABLe Change Framework systems-change model, this article presents four processes used in numerous communities across the United States to effectively engage diverse stakeholders in taking actions to improve local systems. These processes prioritize the voices of the most disadvantaged within communities and engage them as key actors in the change process. Read more

FavoriteAs part of GEO’s work on productive foundation culture, GEO developed a resource guide to assist grantmakers in identifying, discussing and improving organizational culture. This resource guide incorporates GEO’s existing work on foundation culture as well as new resources for grantmakers. This guide will allow grantmakers to quickly access the resources needed to address organizational culture.

FavoriteThe Foundation Guidebook provides the baseline knowledge you need for running a foundation and get to the really important work of making a difference. You’ll learn how to build a foundation through thoughtful design and careful construction. Recognizing, though, that you have a lot to do in too little time, this guidebook focuses on practical ways to get the job done simply.

FavoriteBy: Dr. Lynn Perry Wooten, David J. Nolan Dean and Professor of Management and Organizations for Cornell University’s Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management; co-author with Dr. Erika Hayes James, Leading Under Pressure: From Surviving to Thriving Before, During, and After a Crisis For the last decade my co-author, Erika James, and I have researched how organizations lead under pressure and especially in crisis situations. Although most organizations do not frequently confront crises, leading under pressure has become a new norm. Pressurized situations can be the result of budget constraints, time limitations, stakeholders’ demands, shortage of resources Read more

FavoriteUnited Philanthropy Forum’s first-ever 2017 Key Metrics for Philanthropy-Serving Organizations report provides comprehensive benchmarking data and analyses on the governance, finances, membership, services and programs, and operations of regional and national philanthropy-serving organizations (PSOs). Download the executive report — the full report is for members only.

FavoriteFSG’s guide, Facilitating Intentional Group Learning, is designed to help organizations and teams infuse a learning culture into their daily work. From quick 20-minute activities to multi-hour gatherings, this guide provides detailed instructions on how to conduct high-energy, inclusive, and productive experiences.

Favorite Bringing people together is one of the key roles of philanthropy. It’s important to make sure you have the right people in the room so that the time spent is productive and the outcome is useful for everyone. To ensure you’ve tapped the right players for your next gathering, ask yourself these three questions before you issue invitations: What is our overall goal? What roles are essential to accomplish our goal? How can we make the best use of others?

FavoriteDo you have a collaborative mindset? This tool will help you take collaboration seriously – and playfully – and figure out your strengths and opportunities to improve your skills.

FavoriteIn our exploration of successful structures, we studied organizations of different sizes, types, missions, and cultures. We identified a set of common practices supported by certain organizational characteristics and behaviors that, over time, are building successful structures. These characteristics and behaviors boil down to five essential guidelines for realizing a successful grantmaking structure designed to integrate the “how” of grantmaking with foundation strategy and impact

FavoriteBy: Simon Willis I enjoyed reading the special feature on ‘Talent for philanthropy’. How we staff philanthropic organizations is an important topic for discussion, and it’s incredibly valuable to have carefully grounded contributions calling for increased effectiveness and professionalism for the sector. Click Go To Resource to read more…

FavoriteLeadership in Action Stories provide insight into how community foundations are approaching their community leadership work and putting the community leadership building blocks into practice. These stories illustrate the pathways and elements contained in the Framework for Community Leadership by a Community Foundation. Want to go more deeply behind the scenes at a community foundation as it builds its capacity to build a thriving community? Check out a community leadership case study.