Research
From Crisis to Opportunity: Learning from One Region’s Response to the Economic Downturn
Rebecca Graves, Fay Hanleybrown, Veronica Borgonovi, 2010
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In March of 2009, the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones Industrial Average hit their lowest points in over a decade. No matter where the markets and our global and local economies are on the path to recovery, philanthropy remains critically important to our communities, particularly in places with little evidence of economic prosperity on the horizon.
“From Crisis to Opportunity: Learning from One Region’s Response to the Economic Downturn” profiles the actions taken by funders across one region of the U.S. in order to surface lessons for community-based funders in all regions. We found that many Pacific Northwest funders changed practices and policies in response to urgent needs. To do more with less, these funders were intentional about how best to apply and leverage assets, often collaborating with others to avoid wasting time, effort and money.
Funders now have an opportunity to look back at their initial responses and determine what they have learned that is relevant in their ongoing work. How can these experiences inform strategies going forward, knowing only that our communities always face an unpredictable future? Lessons about how to maximize effectiveness with limited resources will always be important to achieving philanthropy’s goals.
Fueling Impact: A Fresh Look at Business Model Innovation and New Revenue Sources
Rebecca Graves and Samira Rahmatullah, 2010
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Do you want to know how community foundations are finding innovative new sources of support, and diversifying their revenue base? How new revenue sources strengthen each community foundation’s differentiation and sustainability?
These difficult economic times have been an important wake up call – a reminder that diversifying revenue sources is an essential component of a strong business model.
Fueling Impact, a new report about business model innovation and new revenue sources, is a partnership between the Council on Foundations’ Community Foundations Leadership Team, CF Insights, and FSG Social Impact Advisors. The need for this resource was identified by the Brutal Truths Task Force, a group of nine community foundation leaders.
- Read the Report – Find insights and stories focused on strengthening community foundations’ differentiation and sustainability in Fueling Impact: A Fresh Look at Business Model Innovation and New Revenue Sources Download PDF »
- Listen to CF Insights’ Webinar- Listen to a recorded webinar » discussion of the Fueling Impact findings and lessons from the experiences of community foundations who have implemented innovative revenue sources.
Raising Money While Raising Hell
John Kania, Emily Gorin, and Valerie Bockstette, 2009
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Do you believe that advocacy-oriented community leadership and fundraising are naturally at odds with one another? In our latest paper, “Raising Money While Raising Hell”, we beg to differ.
This provocative new paper debunks the myth that advocacy-oriented community leadership is naturally antithetical to fundraising, and highlights examples where foundations have built their fundraising efforts by playing advocacy-oriented community leadership roles.
“If you pursue an issue out of a passion
for your organization’s mission, values of the organization and needs of the community, then I think when raising ‘hell’ on issues, contributions will flow”
Taking Informed Action in Challenging Times
Wendy Horton, Valerie Bockstette, Melissa Scott, and Diana Cook, 2009
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This follow-up research to "Making Informed Decisions In Uncertain Times" uncovers how community foundations are continuing to weather the economic storm and how they have succeeded in “making lemonade” from these difficult times. Community foundations are using limited resources to meet greater community needs and have emerged as strong community leaders through increased convening, capacity building, and collaboration. The report goes beyond a basic playback of data; rather it validates decisions made through several peer benchmarking analyses, provides direction for 2009 and 2010, and inspires future action for increased community impact and sustainability.
Making Informed Decisions in Uncertain Times
Wendy Horton, Valerie Bockstette, and Melissa Scott, 2008
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As the financial markets continue to be volatile, and economic indicators such as unemployment and foreclosure rates point to an economic downturn for the foreseeable future, community foundations are particularly impacted.
In an effort to respond to the current financial uncertainty, CF Insights and FSG Social Impact Advisors conducted a study to identify strategies and recommendations for coping with today’s environment and to provide you with information to share with your boards and communities. The study answers questions such as:
- How are your peers forecasting key indicators for the next fiscal year?
- How much are they reducing operating budgets and in what areas?
- Are they changing the fee structure or spending policy?
- Are they changing their grantmaking approaches?
- How are they communicating with stakeholders, such as donors, nonprofits, & staff?
Growing Smarter: Achieving Sustainability in Emerging Community Foundations
Eva Nico, Rebecca Graves, Tracy Foster, Fay Hanleybrown, 2007
It’s a striking paradox: as community foundations grow their assets, their sustainability is often threatened. This report, written by FSG Social Impact Advisors and sponsored by The James Irvine Foundation, is based on research with growing community foundations. Community foundations of virtually any size will find valuable information, case studies and economic models. An executive summary and discussion guide, included in the paper, are also available as separate files for easy distribution. A board presentation introduces core concepts of the report.
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The Power of Strategic Mission Investing
Mark Kramer and Sarah Cooch, 2007
A growing number of foundations are offering low-interest loans, buying into green business ventures, and investing in other asset classes to advance their missions. Yet most mission investing remains haphazard and inconsequential. To bring about real change, foundations need to take a fundamentally different approach, making strategic mission investments that complement their grantmaking. Authors Mark Kramer and Sarah Cooch explore strategic mission investing in the Fall 2007 issue of Stanford Social Innovation Review.
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Expanding Research and Analysis for Community Foundations - A Field-Wide Study
This 2005 study by FSG, sponsored by the Community Foundations Leadership Team of the Council on Foundations, assesses the field's interest in new ways to look at community foundation finances and operations.
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Strengthening Community Foundations
John Kania, 2003
A background piece on FSG's research into the sustainability of community foundations.
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Strengthening Community Foundations - Redefining the Opportunities
A 2003 white paper reviewing the economic sustainability of community foundations based on our detailed analysis of nine community foundations.
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Becoming the Community's Foundation - Insight and Change in New Haven
John Kania and Matthew Clark, 2003
How the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven created a new approach to donor development.
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The Evaluation of Capacity Building Grants - Key Learnings for a Successful Program
Rebecca Graves and Henry Culbreath, 2003
FSG’s analysis helped the Maine Community Foundation evaluate its program acheivements and highlighted three basic lessons that can increase the likelihood of success for any capacity building initiative.
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Measuring Success in Donor Development
Rebecca Graves and Owen Stearns, 2003
This article argues that per capita giving levels offer a powerful window into the success of foundation and donor development strategies.
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Paying the Price of Innovation
Mark Kramer and John Kania, 2002
The explosion of new donor services has distorted the cost structure of community foundations. A better matching of revenues to costs is the only sustainable solution.
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A Different View on Community Funds
Mark Kramer, 2002
In this letter to the editor, Kramer takes exception to an article in the Chronicle of Philanthropy--and argues that the most successful community foundations will be those that respond simultaneously to the needs of their community and their donors.
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