resident-led grantmaking grassroots grantmakers webinar september 6 th, 2012
TRANSCRIPT
Resident-Led GrantmakingGrassroots Grantmakers WebinarSeptember 6th, 2012
90 Minutes
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The recording of today’s webinar will be posted on the Grassroots Grantmakers’ website. Feel free to share!
Call Protocol & Logistics
What We’ll Do Today
Provide an overview of resident-led grantmaking
Highlight a variety of resident-led grantmaking approaches
Share “from your peers” insights on
lessons learned
Expand the dialogue on resident-led grantmaking
What is Resident-Led Grantmaking?One of four decision-making models used by funders for grassroots grantmaking:
1. Staff make funding decisions2. Boards or traditional distribution
committees make funding decisions3. A committee that includes staff, local
experts, donors, and neighborhood residents reviews and recommends grants
4. A committee of residents from the beneficiary neighborhood(s) review proposals, make funding decisions, and provide program guidance.
Which model is the best? Each decision making model can work well,
depending on the local context and program goals.
Each decision making model has it’s drawbacks – but smart planning can overcome those.
Resident-led grantmaking is especially interesting because: It is in sync with grassroots grantmakings’ resident-
centered values and philosophy; It opens up new possibilities for community
connections and accountability; It is proving to be a strong leadership development
mechanism for the residents involved.
Cleveland Gathering May 2012: 40 community grantmakers
representing 8 different foundations gathered in Cleveland to discuss their resident-led grantmaking programs.
Meet Our Panelists
Lee Kay
Grantee Coach and
Consultant
Neighborhood Connections
Talia Rivera
Director Connectivity &
Learning
Boston Rising
Dawn Wilson
Skillman Foundation/
Good Neighborhoods
Panelist/Change Maker
Maslah Farah
Executive Director
Neighborhood Unity Foundation
A program affiliated with The
Cleveland Foundation
First grants made in 2003
• A response to resident voice• Grants given in the cities of Cleveland and
East Cleveland• Put funding in the community at the
neighborhood level• Grant making committee = 24 to 28
members from the funded communities
Recruiting & Selecting
• Residents of the cities
• Diversity that reflects the cities’
• Nominated to serve on the committee
• Interviewed by incumbent GMC members
Open minded
Good communication
Appreciation for grassroots works
Willing & able to commit to the team and process
Neighborly
Training is ongoing
• New members are led through review of the application and given some direction before actual participation
• Each member is given a handbook
• “Training” done at the beginning of each round
– Reminder about values & purpose of the program
– Be curious, ask questions, listen, be open
• Review issues and decide on strategies and policies
• Liaisons staff and support the teams
• Very “OJT”
What we have learned
Challenges –• Finding available residents
• Must always be recruiting
• How much is too much?Ask & be flexibleSite visits/eventsRecruit interviewsAdditional training
Best lessons -• Resident-led grant making is
empowering and it works
• Resident committees are diligent and trustworthy and great stewards of resources
– Information sharing
– Conflicts of interest
What we have learned
THE NEIGHBORHOOD UNITY FOUNDATION (NUF)
THE BRIDGE BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND FOUNDATION
Mr. Maslah FarahExecutive Director, NUF
September 6th, 2012
“People Helping People”
At NUF, we believe that resident led community transformation is the only sustainable option for permanent community change.
2006: The Start of Community Led Change
2006- The Jacob Family Foundation (JFF) recognized the need to rethink the model for sustainable community change.
The New JFF Model
What Makes NUF Unique?
Board of Directors elected by the residents.
The Board of Directors are residents of the neighborhood.
Community projects powered by resident volunteers.
NUF Today
Growing Endowment $800,000
Mini-Grant awardees $ 500,000
2012- Power In Caring
Power In Caring
Founded by residents.
Goal: To counter the unpleasant image residents have of the 4th District.
Residents realized the need for a new positive image of their community. Honoring residents who make a difference.
Lonnie Fountain: Leading By Example
Collects cans from around the community.
Saves the money, penny by penny.
Uses the money to buy school supplies.
Also, Ms. Fountain provides meals to the elderly of the community.
The End Goal: One Community, Together
“Resident led community transformation is tested in times of adversity.”
WHAT IS THE GROVE HALL• The Trust is founded on two of Boston Rising’s core beliefs:
1. Communities know what they need to improve their outcomes
2. Sustainable impact comes from shared risk and responsibility
• The Grove Hall Trust is a resident-led neighborhood foundation that puts choice and control for investing grant dollars directly in the hands of Grove Hall residents and community leaders who serve as Trustees.
HOW IT WORKS• The Trust is a fund established by Boston
Rising, through an initial $250,000 endowment, to be matched at ten percent by the Grove Hall community.
• Boston Rising solicited Trustee applications from the community, and selected nine Grove Hall residents to serve as trustees for a 18-24 month term.
MAJOR MILESTONESSince October of 2011, Boston Rising has provided facilitative leadership to the Trustees, leading them through an organizational identity and development process where a mission, values and why statements were created.
• Held 8 board meetings; over 24 working group meetings and 2 Quarterly Community and Capacity Building Advances
• Voted to a become a Charitable Trust that is a Public Charity
• Began the incorporation process
• Developed a website
• Finalized and distributed the grant application and guidelines
• Held 3 meetings introducing the grant application & guidelines to the community
• Collected 12 applications and will make its first round of grants in October
PROBING QUESTIONS• Can the Grove Hall Trust raise $25,000 from
the community?
• Should we require grantees to have a fiscal agent?
www.grassrootsgrantmakers.org
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