It can be a little bit overwhelming to visit a blog for the first time. On some blogs it may feel like you are entering mid-conversation. This guide is my attempt to help you get a sense of the topics that I include in my blog so that you can be an active participant in this small corner of the web.
Blog Description
This blog covers issues of generational change in the philanthropic sector and more broadly trends in philanthropy. This is a wide range of topics from how professional training programs in philanthropy are creating a younger applicant pool for foundation positions to how Google is revolutionizing the concept of philanthropy. We are in a unique period of time where baby boomers are retiring and Gen Xers have made it clear that they are not content with keeping the status quo in the nonprofit or foundation sectors. I believe we are in an important period of rapid evolution in the philanthropic field, which is very significant for a field has been traditionally stagnant (or based on years of history and tradition, depending on your perspective). I will use this blog to document that evolution.
Interaction
Working at a Foundation can be very consuming work that narrows your focus to only the grant proposals that come across your desk. I write this blog because it expands my focus to trends that are larger than the community that I work in but that will have significant impact on that same community. It also helps me think through and learn about the topics that I write about. Interacting with readers and other bloggers about these topics really helps to expand and clarify my own thinking. I want your thoughts about these issues as well. The real benefit of reading about topics on the web is the blurred line between audience and author and the real exchange of knowledge that happens when many people provide their perspectives. Comments are very much welcome.
Now that I’ve introduced myself, why don’t you briefly introduce yourself in the comments area below. Who are you, do you work in the philanthropic sector, and why are you interested in trends in philanthropy?
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
First Time Visitor Guide
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
12 comments:
Trista:
Thanks for starting your blog. As a Gen X Nonprofit Manager, I was excited to learn about your blog as well as the work of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy.
I just heard Jim Canales--CEO of the James Irvine Foundation speak over the weekend. He spoke about the transparency of his Foundation and their willingness to make program course corrections when necessary. Being on the grantee side of things, this was interesting to me because I would like more nonprofits to not be afraid to tell their funders if they (the nonprofit) need to make a "program course correction." I think the current model is--if a nonprofit has to change its program during the course of a grant, they are afraid they will loose funding. However, my idealistic view is if we are all more transparent then we can change our programs when needed to be more effective in our work.
What's your opinion about Foundation and grantee program transparency?
Trista,
I'm excited about your blog and look forward to the conversations here.
I'm new to working for a private family foundation in Pennsylvania. We give anonymously. I'm in my 30s and this is my "3rd career" following jobs in marketing and then non-profit arts management.
Thanks for starting this!
Heather,
I think transparency is one of the key issues in the nonprofit sector. Nonprofits feel like they have to hide when things don’t go as well as they had initially planned and foundations are unwilling to be upfront about how much adjustment they are comfortable with. I think the majority of foundation staff would prefer that you gave them a call when you felt like significant changes were needed to successfully reach the outcomes that you had set up in the proposal. They would rather that you make adjustments so that you can reach your goals. But there are some foundation staff that just don’t like change. I think that they forget that the world is a messy place and real people don’t fit nicely into a logic model.
Welcome, Trista. We need many more young people thinking up new ways to make philanthropy better. I look forward to reading your posts.
Hi, Trista! I'm Katy Friesz, and I've worked in corporate philanthropy for about two years--one year, "officially." I'm interested in trends in philanthropy because I hope (and believe) that cross-sector collaboration, perhaps catalyzed by philanthropy, will foster social change and global citizenship. Thanks for facilitating this new forum!
Did you know there is $8 to $9 Billion Dollars worth of jobs and houses in America that is being thrown away yearly that could be going to help thousands of disadvantaged.
I would very much like your help and opinion on making this project grow into it's full potential.
Please omit the advice about filling out endless paperwork. My position is the job foreman.
My hope is that someone in the philanthropic field will choose to cut through the BS and see the value and simply say let's do this.
The Benefactor Project,
www.thebenefactorproject.com
Thank You,
Tom Canavan
Hi Trista,
Thank you for the honest and enlightening blog entries. What a great resource on generational issues. I look forward to your participation in the CoF session!
Since September 2006, I've worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and have watched it grow. The foundation, and philanthropy is general, is an exciting place to be at this point in history as we try to tackle some tough issues yet remain open to voices across sectors - and generations. In April 2007, I joined the steering committee of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy's developing Seattle chapter. Through that engagement, I was asked to design a session for the May 2008 Council on Foundations conference entitled 'Cultivating the Next Generation of Foundation Professionals'. I hope the session's discussion is as lively as that on your blog!
Your blog has given me great ideas for the session and has led me to some resources that have been very helpful in my day-to-day work.
Brittany
Trista:
So glad to find this community of people. I am somewhat new to the philanthropy sector (just under 2 years) and working for a national foundation located in Montana, I have felt so isolated from the rest of the philanthropic world.
It is only recently that I have found resources like GrantCraft and others that I am beginning to feel that my experiences, frustrations, challenges, etc. are NORMAL and shared among other grantmakers.
I look forward to engaging in conversations about the issues raised in Ready to Lead.
Chelsea,
I must admit that I have a big soft spot for Montana! In fact, I've moved around so much that I think of it as home - I return to a family cabin in Northwest Montana each year.
I'm curious about philanthropy in Montana and would love to hear more!
Brittany
Brittany:
Montana is great-I just love it and the ability to have this great job and not be in a big city, and be close to my family, etc.
The session you are putting together for the CoF Conference sounds great-wish I could attend. One of my struggles right now, as I mentioned, is how to get out there and meet other grantmakers in a workplace culture that doesn't really encourage professional development....
I am going to my first conference in the two years I have been here next month in Tacoma-so its a start.
I hope that there are some lessons, etc that come out of your session and are shared among others in the field.
Trista:
I really like your blog and interest in new trends in philanthropy. I thought everyone would be interested in the latest news from The Foundation Center: giving by family foundations is rising rapidly, reaching $17 billion in 2006, up 21% on the previous year. Most - 67% - family foundations have been established since 67% and their top giving priorities are education and health. Pretty core concerns for all families! You can check out the full report on the Center's website - just wanted to bring it to your attention.
Hi Trista,
Hope you're doing well. I wanted to let you know that tomorrow morning (April 30) at 10:30am EDT, the Council on Foundations will discuss the findings of its new survey of over 300 foundations on philanthropy's response to the economic downturn the mortgage crisis. The results of the survey show broad support by foundations for families most affected by the current economic downturn. I thought you would be interested in joining the call. Please let me know if you're interested in the call and in seeing an embargoed copy of the report. You can email me at asobel@fenton.com I look forward to hearing from you!
Best,
Alanna Sobel
Post a Comment