Philanthropy news and resources
From time to time there are news items or resources from the philanthropic sector that we like to share broadly. In addition to sending electronic announcements to our constituents that include information about these items, we will also post items of general interest here.
15 June 2010
The Future of Global Community Philanthropy
This article, which was first published on the TCFN website on June 8th, was prepared by Barry Knight. Barry has been working with TCFN, The Global Fund for Community Foundations, and WINGS-CF in broadening the conversation about our work.
Conversations have begun among the three main international organizations that support the development of community foundations to coordinate their work so that they offer a better service to the field. The Global Fund for Community Foundations, the Transatlantic Community Foundation Network, and WINGS-CF are exploring how to deliver a seamless service to their constituencies.
The three organizations have analyzed the factors that have produced the successful development of community foundations over the past twenty years. They have concluded that six types of service have been essential:
- Money: the provision of funding to support start up, early-stage, and innovative practice; as well as a channel for access and referral to funding sources
- Peer learning: sharing of learning between community foundations
- Technical assistance: expert help on issues relating to the running of community foundations
- Legitimisation: the processes by which new and emerging organisations are given credibility by their peers
- Convening: bringing people together to share information, particularly the engaging of non-community foundation and actors
- Research, information, and publications: the development of the public knowledge base of the field
At present each of the three organizations performs some of these services. However, it has become clear that what really matters for community foundations is the interaction between the different services. Hence the need to join them up.
The three organizations also plan to work on a business case for community foundations. This will be valuable for all relevant organisations in the field, and help to establish the field as an important ingredient in the programs of official development agencies. Despite the growth in community foundations across the world in the past two decades, the idea of community philanthropy is still not well understood in development circles. A business case would open the door to more recognition and more money for the field as a whole. A series of research studies are already underway to support this effort.
As the discussions proceed, the three organizations are looking to enter into a more formal relationship as time unfolds.
We would like you to participate in these discussions. As a first step in this process, please contact our consultant, Barry Knight, who is helping us with this process. Write to him at barryknight@cranehouse.eu, and he will be in touch with you to discuss these developments and how you can contribute to this process.
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