By Stephen Alexander, Exponent Philanthropy
This past #GivingTuesday (December 2), CEO Henry Berman and I represented Exponent Philanthropy at a daylong White House event Community Foundations: Vital Leadership for America’s Future. In the 100th year of the existence of community foundations, it may have marked the start of a new era.
Here are four takeaways from the event:
- Setting the tone for the next century of community foundation giving, Jonathan Greenblatt, special assistant to the president and director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation, extended an olive branch to the tight-knit family of community foundations. He also issued an informal mandate to community foundation leaders—ideas I believe hold true for any philanthropist committed to our collective future:
- Embrace your role as a leader at all levels: local, state, and national.
- Lean into advocacy; flex your muscles and let your representatives know what matters to you and your community.
- Take risks—you have the freedom to do so.
- Conduct R&D for social services; let the public sector follow in your wake.
- Help our citizens and representatives better understand philanthropy.
- The event centered on relationship-building. Acknowledging missed opportunities come and gone, the White House warmly welcomed nearly 100 community foundation leaders, leaders of regional associations of grantmakers, and philanthropy groups including GuideStar, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, the Council on Foundations, and Exponent Philanthropy, among others.
- The event was a learning opportunity for all present. The administration took the opportunity to educate and inform the group about recent and upcoming actions on policy that mattered to them, and community foundation leaders had unbridled access to policymakers on the issues they care about most. It was an opportunity for all to hear the kinds of questions leaders in community focused positions are asking throughout the country.
- The event signified a tip of the hat to philanthropists serving our country every day. Community foundation leaders are some of the best connected and most influential folks in their communities. They know the issues and the very people positioned to move the chains on issues that matter, from health care to education to disaster relief.
Community foundations, by and large, are in it for the long haul. They are fully committed to the health and well-being of their local regions and willing to do what it takes to realize their regions’ collective visions. Many assume the role of regional hub, connector, and convener and are uniquely positioned to guide meaningful yet difficult conversations about our past, present, and future. They work hard to understand the full history of their communities and current contexts in which they operate. This big picture understanding results in powerful action.
Was this event a turning point for how community foundations see their roles and their relationships with government? Only time will tell.
Program Manager Stephen Alexander designs sessions for our educational programs and coordinates content production with the goal of delivering the best service possible to the Exponent Philanthropy community. Before coming to Exponent Philanthropy, Stephen worked with Thomson Reuters, Jones Lang LaSalle, and two small nonprofits in Washington, DC. Stephen currently serves on the board of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network’s DC chapter. Follow Stephen on Twitter @salxndr and Exponent Philanthropy @exponentphil.
