Time for a Get Together?

Over the past two weeks, two different and very useful funder resources have come to my attention. Both resources address the importance of the connections funders should make with their grantees and the community.  The first is the Funder Listening Action Menu from the Fund for Shared Insight, and the second is the Exponent Philanthropy briefing paper “How Grantees Think Funders Can Improve.”

Both the Action Menu and the briefing paper emphasize the impact that creating these opportunities for connection and information sharing can have on the communities that funders are hoping to serve. Whether described as “listening sessions,” “convenings,” “gatherings,” etc., they all have significant potential to make a big difference in philanthropy. The benefits of this type of communication and interactions are many, including:

• Shifting power from the funder to the communities impacted most by their philanthropy

• Building understanding among funder staff and boards about the complex issues they are hoping to address

• Creating opportunities for collaboration between funders

• Fostering authentic and meaningful relationships between a funder and its grantees

• Providing ways through which nonprofits can make valuable connections with peers in their communities

• Developing new channels for information exchange and learning

One thing that struck me is that any funder, regardless of grantmaking level, structure, community, or staffing, can make these types of connections happen.  They do not necessarily require massive or complex investments of time and resources. Small steps, taken with intentionality and an eagerness to listen and learn, are sometimes all it takes to start a transformation in grantmaking or community engagement.

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A few simple examples from my own experience come to mind of foundations who made a big impact through modest efforts.

One of my clients, the F.M. Kirby Foundation has for the past two years partnered with the Mimi Washington Starrett Foundation to convene gatherings of the nonprofits that are in and serve Morris County, NJ.  More than 150 participants gather over the course of a morning to make connections, build relationships, and benefit from experts who share their knowledge through panel discussions and presentations. I was able to attend this year’s gathering as a guest, and I saw first-hand how grateful these nonprofits were for the opportunity to get together in this way.  Thanks to these two family foundations, the communities that make up Morris County are benefiting from this gathering.

I still remember the example I heard at the 2023 Exponent Philanthropy conference about the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Foundation who once a year buys out a coffee shop in their neighborhood to host a get-together for their grantees.   There’s no formal agenda, just a chance for nonprofits to be with each other, to share stories, and build relationships.  These “Coffee Community Connections” were a simple investment that meant a lot to these grantees and the community.

Finally, a former client of mine, the Washington Forrest Foundation in Northern Virginia is very focused on building strong relationships with its grantee partners.  Over the course of a year, they hosted two sets of gatherings they called “Partner Connections.”  The first was for new executive directors so they could get to know them better. And the second was for program staff from grantees which helped the foundation explore issues surrounding youth mental health. I was able to serve as facilitator for both gatherings, enabling the foundation team to be fully present and focus on what their grantees were saying.

These are just a few simple examples of funders taking the initiative to make connections with their community. And there many funders who are taking even more substantial steps to start their own listing and learning journeys.

Both Exponent and the Fund for Shared Insight have extensive resources for funders who want to convene grantees, host listening sessions, or build connections between nonprofits in their community.  Exponent's Catalytic Leadership initiative provides excellent resources that address focusing deeply on immersion in the community, such as the blog post "Taking the First Steps to Become a Catalytic Leader."  The Fund for Shared Insight has an entire learning guide for funders “Community Listening Sessions – A Guide for Funders.”

In addition to turning to these and other similar resources, I hope that funders will consider strongly the role that an outside consultant might be able to play in facilitating this work. There are many such consultants out there, myself included, who have experience with funders and nonprofits. I'm part of the National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers, and many of my fellow members are also experienced facilitators and advisors.  We stand ready to be partners with those who are eager to build more connections to their community.

When it comes to it, grantees are calling for these types of connections.  Communities are struggling and are hungry for ways through which their voices can be heard and appreciated. Funders have the ability, and perhaps the responsibility, to create those connections and opportunities.  Perhaps now more than ever, these interactions can help us to navigate the challenges that our country is facing.