NNCG Masthead
May 2015
In This Issue

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 From the Executive Director...  

Following NNCG's wonderful Annual Meeting, I had the surreal experience of watching parts of my hometown burning on television monitors 3,000 miles away. Since I was also attending the Council on Foundations conference, I was grateful for the opportunity to participate in several conversations where the need for philanthropy to be part of the solution to the challenges behind the scenarios unfolding in Baltimore and elsewhere was never  

more apparent.

 

Reflecting on the discussions in San Francisco and events since then,  

I'm reminded of the value that an outside perspective often brings to situations when those on the inside don't always see clearly. In Baltimore, it took an elected official born and raised in another city to see and respond to the situation in a way that other local officials had not. Many  

of us believe her comments and actions spoke to the concerns and frustrations behind the unrest in ways that let many of the city's residents know their voices had indeed been heard.

 

I believe this situation also illustrates the value that philanthropy consultants bring to the grantmakers with whom they work. Have you or an organization you've been part of experienced a situation where an "outside" perspective revealed something that wasn't always obvious   

or helped you to move forward in places you were stuck? Since many NNGG members have previously held staff positions within foundations, they truly bring the best of both worlds -- as professionals who've experienced philanthropy from the inside and are now able to view the challenges faced by grantmakers with the fresh eyes of an outsider.

 

To paraphrase John Lennon & Paul McCartney, don't we all need a little help from our friends?

NNCG Annual Meeting

"Inspiring - Affirming - Energizing"

 

These were just some of the comments from the members and guests attending NNCG's Annual Meeting and launch of the special    

Foundation Review issue about philanthropy consulting at the Council on Foundations Conference in San Francisco. A packed room heard from a distinguished panel of article authors moderated by NNCG Steering Committee Chair Kris Putnam-Walkerly. The Foundation Review editor Teri Behrens also spoke, as did NNCG Vice Chair Lee Draper and Executive Director Paul Sturm. A stimulating question & answer session was followed by a celebratory reception.

 

   

    

   

 More annual meeting photos are here.

Philanthropy Consulting Webinar Series

Based on the Spring issue of The Foundation Review - the first edition dedicated to the practice of philanthropy consulting - NNCG is presenting a series of seven webinars that dive deeper into many of the publication's article topics.

 

The webinar series is co-sponsored by the Council on Foundations, the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, The Foundation Center, LearnPhilanthropy, Northern California Grantmakers, and The Foundation Review.

 

Registration is free for NNCG members, and non-members receive a multi-webinar discount. Learn more and register here.

Philanthropy New York Program: May 19th

If you're in the New York area on May 19, join NNCG for our program at Philanthropy New York: The Value Philanthropy Consultants Bring to Foundations: The Data is Here!

 

Click here for more information and to register.

Mention you were invited by NNCG for free registration.
 Los Angeles Program: May 20th

If you're in Southern California on May 20, join NNCG and Southern California Grantmakers for a special program Advocacy Best Practices: Funder and Consultant Perspectives.

 

Click here for more information and to register.

 NNCG Members in Action

NNCG highlights members' thought leadership - articles, presentations, innovations and other activities that advance philanthropic practice. Follow the links for more information.

Kay Marquet of Kay Marquet Associates ioins best selling author Montgomery Taylor in co-authoring the book Happy & Secure in Sonoma County.  In the book, Montgomery Taylor collaborated with successful individuals from diverse fields. Kay added her chapter, "Making Dreams Come True" which shares how to process your philanthropic dreams and make them a reality.  

 

Kris Putnam-Walkerly of Putnam Consulting Group had her article "Unlikely Allies Unite for Policy Win" published in the Grants Managers Network's journal, GMNsights.

 

Informing Change seeks funders interested in large scale systems change for a conversation for funders with large-scale systems change expert,  Steve Waddell, on 5/21/15 at 10am. The meeting's purpose is to share information about an initiative to catalyze systems change in areas such as the environment, health care, poverty and inequity, food security, and sustainable energy. If you know of foundation staff who might be interested in this event, please forward this information. Interested funders should RSVP by May 19, 2015 via Eventbrite.

 

Last month, the Jim Joseph Foundation circulated a case study by Informing Change and thought piece, co-authored by president Ellen Irie, on the Jewish Teen Education and Engagement Funder Collaborative, a group of 15 national and local funders investing in community-based Jewish teen education initiatives. The thought piece outlines the Collaborative's elements of success, while the case study takes a closer look at the Collaborative's origins, how members benefit and indications of its early success.   

 

FMA Founder and CEO Hilda Polanco has been invited to join the NYC Human Services Council's new commission to examine the recent rash of closures among high-profile nonprofit human services providers. The commission will review financial and operational details in several of the closures and produce recommendations for nonprofit leaders, boards, and government and foundation funders.

 

SwitchPoint recently published an article in The Foundation Review that provides a tool and framework to help foundations decide if and how to engage with philanthropy consultants. You can download a copy of the article here. SwitchPoint will also be putting on a webinar on June 24th to present the framework they developed as well as to share real life examples of how it can be used. For details, visit the NNCG events page, or email Jamie at jamie@switchpointllc.com  

 Welcome New NNCG Members!
We are pleased to welcome the newest members to the NNCG community (since November, 2014):
  • Donnell Snite Mersereau                                            
  • Patrick Johnston
  • Ria Sengupta Bhatt (Informing Change)
  • Mafruza Khan
  • Rebecca Van Sickle
  • La Piana Consulting        
    • David La Piana
    • Robert Harrington
    • Lester Olmstead-Rose
    • Jo DeBolt
    • Heather Gowdy
  • Larry Kaplan
  • Tony Macklin
  • Mollie Bunis (Strategic Philanthropy, Ltd.)
  • Margaret Hargreaves (Community Science)
  • Mae Hong (Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors)
  • Diana Cassady
  • Ann Janette Rosga (Informing Change)
  • Hua Ting-ting Rivers
  • Julia Ritchie
  • Brigette Rouson
  • SwitchPoint
    • Brian Leslie
    • Ted Schneider
    • Clint Novahec
    • Hope Neighbor
  • The California Wellness Foundation
  • Lisa Tracy

About NNCG

The National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers is dedicated to elevating, expanding and improving philanthropy. It's the only organization that brings together high-quality consultants to support the work of grantmakers while advancing quality and ethical standards in the practice of philanthropy consulting. NNCG's distinguished and diverse membership represents experienced and carefully vetted practitioners and thought leaders in the philanthropic field.
Learn more at NNCG.org.

National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers

a Tides Center Project 

P.O. Box 40272  

Cleveland, OH  44140   

410.878.0946 

888.589.4489 

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