Strengthening communities by supporting CF leaders with practical, customized assistance and advice.
WE LISTEN
We developed the following services in response to what leaders in the field told us:
Strategy
Strategy is key to driving change. We help foundations set their strategic direction by drawing on data, analysis, and community perspectives. We co-create the plan so that it is realistic, actionable, and measurable, and we employ a coaching model to help increase capacity and skills on the team and increase the practical application of the plan.
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Our strategic planning work is co-designed and a custom fit. It starts with an environmental scan, data gathering that includes staff, board and stakeholder input, and it includes facilitation, coaching and project management. The end-product will be an ambitious and practical three-year plan with clear and measurable objectives.
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Tune-ups are designed to review current strategy with key stakeholders, staff and board in a short period of time. We review data and conduct a few facilitated meetings and interviews to identify timely and critical adjustments to strategy, goals or tactics. The end-product is a set of recommendations for any mid-course adjustments.
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Effective community leadership is demonstrated through strategic initiatives that unite stakeholders in pursuit of shared goals. We organize convenings and collaborative planning efforts that cultivate relationships, promote learning, and drive collective action.
Implementation
We turn aspirations into measurable objectives and actionable strategies, paired with coaching to ensure successful execution.
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In times of transition, innovation, or change, you need immediate, short-term support without sacrificing experience and skill. For these key interim assignments, our team of highly experienced foundation executives will temporarily bring proven, hands-on expertise and strategic insight. We offer immediate partnership to enhance or sustain operations without the long-term overhead. Whether bridging a leadership gap on the senior team, supporting annual operations planning, or launching a new initiative, we step in with the insight, agility, and care that community work demands. Our team has extensive expertise in operations, planning, program development, community leadership, donor engagement, financial analysis, and budgeting.
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Building on tools such as CF Insights Activity-Based Costing and CEP’s donor and grantee perception reports, we help foundations strengthen their business models, donor relationships, and community leadership, putting the data to work in actionable ways.
Training
We offer training programs to equip new staff with community foundation fundamentals, guide board members in effective governance, and support new CEOs in leadership, donor engagement, and the CF business model. Based on your learning objectives, we can draw on our established curriculum or design a program to meet our specific needs.
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We offer a one-session introduction designed for staff and board members new to community foundations, covering the business model, fund types and fundraising, community leadership and distributions, finance/audit/investments, and more. We also can facilitate a follow up session that dives deeply into two topic areas selected by the CF.
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We can create a customized, highly engaged training series for your board, based on its specific learning needs. We also offer a session called Building a Highly Effective and Committed Board: A Lifecycle Approach, designed to help develop a system that supports a more efficient and effective, purpose-driven board.