Resident-Led GrantmakingGrassroots Grantmakers WebinarSeptember 6th, 2012

90 Minutes

Use your dialogue box to share questions or comments; I will weave them into the conversation.

If you get disconnected or need to step away, you can reconnect using the same process that brought you here originally.

The recording of today’s webinar will be posted on the Grassroots Grantmakers’ website. Feel free to share!

Call Protocol & Logistics

What We’ll Do Today

Provide an overview of resident-led grantmaking

Highlight a variety of resident-led grantmaking approaches

Share “from your peers” insights on

lessons learned

Expand the dialogue on resident-led grantmaking

What is Resident-Led Grantmaking?One of four decision-making models used by funders for grassroots grantmaking:

1. Staff make funding decisions2. Boards or traditional distribution

committees make funding decisions3. A committee that includes staff, local

experts, donors, and neighborhood residents reviews and recommends grants

4. A committee of residents from the beneficiary neighborhood(s) review proposals, make funding decisions, and provide program guidance.

Which model is the best? Each decision making model can work well,

depending on the local context and program goals.

Each decision making model has it’s drawbacks – but smart planning can overcome those.

Resident-led grantmaking is especially interesting because: It is in sync with grassroots grantmakings’ resident-

centered values and philosophy; It opens up new possibilities for community

connections and accountability; It is proving to be a strong leadership development

mechanism for the residents involved.

Cleveland Gathering May 2012: 40 community grantmakers

representing 8 different foundations gathered in Cleveland to discuss their resident-led grantmaking programs.

Meet Our Panelists

Lee Kay

Grantee Coach and

Consultant

Neighborhood Connections

Talia Rivera

Director Connectivity &

Learning

Boston Rising

Dawn Wilson

Skillman Foundation/

Good Neighborhoods

Panelist/Change Maker

Maslah Farah

Executive Director

Neighborhood Unity Foundation

A program affiliated with The

Cleveland Foundation

First grants made in 2003

• A response to resident voice• Grants given in the cities of Cleveland and

East Cleveland• Put funding in the community at the

neighborhood level• Grant making committee = 24 to 28

members from the funded communities

Recruiting & Selecting

• Residents of the cities

• Diversity that reflects the cities’

• Nominated to serve on the committee

• Interviewed by incumbent GMC members

Open minded

Good communication

Appreciation for grassroots works

Willing & able to commit to the team and process

Neighborly

Training is ongoing

• New members are led through review of the application and given some direction before actual participation

• Each member is given a handbook

• “Training” done at the beginning of each round

– Reminder about values & purpose of the program

– Be curious, ask questions, listen, be open

• Review issues and decide on strategies and policies

• Liaisons staff and support the teams

• Very “OJT”

What we have learned

Challenges –• Finding available residents

• Must always be recruiting

• How much is too much?Ask & be flexibleSite visits/eventsRecruit interviewsAdditional training

Best lessons -• Resident-led grant making is

empowering and it works

• Resident committees are diligent and trustworthy and great stewards of resources

– Information sharing

– Conflicts of interest

What we have learned

THE NEIGHBORHOOD UNITY FOUNDATION (NUF)

THE BRIDGE BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND FOUNDATION

Mr. Maslah FarahExecutive Director, NUF

September 6th, 2012

“People Helping People”

At NUF, we believe that resident led community transformation is the only sustainable option for permanent community change.

2006: The Start of Community Led Change

2006- The Jacob Family Foundation (JFF) recognized the need to rethink the model for sustainable community change.

The New JFF Model

What Makes NUF Unique?

Board of Directors elected by the residents.

The Board of Directors are residents of the neighborhood.

Community projects powered by resident volunteers.

NUF Today

Growing Endowment $800,000

Mini-Grant awardees $ 500,000

2012- Power In Caring

Power In Caring

Founded by residents.

Goal: To counter the unpleasant image residents have of the 4th District.

Residents realized the need for a new positive image of their community. Honoring residents who make a difference.

Lonnie Fountain: Leading By Example

Collects cans from around the community.

Saves the money, penny by penny.

Uses the money to buy school supplies.

Also, Ms. Fountain provides meals to the elderly of the community.

The End Goal: One Community, Together

“Resident led community transformation is tested in times of adversity.”

WHAT IS THE GROVE HALL• The Trust is founded on two of Boston Rising’s core beliefs:

1. Communities know what they need to improve their outcomes

2. Sustainable impact comes from shared risk and responsibility

• The Grove Hall Trust is a resident-led neighborhood foundation that puts choice and control for investing grant dollars directly in the hands of Grove Hall residents and community leaders who serve as Trustees.

HOW IT WORKS• The Trust is a fund established by Boston

Rising, through an initial $250,000 endowment, to be matched at ten percent by the Grove Hall community.

• Boston Rising solicited Trustee applications from the community, and selected nine Grove Hall residents to serve as trustees for a 18-24 month term.

MAJOR MILESTONESSince October of 2011, Boston Rising has provided facilitative leadership to the Trustees, leading them through an organizational identity and development process where a mission, values and why statements were created.

• Held 8 board meetings; over 24 working group meetings and 2 Quarterly Community and Capacity Building Advances

• Voted to a become a Charitable Trust that is a Public Charity

• Began the incorporation process

• Developed a website

• Finalized and distributed the grant application and guidelines

• Held 3 meetings introducing the grant application & guidelines to the community

• Collected 12 applications and will make its first round of grants in October

PROBING QUESTIONS• Can the Grove Hall Trust raise $25,000 from

the community?

• Should we require grantees to have a fiscal agent?

www.grassrootsgrantmakers.org

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