October 14-16, 2007
Statler Hotel at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
About the Conference
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Hosted
by
Grantmakers Forum of New York
Western New York Grantmakers
Association
Grantmakers
Alliance of Northeastern New York
- Registration Form (PDF)
- Arrangements
- Conference site: Statler Hotel at Cornell University
- Sessions
- Speakers
- Sponsors
- Directions
- Discover Ithaca
Primary Contact:
Grantmakers
Forum of New York
919 Winton Road South
Rochester, NY 14618-1633
Conference
Committee:
Glenda Cadwallader, Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation
Leslie Cheu, Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation
Lisa
Dahl, Grantmakers Forum of New York
Mary Eberl, Western New York Grantmakers Association
George Ferrari, Community Foundation of Tompkins County
Joanne Florino, Triad Foundation
Cathie Gura, The Children's Guild
Penny Munschauer, The Children's Guild
Nancie Williams, Grantmakers Alliance of Northeastern New York
Sunday, October 14, 2007
3:00-5:00 pm, Registration, Statler Hotel Lobby
6:00-8:00 pm
Opening Reception, Taylor Room, Statler Hotel
Sponsored by the Park Foundation
Keynote Speaker: Joel Fleishman , Professor of Law and Public Policy and Director of the Duke Foundation Research Program in the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Duke University, and formerly president of the U.S. Program Staff of Atlantic Philanthropies. He is the author of The Foundation: A Great American Secret--How Private Wealth Is Changing the World, in which he explores the evolution of philanthropy and its impact on American society, and documents the many ways it has benefited the public good. Looking back on that record, he worries about the self-importance and insulation of grantmakers from their grantees. Looking forward, he identifies new challenges to philanthropic freedom and makes recommendations for improving effectiveness, increasing transparency and self-regulation in the field.
Relax, enjoy substantial gourmet hors d'oeuvres, greet your colleagues and meet new ones, and be inspired for two days of networking and learning.
8:00pm Dinner on your own. Enjoy Taverna Banfi at the Statler or visit one of Ithaca's diverse restaurants.
Monday, October 15, 2007
7:00am
Ballroom
Continental Breakfast and Discussion Roundtables
8:30am Ballroom
Opening Plenary
Sponsored by The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower FoundationIn Search of Impact: Funder-Grantee Relationships
Keynote Speaker: Phil Buchanan, The Center for Effective Philanthropy
Grantmaking foundations generally pursue impact through their grantees. But how can foundations best support the work of grantees to achieve their impact objectives? Which foundation practices maximize impact and which impede it? The Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) has surveyed tens of thousands of non-profit grantees of more than 200 foundations, analyzing what contributes to grantees' sense that foundations are making a positive impact on their organizations – and on the fields and communities they fund. Phil Buchanan, CEP's executive director, will describe what nonprofits value in their foundation funders. His presentation will touch on vexing issues such as when foundations should provide unrestricted grants and how foundations should monitor and assess program officers' performance.
Concurrent Sessions:
10:30am-12:00n
Foundation Governance: Inside the Boardroom
Until recently, little has been known about the functioning of foundation boards. The Center for Effective Philanthropy has conducted the largest-scale study of foundation boards, surveying more than 600 trustees of 60 foundations since 2004 and interviewing dozens of trustees -- developing new insights about board structure, practices, and the perceptions of foundation board members. How do foundation members define board effectiveness? In what areas do they want more board involvement? What are the keys to strong CEO-board relationships? How do the behaviors of compensated and uncompensated trustees differ? What are the dynamics of race and gender in the foundation boardroom? What is the role of foundation staff in ensuring the effectiveness of foundation boards? How can meetings be structured to maximize effectiveness? Phil Buchanan, executive director of the Center for Effective Philanthropy, will discuss the answers to these and other questions, drawing on CEP's research and experience providing board self-assessment results to foundation trustees.
10:30am-12:00n
Investment Strategy at 30,000 Feet
Grantmaking impact depends on financial resources. What are the main activities in the investing process and how do organizations delegate to get them done? Who generally does what, and why? What are the basics of creating an investment strategy and codifying that strategy in a policy statement? What are the basics of asset allocation and diversification? Tom Schryver of the Triad Foundation will lay a foundation for these important concepts.
10:30am-12:00n
More Than Child's Play: Why funders should care about child care
Sponsored by Halcyon Hill Foundation
There is a strong correlation between high quality childcare and later success (academically and behaviorally) in school. With dual-income households becoming the norm, fewer parents are able to stay home with young children. Patricia Skinner, Capital Region Childcare Council, will talk about factors that contribute to quality childcare and the barriers that exist to providing it. Jean McPheeters, Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, venture partner of the Linking Economic Development and Childcare project at Cornell University, will talk about the importance of quality childcare to businesses, and linking economic development and childcare. What role should funders play in ensuring that there is quality childcare for all families in their communities?
12:00noon
Lunch and Plenary, Ballroom
The Role of Universities in Upstate New York
Sponsored by the Dyson Foundation
Cornell University President David Skorton welcomes funders to Cornell and Ithaca. One of upstate's greatest resources are its many universities. Communities and funders have a ready partner in the universities nearby, for expert knowledge, volunteer assistance, and spurring economic growth.
2:00-3:30pm Concurrent Sessions
2:00-3:30pm
Funders As Leaders: A Dialogue
Jennifer Leonard, Rochester Area Community Foundation, Rochester, facilitates a discussion about the role of funders in community leadership and whether funders should be directive regarding community problem solving or responsive to others' direction. Come weigh in with your opinion.
2:00-3:30pm
Nonprofit/For-Profit Partnerships: Working together to make a difference
Sponsored by Corning Incorporated Foundation
Brian Cloyd, vice president of Global Community Relations for Steelcase Inc. in Grand Rapids, Michigan, will talk about the partnership that established the West Michigan Center for Arts and Technologies, replicating the Manchester Bidwell model of job training for unemployed and underemployed youth and adults. A showcase of both the Steelcase business and its corporate citizenship, WMCAT is educating and training disadvantaged youth to be strong community citizens. Brian talks about how Steelcase selected this model, the planning and implementing of the model, and the outcomes for the individuals and the community. This session is focused specifically on, but not restricted to, corporate funders.
2:00-3:30pm
The Impact of the Arts In Our Communities
Mary Margaret Schoenfeld, Americans For The Arts, talks about why supporting the Arts isn't just a "nice thing to do." She stresses the roles the Arts play in our communities: Economic, community, and individual development.
Bill Woodward, The Charles R. Wood Theater, Glens Falls, NY describes how business investment in the arts in this north country city has not only brought renewal to vacant building but also spurred economic growth downtown.
Dale Davis, New York State Literary Center, Rochester, recounts how the arts positively impact the lives of youth in schools, residential centers, and jails.
3:30-5:00pm
Time on your own. Network with colleagues, check in with the office, or walk the campus.
3:30-5:00pm
Special Session for Young or New Grantmakers
Sponsored by the NxGen Giving Program, East Hill Foundation, Buffalo
This special session for emerging leaders will provide opportunities for peer networking and relationship building amongst young or new grantmakers from across the state. Rusty Stahl, Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy leads a discussion that focuses on the needs and interests of emerging foundation professionals and trustees. The session will help participants to connect to one another and to resources in the field that can support their professional development, effectiveness, and voice in the field.
We invite all emerging leaders to attend the session. “Emerging leaders” can be defined in many ways. Here we refer to people who have recently begun their careers in philanthropy, are in junior level positions within their institutions, and/or who are under the age of forty.
Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) is a national network launched in 2002 to strengthen the next generation of grantmakers. EPIP, headquartered in New York City, is an affinity group of the Council on Foundations and is governed by a 14-person Board of Advisors composed of emerging practitioners. It currently has six recognized chapters and six emerging chapters in the United States.
5:30 pm Continuous Shuttle to Grand Reception. Meet in hotel lobby.
6:00-8:00 pm
Grand Reception, Museum of the Earth
Sponsored by the Triad Foundation
Entertainment
Vitamin L, a youth chorus of Ithaca, encouraging positive character development, through music.
Keynote speaker: Dr. Arthur Brooks, Professor of Public Administration and Director of the Nonprofit Studies Program at Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, author of Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism: Who gives, who doesn't and why it matters.
Wander the halls of this architecturally-stunning museum, learning about New York's geologic past. Substantial, gourmet hors d'oeuvres will be served.
8:00pm Dinner on your own. Visit one of Ithaca's wide variety of restaurants or return to the campus and relax at Taverna Banfi at the Statler Hotel.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
7:00 am Continental Breakfast, Ballroom
7:00am-9:45 am Affinity Group Roundtables
10:00-11:30 am Concurrent Sessions
10:00-11:30 am
Using Knowledge and Learning to Make Better Grants: Lessons for Grantmaking Effectiveness
We live in the Knowledge Age. Philanthropic organizations, striving for greater impact in their communities, have begun to realize that knowledge gained through work, research, evaluation, and personal interactions with staff, funder colleagues, and grantees is indeed a philanthropic resource. But, how can funders manage all this knowledge and how can they use it to enhance the effectiveness of their own organizations and of the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors at large?
Beth Bruner of the Bruner Foundation and President of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations will speak about the importance of organizational learning to improve grantmaking success. Roberto Cremonini, Chief Knowledge & Learning Officer, Barr Foundation in Boston will present the foundation's approach to knowledge management and provide examples of the infrastructure and practices they've put in place to establish a true learning organization.
10:00-11:30 am
Socially Responsive Investing: Using Foundation Prestige for Greater Impact
The Nathan Cummings Foundation, taking an unusual action for foundations, attempts to influence the companies in which they are invested around key areas of concern to the Foundation. Lance Lindblom, President and CEO, will talk about the decision-making process and issues surrounding their strategy of breaking down the wall between the foundation's programming and investments.
10:00-11:30 am
Healthy Families, Healthy Communities
Healthcare issues in upstate communities
12 Noon-2:00 pm
Closing Plenary and Lunch
The Upstate Economy: Opportunities, Assets, and People!
Sponsored by the Gebbie Foundation
Professor Susan Christopherson, Department of City and Regional Planning, Cornell University, talks about the current state of the upstate economy, and where our strengths and assets are.
Ken Schoetz, Chief Operating Officer, Upstate, Empire State Development Corporation, and member of Governor Eliot Spitzer's team, describes the Governor's vision and strategy for improving the economy and making upstate New York a desirable place to live, work, and play.
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