Foundation Readiness for Community Transformation: Learning in Real Time

Voices from the Field III: Lessons and Challenges for Foundations Based on Two Decades of Community Change Efforts

“…The alignment that is needed is about fundamental ways of working, and addresses goals, activities, capacities, relationships, and learning priorities. In short, foundations can be "changemakers, " not merely grantmakers, in their own communities (Brown, Colombo & Hughes, 2009).…”

Embedded Foundations: Advancing Community Change and Empowerment

“…Specifically, the Detroit-based Skillman Foundation began its Good Neighborhoods Initiative in 2005 using a theory of change that called for a partnership among the foundation's grantmaking and change-making resources; neighborhood residents, teachers, and nonprofit stakeholders; other foundations and investors; and university technical assistance, evaluation, and community practice providers (Brown, Colombo, & Hughes, 2009;Allen-Meares, Gant, & Shanks, 2007). Such a partnership would function to attract a critical mass of other interests, facilitate system and institutional change, and support individual change in the lives of children in targeted neighborhoods specifically with an ultimate goal of improved outcomes in safety, health, education, and preparation for adulthood.…”

If You Build It, They Will Come: Creating the Space and Support for Real-Time Strategic Learning

“…A frequently suggested tool for improving effectiveness is for foundations to "get better at learning and applying that learning to strategy" (Patrizia & Thompson, 2011, p. 59). At its best, this capacity to learn and apply the learning allows a foundation to "stay focused on results, while continually refining and adjusting its operation" in real time (Brown, Colombo, & Hughes, 2009). …”