Northern California Grantmakers

The following post by NCG President and CEO Colin Lacon was originally published as an introduction to NCG’s All Member Newsletter Winter issue. Since Colin’s introduction includes mention of our Strategic Planning Process, we decided to re-post it here on our blog.

Can you believe it’s already December?  Where did the year go so quickly? For many this time of year is a time to reflect on all that’s transpired during the past twelve months.  While we take stock of the past year, we also look forward to the year ahead. Here at NCG we too are reflecting on both the past and what’s upcoming in 2013.

For NCG, 2012 has included a process of assessing our past to help forge new directions for the future. During the past year NCG staff, Board, and many of our members have participated in a targeted Strategic Planning Process to help us recalibrate to the growing and evolving philanthropic landscape.

For many of you out there this should sound very familiar. NCG has been sharing our interest and exploration of our Strategic Planning Process along the way. We offer a visual aid in order to help map out how that process has unfolded and where we are now.

Take a look at our NCG’s Strategic Planning Process: Why, How and Where We Are Now infographic which illustrates the different phases of our Strategic Planning Process. And for more in-depth information about our process, visit ncg.org/planning.

-Colin Lacon
NCG President and CEO

Colin Lacon with students from Cal Strategic Philanthropy

Like any President and CEO, NCG’s Colin Lacon has a full schedule. Yet, despite that workload Colin took on the charge of joining Center for Nonprofit and Public Leadership Director Nora Silver to co-teach a college course at the Haas School of Business.

“Strategic Philanthropy: Real Money, Real Impact” is a course designed to teach participants how to be effective grantmakers. For one semester, students work towards better understanding the work of a grantmaker than to become one for a semester.

“The class contributes $10,000 to nonprofit(s) selected by the class. To prepare for the contribution, students engage in interactive exercises and discussions to determine how to best expend the funds for maximum impact, guided by the instructors and renowned guests offering a variety of perspectives and frameworks. Students form teams to research and indentify, perform due diligence, and recommend nonprofit organizations. The $10,000 contribution is a generous gift of the Learning by Giving Foundation. ” -course description

What did the students think of the course? Check out this video created by the Center for Nonprofit and Public Leadership to learn more about the class and hear students give first-hand accounts of their learning experience.

When asked about his own experience as an instructor for the course and how the class relates to NCG’s work, Colin has this to say:

“[NCG's] connection with the Center is directly aligned with our mission to promote philanthropy, invest for social impact and to engage the next generation in this work. The Center provides a strong network, offers a questioning mindset, and helps broaden the philanthropic community. There is great value in this for NCG, which is asking how to engage, mine, and bring to the forefront these new ideas. This generation is asking new questions, taking bold action, and I believe will change the face of effective philanthropy.”

Council on Foundations
Steps: Fall Conference for Community Foundations
September 19 – 21, 2011

Second on the list of upcoming San Francisco-based conferences is the Council on Foundation’s Fall Conference for Community Foundations. The theme for this year is “Steps,” a metaphor for rising to new challenges and advancing your work for the greater good.

Chaired by NCG member Nicole Taylor, East Bay Community Foundation President and CEO, the conference Planning Task Force includes NCG CEO and President Colin Lacon, as well as several NCG members: Patricia Bresee, Board Chair, Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF); Eleanor Clement Glass, Chief of Donor Engagement and Giving, SVCF; Sandra R. Hernández, CEO, The San Francisco Foundation; Lance Linares, Executive Director, The Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County; Ann Mathieson, Trustee, Marin Community Foundation (MCF); and Aileen Sweeney, Vice President for Finance, MCF.

On day four of the conference NCG’s very own Director of Communications and Member Services Julia Indovina will partner with NCG member Pat Krackov, Program Officer at Silicon Valley Community Foundation, to present a public policy orientated session entitled, Impact through Policy: Making Change via Public Policy Engagement. Their session will focus on how community foundations, small or large, can incorporate public policy within its philanthropic toolbox-through direct advocacy and grantmaking-to improve the quality of life locally and beyond.

Additional conference components include:

• This year’s conference corresponds with the Council’s 44th Film & Video Festival
• A full agenda of preconference programming:
  • CEO-Trustee Workshop-Building a Sustainable “Values-Based Culture”
  • Advanced Legal Seminar
  • The L3C – New Opportunities for Community Foundations
  • Center for Community Foundation Excellence-Resource Development for Community Foundations
  • Center for Community Foundation Excellence-Community Foundation Fundamentals [SOLD OUT]
  • Center for Community Foundation Excellence Financial Administration for Community Foundations

Visit COF’s Fall Conference for Community Foundations conference website for fuller descriptions of the program and for information on registration and the conference program >>