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The San Francisco Foundation (SFF) is committed to ensuring that all people in the Bay Area are economically secure, rooted in vibrant communities and civically engaged. We envision a Bay Area where everyone is able to make ends meet and plan for their future, where culture and difference are celebrated, and where they are able to lift their voices to shape community policies that meet their needs and interests.
A board chair transition is an important moment for a family philanthropy, often prompting larger decisions or a revisiting of the organization’s purpose and practices. All members of the board have a role to play in preparing for and managing these inevitable leadership shifts and need clarity about the strategies that will prepare the organization—family, staff, and other stakeholders—for the potential changes to come. What are the qualities and competencies that a successful board chair should embody, and what does the selection process entail? What are common challenges and opportunities that arise during the change management process? How does next-generation engagement, family legacy, and succession planning play a role? Whether you’re in the midst of a transition now, are preparing for an eventual shift, or haven’t yet considered this process, join this webinar to learn more about board chair succession planning.
I’ll be honest: I’ve been putting off answering your question “How do foundation leaders stay clear-eyed in this moment?” As I sit to write, our Northern California skies are hazy with wildfire smoke. It strikes me as a metaphor for this moment, 19 months into COVID, when our visions of a post-pandemic future are shifting yet again. I definitely don’t feel clear-eyed.
As the concepts of power sharing and trust-based philanthropy were gaining traction across philanthropy, co-creation was new for us – exciting, innovative, and full of potential. Over the next decade, we began to learn what it truly means to share power. Ultimately, the impact these three communities achieved across ten years is remarkable.
Dual enrollment, also known as concurrent enrollment, allows students to take college classes while still in high school. This can expand the course offerings available to high school students (from vocational pathways to advanced classes), increase postsecondary enrollment, and decrease the time and cost of postsecondary certificates and degrees.
Fostering resilience and driving equitable change has never been more critical or philanthropy. As a grantmaker, there are many priorities to juggle in support of equitably mobilizing resources. How are you and your organization thinking about and approaching the challenges facing northern California communities? As these communities experience profound impacts of systemic inequities, the climate crisis, housing shortages, and threats to democracy, it is imperitive NCG’s member community collaborate for collective change.
A recent report, Much Alarm, Less Action, from the Center for Effective Philanthropy found that both foundation and nonprofit leaders believe that climate change will negatively affect their work —no matter the issues they focus on. However, less than 2% of all giving went to building climate resilience. Continued climate inaction by the philanthropic sector, will undo existing efforts to address a multitude of societal challenges, particularly those around public health.