Practices That Matter – Project Streamline Takes Stock of Streamlining

The Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers is a national partner for Project Streamline.

Project Streamline has a simple premise: that the cumulative impact of the philanthropic sector’s requirements undermines nonprofit effectiveness, causing grantseekers to devote too much time to seeking funding (often without payoff) and reporting on grants (often without benefit) to the detriment of their mission-based work.

Five years ago, Project Streamline – a field-wide effort led by the Grants Managers Network – published “Drowning in Paperwork, Distracted From Purpose,” a study of the burdens of application and reporting.

Since then, the effort has developed resources to help grantmakers understand this burden and take steps to reduce it. Project Streamline produced practical tools, convened conversations, offered workshops and webinars, and released a self-assessment instrument, developed in partnership with the Center for Effective Philanthropy. Many grantmaking associations and other philanthropy support groups have promoted streamlining concepts and principles.
Has it worked? Well, it depends on who you ask.

North Carolina Network of Grantmakers Names New Executive Director

The Board of Directors of the North Carolina Network of Grantmakers has announced Ret Boney as the next Executive Director of the Network. Ret will begin May 13, 2013.

Previous to joining NCNG, Boney served as Senior Vice President of Clarity Group, a consulting group for nonprofits, and as the Deputy Editor of the Philanthropy Journal.

Welcome, Ret!

NCNG’s current executive director Bobbi Hapgood will depart on May 17th. Bobbi has played a vital role in the Forum Network especially in the policy realm, participating in PolicyWorks and leading the North Carolina Foundations on the Hill delegation. We wish her the best in her future adventures!

Save the Date: Forum Annual Conference

We are excited to announce that our 2013 annual conference will take place July 29-31 in Milwaukee, WI!

The Forum’s Annual Conference is a key opportunity each year for regional association staff to come together for skill building sessions, networking, and thought provoking discussions with philanthropy leaders.

The PolicyWorks Institute will follow the conference on July 31-August 1.

Please stay tuned for a hotel announcement in the coming weeks. We hope to see many of you there!

Image used under creative common license, courtesy of ThreeIfByBike on Flickr.

Bill King Announces He’ll Step Down from Minnesota Council on Foundations in 2013

After 25 years of service to the Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF), including 12 years as President, Bill King has announced that he will retire as of June 30, 2013.

In addition to his role as president of MCF, Bill has been an active leader in national and international organizations supporting the growth of philanthropy and civil society. He currently serves on the board of WINGS (Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support) based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is a past chair of the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, and represented regional philanthropy on the board of the Council on Foundations. He has also been active in Minnesota’s nonprofit community throughout his career serving on and chairing multiple boards.

Under his direction, MCF was recognized as a national leader in work on public trust and accountability, and on diversity, equity and inclusion. Throughout his career Bill worked to establish MCF as a network for funders, a resource for effective grantmaking and grantseeking, and a voice for philanthropy, representing the sector to key audiences and raising understanding of the role and impact of philanthropy in Minnesota.

Read more about this announcement at MCF.org.