Philanthropy
2008 Philanthropy Exploration in Washington County In early 2008, to further examine how the community can promote local giving, VAN commissioned a study to examine the philanthropic infrastructures and giving patterns in Washington County, Oregon. The purpose of the study was to explore philanthropy in Washington County and to assess whether giving trends are keeping up with the growing needs in the county. The study included surveys of foundations, non-profit organizations and businesses, as well as interviews with business and individual donors. An Advisory Team representing business, foundations and non-profits, developed recommendations based on the study findings. These recommendations are included in the report which can be downloaded below.
Funding Partners:Meyer Memorial Trust
The Oregon Community Foundation
Tuality Healthcare
Oregon Food Bank
Community Action Organization of Washington County
Community Housing Fund
Hillsboro Community Foundation
Providence Health and Services
SOLV
United Way of the Columbia-Willamette Advisory Team:Rachel Bristol & Barbara Peschiera, Oregon Food Bank
Lisa Brown, Community Action Organization
Kathleen Cornett, The Oregon Community Foundation
Michelle Meyer, SOLV
Janet Rash, Intel Corporation
Elena Wiesenthal, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette
Ramsay Weit, Community Housing Fund Consulting Team:Jeri Alcock, On Course Consulting
Craig McPherson, C&D Publishing
Washington County Nonprofit Network (WCNN)The Washington County Nonprofit Network grew out of the Philanthropy Exploration study. One of the major findings of this study was the limited capacity of Washington County nonprofits in the area of fund development. To address this finding the study’s Advisory Committee started the Washington County Nonprofit Network (WCNN) to provide opportunities for local nonprofits to network, collaborate, develop skills and build capacity. The Advisory Team, now the WCNN Steering Committee to hold two events that were designed to support nonprofit fund development capacity building. The first was held in April 2009 in partnership with Willamette Valley Development Officers and was a workshop with well-known consultant and author, Kay Sprinkel Grace entitled “The Ultimate Board – Ambassadors, Advocates, Askers.”
The second event, entitled “Washington County Nonprofit Network: Adapting to Changing Times” was held in June 2009 and brought together 90 nonprofit leaders, corporate funders and foundations came together to learn about each other and discuss ways nonprofits and funders can better work together during these challenging times. Notes from the small group discussions during the event are available here. The event was very successful and nonprofits surveyed after the event expressed interest in future networking opportunities with other Washington County nonprofit leaders, as well as more opportunities for dialogue and planning about how we better work across sectors to meet community needs. A third event, a Networking Breakfast, was held in October 2009 and was designed to create networking opportunities for nonprofits as well as elicit their help in shaping the future of the WCNN. The WCNN Steering Committee is hard at work planning for future events based on the feedback from the October Networking Breakfast. Events will be held quarterly. UPCOMING EVENTS: February 24, 1010-Hot Topics Roundtable (pdf)
June 9, 2010—Building Capacity for Volunteers
September 22, 2010—Funders Breakfast/Grantwriting Workshop
December 1, 2010—Creating Successful Nonprofit Boards
February 23, 2011—Collaboration: What, Why and How
June 8, 2011—Building Successful Individual Donor Programs
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