Reflecting on of fall affiliate visits

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By Kelly Thompson
Vice President / Grantmaking and Community Initiatives

In the midst of this busy season of giving, I’m grateful for the gift of time spent with affiliate advisory boards at your meetings this fall. While I come with an agenda of information and resources to share, the most valuable part of each visit is discussion with all advisory board members on the questions and priorities facing your affiliate.

There are some differences, but more similarities in what each of your affiliates is working on:

  • conversations and cultivation with donors or potential donors;

  • creative ways to publicize the work of your affiliate with an eye to getting more people involved;

  • deciding how to most effectively deploy grant funds to do the best work on behalf of your community; and,

  • capitalizing on partnerships with local government.

I’ve heard questions on how to reengage a grantee that’s experienced turmoil, taken part in brainstorms on how to engage in signature community events to increase the visibility of the affiliate, smiled at great matching gift opportunities presented, and appreciated the real concerns about the challenge of engaging new advisory board members—and the determined approaches being taken.

In each of these instances and many more, I enjoy sharing what knowledge I have and what knowledge I’ve gained from the experience of other affiliates—even putting different affiliate leaders in touch to share their advice or examples of their work. And I enjoy even more hearing the solutions that each of your advisory boards comes up with to these common challenges, based on the knowledge you have of your community.

Grantmaking Specialist Lisa Stachula, who joined one visit by special request of the Mount Carroll Community Foundation advisory board to demonstrate the online grant system in person and consult on improvements to their grant programs, enjoyed her time as well.

“It was a great experience and showed me a new appreciation for what they are trying to accomplish.”

That goes for me as well. We appreciate all the work you do on behalf of your communities, and what it means for the whole region.

If your annual visit hasn’t been scheduled yet, please email Tanasha Atwater to arrange for Kelly to attend your next advisory board meeting.

Melanie Jones