Learning Network Presentations
Janet Topolsky of the Community Strategies Group introducing Engines for Building Rural Endowment at the peer-exchange workshop "There's Wealth in the Boonies."
As introductions to our workshops, Learning Network staff have developed several presentations reviewing and expanding on our Thinking and Action Frameworks. While a bit out of context here, they still offer guidance on how to think through and plan your organizational structure and program, grantmaking, and endowment-building efforts.
- Introduction to Engines for Building Rural Endowment, the framework for thinking and action related to endowment building (PDF)
- Overview of the Program Design Circle and Building Rural Livelihood, on how community foundations can design effective grantmaking and program efforts to help build the economic vitality of rural families and communities (PDF)
- Handout on Margins to Mainstream, the Thinking and Action Framework for Family Economic Success (PDF)
- Rural Service Catalysts: At A Glance, a chart that details several different initiators or "starting" points for why a community foundation is motivated to "go rural"—each of which may affect the rural service structure chosen (PDF)
Culled from the workshops:
In addition, Learning Network members and others have developed a number of presentations for our workshops that should also prove useful. Some selected sessions follow; others can be found on the "workshops in a webpage" archives among the "RDP Topics" pages.
- Why Go Rural? Lessons from Maine (PDF). Marion Kane shares her top-ten list for why rural development philanthropy matters and how it can challenge, reward and change your organization and community. Marion initiated Maine's County Fund Program, which has raised millions of dollars in the state's most economically challenged rural regions. This presentation was the keynote address at the January 2002 workshop Covering Rural Territory: Affiliate and Alternative Structures for Rural Development Philanthropy.
- Implementing a Structure. Once you've explored and chosen a rural service and coverage structure, the real work is just beginning! On this page, you'll find links to presentations on a few key strategic implementation issues.
- Getting to Know Your Rural "Wealth" (PDF). A presentation by Judy Sjostedt, of Parkersburg Area Community Foundation in West Virginia, on identifying & working with rural gatekeepers.
- Many Donors, One Fund (PDF). Outline of a session by Elizabeth Myrick, Senior Associate of the Community Strategies Group and former Program Director of Maine Community Foundation, on developing area funds in rural communities.
- 10 Key Steps to Crafting Your Message (PDF). Elizabeth Banwell, former Director of Marketing and Communications for the Maine Community Foundation, looks at choosing and using language, message and methods to market rural-focused endowments.
- "Owning Up" handout (PDF)—Presentation on why helping families build assets is critical, by Michael Sherraden of the Center for Social Development at Washington University
- FES Definition and Urban Evolution (PDF)—Presentation by Bob Giloth, Senior Associate, Annie E. Casey Foundation
- FES Rural Roots and Direction (PDF)—Presentation by Miriam Shark, Senior Associate, Annie E. Casey Foundation
- Fannie Clac: Making new cars affordable to low and moderate income Americans (PDF)—Presentation by Robert Chambers, President, Fannie Clac (Lebanon, New Hampshire)
- Self-Help Housing (PDF)—Presentation by Dana Jones, President, Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee, Inc.
- An Overview of Financial Service Strategies and Tools (PDF)—Presentation by Cathleen Mahon, Community Development Consultant (Brooklyn, New York)
- A framework for program evaluation—Presentation by Mary Virtue, Consultant and CSG Lead