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2012 EPIP Conference Reflection - Engaging Foundation Stakeholders

Lauren Tulp, our most recent Co-Chair of EPIP Bay Area and Impact Planning and Analysis Associate at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, shares one of her highlighted experiences from this year's EPIP National Conference:

At this year’s EPIP National Conference I had the opportunity to present a workshop called “Do Nothing About Me Without Me: Engaging Stakeholders for Better Results” with two fantastic staff members of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, Andy Freeze and Jason Twiss.

During the session, Andy reviewed the results of the GEO 2011 Field Study. The results show that more funders are asking for feedback from stakeholders, but funders aren’t doing more to seek input when it’s particularly impactful—when they make decisions. Potential foundation stakeholders might include grantees, community members and external experts.

Strategies we at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation have used to engage stakeholders include:

• Participating in grantee and staff surveys with the Center for Effective Philanthropy (we recognize staff are key internal stakeholders!)
• Creating a 10-Year Review with interviews of staff, board members, grantees and experts to inform future decision-making
• Convening advisory boards of experts and grantees to provide feedback on program strategies
• Sharing decision-making and funding responsibilities through collaborations such as the Climate and Land Use Alliance and Howard Hughes Medical Institute-Moore Foundation Plant Biology Investigators
• Using crowdsourcing techniques to poll the scientific community about opportunities to make transformative change through a request for ideas (RFI)

These are great steps, although I think we still have room to do more. Which leads me to another topic we addressed in the workshop—how it can be especially difficult to encourage stakeholder engagement when you’re a junior staff member. During the session, we discussed some of the challenges to convincing others in your organization of the importance of stakeholder engagement and strategies you can use to make change, including asking key questions and helping design effective engagement processes.

Thank you to everyone who attended the session for your great ideas and participation! I was impressed with everyone’s thoughtfulness on this issue and commitment to making philanthropy more responsive and accountable.

2012 EPIP Conference Reflection - Learning Tour: Ports of LA

One of our Steering Committee members, Ginger Hintz, attended the Learning Tour of LA Ports at this year's EPIP National Conference. She shares her reflections here:


Philanthropy is about relationships. I think good philanthropy supports and builds long-term connections. These axioms were reinforced on a learning tour to the San Pedro Bay ports (the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach). Patricia Castellanos, Deputy Director and Director of Ports Project at LAANE, and Angelo Logan, Co-Executive Director of East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, were our guides into a system that most people never see but are affected by every day. It is estimated that over 40% of all international trade comes in and out of the San Pedro Bay Ports. The scale of consumerism and scope of logistics surrounding such a mammoth enterprise was overwhelming as we stood at the top of Knoll Hill and surveyed the industrial landscape.

As we drove to Knob Hill, we took a count of how many trucks we saw on the opposite side of the highway. In the span of only 15 minutes, over 300 trucks passed us. And it was a slow day! As the trucks whizzed by and we drove past the refineries, past residential neighborhoods and tight-knit communities, Angelo and Patricia gave us an overview of the Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports. Angelo told us about the impacts of truck traffic and the pollution of the Ports on the communities they drive through, and more importantly in the communities the truck drivers live in. Because of train, truck, shipping, refinery, and other Port activities, the communities that the drivers live in have high rates of asthma and cancer. Patricia told us about how de-regulation classifies the truck drivers as "independent contractors" which keeps wages low and benefits non-existent. The drivers must pay for their own trucks, the maintenance, and other costs that are usually absorbed by the trucking companies. According to one driver we met, he receives $40/load and can transport two loads a day. It is a system that grossly privileges the trucking companies and feeds consumers expectations of cheap goods.

Organizing and empowering truck drivers is a visible intersection of worker and environmental justice. These workers and their communities sustain the economic engine of our goods movement system yet they struggle to support their families. It's an old song that grantees seek long-term funding to sustain the complex social change work we all want to see in the world. Having an opportunity to witness the connections and hear the stories of the organizers, the truck drivers, and the grantees supported this outcome. As we ensure that the voices of communities most impacted by issues of social justice are included in our vision of change, we weave new perspectives into that narrative and that takes sustained commitment to a larger vision.

One of the main reasons I support and participate in the EPIP community is because we value that larger picture. EPIP provides the space to talk and learn about these critical social justice issues. I urge you to think about how you can bring your commitment to supporting strategic and sustainable coalition building like the Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports to your own work. We will all benefit from such connections.

Post Event Highlights and Announcing Nicole Puller as New EPIP Bay Area Co-Chair!

A few weeks ago, at our EPIP National Conference Reflection and Social event on May 22 at Cantina, a few members shared their main takeaways from their experience and participation at the EPIP National Conference. One member spoke about the Learning Tour she attended at the Port of Los Angeles, where they discussed the pollution created by the thousands of trucks transporting goods from the Port every day, the labor injustices experienced by the truck drivers, and the grassroots policy efforts happening in the community surrounding the Port to better their neighborhoods. Other members shared thoughts about the "real, honest, and approachable" attitudes of the presenters/panelists, the easy and exciting ways to meet and connect with new peers and continue those connections after the conference, and judgments about celebrity philanthropists were changed for the better.

We were fortunate to have many Bay Area members at the conference and will be posting more stories and highlights from the conference on this blog, so be sure to check back over the following weeks. (Or, sign-up to receive our blog posts via email by entering your email in the appropriate box located on the right-hand column.)

The event at Cantina was also a farewell and celebration for Lauren Tulp who was our Bay Area Co-Chair for the past year. She has provided great leadership and commitment to this chapter and we will miss her very much. We wish her all the best on her next adventure!

Lastly, we are happy to announce that Nicole Puller of Tides is our new EPIP Bay Area Co-Chair and will join fellow Co-Chair, Thuy Kumar and the Steering Committee to continue building a stronger philanthropic community. Please help us welcome Nicole to the executive team!

Job Opportunities: REDF

REDF is hiring:

• Human Resources Manager
• Events Planner
• Development Assistant
• Senior Manager, Portfolio

2012 EPIP Conference Reflection - Graduate School

The EPIP National Conference was a few weeks ago, but we're still talking about it! We asked those of you who attended to send us your highlights, stories, learnings, and "aha" moments so we could share them with everyone. We'll be posting these throughout the next following weeks.

The first response we received was from Susanne Revutsky, who participated in the conference as a career coach and facilitated one of the sessions on Graduate School. She posted her thoughts and research about "Making the Case for Graduate School" on her website, Butterfly Careers.

Please add your comments if you attended this session or want to share your highlights and experiences on this topic. We'd love to hear from you!

Job Opportunity: The David & Lucile Packard Foundation

The David & Lucile Packard Foundation is hiring:

• Grantmaking Operations Manager

Job Opportunity

The James Irvine Foundation is hiring:

• Senior Program Officer, California Democracy program

Job Opportunity

The James Irvine Foundation is hiring:

• Executive Assistant to the President and CEO

Job Opportunities

Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has 3 open positions:

• Impact Planning and Analysis Associate
• Program Associate - Science Program
• Investment Associate, Hedge Fund Strategies

Blue Shield of California Foundation has 2 open positions:

• Program Officer, Blue Shield Against Violence
• Communications Associate

Job Opportunity: EPIP Executive Director

EPIP seeks an Executive Director to lead the fulfillment of EPIP’s vision and mission in a truly creative, dynamic, and forward-thinking fashion. The Executive Director is the leader of the organization both publicly and inside the organization, and, as such, is at once a highly visible advocate for emerging professionals within the social sector and an effective project manager who ensures that the work of EPIP is done efficiently and well.

EPIP has retained The 360 Group of San Francisco to assist with this search. Please visit <www.the360group.us/EPIP_ED_PD.pdf>to view the complete position description, including detailed application instructions. No calls, please. To be considered, The 360 Group must receive applications no later than 5:00pm Pacific time on Thursday, April 5th, 2012.

EPIPers Toured and Volunteered at At the Crossroads

On Wednesday, February 22nd, a group of Bay Area EPIPers went to The Mission to learn more about At The Crossroads, a nonprofit working to help homeless youth who don’t access traditional services and are disconnected from any type of ongoing support. They aim to remove common barriers to service by bringing counselors to their client base- directly onto the streets- and shaping support services around the needs of each individual client. In addition to one-on-one counseling at a location of the homeless youth’s choosing, they provide food boxes, new clothes and hygiene supplies. As well, they connect youth with other traditional service providers. For most of the youth that ATC have served, healthy and trusting relationships with an adult figure are a rarity, and ATC staff strive to combat this by making sure that counselors are a consistent and stable figure in the youth’s lives. In fact, once ATC makes contact with a youth, they will continue supporting their clients for as long as the youth want help, often working with them well into their twenties. Their goal is to help homeless youth not just make positive changes in their lives, but maintain them as well.

ATC operates out of a space that seemed like a decent size. However, once we learned how much they accomplish from this home base, we were astonished. In addition to an office space, there was also a clothing room where clients can pick out new clothes each week, as well as a room where food boxes are prepared and hygiene kits are pulled together. Most of the supplies that ATC give out to their clients are new because, as Rob Gitin, Executive Director says, “they’re worth it”.

After hearing about the history and amazing work of ATC, we spent some time preparing snack bags, cleaning messenger bags, and sorting hygiene items. We later learned from Gitin that 14 additional youth were able to be served because of our volunteering!

If you want to help, but weren’t able to make it to this event, please consider ‘liking’ Ike’s Sandwiches on Facebook. If Ike’s get 20,000 likes, they’ll provide sandwiches to At the Crossroads clients free for three months. If they get 30,000 likes, they’ll provide sandwiches to At the Crossroads clients for 1 YEAR! You can learn more at: http://atthecrossroads.org/2012/03/ikes-place-and-atc-teaming-up-to-help-homeless-youth/

One Percent Foundation's "Grant Madness"

The One Percent Foundation is putting on it's 3rd Annual Grant Madness - NCAA March Madness pool for charity. Winners of the pool get to donate winnings to their favorite nonprofits.

Last December, EPIP Bay Area collaborated with One Percent Foundation on a "Giving Circle Meet and Greet" event. They have great and unique ways of engaging young adults in philanthropy, such as this Grant Madness event.

Check it out HERE

http://fundly.com/grantmadness

Upcoming Event: Understanding Your Personal Brand

The Bay Area Chapter of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy
proudly presents

Understanding Your Personal Brand
a career coaching opportunity and workshop of the EPIP Effective Leadership Career Program (EPIP’s newest program, launching now!)

Tuesday, March 20
San Francisco Foundation
225 Bush Street, Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94104

Coaching Sessions:
50 minute coaching sessions with Russ Finkelstein, EPIP ELCP Career Coach, who’s in town from Portland to offer one-on-one, face-to-face coaching sessions. Sessions available from 12-4pm.

REGISTER HERE Coaching fees are detailed on the website.

Branding Workshop:
A workshop to learn how to market what you already do well on the job and in your field. You will also explore how to align your actions with your long-term goals and learn how to cultivate your authentic, strengths-based reputation - your “brand.” The workshop will help you gain tools for creating and implementing a personal strategy that you can leverage to succeed at work and to achieve your personal aspirations. The branding workshop will take place from 4:30-6:00pm

Registration & Fees:
EPIP Member: $10
Non-EPIP Member: $20
EPIP Membership (includes event registration): $150

REGISTER HERE

Job Opportunities at REDF

REDF is currently hiring:

• Portfolio Associate 

• 2 Farber Fellows (SF & LA)

Job Opportunities

• Streetside Stories is currently hiring a Development Manager

• East Bay Community Foundation is currently hiring a Director of Donor Servicing and Administrative Support

Upcoming Event: At the Crossroads Tour and Volunteer Opportunity

EPIP Bay Area is volunteering at At the Crossroads!

Wednesday, February 22

4:00pm - 7:00pm
At the Crossroads - 333 Valencia St, Ste 320, SF, CA 94103

RSVP via Eventbrite

Space is limited.  

At The Crossroads reaches out to homeless youth and young adults to help build healthy and fulfilling lives. Their innovative model focuses on young people who do not access traditional services and are disconnected from any type of consistent support. The organization focuses on this underserved population by providing a combination of nighttime street outreach and one-on-one counseling that is shaped around the needs of each individual client. It aims to build healthy, trusting relationships with its clients, through which the clients can define their own goals and develop plans to accomplish them. At The Crossroads also collaborates with other agencies to ensure that there is an accessible, comfortable continuum of support that will provide their clients with realistic opportunities to achieve these goals. To learn more about At the Crossroads, you can go to http://atthecrossroads.org/ to watch a short introductory documentary.

After learning about how At the Crossroads fundraises and receives funding, EPIP participants will help At The Crossroads prepare street outreach supplies that will be handed out to young homeless people in the Mission and Downtown areas of San Francisco. This will include putting together packets of chocolate, Q-tips, sorting travel hygiene items and organizing other supplies. If you have any travel-sized toiletries to donate, please bring them. 

We look forward to seeing you!

Upcoming Event: New Year Celebration and 2012 Kick-Off

JOIN US for EPIP Bay Area Chapter's

NEW YEAR CELEBRATION AND 2012 KICK-OFF  

Thursday, January 19th  
5:30 - 8:00 p.m.  

Location: Jillian's Billiards @ the Metreon

101 Fourth Street, Suite 1070 (2 blocks from Powell St BART)

* Please note, because of Metreon construction, enter at Fourth St entrance. Upon arrival, ask hostess to  direct you to the "Private Billiard Room."

Start the new year by meeting other young and emerging Bay Area foundation professionals. Come and get a preview of local EPIP programming for 2012 and find out how to get involved.

The first drink is on us and light appetizers will be served!  :)

Please RSVP by emailing bayarea@epip.org