Assessing Countywide Needs

1
Assessing Countywide Needs Setting Strategic
Priorities

• Tom Quinn
• Iowa State University
• Extension Community Development Specialist

2
Outline a good process that local affiliate
boards might use to help work through a priority
setting process that can balances the various
charity needs as well as strategic development
needs of the county.
3
Objectives for session

• Determine foundations focus and grantmaking
  style
• Develop grantmaking guidelines and procedure

4
Ive Got Questions!

• How do we measure success?
• How do we know if were using the money wisely?
• Ten years from now, what changes in the community
  will tell us that we used the foundation money
  wisely?
• What criteria should we use to judge which
  projects get funded and which dont?

5
Key Elements of a Grantmaking Strategy

• Mission Statement is formed by donor intent
  objectives
• Objectives by program, geographic area, and
  philanthropic interest
• Process for accepting, reviewing and awarding
  grants
• Guidelines that clearly state what you DO and Do
  NOT do
• Communication with applicants and grantees

6
The Core Purpose of the foundation why do we
exist?

• To foster the cultural heritage in our community
• To create jobs
• To prevent childhood diseases
• To further foster knowledge and education
• To reduce poverty
• ? ? ? ?

7
Mission Statement

• Tells people
• Who you are
• Who your grantees are
• What you want to accomplish
• Includes the values that influence your
  grantmaking

8
Elements of a Mission Statement

• Donor Intent
• Background and History
• Values whats important to us
• Unique Qualities
• Purpose Objectives

9
Developing a Grantmaking Style

• Do you want a broad or a narrow focus?
• How formal or informal do you want your process
  to be?
• How proactive or responsive do you want your
  foundation to be?
• How will the foundation make a difference?
• What do you hope to accomplish as a grantmaking
  organization?

10
Grantmaking Guidelines/Procedures

• Application Process
• Proposal Review Process
• Post-Grant Evaluation Process
• Self-Evaluation Process

11
Application Process

• Formal guidelines
• Letters of inquiry
• Proposal or application form
• Application deadlines
• Discretionary grants
• Annual calendar

12
How do we know if the foundation has made a
difference?
13
Criteria for Grantmaking

• Is funding available from other sources?
• How many people will benefit from this project?
• What are the potential benefits of the project?
• Economic jobs, businesses, ? income, ? tax
  base
• Social education, social well-being, health,
  recreation
• Environmental parks, clean air/water, land

14
Criteria - continued

• How does this project fit with our Mission
  Statement?
• What is the track record of the people applying
  for the grant?
• How does this project rank in our goals
  priorities? Is it a critical need in the
  community?

15
Summary

• Mission Statement
• Goals and Objectives written down
• Clear Criteria written down and communicated to
  public
• Grantmaking Procedures written down and
  communicated to public
• Evaluation after the project is completed