what's new
add/edit information
join the conversation
identify needsCommunications and Technology for Foundations
Communications and Technology for Foundations+context
Foundation communications relates to how grantmaking organizations inform their constituents and the general public through their websites, brochures, press releases, media coverage, and/or by holding events & briefings.
+resources and best practices
Communications and Technology for Foundations+definitions
Human communication refers to the social interaction of giving and receiving information for the purpose of not only understanding, but also facilitating social connection. - Wikipedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication
Communication is the sharing of knowledge by a number of means. These include visual methods such as sign language, auditory, such as voice and music, and physical, such as touch. - Wikipedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications
transparency: Transparency is the opposite of privacy; an activity or organization is transparent if all information about it is open and freely available. Being transparent helps a private foundation fulfill its obligation to be accountable to the public, and can also help improve its effectiveness. When foundations make information about them open and freely available, it can help them do their jobs better by clarifying the objectives they are seeking, informing potential grantees of priority interests, and making the general public aware of their accomplishments. - GOSW and Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers
Communications and Technology for Foundations+where to start
Communications and Technology for Foundations+best practices
Create a Listening Dashboard for your Organization
by Amy Sample Ward for NetSquared
This month's Net2 Think Tank question asks, "How do you stay up-to-date online?" There are so many blogs, news sources, and conversations happening at the same time, every day, and the chances that you'll be able to find them all without trying is pretty unlikely. There are hundreds of millions of blogs according to Technorati, and that's just blogs! Think of all the places your organization's name, staff, projects, programs or focus area could come up in the news, in campaigns, or in online conversations.
To stay on top of it all, I suggest you create a listening dashboard for your organization - and here's how to do it!
http://www.netsquared.org/blog/amy-sample-ward/create-listening-dashboard-your-organization
Social Good Podcast Series
Chronicle of Philanthropy
Allison Fine, a nonprofit leader and expert on technology and communications, discusses how charities and foundations can more effectively use social-media tools to spread their messages and raise money. Ms. Fine will incorporate suggestions and questions from readers into her podcasts and invites you to send e-mail messages to her at afine@demos.org. Look for new installments on the first Thursday of every month.
http://philanthropy.com/media/audio/socialgood/
New Communication Strategies for Foundations and Non-profits
Growth Strategies, Inc.
Herb Rubenstein
"The time has arrived when necessity dictates that foundations and non-profits communicate with more effectiveness to a broader set of target audiences," and this article addresses that need.
http://growth-strategies.com/subpages/businesswritings/033.html
Communications for Social Good (PDF)
The Foundation Center
Susan Nall Bales & Franklin D. Gillam, Jr.
From a ten part series called "Practice Matters-The Improving Philanthropy Project", published in April 2004.
http://foundationcenter.org/gainknowledge/research/pdf/practicematters_08_paper.pdf
Foundation Communications: The Grantee Perspective (PDF)
The Center for Effective Philanthropy
Judy Huang
A 2006 report on communication, addressing issues such as consistency of communication resrouces, individual communications, quality of interactions, and funding guidelines.
http://www.effectivephilanthropy.org/images/pdfs/CEP_Foundation_Communications.pdf
Ten Top Communications Tips: Advice from Your Colleagues in Philanthropy
The Communications Network
http://www.comnetwork.org/verizon_resourcecenter/commstrat_ten_top_communications_tips.htm
The Sixty-Second Guide to Working Effectively With the News Media
Independent Sector
A pamphlet providing quick tips for staff and volunteers in building good media relations.
http://www.independentsector.org/members/60_second_guide.html
Storytelling as Best Practice
A Goodman
Andy Goodman
A report on "how stories strenthen your organization, engage your audience, and advance your mission." Available for puchase online:
http://www.agoodmanonline.com/publications/storytelling/index.html
The World Cafe
The World Cafe is a process, a community and a set of values that help people host conversations that matter. To learn more, check out their page on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_Cafe
Creative Commons
Creative Commons provides free tools that let authors, scientists, artists, and educators easily mark their creative work with the freedoms they want it to carry. You can use CC to change your copyright terms from "All Rights Reserved" to "Some Rights Reserved."
Communicating for Policy Change
Download this report about the role of communications in policy change by foundations from Grantmakers in Health published in November 2007.
http://www.gih.org/newsletter2679/newsletter_show.htm?doc_id=586046
June Holley and The Art of Being Rhizomatic (The Practice of Network Weaving)
Beth Kanter Beth's Blog
Ways to Be Human at a Distance
October 23, 2009 Chris Brogan
Communications and Technology for Foundations+issues
Commentary & Opinion: Social Media Can Open Door to Philanthropy's Future
11-04-09 by Larry Blumenthal, director of social media strategy, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
http://www.foundationcenter.org/pnd/commentary/co_item.jhtml?id=272300003
Nonprofits and Transparency
Posted by Allison Fine on November 2, 2009
Lucy Bernholz, in her usual smart and insightful way, has written a terrific post on philanthropy and transparency, Downsides of Transparency. She is riffing on an article that Larry Lessig wrote for the New Republic entitled, Against Transparency.
http://afine2.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/nonprofits-and-transparency/
Foundations & Transparency:
Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers
Communicating With the Public (PDF)
Association of Small Foundations
This book excerpt offers practical guidance on developing a foundation annual report and outlines other basic ways for foundations to communicate with the public (reprinted from “Management,” Council on Foundations).
www.foundationinabox.org/guide/administration/communicating_with_the/file
Communicating With the Public: Tips for Getting Started (PDF)
Council on Foundations
Some basic ideas for foundations to consider for communicating with the public about their work.
www.cof.org/files/Documents/Education_Collaborations/Communicating_with_the_Public_-_Getting_Started.pdf
Communicating Missions to the Public
Council on Foundations
A brief case study of the Self Family Foundation’s experience in using its annual report and the Internet to maintain constant and clear communication with the public.
www.cof.org/Content/General/Display.cfm?contentid=483
Three Key Components to Foundation Communication
Council on Foundations
This article describes three basic components to successful foundation communications: strong planning, clear expectations and adequate investment.
www.foundationnews.org/CME/article.cfm?ID=910
The Strategic Communications Planning Process: When, Where, and How
Board Source
An overview of the basic steps in developing a communications plan.
www.boardsource.org/Welcome.asp?ID=1
Foundation Communications: The Grantee Perspective (PDF)
Center for Effective Philanthropy
This report reveals the key components of effective foundation communications with grantees.
www.effectivephilanthropy.org/images/pdfs/CEP_Foundation_Communications.pdf
Six How-To Tips for Annual Report Writing
Council on Foundations
A list of basic tips for creating a foundation annual report.
www.foundationnews.org/CME/article.cfm?ID=2303
Free Foundation Websites
The Foundation Center
To help foundations gain an Internet presence, The Foundation Center creates and hosts free websites for grantmakers.
www.fdncenter.org/grantmaker/folders.html
Websites of Private Foundations
The Foundation Center
To get a sense of what other foundations communicate and disclose on their websites, this site offers links to the websites of many private foundations around the country.
www.fdncenter.org/funders/grantmaker/gws_priv/priv.html
The Foundation Center Directory & Other Communications Assistance for Grantmakers
A summary of different ways The Foundation Center can help foundations communicate about their programs and activities, including how to update information in the Center’s popular directory of U.S. foundations.
www.fdncenter.org/for_grantmakers/spreadword.html
Regional Grantmaker Directories
This website page lists the major regional directories of grantmakers published by regional associations of grantmakers and other organizations.
www.fdncenter.org/learn/topical/sl_dir.html
Updating Your GuideStar Profile
Association of Small Foundations
Some basic guidance on how a foundation can update its free GuideStar profile to help communicate about itself to key constituents — and demonstrate transparency.
www.smallfoundations.org/programs/updating_your_guidestar
Megan Wentworth
Communications and Technology for Foundations+lessons learned
Creating Video Content
a Meyer Memorial Trust New Media Seriess Event
Held March 9, 2007, at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland, OR. Attendees learned about telling their story and the digital video format. Click here to read the notes and see links: Creating Video Content
PhilanTopic: Social Issue Documentaries
October 28, 2009 Kathryn Pyle PhilanTopic
"...more funders are considering whether and how they can connect their priorities to documentary films..."
http://pndblog.typepad.com/pndblog/2009/10/social-issue-documentaries.html
Communications and Technology for Foundations+standards in field
Glasspockets Initiative
The Foundation Center recently launched Glasspockets, a free Web portal designed to encourage greater transparency in the world of philanthropy.
The Presenter's Contract (PDF)
Free-Range Thinking
From the August 2006 publication by A Goodman, is a short article about contracts, with a sample ready-to-sign contract provided.
