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Community organizations

Zoom out to see the system of philanthropy beyond granting. Explore what is versus what ought to be the flow of resources to communities, now and over time.

In this section you will find blog posts that help you...

Engage in ethical dialogue

Like foundations, community organizations are often making hard decisions about resourcing and the way in which money supports or detracts from core values. Unearth different logics for decision making.

Delve into community

Community is this amorphous term that reflects a real range of categories and groupings. How can we get more precise about what we mean by community, and the ways in which people from those communities are shaping, versus being served by, organizations and institutions?

Imagine alternative purposes

If purpose is at the heart of systems change, what makes for a transformative purpose? Browse different purpose statements, and form your own point of view about what ought to be the purpose of philanthropy.

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Theme: Intergenerational Type: Introductory

Introduction to Intergenerational Stories

Grapple with the idea of relationships across time. How much should foundations focus on the urgencies of the present, right wrongs of the past, or lay the groundwork for future generations?

Man standing at an easel talking to a small group

Theme: Decisions Type: Generative

Make Your Own Case Study

Download the worksheet and critically examine a recent decision. What logics & lenses were at play? What would happen if you tried on different distributive logics and ethical lenses?

Woman with mid-length black straight hair carrying shoulder bag stands looking at a bookshelf, and away from the camera.

Theme: Purpose Type: Case study

Unpacking Neutrality at the Public Library

Delve into the controversial question of whether an organization can or should ever be neutral. Let's learn from the lively debate over at the public library.

A photograph of a group of people standing in an alley, all facing the same direction. One man is swinging a young boy in the air.

Theme: Boundaries Type: Core concepts

Defining Community

Gain conceptual tools to define 'community' and identify what's at stake in being able to articulate philanthropy in relation to specific communities.

A person adds a dot sticker to a poster titled "What matters to us" to indicate that "Belonging & Connection" is a top value.

Theme: Purpose Type: Provocative

Putting Purpose into Words

Study what makes for a purpose statement you can be guided and inspired by: compare the statements of purpose from several Canadian Community Foundations and grow your own sense of discernment about what makes purpose more or less powerful.

Four people stand looking at a wall covered in blue posters. Each describes a different philanthropic purpose and they are adding post-it notes to them.

Theme: Purpose Type: Provocative

Other Purposes

Get inspired by leaders pursuing bold philanthropic purposes that repurpose the inherited content of philanthropy for modern contexts.

A photograph of the facade of the HistoryMiami museum.

Theme: Boundaries Type: Case study

The HistoryMiami Museum is Changed by Trans Youth

Learn how one community institution becomes more participatory by moving beyond consultations, professional experts, and project timelines.

Group of people outside meeting each other

Theme: Boundaries Type: Core concepts

Working with Difference

Learn about four narrative frames for understanding difference within our communities. Explore how frames drive action, and try on alternative frames.

Theme: Purpose Type: Core concepts

What is Purpose?

Differentiate purpose from strategy and understand its power in organizations to imbue every structure, process, role, and communication with greater meaning.

Three people sitting around a table outdoors. On the table is a big blue poster, cups, saucers, smaller pieces of paper, glue sticks, and writing implements. They are adding to the poster.

Theme: Purpose Type: Core concepts

Purpose & Narrative: Peas in a Pod

Understand how to communicate purpose so that it can be lived and understood in context, through narrative!

People looking at a map on the floor with large, 3D paper markers

Theme: Boundaries Type: Core concepts

Understanding Boundaries

Philanthropies navigate many communities. Here, understand how membership in multiple communities meets individual and collective needs.

Theme: Decisions Type: Core concepts

Making Ethical Decisions

Explore six ethical lenses that can help us surface our default logics and offer alternative ethical frameworks for decision making.

Two women sitting at a booth looking at each other through masks and consulting a script

Theme: Boundaries Type: Provocative

Furthering Participation

Encounter Nina Simon's argument that community institutions must not only engage people much more broadly, but seek to be changed by their participation - or risk irrelevance.

A room full of what appear to be staff celebrating: purple and white balloons adorn the ceiling

Theme: Purpose Type: Case study

How Visa Became a 'Chaordic' Organization

Learn from the influential founder of Visa about why every organization needs a moral purpose, and how that purpose unifies, galvanizes, and enlivens any collective endeavour.

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Community organizations

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