Grassroots grantmakers presentation for community matters in newport vermont
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Transcript of Grassroots grantmakers presentation for community matters in newport vermont
GRASSROOTS GRANTMAKING:A COMMUNITY FRIENDLY TOOL FOR PEOPLE POWERED POSSIBILITIES
Presented by Grassroots GrantmakersJanis Foster Richardson & Shannon Dixon
CommunityMatters in Newport, VTFebruary 4, 2013
People powered possibilitiesin Newport
• Tell us about a time when you were part of a group where no one was paid and you did something amazing together.
Common Denominators
• What were the core ingredients?
What was the magic spice?
People Powered Possibilities Ingredients
$$
$$
Space
Institutions
Groups
People
WHAT IF….
Then
• Then this good thing could happen
If
• If we had this or could do this
What is grassroots grantmaking?• defn: a resourcing approach that focuses on helping people powered
organizations turn possibilities into realities in the community that they call home.
• Distinguishing characteristics:focuses on what people can do better together than what
agencies or institutions can do for themhelps people move from dreaming to doing, from their couch to
an active citizen roleinvests in people and associations as critical change-makers and
resilience builders in communities
Impassioned people change their communities, and community involvement changes people.
Call it the hopeful cycle of public progress.The Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Grassroots Grantmaking: The Premise Premise
Who are grassroots grantmakers? Where can I find one?Foundations• Community• Family• Independent• Corporate
Local governments
United Ways Giving circles
On-line groups• Ioby• Kickstarter• Neighborland
Community groups• Church groups• Neighborhood groups• Women’s groups• Youth groups
Non-groups• Mobs• Soups
A vehicle that you invent
What they have in common
Good idea
3 or more people
Itch to act
Money as an invitation
People powered possibilities
One Small Grant/Many Possibilities
What sprouts from grassroots grantmaking
More like a meadow than a garden
We see a lot of…..
Gardens Music Murals Festivals
Community planning
Activities for youth Clean-ups Beautification
Mutual aid activities
Inter-generational
activities
Welcoming activities
Celebrations of local history
and culture
Community identity projects
Pocket parksCrime
prevention and safety
Extras at school
One small grant, many possibilities
Small Grant
New relationships & perspectives for the
sponsor
More people connecting and
contributing
Test out small business idea
Entrepreneurial venture/job
creation
Try out idea for a community-
based service
More responsive "community
friendly" service system
Build power & capacity to
create change
Changed policies/power shifts/people have a voice
Grassroots Grantmakers: Who We Are
• Community of practice for ppp investors
• Locus for learning• Information & referral• Knowledge bank• Advocate for funding from a
people powered possibilities perspective
• “We begin with residents” orientation
• Community foundations• Independent foundations• Family foundations• Giving circles• Corporate funders• United Ways• Local governments• Community-based organizations• Crowd-funding groups• People who believe in people
powered possibilities
Resources from Grassroots Grantmakers
ConnectionsPersonal helpAction learningWebinarsDocument bankStoriesBlog
Good places to startBegin with:
People you know/relationships you haveAssets you have or can accessA clear sense of your “if/then” equation Funders that focus their work in your place Your community foundation Other local funders
Approach conversations with funders from a sense of curiosity, not a need to “sell”:
How do they do their work? What are they interested in? What resources do they have other than money? Networks Expertise Access to information
Where is the “match”?
What’s on your mind?
People powered
possibilities
What is the opportunity
?
What you can you do
now?
Who would you like to
talk to next?
What would work for
Newport?
What help do you need?
What can you imagine
for a year from now?
Working to strengthen and resource the work ofeveryday people and citizen-led groups
www.grassrootsgrantmakers.org