Goal
To accelerate the growth and leadership of nine small and emerging community foundations in rural areas of California.
Initiative Description
Irvine has a long history of partnering with community foundations. In 2005 we launched a second Community Foundations Initiative (CFI II) to develop philanthropic resources in regions of the state that have been underserved by organized philanthropy. CFI II is based on the premise that a community foundation can raise awareness of its work and increase its credibility by successfully undertaking a visible and thoughtful regranting program. With this increased recognition and simultaneous investments in internal capacity, the community foundation will be able to accelerate growth and increase its ability to serve the local community.
CCFI II is a $12 million, six-year initiative with three key components: direct grants to each community foundation for core support and capacity building; an Irvine-funded regranting program to help each community foundation develop skills as a grantmaker; and a robust program of technical assistance. Additional details about CFI II are available here.
Evaluation
The evaluation for CFI II is an integral part of the technical assistance provided to the initiative’s community foundation participants. The evaluation measures were developed by our evaluators with help from an advisory team comprised of three community foundation CEOs and community experts. Each community foundation receives annual reports on their progress to inform their efforts. The evaluators will also be highlighting lessons for the field in future publications and tools.
Objectives
This evaluation will assess how participation in CFI II develops the capacity of the community foundation grantees in terms of asset development, community grantmaking, donor engagement, strategic management, board governance and other priority areas. Developing strengths in these areas is expected to increase the ability of these emerging community foundations to mobilize community resources.
Time frame
2006 – 2010
Participating grantees
Methods
This evaluation involves analyzing grantee financial data, self-assessment surveys, interviews with community foundation leaders and consultation with technical assistance providers.
Findings
The evaluator provides annual reports on CFI II to the Foundation and the grantee cohort. The most recent report provides an update for 2008 which shows how these community foundations are affected by the economic downturn.
2007 marked a high point for assets at these community foundations. Total assets held by the cohort decreased by 10% in 2008 from $128 million to $115 million, compared to a 19% decrease at comparable, small community foundations. The compound annual growth rate for assets at these community foundations during the span of CFI II, although still reflecting positive growth, declined from 30% in 2004-07 to 15% in 2004-08.
Grantmaking increased by $1.3 million in 2008 for a total of $13.2 million, with 86% of those funds going to organizations in local communities, which helps these community foundations deepen connections to the regions that they serve.
Financial trends, such as higher fund averages, growth of endowed assets, and a greater portion of expenses covered by fees, indicate that participants are continuing to make progress toward long-term sustainability.
Evidence also shows progress in governance practices and board involvement.
Related materials
Evaluator
Eva Nico
Director
FSG Social Impact Advisors
www.fsg-impact.org
top of page
|
