Community Based Philanthropy in Action

• The Index has been used in some form in 57 counties – 49 of those remain in some point of active process of using the Index tools.
  
• 18 communities who have used the Index process have new community funds. 29 of the counties using the Index had pre-existing community funds. 2 communities are in early stages of developing funds and we consider 11 counties as probable for developing new funds in the near future.
  
• 12 communities and sponsoring associations like West Virginia Grantmakers and the Arizona Community Foundation received ongoing coaching and technical assistance from Index staff and consultants.
  
• Example: Use of the Philanthropy Index to support rural community foundation development in rural West Virginia.

Pointe Coupee Community Foundation

Vision, Mission, Activities of the Community Foundation
We envision a community of trust – open and honest communication, where all have voice, regardless of ethnic background or social status.

The mission of the Pointe Coupee Community Foundation is to serve as an economic and social catalyst promoting positive growth in the parish toward education, economic development, social services, recreation, and cultural activities by collaboratively creating success strategies.

Accordingly, we work with our primary constituency, nonprofit and human service organizations that serve the social, educational, and cultural needs of Pointe Coupee Parish by:

1. funding efforts that create long term benefits; and,
2. convening various constituencies in the community that have the power to make positive change

Organizational Background

In the fall of 2000, over 50 community leaders participated in five listening sessions to analyze the strengths and weaknesses as well as the threats and opportunities of the parish. This process resulted in the establishment of the top five priorities for the parish: education, public safety, social well-being, economic development and health. This analysis along with an exploration of philanthropy in the area led to the formation of the Pointe Coupee Community Enrichment Fund in 2003. This affiliate fund of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation became an independent organization in 2006 as the Pointe Coupee Community Foundation.

In the summer and fall of 2007, ten community volunteers implemented a six month process to strengthen the vision, mission, constituency focus, and structure of the community foundation. Their work culminated in the board, who will create a strategic plan to cover the organization until 2010.

The organization is currently supported by community volunteers, an organizational development consultant, and the capacity-building services of the Southern Rural Development Initiative (www.srdi.org).

Accomplishments of the Pointe Coupee Community Foundation

• We’ve made 55 grants since 2004 that amount to $160,767 to parish issues.

• We are beginning to build relationships across barriers of race, class, etc.

• We received a leadership award (nominated by LANO) from the Kellogg Foundation

• We’ve received national acknowledgement for our work to bridge race and class from national foundations and philanthropy experts

• We have provided some critical services to Pointe Coupee residents, including defibrillators for police officers (that have saved 2 lives already) to support for hurricane survivors

• We created a partnership to start a mentoring and jobs program with NRG

Greater Savannah River Community Foundation

Vision and Mission of the Community Foundation
The mission of the Greater Savannah River Community Foundation is to encourage, promote, and advance philanthropic giving through education and the responsible management and distribution of charitable contributions, and to provide the structure for individuals, companies and organizations to accomplish this. Their vision is to improve education, healthcare, economic development, and the environment.

Organizational Background
The GSRCF is a publicly supported foundation that serves the mutually agreed upon needs in the communities of Allendale, Bamberg, and Barnwell. The foundation is a charitable organization that exists to maintain the charitable intent of donors making gifts, allowing immediate and future tax benefits, and to act as a catalyst to help focus local philanthropy on immediate as well as evolving community needs.

The GSRCF serves as administrator of what is, in actuality, a community endowment, a combination of gifts, large and small, unrestricted and donor advised, given to support improvement in the quality of life for all citizens of Allendale, Bamberg, and Barnwell counties. Distributions of funds will be determined by the board according to donor wishes.