Submitted by Marjory on Mon, 2009-11-23 11:43

Filed under:

• Social Change in Oregon
• GOSW
• Philanthropy

What do you get when a hundred foundation staff and trustees get together?

Don’t worry--that’s not the opening line of a bad joke. The answer is that what you get is a thoughtful reflection on the nature of philanthropy in Oregon.

On Thursday I went to a celebration of the 10th anniversary of Grantmakers of Oregon & SW Washington (GOSW). Founding members talked about GOSW’s evolution from a small, casual network of peers to a vibrant learning community of people committed to better philanthropy.

When I started working as a fundraiser 19 years ago, I saw foundations as powerful—but abstract—organizations that had a huge impact on my nonprofit’s ability to create decent, affordable housing. It took time to understand that they were made up of people who shared my commitment to building a strong community.

My understanding of that deepened when I joined GOSW.  I was struck by how much time funders spend learning about the communities they serve. Each year, GOSW hosts more than 30 educational programs, from “Grantmaking 101” workshops for new foundation staff to conversations with Native American leaders about the realities of life on Oregon’s tribal lands.

Why does that matter?  It matters because our communities are always changing and nonprofit organizations are constantly evolving in response to shifting demographics and emerging needs.  When funders take time to listen to the groups they fund and share what they learn with one another, they are more likely to make funding decisions that are in step with the communities they serve. 

Last year GOSW took an important step in that direction by forming a Diversity Committee, which I’m proud to serve on.  Our role is to promote funding practices that reflect and serve the cultural and geographic diversity of communities around the state.  We're part of a national conversation, and I'll share updates on our work locally in the months ahead.

GOSW members have a wide range of funding priorities and service areas. They include corporate foundations, community foundations like MRG, and family foundations. What they share is a commitment to building a better community in partnership with Oregon nonprofits.

That commitment was visible yesterday when guest speaker John Frohnmayer asserted, “philanthropy is a contract rather than a gift.” Heads nodded around the room as the people guiding Oregon’s foundations reflected on the truth of his statement and recommitted ourselves to upholding our part of the contract—to be the most effective, responsible stewards of Oregon foundations that we can be.