relationship-based funding

Fri Mar 10 13:47:31 PST 2006

I don't know where this fits exactly -- but in the early 90's as RSA was
coming out of Apartheid, everything was in turmoil, not the least of which
was the Non-profit world, funders and recipients. I don't know who's idea it
was, but we did a day long OS with all parties. Everybody predicted that it
would be recipients with hat in hands chasing down funders. But that never
happened. Instead there was this marvelous dialogue with everybody involved
concerned with the New South Africa and the necessary social support
programs to uphold it. It would have been better for 2.5 days, but we did
what we did, and it seemed to do a lot.

Harrison 

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland   20854
Phone 301-365-2093
Skype hhowen
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com 
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website www.ho-image.com 
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Chris
Weaver
Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 2:32 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: relationship-based funding

a couple follow-up thoughts to my last post:

what i am really longing for in this, diane, is authenticity.  i've done a
lot of successful grant-writing and spent a lot of time on planet 501(c)3
(for our international friends that's what a non-profit organization is
called in the usa).  all the individual players care a lot, but the system
runs on "making things look good," which results in vast herds of "dead
moose" inhabiting the non-profit world.  executive directors sugar-coat
their reports to their boards.  marketing folks make the brochures and
annual reports look beautiful.  grant-writing is such a specialty because it
is a difficult art to tell foundations what they want to hear.  evaluations
are constantly striving to squeeze positive measurable data out of the
essential complexity of life.  and when all is said and done, almost nobody
is genuinely honored for their hard work and dedication in the honest and
authentic way that they deserve, and the people who are served remain
largely behind a thick rose-colored glass wall.  yes, wonderful and
critically important things happen...but in my view too much of it happens
in spite of the current paradigm, and with a lot of precious energy wasted.

with our new little initiative, i look forward the experience of donors,
project staff, and "clients" too sitting in circle, telling honest stories,
LAUGHING, and giving voice to the complex living thing called the reality of
the work.  when that happens, we will be able to roll up our sleeves and
take it to the next level.

chris

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of Diane
Brandon
Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 6:54 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: relationship-based funding

Chris, can you give a real or imaginary example of how this (State of
Grace Documents as relationship-based alternatives to grants & other
traditional funding mechanisms.) might work? The non-profit work I'm
part of receives grants from "Community Foundations", where "donor
advised funds" are granted to projects. In the "relationship-based
alternatives", would the donor have their funds in their own
investments, and work on a State of Grace document as a sort of MOU
(memorandum of understanding) between them and the project or program
they are funding? How would they not have many organizations seeking to
do this with them? The community foundations serve as intermediaries,
to save the wealthy person with a mission in mind from having to
organize those seeking funds, and from having to know all the
investment/donor laws, etc.

I like what you're suggesting, but I'd love to hear some further
descriptions, pros and cons. Is anyone doing it yet?

Diane Brandon (coordinator of a regional coalition that uses
participatory methods like FS, WC, AI -- and OS soon)

PS Melinda Salazar, who I mentioned some time back on this list, and
who is now a member, is having Steve Cochran facilitate her OS on
Teaching Peace at the high school in Durham NH on April 1.

On Mar 9, 2006, at 6:29 AM, Chris Weaver wrote:

> Thanks, Harrison & others, for the welcome when I posted a few weeks
> ago.  It's lovely to be remembered after a couple of years off-list, &
> delightful to see the online community thriving away in its inimitable
> way.
>  
> A couple current highlights & interests:
>  
> I continue to work with youth, particularly teenagers.  I'm working
> with some wonderful folks to develop a new form of "community-based
> indigenous education."  I promote a return to the ancient idea that
> the initiation from childhood to young-adulthood is a key moment for
> the vast living intelligence of nature to re-enter the consciousness
> of the human village.  Our youth can do this and are doing this for
> those who notice.  Open space is a really good tool for
> intergenerational, inclusive "culture creation," so that the youth can
> be widely and deeply honored and supported in their role, and welcomed
> back properly by the Elders and the village.  (Our project weblog will
> soon be up ~ I'll let y'all know.)
>  
> Last week (thanks to Patricia Haines & the list) I attended the open
> space convocation of the US Partnership for the UN Decade for
> Education for Sustainable Development at the EPA campus near
> Raleigh, North Carolina.  All I can say is that Steve Cochran has done
> something extraordinary, the unfolding of which will make itself known
> on this list and far beyond in the weeks & months to come.  Harrison's
> post about the new climate change research brings the opportunities
> around open space and the Partnership into an even sharper focus.
>  
> I am championing one initiative that came out of the convocation,
> which I am excited to mention, although it's in early development. 
> Inspired by my sketchy recollection of Michael Herman's "Giving
> Conference" in Chicago a couple years back, I'm working with Maureen
> and Zelle, Patricia, & others on a new way to bring potential donors
> together with grassroots sustainability project leaders, using open
> space, and resulting in State of Grace Documents as relationship-based
> alternatives to grants & other traditional funding mechanisms.  If all
> goes well we'll pilot this in North Carolina (probably here in
> Asheville) by summer.
>  
> That's my news from the Northamerican southeast highlands, as the
> birds call in the dawn from the Atlantic.  Enjoy your day, everyone.
>  
> Chris Weaver
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