Meeting Community Information Needs, by Susan Patterson and Bahia Ramos

4. New $9.5 million commitment to expand challenge Matching grants contest: Open cal l f or i deas st ar t s May 1 • Pr ovi des seed f undi ng t o t est news i deas • Pr ef er ence f or Open Gover nm ent i deas Expanded Tech Help: Ci r cui t Ri der s t eam i ncl ude m e speci al i t i es, i ncl udi ng br andi ng, or m ket i ng, et c. ar 4

5. New $9.5 million commitment to expand challenge Media Learning Seminar: Cont i nues t o be t he gat her i ng f or f oundat i on l eader s t o exchange i deas and l ear n t r ends Fall 2013 – Learning Networks: Bui l di ng on ear l y successes, Kni ght pr ovi des addi t i onal f undi ng t o a sel ect gr oup t hat wi l l shar e i nsi ght s 5

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Editor's Notes

New title: Where it all started: Knight Commission Report; then problem keep first four bullets and dump opportuity; solution: keep;
I ’d keep just the headline and the part in italic, and dump the rest of the text below it
Bahia, do these stats need updating? The first goal of the Knight Community Information Challenge (KCIC) is to increase the engagement of community and place-based foundations in helping meet community information needs. The second goal is to ensure that KCIC projects are helping communities become more informed and engaged. Final Round in June 2012 101 projects, totaling $19.8 million granted (22 in Round 1, 24 in Round II, 19 in Round III, 19 in Round IV, 20 in Round V) 25% of CF Field have applied (5 in Round 1, 9 in Round II, 3 in Round III, 4 in Round IV) Top 5 Community Foundations (in asset size) are grantees ask FSG? MLS – attracts 300 foundation leaders, cited as informing, moving the field Circuit Riders/Boot Camp cited in grantee surveys as critical to project success A bit misleading though, as average size has been consistently dropping In Round I, average was $270,000 and all but 3 were 2 or 3-year grants; largest was for $916,000 (Palm Beach was a bit of an oddity) and three were for $500,000 (Without Palm Beach, average was $232,000) In Round II, average was $176,000 and all but 4 were 2 or 3-year grants; largest was $352,000 In Round III, average was $155,000 and only half were 2 or 3-year grants; largest in this round, $305,500 In Round IV, average was $116,000 and only a third were 2 or 3-year grants; also had our smallest grant to date: $26,000 to Nebraska; largest in this round $327,000
NOTES: WE want to break this into three slides and use three examples, either from profiles in leadership or today ’s case studies Assuming the Project Fits with the Foundation ’s Priorities, Some Success Factors Are More Critical Than Others, Depending on the Foundation PCF took on their ParkCityGreen project as their single major effort in 2009-10 and dedicated staff to the project They partnered with the city, which has become the lead implementer, for long-term sustainability Their involvement in the KCIC sparked leadership in another information project (community indicators), in partnership with the local newspaper Mid-Sized Innovator (CF of New Jersey) CFNJ took on NJ Spotlight as one of their most important initiatives They had considerable internal knowledge of need/audience Lead implementing partner team are experienced , well-respected journalists They played a hands-on role in managing the process The project recently won a journalism award Heavy Hitter SVCF ’s leadership made a significant commitment to the issue (regional planning) and developed YouChooseBayArea to enhance their impact They partnered with the right “content providers” – a highly reputable research firm that produced the data analysis and scenario algorithm for the tool Their data platform is being replicated in other communities
NOTES: WE want to break this into three slides and use three examples, either from profiles in leadership or today ’s case studies Assuming the Project Fits with the Foundation ’s Priorities, Some Success Factors Are More Critical Than Others, Depending on the Foundation PCF took on their ParkCityGreen project as their single major effort in 2009-10 and dedicated staff to the project They partnered with the city, which has become the lead implementer, for long-term sustainability Their involvement in the KCIC sparked leadership in another information project (community indicators), in partnership with the local newspaper Mid-Sized Innovator (CF of New Jersey) CFNJ took on NJ Spotlight as one of their most important initiatives They had considerable internal knowledge of need/audience Lead implementing partner team are experienced , well-respected journalists They played a hands-on role in managing the process The project recently won a journalism award Heavy Hitter SVCF ’s leadership made a significant commitment to the issue (regional planning) and developed YouChooseBayArea to enhance their impact They partnered with the right “content providers” – a highly reputable research firm that produced the data analysis and scenario algorithm for the tool Their data platform is being replicated in other communities
NOTES: WE want to break this into three slides and use three examples, either from profiles in leadership or today ’s case studies Assuming the Project Fits with the Foundation ’s Priorities, Some Success Factors Are More Critical Than Others, Depending on the Foundation PCF took on their ParkCityGreen project as their single major effort in 2009-10 and dedicated staff to the project They partnered with the city, which has become the lead implementer, for long-term sustainability Their involvement in the KCIC sparked leadership in another information project (community indicators), in partnership with the local newspaper Mid-Sized Innovator (CF of New Jersey) CFNJ took on NJ Spotlight as one of their most important initiatives They had considerable internal knowledge of need/audience Lead implementing partner team are experienced , well-respected journalists They played a hands-on role in managing the process The project recently won a journalism award Heavy Hitter SVCF ’s leadership made a significant commitment to the issue (regional planning) and developed YouChooseBayArea to enhance their impact They partnered with the right “content providers” – a highly reputable research firm that produced the data analysis and scenario algorithm for the tool Their data platform is being replicated in other communities
NOTES: WE want to break this into three slides and use three examples, either from profiles in leadership or today ’s case studies Assuming the Project Fits with the Foundation ’s Priorities, Some Success Factors Are More Critical Than Others, Depending on the Foundation PCF took on their ParkCityGreen project as their single major effort in 2009-10 and dedicated staff to the project They partnered with the city, which has become the lead implementer, for long-term sustainability Their involvement in the KCIC sparked leadership in another information project (community indicators), in partnership with the local newspaper Mid-Sized Innovator (CF of New Jersey) CFNJ took on NJ Spotlight as one of their most important initiatives They had considerable internal knowledge of need/audience Lead implementing partner team are experienced , well-respected journalists They played a hands-on role in managing the process The project recently won a journalism award Heavy Hitter SVCF ’s leadership made a significant commitment to the issue (regional planning) and developed YouChooseBayArea to enhance their impact They partnered with the right “content providers” – a highly reputable research firm that produced the data analysis and scenario algorithm for the tool Their data platform is being replicated in other communities
Who ’s on the committee: Some current and past KCIC grantees (Alicia Philipp, Atlanta; Clothilde, Buffalo; Mary Lou Fulton, Calif Endow); some KF folks (Bob Sutton, South Dakota, JoAnn Turnquist, Columbia; Josie, Boulder); some non-winners: Brian Byrnes, Santa Fe, John Davies, Baton Rouge); Kristin Grimm, non-CF/media person; Community Foundations are excellent vehicles for the work because: Deep relationships in the communities they serve; they ’re often (BUT NOT ALWAYS) leaders in their communities and see this work as an extension of their convening role; “ If you’ve seen one CF, you’ve seen one CF” – they’re all different KF could provide more information on successes and what works; use the CF ’s to tell those stories; strengthen the network of “early adopters” Sustainability not guaranteed; beyond $$, KF should consider more hands-on help: regional MLS (if they keep cutting-edge appeal), more Circuit Riders, etc. The Media Learning Seminar has been key to the success of foundations entering the information arena; efforts must be made to keep it fresh, vital and one day, a regional event. Expand reach (across philanthropy; CF ’s not unified as a field) Create a stronger network of “committed” foundations, e.g. through the advisory committee The general discussion was that while Knight has a framework and that many community foundations had “signed-on” to the notion of the importance of information as a core community “commodity” (Kelly Lucas’ phrase), not all understood the significance and it’s clearly not yet a “movement” in the minds of all community foundations. Indeed, the discussion took a fork in the road when it highlighted the notion that there is “no field” and that community foundations are as diverse as their number. Who should be champion? (CF ’s or KF?) If this initiative is to be led, it must be transferred to foundations; it cannot just be about Knight Foundation. How does Knight encourage these committee members to become champions? While Knight was applauded for the openness of the process for the first three challenge rounds, it appeared that community foundations are now looking for a direction from Knight. People expressed concern that they couldn ’t identify a focus for the grants and while they are in broad categories now, what would help focus foundations going forward? Would Knight articulating its theory of change more closely enable community foundations to carve out a framework to follow within the information ecosystem? When Knight pushed back that the Knight Foundation was originally looking for the focus to come from the field, the committee members felt that if there is a “next phase” it should have more structure or specificity. More stories (successful projects, how to ’s, etc.) Highlight successful programs; those funded by Knight as well as those which evolved without Knight funding. CFs 100 th anniversary an opportunity
Echoed by others we reached out to Listening Tour Slide notes: Most importantly, the Circuit Riders (Michele McLellan, a great partner with Eric on media grantmaking: 5 Things You Need to Know; 5 Ways to Get Started ; Lisa Williams, a KNC winner, placeblogger.com; and Susan Mernit, founder of Oakland Local); have the most intimate knowledge of how projects are going; often provide link between projects and CF leadership Advisory Committee members who missed SF meeting, including Mary Lou Fulton at California Endowment and Hans Dekker, CF of New Jersey To get more participants – if that ’s what we want – need to identify and lower barriers to entry; how can we de-mystify the work: Are there how-to templates? CR’s believe partnerships the key to success: Who should they be? What should partnership look like? We have success stories: Key elements include right partnerships; knowledgeable champions inside the CF ’s; understanding outreach to online and offline audiences critical; project is important to CF Have seen rise in engagement in projects: Atlanta: How can residents use data to tell their stories? In Winnipeg, getting more residents involved in capturing the news; Charlottesville wanted an engagement editor! Mary Lou Fulton believes engagement may be a better umbrella; it ’s bigger and may make it easier for some organizations to get under, and, she believes, it will drive them to news and information
Echoed by others we reached out to Listening Tour Slide notes: Most importantly, the Circuit Riders (Michele McLellan, a great partner with Eric on media grantmaking: 5 Things You Need to Know; 5 Ways to Get Started ; Lisa Williams, a KNC winner, placeblogger.com; and Susan Mernit, founder of Oakland Local); have the most intimate knowledge of how projects are going; often provide link between projects and CF leadership Advisory Committee members who missed SF meeting, including Mary Lou Fulton at California Endowment and Hans Dekker, CF of New Jersey To get more participants – if that ’s what we want – need to identify and lower barriers to entry; how can we de-mystify the work: Are there how-to templates? CR’s believe partnerships the key to success: Who should they be? What should partnership look like? We have success stories: Key elements include right partnerships; knowledgeable champions inside the CF ’s; understanding outreach to online and offline audiences critical; project is important to CF Have seen rise in engagement in projects: Atlanta: How can residents use data to tell their stories? In Winnipeg, getting more residents involved in capturing the news; Charlottesville wanted an engagement editor! Mary Lou Fulton believes engagement may be a better umbrella; it ’s bigger and may make it easier for some organizations to get under, and, she believes, it will drive them to news and information
NOTES: WE want to break this into three slides and use three examples, either from profiles in leadership or today ’s case studies Assuming the Project Fits with the Foundation ’s Priorities, Some Success Factors Are More Critical Than Others, Depending on the Foundation PCF took on their ParkCityGreen project as their single major effort in 2009-10 and dedicated staff to the project They partnered with the city, which has become the lead implementer, for long-term sustainability Their involvement in the KCIC sparked leadership in another information project (community indicators), in partnership with the local newspaper Mid-Sized Innovator (CF of New Jersey) CFNJ took on NJ Spotlight as one of their most important initiatives They had considerable internal knowledge of need/audience Lead implementing partner team are experienced , well-respected journalists They played a hands-on role in managing the process The project recently won a journalism award Heavy Hitter SVCF ’s leadership made a significant commitment to the issue (regional planning) and developed YouChooseBayArea to enhance their impact They partnered with the right “content providers” – a highly reputable research firm that produced the data analysis and scenario algorithm for the tool Their data platform is being replicated in other communities

Meeting Community Information Needs, by Susan Patterson and Bahia Ramos

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Editor's Notes