 We are delighted to be working in partnership with The Skillman Foundation for the next in our series of highly regarded learning gatherings for funders.
This learning gathering will use The Skillman Foundation's outstanding Good Neighborhoods program as a platform for exploring the realities of working from a "we begin with residents" perspective with a commitment to building community capacity for change.
We will use our time together to delve into the following questions:
- What is the strategic advantage of including a small grants component in a large, multi-year community change initiative such as The Skillman Foundation's Good Neighborhood Program?
- What contributes to the value-added of a small grants program for place-based philanthropy?
- What are we learning about grassroots grantmaking/small grants programs that are deeply embedded in specific neighborhoods - with neighborhood residents as the decision-makers as well as the beneficiaries of the program?
- What are we learning about the role of other community partners in designing, launching and managing an effective small grants program?
- How can a place-based funder enlarge the culture of learning associated with its work and the work of its partners in the interest of advancing community change and the effective investment of resources?
We will match the "on the ground" time with time for discussion and reflection to connect insights from The Skillman Foundation's experience with grassroots grantmaking work in other contexts.
Registration will be limited to 50 participants to maximize opportunities for peer to peer connections and to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to contribute. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
This learning event is designed for funders so registration will be limited to staff, board members, grantees and learning partners of funding organizations or people who are sponsored by a funding organization. We strongly encourage team participation.
If you are not associated with a funding organization but would like to attend, please contact Janis Foster Richardson to see if you are eligible to attend. Space permitting, we will be generous in making special exceptions for people associated with organizations whose work supports and informs the practice of grassroots grantmaking.
A $250/person early-bird registration rate is available through September 1, 2010. After September 1, the registration fee will be $300/person. The registration fee will cover on-site transportation, materials, and breakfast and lunch on Thursday and Friday. Participants are expected to cover their own lodging expenses, meals outside of the meeting agenda, and travel from their home community to Detroit.
The Skillman Foundation's offices in downtown Detroit will be our home base for our meetings. We are encouraging attendees who will need hotel accommodations to stay at the The Omni Detroit Hotel at River Place - just a short walk to The Skillman Foundation's offices. Click here for a map and directions to the hotel.
We will kick off on Thursday morning at 8:30 and conclude the following day by 3:30. Thursday evening activities will be integral to the learning experience, so please do not make other plans for that evening.
Click here for a detailed agenda.
The Omni Detroit Hotel at River Place is providing a special $99/night single room rate for participants for two nights - October 6-7. Double rooms will be available at a special of $109/night. This special rate will be available for reservations made by September 15, 2010.
You can make reservations at this special rate by calling 1-800-THE-OMNI (1-800-843-6664) and asking for the Grassroots Grantmakers special rate.
Registrations can be submitted on-line by clicking one of the links on this page. Multiple registrations from one organization can be submitted at one time; registration fees for multiple registrations can be easily handled with one check. You will receive an email confirmation after you register, and we will hold your space unless you notify Janis Foster Richardson that you will not be attending.
Registration fees should be paid by check and mailed to:
Grassroots Grantmakers
PO Box G
Hallettsville, TX 77964
You will receive an email confirmation after you register and after your check has been received.
We can accept cancellations and issue a full refund of your registration fees until October 1, 2010. After October 1, we can accept your cancellation but cannot issue a refund.
You will receive meeting materials and more detailed logistical information 10 days before the event.
Casual, of course! We will be on and off a bus several times a day so comfortable clothes and shoes for walking are definitely in order!
Contact Janis Foster Richardson for anything else you need to know. You can reach Janis via email or phone (361-798-1808). |
