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Special Projects and Partnerships
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In its role to encourage leadership and strengthen cooperation,
DVG has often served as the convener and sometimes partner
for a variety of collaborative efforts. Some examples include:
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In 2003, DVG received a grant from
the Asset Building and Community Development
Program at The Ford Foundation to support the
convening and education of our members on the power
of regional equity strategies to improve distressed
communities. During the coming year, DVG will work in
partnership with The Ford Foundation to provide opportunities
for our members to explore the nexus between smart growth
and economic, social and racial equity as it relates
to many of the issues grantmakers care about, including
community development, housing, education, jobs and
transportation in our region. |
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In May 2002, DVG partnered
with the Association
of Small Foundations to present “Building a
Strong Foundation,” a two-day regional conference
for foundations with few or no staff. Sponsored
by The Glenmede Trust Company, the first day of the conference
was a “Trustee Leadership Seminar” for foundation
board members. The second day, titled “Managing
Your Small Foundation” was open to both foundation
staff and trustees, and featured concurrent sessions focusing
on funding issues, management and governance concerns,
and skills-building matters. |
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In 2000, DVG entered into a partnership
with the Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania and Community
Foundations for Pennsylvania to commission the first
Pennsylvania statewide giving report. The
Nonprofit Center at LaSalle University was selected
to manage the project with input from the Foundation Center
in New York. The report, entitled “Common Wealth:
Giving in Pennsylvania- A Report on the State’s
Philanthropy”, was officially unveiled at DVG’s
annual conference in October, 2001, and the same month
was also introduced to state legislators in a special
ceremony at the capitol building in Harrisburg. (Note:
The complete report is posted online at www.dvg.org/commonwealth.) |
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DVG applied for national funds and in
January 1999 was awarded a $25,000 planning grant to design
and develop strategies for its own outreach initiative
to new givers. To implement this project, DVG
was awarded a three-year implementation grant of $157,500
in January 2000 from the New
Ventures in Philanthropy initiative. For this project,
DVG will provide print and electronic resources to new
givers in order to help provide them with the knowledge
and tools they need to become informed and effective donors. |
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As part of its mission to be an information
resource to new donors, DVG directed a portion of its
New Ventures in Philanthropy grant dollars toward cataloging
its extensive collection of publications and creating
a Resource Library Database. Unveiled in 2001,
this new searchable database is an invaluable tool that
aids DVG staff in directing both new givers and current
DVG members to the information they need to be more effective
in their work. |
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In 1996, DVG convened a Promotion of
Philanthropy committee as part of its ongoing
efforts to foster a culture of giving and increase philanthropic
resources for the region. With the added incentive
of grant dollars available through a national project
aimed at promoting philanthropy, DVG expanded its discussions
in 1998 to include regional partners in its planning efforts.
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Between 1993 and 1996 DVG co-sponsored
and participated in three Pennsylvania statewide
grantmakers’ conferences in Harrisburg.
Working in cooperation with Community Foundations for
Pennsylvania, Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania, and
a committee of grantmakers from across the state, these
conferences were designed to connect grantmakers with
each other and with policy makers at the state level.
Although the last formal conference took place in 1996,
DVG has continued to use this established network to examine
ways that grantmakers can be more proactive in state policy
and is currently exploring ways for funders to contribute
to the dialogue around the 2002 gubernatorial election. |
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The Emma Lazarus Partnership
of Southeastern Pennsylvania was founded in 1997
as the result of an opportunity to leverage national grant
dollars from the Open
Society Institute to aid local immigrant and refugee
communities. Over the past several years DVG has served
as the convener for this partnership, which has brought
together over a dozen local funders and has successfully
raised over $500,000 in local and national dollars to
benefit this target community. |
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As part of an effort to reach
out to women of wealth, DVG partnered with several
organizations including the Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation,
Black United Fund of PA, Bread & Roses Community Fund,
The Philadelphia Foundation, and WOMENS WAY to form the
working group, Women & Philanthropy. DVG served as
the fiscal agent for this group, which received grants
in support of two conferences in 1995 and 1997 that addressed
and encouraged women’s participation in philanthropy.
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