2005 Highlights


Marketing

In 2004, DVG received a leadership grant from the Fourjay Foundation to aid the association in its marketing efforts aimed at member retention and recruitment. This initiative was designed to help DVG build its organizational capacity to better serve its existing members and strengthen its ability to reach out to potential new members.

The first two phases of the grant were completed in 2004, which included researching best practices in member recruitment and retention among the Regional Associations of Grantmakers and other membership associations, and updating DVG’s internal database system to streamline information management. The final phase of the grant was completed in the first quarter of 2005, and involved identifying opportunities and methods for outreach to non-member foundations and giving programs in the greater Philadelphia region toward the goal of expanding the DVG network. The information gathered, technology improvements made and lessons learned from this initiative were extremely valuable in boosting DVG’s organizational effectiveness and proved useful in informing our strategic planning efforts, which began in May 2005.

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Strategic Planning

In the spring, DVG contracted with the TCC Group to serve as consultants for our 2006-2009 Strategic Plan.  A Strategic Planning Committee was formed to spearhead the planning process over the next several months. Chaired by Beth Feldman Brandt, Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation, participants on the committee were: Ronnie Bloom, William Penn Foundation; Nancy Burd, Nonprofit Finance Fund; Russ Johnson, North Penn Community Health Foundation; Bruce Melgary, Lenfest Foundation; Kate Moore, PNC Foundation; Catherine Murphy, The Pew Charitable Trusts; Andrew Swinney, The Philadelphia Foundation; and Cathy Weiss, Claneil Foundation. 

Over the summer of 2005, the committee and staff worked with TCC to begin the creation of a logic model and to develop a strategy for gathering feedback from members and other key stakeholders. During the fall, TCC carried out a survey of DVG’s membership, as well as conducted interviews, focus groups and benchmarking discussions with other regional associations of grantmakers. At DVG’s Board retreat in November, TCC reviewed the results of the situational analysis and logic model, and facilitated a discussion to develop consensus around a common vision for the organization’s future. The retreat concluded with agreement on key issues to be addressed in the plan and a design for approaching the next phase of work.  Completion of the plan is anticipated in spring 2006.

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Public Policy

Following a significant amount of legislative activity that began in 2003 around reforms to the charitable sector, DVG continued to monitor legislative activity with potential implications for philanthropy.  On March 9, 2005, DVG convened a delegation of its staff, board and membership who joined together with hundreds of other grantmakers from around the country in Washington, D.C. for the 12th Annual Foundations on the Hill. This annual advocacy day for the national philanthropic community provides an opportunity for grantmakers to meet with Members of Congress and their staff to educate them on the important role philanthropy plays in improving communities across the country and around the world.

Joining Nancy Lanham and Kate Laepple from the DVG staff were: Kim Flaville, Connelly Foundation; Jeanne-Marie Hagan, The Philadelphia Foundation; Eden Kratchman, The ACE INA Foundation; Sam McClea, National Philanthropic Trust; Bruce Melgary, The Lenfest Foundation; Frances Sheehan, Brandywine Health and Wellness Foundation; and Joe Willard, the United Way of Southeastern PA.  The day began with visits to the offices of Senators Rick Santorum and Arlen Specter. Santorum, an original sponsor of the CARE Act in 2003, offered his continued support of the work of foundations and the nonprofit community as a whole.

The DVG delegation also met with staff and members of the House of Representatives, including Allyson Schwartz and James Gerlach. With continued focus on the nonprofit sector by the legislature, much of the discussion on March 9th was focused on the work the philanthropic and nonprofit communities are doing around accountability and transparency. The group shared DVG’s Statement of Values, Guiding Principles and Best Practices with all the offices as just one example of how the local philanthropic community is working to self-regulate and be more accountable.

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Governance

As a demonstration of DVG’s commitment to increased accountability and to incorporating best practices in good governance, the Board of Directors approved the formation of an Audit Committee that will provide additional oversight for the organization. The committee is chaired by DVG Treasurer Nancy Burd, Nonprofit Finance Fund and members include  Ronnie Bloom, William Penn Foundation; Melissa Weiler Gerber, Womens Way; and Larry Mangan, Connelly Foundation. In addition to reviewing the financial audit for 2004, the committee conducted a search for and hired a new audit firm for DVG’s 2005 audit and reviewed DVG’s IRS 990 filing.   The Audit Committee also spearheaded the development of a new Code of Conduct Policy, which was adopted by the DVG Board in September.

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