June 2008

Though I will continue as executive director until September, this is my last chance to speak with you about the plans, opportunities and aspirations of Delaware Valley Grantmakers.  I can’t tell you how much it has meant to me to work with you over the last four years.  Your commitment to our communities, dedication to continuous learning and willingness to seek partners to further the impact of your giving have inspired me and the staff to do more in support of your goals.  However, there is still a lot to do before I leave.

This year’s annual conference, Shifting Tides:  Leadership for the Sea Change Ahead, will be held on October 23 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Independence Seaport Museum.  Almost daily we hear of major economic, governmental or human resource changes that greatly affect the delivery of services offered by nonprofit organizations in our region.  Each of these changes causes a ripple effect through the sector, for grantees and grantmakers alike.  As we work to better the lives of people in our region, what kind of leadership is needed to create organizations with the resiliency and adaptability to weather these changes? Through your attendance at the 2008 DVG Annual Conference, you will learn about leadership techniques and practices that will help funders and nonprofit leaders more effectively operate in this fast-paced, highly-networked world.  Our new venue is the Independence Seaport Museum on Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia.  In honor of DVG’s 20th Anniversary, we will conclude the day with a reception to celebrate our accomplishments and acknowledge our role in building a strong future for our region.  I look forward to seeing you there!

DVG is very pleased to announce the new Fundamentals of Smart Grantmaking curriculum to be delivered beginning in the fall.  Whether you are just learning the craft or are interested in a refresher, this is the program series for you.  This series of six courses will be delivered by senior grantmakers in our region.  You’ll hear more in July.

My thanks to all of you who completed our recent member survey.  The results will be reviewed at the DVG Board Retreat in July. Our Board and committees have provided great support and direction to the staff since the adoption of our strategic plan two years ago, and we look forward to assessing your feedback and making adjustments to our direction as needed. 

Finally, I have learned a great deal from you during my time at DVG.  The DVG staff makes every effort to provide you with the information you need to inform your grantmaking decisions and fine-tune your policies and practices.  Our programs, communications and website are the basis for delivering this information.  However, the transformation of this information into knowledge happens through interactions among colleagues.  This is where the real value of DVG occurs.  I encourage you to attend our programs, participate in committees and let the staff know of your interests and needs.  I’m pleased to be able to continue the learning with you after September as a DVG member.  Thanks for being a friend to me and for your dedication to DVG.