I don't know where this fits exactly -- but in the early 90's as RSA
was
coming out of Apartheid, everything was in turmoil, not the least of
which
was the Non-profit world, funders and recipients. I don't know who's
idea it
was, but we did a day long OS with all parties. Everybody predicted
that it
would be recipients with hat in hands chasing down funders. But that
never
happened. Instead there was this marvelous dialogue with everybody
involved
concerned with the New South Africa and the necessary social support
programs to uphold it. It would have been better for 2.5 days, but we
did
what we did, and it seemed to do a lot.
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland 20854
Phone 301-365-2093
Skype hhowen
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website www.ho-image.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of
Chris
Weaver
Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 2:32 PM
To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
Subject: Re: relationship-based funding
a couple follow-up thoughts to my last post:
what i am really longing for in this, diane, is authenticity. i've
done a
lot of successful grant-writing and spent a lot of time on planet
501(c)3
(for our international friends that's what a non-profit organization
is
called in the usa). all the individual players care a lot, but the
system
runs on "making things look good," which results in vast herds of
"dead
moose" inhabiting the non-profit world. executive directors
sugar-coat
their reports to their boards. marketing folks make the brochures and
annual reports look beautiful. grant-writing is such a specialty
because it
is a difficult art to tell foundations what they want to hear.
evaluations
are constantly striving to squeeze positive measurable data out of the
essential complexity of life. and when all is said and done, almost
nobody
is genuinely honored for their hard work and dedication in the honest
and
authentic way that they deserve, and the people who are served remain
largely behind a thick rose-colored glass wall. yes, wonderful and
critically important things happen...but in my view too much of it
happens
in spite of the current paradigm, and with a lot of precious energy
wasted.
with our new little initiative, i look forward the experience of
donors,
project staff, and "clients" too sitting in circle, telling honest
stories,
LAUGHING, and giving voice to the complex living thing called the
reality of
the work. when that happens, we will be able to roll up our sleeves
and
take it to the next level.
chris
-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu]On Behalf Of Diane
Brandon
Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 6:54 AM
To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
Subject: relationship-based funding
Chris, can you give a real or imaginary example of how this (State of
Grace Documents as relationship-based alternatives to grants & other
traditional funding mechanisms.) might work? The non-profit work I'm
part of receives grants from "Community Foundations", where "donor
advised funds" are granted to projects. In the "relationship-based
alternatives", would the donor have their funds in their own
investments, and work on a State of Grace document as a sort of MOU
(memorandum of understanding) between them and the project or program
they are funding? How would they not have many organizations seeking
to
do this with them? The community foundations serve as intermediaries,
to save the wealthy person with a mission in mind from having to
organize those seeking funds, and from having to know all the
investment/donor laws, etc.
I like what you're suggesting, but I'd love to hear some further
descriptions, pros and cons. Is anyone doing it yet?
Diane Brandon (coordinator of a regional coalition that uses
participatory methods like FS, WC, AI -- and OS soon)
PS Melinda Salazar, who I mentioned some time back on this list, and
who is now a member, is having Steve Cochran facilitate her OS on
Teaching Peace at the high school in Durham NH on April 1.
On Mar 9, 2006, at 6:29 AM, Chris Weaver wrote:
Thanks, Harrison & others, for the welcome when I posted a few weeks
ago. It's lovely to be remembered after a couple of years off-list,
&
delightful to see the online community thriving away in its
inimitable
way.
A couple current highlights & interests:
I continue to work with youth, particularly teenagers. I'm working
with some wonderful folks to develop a new form of "community-based
indigenous education." I promote a return to the ancient idea that
the initiation from childhood to young-adulthood is a key moment for
the vast living intelligence of nature to re-enter the consciousness
of the human village. Our youth can do this and are doing this for
those who notice. Open space is a really good tool for
intergenerational, inclusive "culture creation," so that the youth
can
be widely and deeply honored and supported in their role, and
welcomed
back properly by the Elders and the village. (Our project
weblog will
soon be up ~ I'll let y'all know.)
Last week (thanks to Patricia Haines & the list) I attended the open
space convocation of the US Partnership for the UN Decade for
Education for Sustainable Development at the EPA campus near
Raleigh, North Carolina. All I can say is that Steve Cochran has
done
something extraordinary, the unfolding of which will make itself
known
on this list and far beyond in the weeks & months to come.
Harrison's
post about the new climate change research brings the opportunities
around open space and the Partnership into an even sharper focus.
I am championing one initiative that came out of the convocation,
which I am excited to mention, although it's in early development.
Inspired by my sketchy recollection of Michael Herman's "Giving
Conference" in Chicago a couple years back, I'm working with Maureen
and Zelle, Patricia, & others on a new way to bring potential donors
together with grassroots sustainability project leaders, using open
space, and resulting in State of Grace Documents as
relationship-based
alternatives to grants & other traditional funding mechanisms. If
all
goes well we'll pilot this in North Carolina (probably here in
Asheville) by summer.
That's my news from the Northamerican southeast highlands, as the
birds call in the dawn from the Atlantic. Enjoy your day, everyone.
Chris Weaver
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