Network weaving in complex ecosystems – supporting the establishment and development of community foundations

The 5th C to be added to this relates to their role as a CATALYST.
Networks can:

✓ offer a platform for engagement (within the community foundation field and between the community foundation field and others) and create a safe space for peer exchange and learning;

✓ bring inspiration and thought leadership, and help bring issues to the table and bean incubator of ideas and of organisations;

✓ help define what the community foundation field is and provide for stability and establish norms/standards for practice e.g. UK, Germany, Poland, Romania; they generate a sense of belonging at local, national and international levels i.e. in movement building;

✓ play an important role in raising awareness of the work and added value of community foundations in order to further promote the development of the field,to connect the field with other stakeholders (e.g. in the philanthropy support ecosystem; potential partners/donors; professional advisers e.g. wealth and estate managers; policy makers and influencers etc);

✓ provide services and technical support e.g. through back office services;sheltering newly established community foundations; offering training (e.g. in governance, grant-making, communications and other relevant topics of interest such as climate action, youth engagement etc);

✓ bring and / or channel financial resources to community foundations through building relationships at national and international levels with foundations and private and public sector funders that could partner with community foundations to reach local communities;

✓ act as a voice for the field and for issues relating to the field in order to help create a favourable operating environment, take a lead on campaigns (e.g.European Day of Foundations and Donors, Will to Give, Emergency appeals etc) and to showcase the work of community foundations.

Network form
It was noted that a range of forms of networks exist across Europe including:

• Membership organisations dedicated to community foundations e.g. UKCF

• Membership organisations including community foundations in their membershipe.g AEF

• Community foundation support initiatives in other organisations – have professionalstaff that deliver services to a range of philanthropic or civil society organisationse.g Trag Foundation

• Informal networks e.g Latvia

The form is dependent on the national context (the philanthropy support ecosystem and the scale of the community foundation field – number and geographic coverage).

The form of the network should be such to be able to manage both vertical (with other stakeholders at national and international levels) and horizontal (across the field) relationships.

It was recognised that several forms of networks / support can co-exist however it is often challenging to ensure there is effective collaboration. The meeting of the ‘experts group’ bringing together those with an interest in supporting community foundations in France is an important step.

Overly structured and exclusive networks can act as a barrier and where possible network form should be flexible and capable of adaptation as appropriate.

There exists a range of business models that include membership fees, fees for services, grant aid, and voluntary contributions of time and expertise. It is important that networks can operate with confidence and stability in the medium to long term. The financial sustainability of networks in the community foundation field usually requires external grant aid or technical support from a foundation that recognises the value of supporting the infrastructure.

28 September 2023