The first strategy of Engaging for Impact calls for Donors Forum to create new technology platform and use online communications technology in new ways to strengthen the sector. You told us this week that while it’s important to look for opportunities to use technology for learning and networking, the most effective opportunities are provided through face-to-face meetings. This tells us of the importance of the human touch that underscores so much of the work done by nonprofits in our state.

The community recognizes that technology platforms can be used to bridge geographical diversity as well as groups with divergent missions, and we’re beginning to understand that generational diversity presents challenges for offering learning and networking environments based on the preferences of our constituents.

Sector-wide public policy issues are a priority

Our second strategy calls for the Donors Forum to develop a robust public policy agenda that improves the environment for grantmakers and nonprofits in the state. You’re telling us something that perhaps we already knew: This is easier said than done. The issues we face seem so overwhelming while at the same time they don’t seem to be on the radar of legislators and their staffs.

Lack of resources to participate in public policy efforts is a significant barrier to engaging in the legislative process. We all need a clearly stated value proposition that identifies the return on investment. One related issue we will continue to want to hear about from you is how direct the benefits of participation need to be to your specific organizations. Are you willing to participate in efforts that may have indirect benefits to your organization but may be beneficial to the sector as a whole?

The need to connect local, regional, and state collaborations

Many of the participants in this week’s meetings tell us they participate in coalitions that produce high impact for their organizations and on their issues. But you also told us you know of other efforts at various geographical levels doing similar work, and that Donors Forum could lead efforts to connect the work and members of these coalitions.

Our third strategy focuses on just this issue: How can Donors Forum play an active role in bringing the thought leaders and doers at all levels together to maximize their value? How can we best play a role in results-focused, cross-sector problem solving? We want to hear more about what the barriers are to connecting and convening these groups and how Donors Forum resources might be utilized to make that happen.

We made some incredibly helpful strides in our listening journey this week. I like to refer to Engaging for Impact more as a “framework” than a plan. It’s really being shaped through your voices and your participation in helping us set the agenda.

We also learned this week something we think we already knew. This sector has expertise, vision, innovative ideas, and experience to draw upon. Along with some of you who have partnered with us over the years, we saw some new faces who brought to the table new ideas and skills that we wouldn’t have encountered otherwise.

There was a lot of talk at the meetings this week about leveraging our sector’s assets. One of the side benefits of these meetings is that they reaffirm what a rich base of assets we have in our sector, and it’s a privilege for us to be on this journey to find ways to leverage all of our assets to achieve maximum impact.

We invite you to comment on this post or share your ideas using this form on our Engaging for Impact microsite. You don't need to log in to comment, but feel free to sign your post.