Community Investment Network Newsletter

2009 Conference
October 1-4, 2009
New Orleans, LA

Articles

Community Investment Network Focuses on the Importance of Giving Back (continued)

The Nine

Giving circles have been organized in the following cities. Each circle has developed mission and vision statements that models that of the Network.

Raleigh/Durham, NC – A Legacy of Tradition

Birmingham, AL – Birmingham Change Fund

Warrenton, NC – Heritage Quilters

Christiansburg, VA – New Mountain Climbers

Raleigh/Durham, NC – Next Generation of African-American Philanthropists

Charlotte, NC – New Generation of African-American Philanthropists Charlotte

Pittsburgh, PA – Sankofa Fund of Southwest PA

Raleigh/Durham, NC – Way Out

New Orleans, LA – Zawadi of New Orleans

The CIN Mission and Core Components
CIN’s mission is to enhance the capacity of organized groups of concerned citizens engaged in collective giving of time, talent and treasure to impel greater social change in their communities. The primary goal of the network is to promote strategic collective giving and community problem-solving by:

Demystifying institutional philanthropy for individuals, organizations and community groups;

Engaging communities of color to connect their philanthropic practices to institutional philanthropy in a way that builds upon their historically undervalued giving traditions and practices as community assets;

Creating a learning space for participants to reflect on the history of giving, share ideas and strategies of success, as well as identify opportunities to give back (civic engagement);

Expanding the “concerned citizen’s” understanding of the non-profit and community-based sector, especially around public policy and social justice issues.

Developing a broader understanding and practice of the traditions of community-based caring and sharing.

Informing the philanthropic practice of foundations that may be unaware of ongoing community-based work and may not understand the critical importance of supporting work that respects and draws on the culture and resources of local places;

Creating mutual relationships between community philanthropists and community-based organizations;

Positioning community-based partners within communities of color as investors in their own rural community transformation to address persistent poverty through development of non-institutional giving models, such as donor circles; and

Creating a new cadre of philanthropic leadership from communities of color with opportunities that recognize their philanthropy and connects them to mainstream philanthropic networks.

The Network consists of two core components – the Strategic Giving Education Program and Technical Assistance/Capacity Building.

The Strategic Giving Education Program supports and encourages the continuing education of community philanthropists and giving circle members engaged in strategic giving. A platform has been established for giving circle members to exchange ideas, share successes and failures, and network with each other to strengthen their respective circles. Financial assistance is also available to help members attend various conferences, workshops and seminars on philanthropy.

Technical assistance/capacity building is available to help provide and define universal solutions to problems that giving circles commonly experience. These strategies are designed to help enhance the effectiveness of each circle. The goal is to provide the resources necessary to help build and sustain giving circles as they pursue their defined mission.