San Diego Grantmakers

2010 Annual Conference

The San Diego Grantmakers 2010 Annual Conference
Through the Looking Glass: Reflections on Philanthropy

Thursday, October 14, 2010
8:00am-3:00pm
Joe & Vi Jacobs Center

The SDG Annual Conference is a wonderful chance to come together with our community of givers and discover ways to strengthen your philanthropy. This is an event where no matter what the type, shape, or size of your giving--be it independent, family, community, public, individual, giving circle, corporate foundation or corporate giving program--you leave with invigorating new ideas about how to give in the most effective ways.

REQUEST FOR PHOTOS
Send us your photos! Grantmakers have the opportunity to showcase your good work in our communities by submitting photos to be displayed at the conference and on the new SDG website (coming soon!). Have pictures of people who have been helped by a nonprofit with your support? Images of a project groundbreaking? We’d love to see any photos that represent you, your work, and/or your grantees. Please send them our way!

Photos should be high resolution (300-600 ppi) if possible and submitted electronically (jpg format preferred). You may submit your photos for consideration to michelle@sdgrantmakers.org, along with a completed Image Permission Form.

2008 Conference Attendees

Session and Speaker Information: Plenary Sessions

Opening Plenary: A Time for Philanthropic Introspection


Bradford K. Smith	Susan Raymond	Diana Campoamor	Sean Stannard-Stockton

Speakers:
Bradford K. Smith, President, Foundation Center
Susan Raymond, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Changing Our World, Inc.
Diana Campoamor, President, Hispanics in Philanthropy
Moderator/speaker: Sean Stannard-Stockton, CEO, Tactical Philanthropy Advisors

As the nation begins to emerge from the economic recession and adapt to a changed landscape, we all have a unique opportunity to reflect upon our goals and practices. Rising demand from nonprofits coupled with tightened budgets makes it imperative for grantmakers to reassess our motivations, intentions and expectations about our philanthropic endeavors. During this panel discussion, four distinguished philanthropy professionals will explore both practical and conceptual aspects of grantmaking, inspiring you to reflect on your own giving.

Closing Plenary: Broader Input, Higher Impact


Dr. Robert K. Ross	James Surowiecki

Speakers:
Dr. Robert K. Ross, President and CEO, The California Endowment
James Surowiecki, author of The Wisdom of Crowds

In his bestselling book The Wisdom of Crowds, The New Yorker columnist James Surowiecki advances a powerful and possibly counterintuitive claim: that large groups of people are better at solving problems than a few. At the same time, a growing number of grantmakers are emphasizing stakeholder engagement by including diverse viewpoints in their work. What do philanthropists need to know about the wisdom of crowds, and how can increasing the number of people and perspectives involved in your grantmaking improve results? Join Dr. Robert Ross and James Surowiecki as they tackle these questions and more.

Session and Speaker Information: Workshop Sessions

Based on attendee feedback from last year's event, we have shortened the conference day and will be offering one set of workshops. Attendees will select one session from the following:

Public & Philanthropic Partnerships: Magnifying Impact
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...What Do Nonprofits See?
The Changing Face of Philanthropy
Transparency for All: Sharing Philanthropic Information
An Evaluation Lens for Learning and Outcomes

Session #1: Public & Philanthropic Partnerships: Magnifying Impact
Moderator/Speaker: Mark Sedway, Project Director, Philanthropy Awareness Initiative
Speakers:
Aileen Adams, Deputy Mayor, Office of Strategic Partnerships, Los Angeles Mayor's office
Mary Herron, Trustee, The Parker Foundation and Chair, SDG Homelessness Working Group
Molly Cartmill, Director, Government Programs, Compliance & Corp. Responsibility, Sempra Energy

As Americans increasingly expect public and private actors to work together to find new solutions to community problems, opportunities for collaboration between government and philanthropy are becoming more and more attractive to both sides. At the same time, many grantmakers remain apprehensive about advocacy, and there is a lack of awareness nationwide about the work and value of our sector. This provocative conversation will start with eye-opening data from the Philanthropy Awareness Initiative, followed by discussion among our seasoned panelists about the challenges and opportunities of different sectors coming together. The session will inspire you to consider how your organization can engage external leaders to achieve your goals.

Session #2: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...What Do Nonprofits See?
Speakers: Sindhu M. Knotz, Manager, Center for Effective Philanthropy
Julie Fry, Program Officer, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

Successful funder/grantee relationships that generate meaningful and productive results hinge on the relationship savvy and practices of individual grantmakers. Starting with the latest research from the Center for Effective Philanthropy, this session will explore what grantees really value in funding partnerships, and present four crucial keys to success. An exemplary program officer from the Hewlett Foundation and one of her nonprofit partners will talk about what works, up close and personal. Join this session to reflect on what differentiates funders and nonprofits that overcome the power imbalance to work most effectively together, and to identify what you can do differently.

Session #3: The Changing Face of Philanthropy
Facilitator: Robby Rodriguez, co-author of Working Across Generations
Co-Facilitator: Marisa Aurora Quiroz, Manager, Environment Program, The San Diego Foundation
Session Partner: Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP), San Diego chapter

Generational change is happening. Are we ready? How will nonprofits and grantmakers be affected by the leadership transition between baby boomers, Gen X-ers, and Millenials? In this interactive session, you'll gain a comprehensive picture of demographic realities driving generational shifts in our sector as well as practical advice for navigating multi-generational organizations. Are you part of a family foundation thinking about involving new generations? A corporation trying to engage a wide range of employees? Concerned about succession planning in your organization or among your grantees? If so, this session is for you: learn how to value the contributions of longtime leaders, recognize new talent, and work across generational divides.

Session #4: Transparency for All: Sharing Philanthropic Information
Moderator/Speaker: Bradford K. Smith, President, The Foundation Center
Speakers: Deyan Vitanov, CEO and Co-founder, Philanthropedia
Lori Finch, Director, Organizational Success Program, The San Diego Foundation
Sean Stannard-Stockton, CEO, Tactical Philanthropy Advisors

The digital revolution has created new possibilities for sharing knowledge that can benefit grantmakers in many ways. Do you need credible, vetted information to identify and research high-potential grantees? Do you want to learn about what your colleagues are funding and to share your own findings? This practical session will explore the new paradigm of online philanthropic information, and will include live demonstrations of three tools (Glasspockets, Philanthropedia, and BetterGiving) that increase transparency and make it easier for you to invest wisely. Don't miss this chance to hear from national leaders in the effort to change the way philanthropists share information.

Session #5: An Evaluation Lens for Learning and Outcomes
Speaker: Tanya Beer, Associate Director, Center for Evaluation Innovation

The drive toward impact and strategic learning in the philanthropic sector puts evaluation at the heart of our work. How can busy grantmakers balance a desire for impact data with a need for information that helps both us and our grantees reflect and learn? Also importantly, how do we do this without becoming every grantee's worst nightmare? Join this session to explore manageable 'drive-by' evaluation tactics that can help you move beyond grant monitoring to more meaningful, systematic evaluation. We'll delve into the practical distinction between evaluation for learning and for accountability, as well as share tools for fast, inexpensive evaluation that you can do yourself.

Agenda

8:00-8:30 am Registration & Breakfast

8:30-10:15 am Welcome, SDG Report, & Opening Plenary

10:30 am-11:45 am Workshop Sessions

12:00-1:00 pm Networking Lunch

1-2:15 pm Closing Plenary

2:15-3:00 pm Reception

Registration

Register online. Note that SDG cannot accept credit cards; you will need to mail a check for the registration fees after filling out the online form.

You can also save your space by emailing conference@sdgrantmakers.org, or click here for a registration form that you can mail or fax.

The registration fee (payable to San Diego Grantmakers) is $125 per person for SDG members, and $200 per person for non-member grantmakers.

Logistics

Location & Directions
The conference location is the Joe & Vi Jacobs Center, a 75,000-sq. ft., three-story building housing a cultural training kitchen, a state-of-the-art meeting and conference center, accessible community and office space, a showplace for public art, and a neighborhood gathering place. Click here (pdf) for directions. Note that you can also take the San Diego Trolley to the conference! From downtown or as far east as Santee, take the Orange Line to the Euclid Transit Station.

Joe & Vi Jacobs Center
404 Euclid Avenue, San Diego, CA 92114

The Joe and Vi Jacobs Center is located at the southwest corner of Euclid Avenue and Market Street, behind (west of) Market Creek Plaza. From Interstate 805, take MLK Freeway (94) East and exit at Euclid Avenue South. Continue on Euclid and turn R on Market St. Turn L at next light (Market Creek Plaza Driveway). The Joe & Vi Jacobs Center will be in front of you—turn R into parking lot.

Parking
There is a large parking lot at the conference facility. Parking is free.

Questions?
Contact SDG at 858/875-3333 or conference@sdgrantmakers.org.

2008 Plenary Session

The San Diego Grantmakers 2010 Annual Conference Through the Looking Glass: Reflections on Philanthropy

Knowledge Centers

The San Diego Grantmakers 2010 Annual Conference
Through the Looking Glass: Reflections on Philanthropy