Virtual+Party

=15 June 2011 NNF Virtual Party=


 * Overview**: This convening marks the close of Phase II of our work and the transition of the NNF into the next phase. We reflected on what we've learned and discussed what's next...

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 * Presentation Materials:**
 * Conversation Highlights:**
 * //Explanation of Key Learning / Takeaways pictures://
 * Gale: (flowers) "In the beginning our efforts were intentional -- we tried to plant a few seeds, but we didn't know what we'd get. What's grown out of that effort doesn’t seem random. It's beautiful. It gives me this warm and fuzzy feeling."
 * Kate: (whales) "In a recent study on humpback whales they found that whales actually spread popular music across the world. Each whale can get every other whale to sing a piece of its song. You may think something's your own tune, but it connects you to a whole population."
 * Janis: (mushrooms) "My image is a tribute to people who came before. It's about being “rhizomatic,” looking at funders as fungi, visible nodes that are actually connected below the surface. We’re also kind of in the weeds."
 * Marie: (triangle) "As funders, we close some triangle every day--it's simple, doable, and practical, but does require a fourth dimension to connect."
 * Beth: (compost) "Failures can be seen as compost; they create more fertile ground for successes later on."
 * Jessica: (wind farm) "Wind turbines have been around for a long time, but we're now beginning to use them to harvest the cumulative power of a renewable energy (i.e., overlaying what we already know with knew knowledge & innovation). This effort isn't without new challenges: the security and reliability of our traditional power system."
 * Diana: (holding hands) "I found this image by going on Flickr and typing in 'trust' or 'reciprocity.' It represents for me the importance of finding balance in networks - open / closed, bottom up / top down, holding onto control / sharing leadership.
 * //What new insights stuck with you?//
 * I've become **more intentional about raising the question of network involvement**for every new / existing body of work
 * The question of how to measure network health and depth is still difficult - it's a question that network funders continue to face
 * In the last few months, we've been a lot more **intentional about strengthening our internal network**... Our president even encouraged people to practice transparency in sharing grants and draft proposals. Compared to where we were 2 years ago, we’ve grown a lot. We're quietly nudging others in the organization to move in this direction.
 * People who are connected to each other in a network are **more empowered** and have more access to resources. The **network can even be sustaining in times of constrained resources**that limit independent action
 * For example, several years ago we funded a project connecting a small cohort of youth-serving organizations spread out across the state. The weaving of that network coincided with the recession, and we’re certain some of these organizations would not have survived without those connections.
 * Being part of the NNF -- having each other -- has been an ongoing peer assist. This way of sharing / interacting with a diverse group of individuals - who nonetheless have many similarities - has made this experience pretty exceptional
 * Some network funders have found that projects that are most successful have an internal COP
 * This community is a great demonstration of network value: the value of random connections and of diverse perspectives
 * This experience has helped in reshaping how I feel about motivating groups of people to do things: it's the difference between building coalition / advocacy groups and investing in sustained communities of people. It's the difference between thinking of everything as an issue for which you have to raise volunteers vs. bringing together people who aren’t necessarily aligned strategically but rather on ancillary goals.
 * //One word takeaway//
 * Bitter sweet and grateful – sad to see the end of this phase, but greatful for everything that people have shared, for how we've grown, for the new resources we have access to
 * Eager
 * Excited (x2)
 * Energized
 * Evangelical
 * //A few new resources//
 * CFMC work on analyzing networks and grantmaking will be published in The Foundation Review in mid-July
 * Free webinar tool: http://www.slideshare.net/zipcastjoin.me:
 * Free screen sharing tool: https://join.me/
 * //List of peer assists to date//:
 * //How can funders effectively transition out of their leadership role?//
 * //How to inspire interest / coordination?//
 * //What is the potential for using evaluation as a bridge, to get similar grantees to measure the same outcomes . What impact will more standard metrics / evaluation have on member collaboration and the effectiveness of networks on the ground?//
 * //How can the RE-AMP network learning better inform grantmaking by participating organizations outside of their pooled funds?//
 * //Developing intentional networks among a loosely connected group? How to get started? What's the role of the funder?//
 * //How to approach a program evaluation and strategy in a network way? How networked should the work be? What are the tradeoffs? When does the ROI tip?//
 * How to balance the tension between emergent network impact and the desire for tangible progress?
 * //How to source ideas that meet the needs of solutions for vulnerable population?//

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