Independent Sector’s Post

Take 5 minutes to complete these short questions by 4/26 to connect with NJ funders. Fill this out if your group is led by members of the communities you serve and you see your work as community organizing centered on racial equity. https://bit.ly/446EKOO

Being an active citizen is not just about voting and paying taxes. It's about taking responsibility and actively participating in shaping the world we live in. Social entrepreneur Gabriel Marmentini highlights the power of collective action and the role we all play in addressing public issues. Here are four essential elements of effective citizenship: 1. Awareness and Education: Stay informed about local and global issues through reading, workshops, and discussions. Knowledge empowers action. 2. Community Engagement: Connect with your community by volunteering, participating in events, and collaborating. Strong community ties lead to collective action. 3. Advocacy and Communication: Use your voice to advocate for change. Write to policymakers, attend meetings, and engage in respectful dialogue to drive progress. 4. Active Participation: Get involved in grassroots movements, support causes, and actively participate in civic life. Your actions make a difference. Remember, being an active citizen is not just a duty, it's an opportunity to contribute to a better society. Embodying these principles enables us to ignite positive change and make a difference. So let's take a step forward and be the change we want to see in the world! #ActiveCitizenship #SocialChange #CollectiveAction

One interesting angle on advocacy are the efforts some people devote to prodding certain key players to get more involved. In sectors like philanthropy, there can be a reluctance because it seems too political. As founder of the Center for Community Foundation Policy Leadership, longtime criminal justice reform advocate Stephen Saloom has been focused on encouraging and supporting community foundations to advocate on their issues. As Stephen shared on the podcast, the strongest case for doing so traces back to these organizations' stated missions. Community foundations' missions typically commit them to the well-being of the local populace in the broadest terms—as broadly as any governmental body or public official. So it's only logical, Stephen argues, that community foundations should get engaged in questions of policy that affect the local community. https://lnkd.in/gbzzT-Ba

How can we use our professional expertise to build and help our community? To anyone out there who can see a community challenge that they want to help solve, my suggestion is….TAKE ACTION! Don’t wait or say someone else is responsible… we all have agency/knowledge/skills to help our communities’ prosper. Here’s just one story (mine) to help the Canberra community (& make some new friends along the way). I was fortunate to chair the Umbagong Bridges Community Action Group and support the west Canberra community to upgrade our community infrastructure. Together we worked as a community to go from delapidated bridges and an angry divided (literally) community to a mobilised, empowered community that worked with government to secure its community space for future generations. How did we do this? Using the skills learned over the years to create public policy. 👇 👉Mobilise interest with media stories+ 👉Call to action that channelled participation & resulted in 1000 plus signatures + 👉 asking others to help solve the problem and bring to bear their expertise (I in no way had all the answers but knew by asking others we could find a way)+ 👉2 years of commitment+ 👉Government advocacy demonstrating community need = $3.2 million in funding for new bridges & a happy community🎉 If you want to talk about solving a challenge in your community get in touch! Happy to advise where I can be of use.

I will be addressing the urgent need for the Targeted Rental Assistance Program this Tuesday night at 5 PM. I need your support to make this happen. Show up, speak out, and let's make our voices heard! Urgent Community Meeting: Join me this Tuesday at 5 PM. We need to talk serious action, not just thoughts and prayers. Your Presence Matters: The community’s support is crucial. Your presence will demonstrate the demand for immediate change and support for our most vulnerable. Make a Stand: This is your opportunity to stand with those who are often overlooked and underserved. We're stronger together—let's show it. Voice Your Support: We need voices that echo our call for justice and support. Come ready to shout, to applaud, and to demand action. Bring Friends and Neighbors: The more people we have, the louder our message. Bring everyone who cares about justice, equality, and community support. This is more than just a meeting; it's a call to action. Be there to support the implementation of a program that can change lives. Don’t just stand by—stand up for what’s right!

Need a boost? Here's a quick dose of how Goodwill goes beyond just being a store – it's a mission. Explore our Impact Report to learn more about how we support the local community: https://lnkd.in/exinnVjr. #GoodwillValleys #ImpactReport #CommunitySupport #GiveYourGood

There’s a lot of buzz around “Community Benefits” but what are they and what do they mean for my community? Are there key models and resources? Come with your questions for our monthly Community Benefit Network call! Register here: https://lnkd.in/eeKzdxh7 #ReImagineAppalachia #CommunityBenefits #Appalachia #InflationReductionAct

To quote Tides' incredible CEO and leader Janiece Evans-Page: "As I shared in my new year message, there has never been a more critical time for our work. As we enter what is undoubtedly another pivotal election cycle, we are all aware that there are major threats to our vision of a healthy and inclusive democracy. In times like these, we must continue to center equity and justice in everything we do, and shift power, money, and resources to protect democracy in 2024 and beyond. "We also recognize that fueling lasting change requires collective movement power. Tides is committed to bringing together our diverse network of donors and doers to urgently move resources to the proximate leaders on the frontlines of social justice, as well as facilitating knowledge sharing and social sector collaboration to drive systems change." #grantmaking #foundation #justice #equity #shiftthepower #systemschange

How can community outreach build trust & and nurture community pride? 📌Hint: It doesn’t involve standard public meetings. 📌Download Transform Your Practice, a new, free tool from Reimagining the Civic Commons, to learn how you can realize the potential of public outreach. https://lnkd.in/e3-WcTHi 

Want to give locally? Whether you’re doing some last-minute year-end giving, or looking to start 2024 on the right foot, consider tapping into the expertise of your local elected officials. Engaging with these officials and their teams can unlock a wealth of resources and local insights, fostering impactful projects that serve the community's most pressing needs. In a conversation with Lee Hutter from Curated Wealth Partners, I explain that by forging relationships with #CityCouncilMembers and #CountyBoards, you can bring resources to organizations and issues that are most urgent in your area. What’s more, when we bridge the gap between #publicgovernance and #privatephilanthropy, we build more comprehensive and effective approaches to addressing local challenges.