WSFS Bank’s Post

How can Small Businesses give back to their community this holiday season?  John Hall explains, "Your company can transform your community through successful collaborations, meaningful initiatives, and creative strategies. You’ll foster a culture of giving and better achieve your mission when you learn about, engage with, and take action alongside your team."  Illinois Growth Advisors working with Small Business Leaders on giving back to their communities.

In the context of Plunkett Foundation's long standing relationship with Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, it feels that yesterday's announcement is perhaps the most significant partnership commitment we have made yet. Too often #rural areas are dismissed by funders and policy makers as affluent places with no real deprivation or need, and that they are places that deserve little or significantly less investment. This stance misses the many hidden needs and inequities that exist in the countryside, leaving many residents disadvantaged simply because of where they live. It is also a view that emboldens those with a NIMBY attitude, which can lead to missed opportunities for change and progress. At Plunkett we believe that #communityowned businesses, which are rooted in place and controlled by local people can be transformative in the communities where they exist. The 700 strong rural network already have a track record of creating jobs for those who are marginalised in the labour market. Offer goods and services, often utilising local supply chains and which cater to local needs. They are inclusive at every level of their operation - from governance structures, to the facilities they run - meaning that there is something on offer for everyone. Now more than ever the huge potential of the #combiz movement needs to be recognised, backed and mobilised, to actively promote equity, diversity and inclusion. We are both proud and grateful that Esmée Fairbairn Foundation share our vision, and back our #Plunkett2026 strategy to grow the sector and it's impact over the next 4 years. Please share this news widely and if you also support our vision, then why not become a supporter member (just £20!) and join the movement now? 👉 https://lnkd.in/eKr_6tTF

Early on in my role here at Committee for a Better New Orleans I had so many ideas I couldn’t see straight. I took to writing every idea on a post-it and sticking them up on a whiteboard to get them out of my head. I went through them this week and was humbled to find so many that we’ve done in the last 3 years— Public Official Speed Dating, Budget Storytime, Art as civic engagement, and my proudest accomplishment: ”Block Parties with a purpose” We’ve held 6 block parties & counting, and debuted our signature Better New Orleans Block Party in St Roch this year. On the most perfect spring day, we got 350 people together from across the city for live music, good food and good times, and while we were at it; we: 🌳 Gave away 50 trees, 🛍️ Supported 8 local businesses; 🗳️ Registered a dozen voters; 🚌 Collected 70 transit rider surveys for our project to revamp New Orleans bus stops, 📈 Educated hundreds of people about the City budget, 🩺 Gave away free health screenings, 🧑🏽🎓 Connected youth with pre-college activities 🎉 and engaged hundreds of people in housing, street safety, justice, and climate issues in our city with partner organizations. It took longer than I’d have liked, and the path to get here was harder than I could have imagined, but I’ve learned this — that people are drawn to new ideas. And when you get people together, powerful things can happen. Low-turnout meetings are the norm for civic engagement, but we have so many better ways to meet people at our fingertips. I’ve dedicated my tenure at CBNO to this question: What if we tried something else? In the past 3 years, we’ve dreamed up so many joyful, meaningful, and yes, educational events that motivate communities from the heart. We couldn’t have done these events without the flexibility to try out new ideas, play, and dream together. GiveNOLA day gives a rare opportunity for us in the nonprofit world to dream. It provides the unrestricted funding we need to try out new things, fail, test ideas and go after unrealized opportunities. I hope you’ll join me in supporting some of the hard working community groups making the city better today, and would be delighted if you’d join our cause. Givenola.org/cbno

👏 Esmée Fairbairn Foundation has committed to continuing their long-standing support for the Plunkett Foundation, with a new 4 year agreement. £500k of funding will support Plunkett's 2022 – 2026 strategy, which aims to create innovative, inclusive and impactful spaces UK-wide through the development of community businesses. Plunkett Foundation has a strategic objective of growing the national sector, in rural areas, by 20% over the next 5 years. They also have a set ambition to support more community-ownership projects in areas that are currently under-represented by this form of business. The funding from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation will underpin a number of the the charities main activities for the next 3 years, including: 1. Supporting research to develop a greater understanding of how community businesses can tackle the issues rural communities are facing, especially underrepresented groups and individuals, and those who are marginalised 2. Refreshing the charities communications output, to more effectively reach those communities most in need of support. 3. Adjusting the core business support offer to make it more accessible and impactful. Read more about this fantastic partnership here!

👏 New funding backs the community business movement to promote equity, diversity and inclusivity in the countryside. Esmée Fairbairn Foundation has committed to continuing their long-standing support for the Plunkett Foundation, with a new 4 year agreement. £500k of funding will support Plunkett's 2022 – 2026 strategy, which aims to create innovative, inclusive and impactful spaces UK-wide through the development of community businesses. Plunkett Foundation has a strategic objective of growing the national sector, in rural areas, by 20% over the next 5 years. They also have a set ambition to support more community-ownership projects in areas that are currently under-represented by this form of business. The funding from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation will underpin a number of the the charities main activities for the next 3 years, including: 1. Supporting research to develop a greater understanding of how community businesses can tackle the issues rural communities are facing, especially underrepresented groups and individuals, and those who are marginalised 2. Refreshing the charities communications output, to more effectively reach those communities most in need of support. 3. Adjusting the core business support offer to make it more accessible and impactful. Read more about this fantastic partnership here!

🌟 Join Maggie Strong at the CEC Conference! 🌟 We are excited to announce that Maggie Strong, a seasoned expert in community planning and public engagement, will be delivering an insightful presentation at the CEC Conference. If you're passionate about fostering inclusive and effective community development, this is a session you won't want to miss! 🎤 Maggie Strong's Approach to Community Engagement: Maggie Strong specializes in helping groups, nonprofits, and communities with strategic planning and needs assessment. Her approach emphasizes the importance of involving a diverse group of people in decision-making to ensure broad participation and authentic information. "We really have to put a lot of legwork into hearing from all types of people in a community in order to get that broad participation and authentic information," Maggie says. "Our goal is to have them be a part of the solution, feeling empowered and engaged from the beginning of the process." In her session, Maggie will share her experiences and strategies for achieving true public engagement, including: - Inclusive Participation: Ensuring all voices are heard, not just the usual participants. Maggie believes in reaching out to a diverse range of community members to get a complete picture. - Empowerment from the Start: Engaging community members early in the process so they feel empowered and see their involvement reflected in the final solutions. - Overcoming Barriers: Moving beyond merely discussing problems to finding actionable solutions. Maggie will introduce tools like compression planning, a visual brainstorming process that fosters fair play and ensures everyone's ideas are considered. - Successful Case Studies: Learn from real-life examples, such as the development of a children's museum, where inclusive engagement led to exceeding expectations and achieving significant milestones. Registrations open May 31. #CECConference2024 #CECFulton #CommunityEngagement #PublicEngagement #RuralDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #EconomicDevelopment #Networking #CommunityBuilding #SmallBusinessSupport

👏 Esmée Fairbairn Foundation has committed to continuing their long-standing support for the Plunkett Foundation, with a new 4 year agreement. £500k of funding will support Plunkett's 2022 – 2026 strategy, which aims to create innovative, inclusive and impactful spaces UK-wide through the development of community businesses. Plunkett Foundation has a strategic objective of growing the national sector, in rural areas, by 20% over the next 5 years. They also have a set ambition to support more community-ownership projects in areas that are currently under-represented by this form of business. The funding from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation will underpin a number of the the charities main activities for the next 3 years, including: 1. Supporting research to develop a greater understanding of how community businesses can tackle the issues rural communities are facing, especially underrepresented groups and individuals, and those who are marginalised 2. Refreshing the charities communications output, to more effectively reach those communities most in need of support. 3. Adjusting the core business support offer to make it more accessible and impactful.  Read more about this fantastic partnership here!

The Role of Reciprocity in Community Engagement and Non-Profit Organizations Today, I wanted to explore the concept of reciprocity in the context of community members and non-profit organizations, highlighting its significance and benefits. Reciprocity plays a vital role in fostering strong relationships between community members and non-profit organizations. Here's how reciprocity can positively impact both parties: 1. Community Engagement: Reciprocity encourages active community engagement. When non-profit organizations provide support, resources, or services to the community, community members are more likely to reciprocate by actively participating in programs, volunteering their time, or spreading awareness about the organization's mission. This reciprocal relationship strengthens community bonds and fosters a sense of ownership and pride. 2. Sustainable Collaboration: Reciprocity promotes sustainable collaboration between community members and non-profit organizations. By recognizing and valuing the skills, knowledge, and experiences of community members, non-profit organizations can involve them in decision-making processes, program development, and implementation. In return, community members feel empowered and invested in the organization's success, leading to long-term partnerships and sustainable initiatives. 3. Resource Sharing: Reciprocity enables resource sharing between community members and non-profit organizations. Non-profit organizations often rely on the support of community members, whether it's through financial contributions, in-kind donations, or volunteer efforts. In return, organizations provide valuable resources, services, or programs that address community needs. This reciprocal exchange ensures that resources are distributed equitably and efficiently, benefiting both parties involved. 4. Collective Impact: Reciprocity contributes to collective impact within communities. When community members and non-profit organizations work together towards a common goal, their combined efforts have a more significant and lasting impact. By leveraging each other's strengths, knowledge, and resources, they can address complex social issues, drive positive change, and create a better future for the community as a whole. In conclusion, reciprocity is a powerful tool for community members and non-profit organizations to collaborate, engage, and create meaningful change. By fostering a culture of reciprocity, we can build stronger, more resilient communities and support the vital work of non-profit organizations. Both Sides Of The Conversation Changing The Narrative From Our Voices Www.BSOTC.org

The Role of Reciprocity in Community Engagement and Non-Profit Organizations Today, I wanted to explore the concept of reciprocity in the context of community members and non-profit organizations, highlighting its significance and benefits. Reciprocity plays a vital role in fostering strong relationships between community members and non-profit organizations. Here's how reciprocity can positively impact both parties: 1. Community Engagement: Reciprocity encourages active community engagement. When non-profit organizations provide support, resources, or services to the community, community members are more likely to reciprocate by actively participating in programs, volunteering their time, or spreading awareness about the organization's mission. This reciprocal relationship strengthens community bonds and fosters a sense of ownership and pride. 2. Sustainable Collaboration: Reciprocity promotes sustainable collaboration between community members and non-profit organizations. By recognizing and valuing the skills, knowledge, and experiences of community members, non-profit organizations can involve them in decision-making processes, program development, and implementation. In return, community members feel empowered and invested in the organization's success, leading to long-term partnerships and sustainable initiatives. 3. Resource Sharing: Reciprocity enables resource sharing between community members and non-profit organizations. Non-profit organizations often rely on the support of community members, whether it's through financial contributions, in-kind donations, or volunteer efforts. In return, organizations provide valuable resources, services, or programs that address community needs. This reciprocal exchange ensures that resources are distributed equitably and efficiently, benefiting both parties involved. 4. Collective Impact: Reciprocity contributes to collective impact within communities. When community members and non-profit organizations work together towards a common goal, their combined efforts have a more significant and lasting impact. By leveraging each other's strengths, knowledge, and resources, they can address complex social issues, drive positive change, and create a better future for the community as a whole. In conclusion, reciprocity is a powerful tool for community members and non-profit organizations to collaborate, engage, and create meaningful change. By fostering a culture of reciprocity, we can build stronger, more resilient communities and support the vital work of non-profit organizations. Both Sides Of The Conversation Changing The Narrative From Our Voices Www.BSOTC.org

My mind and heart are still buzzing from 4 amazing days at the Council on Foundations #BuildingTogether24 conference last week! More than 400 philanthropic leaders gathered to build the skills and relationships our country needs to bridge differences and counteract toxic polarization. A robust thank you to the Council on Foundations and its partners for hosting this first-of-its-kind event! Some themes I’m still noodling on: 💡 It’s critical to understand what bridging is and isn't, because bridging done poorly can do harm. OBI’s Joshua Clark, Ph.D. Clark reminded us that,  "Bridging is NOT about meeting in the middle...[we know] it has happened when there is a 'we' despite the fact that differences still exist."  Eric Ward argued that there is no binary between bridging and equity: "Bridging means bringing necessary voices together to figure out how to move forward…we can’t do bridging without equity." 🏛 We need to institutionalize bridging. I greatly appreciated the words of Layla Zaidane, who talked about how Gen Z and Millennial leaders who are a part of Future Caucus produce and pass much more legislation than their peers. Why? Because they are in relationship with those across the aisle.  "Investing in the infrastructure to develop relationships leads to better outcomes, better conflicts,” she said, thus, "We need to institutionalize ways of forging relationships among leaders..." 🏡 Building relational infrastructure between elected leaders is critical, but not enough…Focusing just on elected leaders won’t work because they’re hamstrung: Bob Dold told of how constituents today sometimes punish representatives from their party for attempting to collaborate across the aisle. Moreover, we know that 60-70% of Americans don’t feel that democracy is working for them. For both of these problems, the best avenue for change may be local experiences, where bridging and belonging can be most easily translated into inclusion and decision-making that influences their daily lives.  🌈 What would a standing, community-level institution bent on bridging look like? One model comes from a western suburb of Boston—it is called the Needham Resilience Network (NRN). For two years, 30 leaders drawn from every identity and stakeholder group–including the Town manager, Superintendent of Schools, and the Chief of Police—came together to build relationships, anchor in the language belonging, learn skills for communicating across difference, and collaborate. The results were mind blowing! Read about it in their words: https://lnkd.in/eGK8NziK (Feb 9) #BuildingTogether24 did something participants would have thought unthinkable just years earlier—it brought philanthropy together to engage around bridging. I left asking, “What if nothing is unthinkable?”  And now: How might America look different if every town or city had access to an institution that forged relationships across its diverse leaders? https://bit.ly/3QA0QDB