Strategic Planning: Learning By Listening

Publication Date: January 3, 2012

WPF is entering the second phase of our strategic planning process. We expect to complete the process in the spring, with new grantmaking to begin in July 2012.  

As I indicated in an earlier post, our initial phase involved a significant investment of time spent gathering community input. We held twelve facilitated meetings, involving nearly 150 civic leaders, practitioners, public officials, and subject-matter experts in areas related to our grantmaking. The information we gained will factor significantly in the next phase of planning.

Common Themes

Each discussion group was asked to help us think through how we should approach our role in their respective sector. Their recommendations were direct, frank, and extremely helpful to our thought process. The following are common themes that emerged frequently:

• Don’t be afraid to provide leadership, vision, and direction in Greater Philadelphia. Rally other leaders to the issues.
  
  
• Grants we provide to organizations and projects serve as a credential that can influence others to support their work. This is a powerful tool that we should use to push for meaningful change.
  
  
• When we fund the collection and analysis of information, it is typically viewed as objective and neutral, which can be especially valuable for informing public dialogue on difficult or politically charged issues.
  
  
• We have a unique ability to convene people and organizations on challenging issues and should use it to help establish common ground.
  
  
•  Few funders are prepared to take the risks and long-term view required for serious policy and systems change. We have an established capacity to do so.
  
  
• Our balance sheet and risk tolerance uniquely position us to foster innovation and creativity by supporting new models, both in terms of substantive practice and business operations.
  
  
• We should play a significant role in pushing for accountability from public institutions, grantees, their boards, and ourselves.
  
  
• A shrinking public sector means that many of the organizations working in our fields of interest will have to adapt and change. We should help them build capacity and shift their business models.
  
  
• Strive for clarity in communications, both publicly and privately. Articulate what we are trying to accomplish and be clear with grantees about their role and our expectations of them.

Meeting Capsules

Brief capsule descriptions of each meeting’s results are included below with a link to more expansive notes from the meeting. Individuals participated with the understanding that they were speaking without attribution, so all names have been removed from the notes.

• Arts capitalization (artistic and audience-oriented organizations).  Conversation focused on common issues with funding, board leadership, and technology, as well as the intersection of infrastructure, place, creativity, and art. Participants recommended funding strategies that support innovation and creativity including: direct support to professionals, support through fiscal sponsors, and residency spaces. WPF should also facilitate cross-conversations among funders and collaborations between organizations. Click here for the full meeting notes.
  
  
• Arts capitalization (organizations managing facilities or collections). Participants noted challenges around annual fundraising, high fixed costs associated with facilities and collections, and financial matters, specifically reserves and depreciation, and cited the need for flexibility and honesty in conversations around these issues. WPF can help to educate the sector by clearly communicating expectations and sharing data and lessons learned. WPF should use its convening power to foster mentoring relationships among organizations. Complete notes are here.
  
  
• Arts education. The dialogue focused on the need to better leverage scarce resources and make the case for arts education. WPF can collect and communicate data, support parent/community advocacy and marshal other resources. It can also act as a convener, both for players across sectors and for community organizations dedicated to the arts and education. Click here for full meeting notes.
  
  
• Camden, New Jersey. Camden has made some progress in the context of high quality neighborhood plans, even while significant challenges remain. Conversation focused on the value of WPF’s role as outside partner and influencer at the state and local level. Strategies should build from strength around anchor institutions. WPF should invest in partners who are in it for the long-term. View the meeting notes here.
  
  
• Capacity of the nonprofit and public sectors to serve children, youth, and families. Discussion revolved around changes in the sector, including consolidations, public-private partnerships, and leadership transitions. WPF should support positive changes through exploration of new financial models, systems integration, and investments in data and data management. WPF should reward effective operations and develop new leaders. Find the full notes here.
  
  
• Early childhood. Much of the discussion was about the evolution of the field, including consolidation. Participants recommended advancing WPF’s current investments in data collection, assessment and policy. The early childhood workforce also needs attention, including recruiting talent, addressing compensation, and supporting new models of professional development. View the full notes here.
  
  
• Food and sustainability. Discussion captured the potential for regional innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership in the food sector. WPF’s investments should focus on increasing the demand for fresh food, improving the local supply system, and strengthening markets to bring down costs. Needed efforts include seed capital for entrepreneurs, research on the impacts of institutional buying, and support for new business models for local farmers. Meeting notes can be found here.
  
  
• Landscape protection. Much of the discussion was about the connection of land conservation to the protection of water quality and supply, as well as mitigating the impacts of climate change in the region.  In light of the changing role of government, the nonprofit and private sectors need to step up on-the-ground conservation and advocacy efforts.  Participants recommended expanding WPF grantmaking to the entire Delaware River Basin. Complete notes are here.
  
  
• Public education. Participants called for WPF to rally business, community and education leaders around a strong vision for public education. WPF can help hold civic leaders accountable and focus the district on results.  It can also introduce the portfolio concept and spread successful school models. Skill-building is needed for school leaders and teachers. Full meeting notes are here.
  
  
• Shale gas extraction. Conversation focused on the need to better understand the cumulative impacts of shale development on the environment, public health, and local communities.  Participants emphasized a need for trustworthy data and objective analyses to inform the public debate. WPF was encouraged to convene community, field, and industry leaders to support the development of good policies and industry best practices. View the meeting notes here.
  
  
• Urban place-making. Conversation captured the need for nonprofits and the public sector to work together to create, improve, and manage public space. WPF was encouraged to provide the vision, direction, and leadership for these efforts. This might include providing risk capital, convening organizations, and modeling/rewarding successful practices. Click here for complete notes.
  
  
• Youth development. Participants discussed the need for incentives and models for more integrated youth services. Mapping needs would help target resources to address specific outcomes. Participants recommended support for staff skill-building, including around discrimination and the needs of high-risk youth. WPF should hold organizations to clear and meaningful standards. View the full notes here.