Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers and Foundation Center Form Strategic Alliance

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Cheryl Loe Communications Project Manager Foundation Center (888) 356-0354 ext. 701 communications@ foundationcenter.org	Dan Brady Communications Manager Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers (888) 391-3235 dbrady@givingforum.org
Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers and Foundation Center Form Strategic Alliance Nationwide Partnership Will Expand Access to Data on Philanthropy, Improve Foundation Effectiveness New York, NY — October 6, 2014. Washington, DC-based Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers and New York-based Foundation Center have announced a new partnership to improve the quality and effectiveness of grantmaking through the strategic collection and sharing of data on philanthropy. The Forum is a national network of 34 geographically organized philanthropic associations that together have a membership of more than 5,500 participating organizations, making it the largest network in American philanthropy. Foundation Center is an independent nonprofit that is known as the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. "The philanthropic sector talks increasingly about such things as field alignment, strategic collaboration, and leveraging core competencies," said Bradford K. Smith, president of Foundation Center. "This partnership is a golden opportunity to put those principles into action." The Forum's mission is to leverage the collective knowledge of its association members so that each can be the highest quality provider of philanthropic support services in their regions, while a Foundation Center priority is to empower donors with the knowledge tools they need to be strategic. The partnership will tap the unique strengths of each organization in order to achieve shared goals. "The Forum Network has both deep regional roots and a broad national reach, and our regional associations' members are key to strengthening connections and knowledge sharing across the giving sector. However, at present, only a handful of our associations has access to up-to-date grantmaking data on their membership, and none have sophisticated online tools that allow the data to be queried and explored in real time," said Michael Litz, president and CEO of the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers. "Opening these new resources to the Forum Network will be a game-changer for those striving to be more strategic and impactful in their philanthropy." The partnership will entail establishing platforms and systems for collecting data contributed by Forum members and translating it into knowledge services that will benefit not only the Forum membership, but the broader philanthropic sector. Specific plans include the following: Philanthropy Data: To support a vibrant and effective philanthropic sector, the partnership will launch a "donor data campaign" to encourage members of regional associations to centralize and standardize giving data at Foundation Center. This current data will be accessible to all members through an interactive mapping platform helping to inform funding decisions and track trends in each region. Philanthropy Research: Templates for research reports will be created so that information about regional giving can be more easily and efficiently published and shared, providing regionally focused funders with critical information about funding patterns in their communities. Philanthropy Tools: Data visualization, benchmarking, and knowledge management tools will provide regional associations with continuous access to comprehensive data on the work of their member foundations and empower users to draw actionable conclusions from the information. In recent years, Foundation Center and individual Forum member associations have partnered on a wide variety of projects, including more than 40 research reports and fact sheets, and Forum members have participated in Foundation Center's Funding Information Network. This partnership is a natural evolution of those preceding collaborations, all of which have in common the goal of spreading knowledge to strengthen philanthropy and the good it can achieve. The national scope of the partnership, however, will introduce efficiencies and broaden its impact. "Recent advances in information technology have put us in a position to collect and share knowledge far more efficiently than ever before," said Lisa Philp, vice president for strategic philanthropy at Foundation Center. "When this system for data gathering, sharing, and visualization is applied across an entire network of grantmakers, the opportunities for donors to collaborate and achieve their visions of a better world will multiply exponentially." ### Share on Twitter: Strategic alliance btwn @givingforum and @fdncenter will improve quality and effectiveness of grantmaking. bit.ly/FCforum14 About Foundation Center Established in 1956, Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. Foundation Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grantmakers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance knowledge of philanthropy at every level. Thousands of people visit Foundation Center's website each day and are served in its five regional library/learning centers and its network of more than 470 funding information centers located in public libraries, community foundations, and educational institutions nationwide and around the world. For more information, please visit foundationcenter.org or call(212) 620-4230. About the Forum of Regional Association of Grantmakers Established in 1998, the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers is a national philanthropic leader and network of 34 regional associations of grantmakers with a combined membership of more than 5,500 participating organizations. The Forum facilitates effective philanthropy by fueling connections and knowledge sharing across the giving sector, delivering efficiencies and cost savings for our 34 member associations, and providing tools and resources to advance policy change. For more information, please visit givingforum.org or call (888) 391-3235. View Press Releases Foundation Center • 79 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003 • (212) 620-4230

Museum Association of New York Appoints Executive Director

Museum Association of New York Appoints Executive Director

 

The Board of Directors of the Museum Association of New York is pleased to announce Devin Lander as the organization’s new Executive Director, effective June 2, 2014. Devin brings years of legislative and advocacy work built on a foundation of museum and cultural heritage experience.

“I am honored by the opportunity afforded me by the Board to lead our state’s Museum Association,” Lander said. “New York State is home to one of the world’s greatest and most diverse collection of museums, historical sites, zoos, botanical gardens, and aquariums. These institutions of optimism provide world-class education and are major economic drivers for the entire state. I am excited to continue, and expand upon, MANY’s important mission; to support and grow the capacity of the museum industry, provide assistance to museum professionals, volunteers, and board members, and ensure that the vital educational mission of our museums is sustainable and able to flourish well into the future.”

Devin joins MANY after six years with the New York State Assembly as Deputy Legislative Director for Assemblyman Steve Englebright. During his time in the Legislature, Devin worked as the Committee Clerk for both the Assembly Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development and the Committee on Governmental Affairs. Devin also acted as the Staff Director for the Historic Hudson-Hoosic Rivers Partnership, a public-benefit corporation created by the NYS Legislature to preserve, enhance, and develop the historic, agricultural, scenic, natural, and recreational resources and the waterways within the Northern Hudson River region. Through the tradition of municipal home rule, the Partnership fosters collaborative projects with non-profit and governmental entities with an emphasis on agricultural and open space protection, economic and tourism development, and the protection and interpretation of our natural and cultural heritage.

Before joining Assemblyman Englebright’s staff, Devin worked as an archivist at the State University of New York at Albany’s Department of Special Collections and Archives and a contract consultant for the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s Bureau of Historic Sites. A published historian specializing in post-World War II social and cultural movements, Devin holds a B.A. in American History from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh and a M.A. in Public History from the University at Albany and is a lifetime member of Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honor Society.

Joining Devin in MANY’s Troy, New York office as Associate Director is Dana Krueger. Dana has many years of experience with the organization, serving as MANY’s Associate Director for Programs for the past year and formerly as a board member of Museumwise, participating throughout its consolidation process with MANY. Previously she held positions as Registrar for the Emerson Gallery at Hamilton College and as the Collections Manager at the Madison County Historical Society. Dana received her M.A. in Museum Studies as well as her M.S. in Art Education from Syracuse University. She earned a B.A. in Studio Art at St. Lawrence University. Dana also currently serves as an adjunct faculty member in Syracuse University’s Museum Studies program.

Catherine Gilbert will transition out of the Association to pursue new opportunities. Catherine began with the organization in 2008 as Director of Museumwise and continued as director of MANY after the 2012 consolidation of the two organizations.