Selected news and updates.
We strive to bring you important news and events in our field, and share some of what we’re learning.
Can you be Strategic Without Data?
Want to ensure that communications staff is included meetings where your foundation’s broader strategy is set? Start capturing data you can present to demonstrate the essential link between communications and impact.
That’s one of the messages that comes through loud and clear in this conversation with Edith Asibey, author of “Are We There Yet? A Communications Evaluation Guide“, published by The Communications Network.
Rather than focusing on how to evaluate, this conversation with Communications Network contributor Susan Herr explores why so many of us simply resisting the imperative to do so.
Running time of this episode is 27 minutes. Selected chapters are also available. Watch the video or the chapters on the Communications Network’s website.
Opinion: Will Philanthropy Take Advantage of the Opportunity Afforded by Hollywood?
By Edith Asibey and David Brotherton
June 24, 2009
Following the premiere tonight of NBC’s new eight-part TV drama “The Philanthropist,” foundation leaders and others in the nonprofit world will have plenty to say about how the science and craft of grant making is represented to a prime-time audience. One can almost hear the groans starting now.
It’s no real surprise that the show’s creators have taken broad liberties in their depiction of fictional philanthropy. The American public, after all, has had little chance to learn how philanthropy works in the real world.
The show’s lead character, Teddy Rist, is a “billionaire playboy-turned-vigilante philanthropist.” Mr. Rist — played by the British actor James Purefoy — is an attractive, wealthy, and risk-prone businessman who, after a life-changing event, redirects his energy toward saving people in need.
Read the full article on the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s website…
The Tweet Sound of an Important Announcement
After more than a year of revisiting its programs and strategies in relative silence, earlier this week the Ford Foundation announced a significant overhaul. The changes include streamlining the foundation’s areas of focus; committing to eight social justice issues; introducing a new set of strategies, and strengthening its investments in impact and evaluation.
While it did a great job keeping this reorganization work to itself, the foundation more than made up for its silence via a well-executed and multi-pronged announcement effort that increased the foundation’s visibility in both traditional and social media.
Read the full post on the Communications Network blog…
Note: this entry was posted on April 17, 2008
Tweeter and the Economy of Language
@nytimeskristof “Spent time in Haiti today with a woman who wanted two kids, is now pregnant with her 10th. She can’t afford to feed the first nine.”
This ‘tweet’ was sent a few days ago by The New York Times’ Nicholas Kristof during his travels through Haiti and the Dominican Republic. He announced his trip here. This could be, in 140 characters or less, the central message of most organizations advocating for reproductive rights and family planning.
Advocates are using the 140 characters in Twitter in a variety of ways. Most of what I see revolves around mini-press releases (“New report on childhood obesity is available”) (“Our ED will be on Fox News this eve at 6 pm.”). We seem to have extended to Twitter our bad habit of getting messages out through as many channels as possible, while rehashing the same content on each channel, without much consideration for our audience or the medium.
Read the full blog post at The Exchange…
Women’s Rights on Social Edge
Edith Asibey hosted an online conversation about Navigating Traditional Power Structures to Strengthen Economic and Societal Rights of Women. It took place on Social Edge, the online community hosted by the Skoll Foundation. We discussed the following topics:
- What are the main barriers that still prevent women from successfully navigating traditional power structures in both rich and developing countries? What can we do to bring these barriers down?
- What can we learn from the individual and collective experiences of women who have succeeded in establishing their leadership in difficult and unfavorable conditions?
- Over the next five years, what major milestone could be achieved that would signify a major advance in women’s political, economic and societal rights?
Webinar Discusses New Guide to Evaluate Communications
On Dec 11, 2008, almost 40 communications professionals from across the US gathered online to discuss what goes into evaluating foundation and nonprofit communications. Attendees included representatives from the Ford Foundation, the Haas, Jr. Fund, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Everyday Democracy, Social Venture Partners of Seattle, the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Moore Foundation, among several others.
Toni Parras, Justin van Fleet and Edith Asibey had a lively conversation with Andy Goodman to unveil the work that went into producing “Are We There Yet? A Communications Evaluation Guide.” Created by Asibey Consulting, the Guide was just released by the Communications Network and it’s available here. Participants posed their own questions about the topic.
Due to the high interest in this project, the Communications Network has made the one-hour webinar available for those who couldn’t join; it contains audio and slides. Watch the webinar on the Communications Network’s website (54 minutes).
Highlights of the 2008 Communications Network Conference
The Fall 2008 Communications Network Conference in Chicago, Sept. 24-26 has attracted the largest attendance in recent years. Some 200 communications professionals from foundations, nonprofits, and consulting firms from the United States and Canada – attended the event.
As in past years, the 2008 Network conference showcased best practices and new ideas in communications in philanthropy. Two Network projects were presented for the first time: a study about the ways digital technologies are changing the face of foundation communications and a Guide that we at Asibey Consulting have been developing to help foundation communicators assess their work. The rest of the conference featured sessions ranging from how to make Web 2.0 work for you to topics that cover the ins and outs of day-to-day communications challenges. The Network’s newly-launched blog features highlights of several presentations.
During an interesting session titled “The merging of communications and program activities online,” Susan Promislo of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) discussed ways that RWJF has been experimenting with social media to help find ideas that may result in new funding interests or projects. She described an online competition, held in collaboration with Ashoka’s Changemakers, that challenged social entrepreneurs to come up with promising new solutions, including disruptive innovations in health and health care.
Photo credit: The Communications Network
David Morse on Measurement
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is a leader among U.S. philanthropies in advancing strategic communications to transform health care, promote dramatic improvements in public health, and serve the most vulnerable among us.
Its vice president for communications, David Morse, shares the process RWJF went through to determine what kind of measurements of impact would be meaningful to them. The key? To stop thinking they’re in the grantmaking business.
Read the article in the Firm Voice’s website.
Photo credit: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Communications Network Conference
The 2007 Communications Network conference took place in Miami, FL Oct 31-Nov 2. The conference gathered 166 communication professionals working at foundations or supporting foundations’ work. The central theme was: What We Know (Or Should Know) About Effective Communications. The sessions explored strategies and techniques for effective communications, including the latest online technologies available for foundation communication professionals.
Edith Asibey moderated a panel on how foundations can assess whether their communication strategies and tactics are effective. For more information about the conference highlights and to review presentations available online, visit the Communications Network’s website.
If you are interested in connecting with Network members, visit the recently created Communications Network group on Facebook (registration required).
Photo credit: The Communications Network
Partnerships for Global Solutions
Building upon Edith Asibey’s participation in the 2007 edition of the Clinton Global Initiative, she hosted an online conversation about “Partnerships for Global Solutions: What works, what doesn’t and why.”
It’s live on Social Edge, the online community supported by the Skoll Foundation. We sought to unveil the key ingredients for successful partnerships, discussed the role of governments and the private sector, showcased examples of unusual and interesting partnerships, and more.
Visit Social Edge to add your thoughts and comments. You will need to register, but the process is very quick.
Photo credit: Edith Asibey
