Successful Strategies for Sustainable Development of Community Foundation Networks and Support Organizations

Ekaterina Maksimova, Senior Fellow, International Fellows Program ~ 2008

Abstract

In this paper, Ekaterina Maksimova explores the ways that community foundations can be sustained over the long term. Maksimova considers the experiences, approaches, services and programs of community foundations in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada and the USA. Some information is also provided about approaches used for community foundation development in Poland, Germany, and Australia.

From such case studies, Maksimova draws a series of principles she identifies as necessary to sustain community foundations. Areas that she identifies as important are the maintenance of good relations between board members and staff, projecting a unified image to potential donors, and information sharing between community foundations. Ms. Maksimova considers information sharing as particularly vital for sustainability, since such cooperation ‘adds value’ to each participating organization.

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