KACF News
Program officers of several Kansas Community Foundations met for a peer learning event in Topeka.
2/16/2011
Discussion topics were marketing and strategic grantmaking. Program officer shared with each other some of the marketing messages, materials and channels that they are using. There was particular interest in social media. Participants also shared their foundations’ approaches to strategic grantmaking. Some do it; others do not. Those who do shared the processes they use to select initiatives and the ways they engage the community in these efforts.
Program officers compared notes on several nuts-and-bolts questions. A desire was expressed to have a program officer on the KACF conference planning committee, and perhaps even on the KACF board. It was discussed having two meetings per year in the future—one at the KACF annual conference in November, and another in the spring.
A quote from a participant: "Working for the County Community Foundation is a joy but with as few employees as the Foundation has and in the mostly rural setting it is, I don’t get many opportunities for specific, Program Officer professional growth. Last week’s meeting gave me the opportunity to discuss issues pertinent to Community Foundations and Program Officers from all parts of Kansas. I came away from the meeting with several creative ideas that have proven successful at other Foundations".
