GIFT VI

GIFT VIEmphasizes raising unrestricted endowment by:

Requiring at least half of the grant be used for this Providing a higher match than for other purposes

Gives community foundations more flexibility than previous GIFT matching phases

Community projects do not need to be pre-approved by Lilly Endowment

Funds can be reallocated during the match period

Emphasizes board engagement 2:1 match for gifts to unrestricted endowments

LET’S THINK ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH GIFT VI

FIRST– An internal look.

SECOND– What’s happening in the community?

INTERNAL LOOK

PLANS

What plans do you have in place?

Strategic, Business, Development, Other?

How do they align with GIFT VI priorities?

PLANS

What’s your sustainability situation?

Should you use GIFT VI to build your operating endowment?

GRANTMAKING What has been your grantmaking

approach in recent years?– Responsive?– Strategic?

What story can you tell about grants from unrestricted funds?

Is increasing grants from unrestricted funds a priority?

GIFTS How well can you document your

giving history in recent years?

Prepare a gift analysis chart – number, amount, source, type

Focus on history of unrestricted gifts

How confident are you about your capacity to raise unrestricted funds?

HUMAN RESOURCES

Staff infrastructure – number, position, knowledge, and skills

Board engagement, experience, knowledge

DATA INFRASTRUCTURE

Managing an asset development program requires information!

What’s your capacity to manage data? Software and hardware

CAPITAL NEEDS

Do you have capital needs that could be addressed in GIFT VI?

Office space? Technology?

COMMUNITY

REVIEW

COMMUNITY REVIEW

How do you assess your position in the community?• Visibility• Leadership

Who are your key community partners?

COMMUNITY REVIEW

What projects are underway (or close)?• Capital• Other projects or initiatives• What’s your relationship, history or

interest in each other?

COMMUNITY REVIEW

Do you have a framework for determining your engagement in community projects? If not, consider the following:

• Does it meet a compelling need in your community?

• Does the organization have the capacity to raise funds?

• Is the project consistent with historical interests of your community foundation?

• Will it contribute to the visibility of the community foundation?

CAPITAL NEEDS

Do you have capital needs that could be addressed in GIFT VI?

Office space? Technology?

SUMMARY

GIFT VI Use GIFT VI as an opportunity for the

community foundation to set its future course in the community and with donors

Use GIFT VI as an opportunity to become more transformational than transactional

Use GIFT VI to make donor development and stewardship a priority