What you learn by leaning into your community: reflections from the road

Since I started as GivingData’s CEO earlier this year, I’ve been fortunate to have a variety of opportunities to connect with the grantmaking community. I have had so many positive surprises since joining, but none more striking than the energy and enthusiasm that the grantmaking community has for each other and the technology they use to grow their impact.

I first experienced it at the PEAK Grantmaking convening in Seattle – it was my second week on the job. Our clients were warm, even effusive toward me and my colleagues. They knew us by name, took time to share compliments about our services and support teams, and reminisced with our founder and other leaders. I’ve now seen that same dynamic again and again, thanks in large part to the commitment we made this year to be even more connected to our clients and the community at large.

Investing in our community

GivingData is driven by the philosophy that the only way to build technology that serves grantmakers is to be embedded in the grantmaking community. We want to be at the table and listen intently. One of the ways we’re accomplishing this is through a series of events for our clients and the larger philanthropic community called “Lunch, Learn, and Connect.” 

In January of this year, we hosted our first event in Atlanta with The Goizueta Foundation. Since then, we’ve been to Louisville, Portland, DC, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. These events have shown the strength and enthusiasm of this sector and the importance of GivingData to create spaces for learning and connection. 

We often start the event with a tactical “user group” for GivingData clients. After that, we open the doors to the larger philanthropic community for a topical conversation that is relevant to any grantmaker, regardless of the GMS they use. So far this year we have discussed a broad range of topics, including improving the grantee experience, empowering grantmaking teams through data, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. In each city, one of our clients has generously hosted the event with us.

These events not only allow us to build community and bring grantmakers together, but also become better technologists in the process. Listening and learning from the larger grantmaking community helps us build the tools that grantmakers need to maximize their impact.

Partnering with experts in the sector 

At the Lunch and Learns, we see ourselves as facilitators. We share insights gleaned from the birds eye view of working with foundations around the world. I believe, however, that we provide the most value by generating conversation among you—the practitioners—and creating a forum for you to share best practices and lessons learned. Here are some of the nuggets that I’ve picked up in those conversations:

• Innovating together: I heard so many great examples of grantmakers re-thinking how they work in order to improve their processes and partnerships. For example, a grants manager shared that he had assembled a group of peers from other foundations who would read drafts of each other’s applications. Those fresh eyes helped him clear up confusing or complex language.
• More ways to engage: Grantmakers are heavily focused on strengthening relationships with grantees and ensuring they’re providing the support needed to maximize impact. Many grantmakers reported they were giving their grantees more ways to share updates – what was once a written report might now be a 30-minute video call.
• Centering on the ‘why’ of grantmaking data: Some grantmakers said that they were wrestling with the right way to think about data. On one hand, they sought to introduce more data and analysis into their funding decisions. On the other hand, they were hesitant to request sensitive data, extend the length of a grant application, or ask grantees for data that the foundation might never use.      

In closing

I have come away from every Lunch and Learn with a full heart… and a full agenda for myself and our team. As we work on the continuous evolution of the product, there is nothing more valuable than hearing you speak firsthand about your work, your goals, your challenges and your wins. I’m looking forward to having these conversations on an even larger scale next week at GDConnect, our annual user conference. And when the dust settles after that, it will be full speed ahead to plan our 2025 events. I can’t wait to see you at one of them!  

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If you’d like to learn more about GivingData’s events, I welcome you to visit our Community page or connect with us directly at info@givingdata.com.