exceptional philanthropyBy Kate Eubank
Founded by exceptional individuals as a response to the AIDS crisis in
1987, PFund Foundation has remained committed to being a responsive
community foundation. For 26 years, PFund has been employing
strategies that the larger philanthropic sector now recognizes as highly
effective and leading-edge, like community-driven grant review.
PFund is now in a unique position. We’re grounded enough in our community
to be accountable to community issues and needs as they emerge and change.
And, simultaneously, we have a steady, long-term vision for change.
From a cursory glance, it may look as though our organization’s community
responsiveness commitments have wavered. Early on, PFund established the
Bisexual Fund. In 2005, we issued an appeal for the Communities of Color
Endowment. And 2009 saw the release of a report about women’s leadership
in the LGBT community. In 2012, we partnered with United Way to organize
an LGBT aging symposium. And now, we’re using QReach to engage in
conversations about region.
more on page 3 >>>
insp
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giv
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f o l i o 2014 issue one
page 4 page 6 page 8
Meet the hosts of
PFund Cabaret 2014!
What does it mean to
be committed social
justice philanthropy?
See what our grantee
partners are doing!
©{re}bekah photography
QReach kick-off convening participants in Des Moines, Iowa on March 7, 2014.
1Turning dollars into social change.
from the executive directorBy Kate Eubank and Susan Raffo
This has been the kind of winter that both relies upon and builds the hearty Upper Midwestern strength of spirit. In the midst of subzero temperatures and many feet of snow, we keep on showing up for our friends and family, our jobs, and school (when the schools stay open). In spite of the weather, we put on more layers and turn snow shoveling into an Olympic sport.
As people of the Upper Midwest, we live with the firm belief that spring will arrive again, even in the coldest times. It’s this resiliency that informs our most thoughtful change.
This is as true at PFund as anywhere else. Over the last six months, our work has focused on getting the job done as efficiently as possible, while keeping the faith that our future can be warmer than today.
For PFund, 2013 brought many exciting and new organizational changes. Here are some of the highlights:
>> Implementing a new grant structure that includes site visits and multi-year commitments for reviewers. These changes support community reviewers to strengthen their understanding of the organizations they review.
>> Merging the board’s Development committee and Communications committee into a single Advancement committee focused on advancing PFund’s mission.
>> Shifting QReach from planning to implementation by selecting 16 organizational partners and 48 LGBT and allied leaders — including the organizing of the QReach kick-off convening in Des Moines for the beginning of March 2014.
>> Strengthening our philanthropic advocacy by encouraging bigger foundations to invest their dollars in LGBT communities. With only .26% of all philanthropic dollars invested in the US going to LGBT work, we know we have a lot to do. A good example of this effort is QReach, in which we’ve partnered with the Bush Foundation, the Bremer Foundation, and the Blandin Foundation. PFund is committed to continuing to reach out to funders across our region.
We continue to be humbled and awed by the many stories of change that we learn from PFund scholars and our grantee partners. Their work is the true measure of our community’s growth and over the last six months, we are warmed by their leadership.
We hope you enjoy the articles in this issue of the newsletter — and we hope that you like the new look! It may seem fancier, but in addition to refreshing our look for more modern times, it is also a cost-saving measure. Let us know if you enjoy the brighter, fresh dimension!
ed s
um
mar
y
PFund staff at the QReach kick-off convening
©{re}bekah photography
Turning dollars into social change.2
exceptional philanthropy (cont’d)<<< from page 1
Understandably, questions sometimes arise: What happened to the
concern about women and LGBT elders after the report and needs
assessment were completed? Is PFund still committed to a racial equity
lens? Why are we focused on region all of the sudden? The answer lies in
our unique position as a responsive community foundation.
Unlike private foundations, PFund raises our money from the community each
year, and we rely on the community to decide where and how to give it out.
So PFund has to be accountable to all of the communities that are a part of our
organization, whether as a grantee partner, inspired giver, or volunteer. This
means that part of our job is to recognize emerging issues and opportunities,
and then help bring visibility and resources to them. Often, we accomplish this
through a focused campaign or initiative. But that doesn’t mean that our work
in that area ends when a report is published or a national funding match ends.
Rather, these efforts become
more integrated into the long-
term work of our organization.
So, our focus may seem fluid,
but it isn’t. Instead, we keep
strengthening our ability to
really see and respond to our
community’s needs. Every time
we lift up an issue, expand
our circle of community, and
increase our understanding
of our communities, we are
part of building a better way
of doing philanthropy. The
more exceptional social justice
philanthropy work we do,
the closer we get to excellence
as a community-building
foundation.
So, the work continues. For
example, our convening and
reporting on women’s leadership began a process that recently led
Rev. Rebecca Voelkel and Maggie George to establish and endow the
MacKenzie-Shannon Fund for Authentic Leadership. The focus on building the
Communities of Color Endowment led to PFund’s participation in the national
Racial Equity Initiative. But those are just some of the tangibles. The intangibles
are the ways in which exploring these issues strengthens PFund and expands
our circle of change ever wider. We’ve made great progress in the last 26 years,
but there is still tremendous work to be done. PFund is deeply committed
to building an Upper Midwest where all of us are celebrated and free from
discrimination, violence, invisibility, and isolation — and doing it well by staying
connected to our communities and building community in everything we do.
insp
ired
giv
ers
• Build local grassroots leaders and orgs, especially in South and Midwest
• Connect local efforts with national and regional resources
• Strengthen LGBT orgs working intersectionally in underserved communities
• Support coalitions & broad progressive efforts
• Transform mainstream institutions to be more responsive to LGBT communities
SMART STRATEGIES
“TWO AMERICAS”FOR LGBTQ PEOPLE
NEW MAJORITYOPPORTUNITY
TRANSFORMING CULTURES & SYSTEMS
THE PHYSICS OF LGBTQ FUNDING: MOMENTUM, RESISTANCE, & IMPACT by Funders for LGBTQ Issues, August 2013
2014 issue one 3
pfund cabaret
K.M. DavisI first became involved with PFund
while I was the sole queer working
at a large law firm. I had heard
of PFund quite often since I first
arrived in Minnesota. But it wasn’t
until former PFund staffer Alfonso
Wenker asked me to brainstorm
about young professional giving that
I began to be actively involved in
the PFund community. I was happy
to learn more about PFund and,
when I opened my own firm, I kept
in touch with Alfonso, as well as the
rest of the staff. Starting my own
firm allowed me a great deal more
flexibility in giving (both time and
financially) so when I was asked to
serve on a PFund committee and as
a scholarship application reviewer,
I was happy to accept. I had a
great deal of fun serving as both a
committee member and scholarship
reviewer for a year. However, an
adjunct teaching position at William
Mitchell forced me to term off of
both positions. Thankfully, once
PFund has a hold of you, they don’t
forget: I was honored this year when
Kate and Susan asked me to co-chair
the Cabaret.
I first attended the Cabaret four
to five years ago, and have always
been impressed by the scope of
the event, the number of people it
brings out, and the funds it raises
for the important work PFund does.
And, quite simply, it’s always a great
time and a chance to dress up, mix,
and mingle after a long winter. With
the season we’ve had (and continue
to have), I can’t wait to see what an
amazing evening we’re in for! Also, I
have been told that all of the snow
will melt after 300 tickets are sold
to this year’s PFund’s Cabaret. I don’t
know if this is true, but you don’t
want to take the chance that you’re
the reason winter lingers, do you?
(Take the safer bet and make sure
that doesn’t happen by purchasing
your Cabaret ticket!)
K.M. Davis served on several boards prior to her work with PFund, including serving as Quorum’s board president and serving as legal counsel for RECLAIM and other local LGBTQ organizations. Davis’ work as a business attorney affords her a chance to work with many LGBTQ owned businesses, during startup and growth. She and her partner, Sarah Senseman, live in Minneapolis with their two children, Gabe and Tommy, two ridiculous bulldogs, and an exasperated cat.
from your PFund Cabaret 2014 hosts
“I was honored this year when Kate and Susan asked
me to co-chair the Cabaret.”
Turning dollars into social change.4
pfund cabaret
Jason HowardIn 2010, I returned to my small
Wisconsin hometown for my high
school reunion, which happened
to coincide with the Homecoming
parade. In the parade was a float
labeled “GSA,” with a bunch of girls
riding on the float. I asked around
to my friends, “What is ‘GSA’?” No
one knew. So, I went over to the
girls and asked. “It’s the ‘Gay
Straight Alliance’ club,” they replied.
WOW! I was stunned. During my
high school years, there was no
such organization.
I noticed there had been no boys on
the float. I asked the girls, “Where
are the boys?” They told me the
boys still didn’t feel safe to join the
GSA, much less ride the float. That
experience helped prompt me to
increase my contributions to PFund.
I realized, very concretely, what a
difference an organization like a GSA
could have made in my life, helping
me feel less isolated and invisible,
and more safe and celebrated.
In 2000, I volunteered and served on
PFund’s grants review committee.
Later, I was asked to join the board.
I am excited about the direction
PFund is headed. Each year, Cabaret
plays a critical role in raising funds
so PFund can continue supporting
organizations helping LGBTQ youth,
and all of our communities. But,
more than that, Cabaret is about
connecting and having fun –
being seen, seeing each other,
and celebrating our common goals
together. This will be my seventh
Cabaret, and what keeps me coming
back is that it is a genuinely fun
way to give. It is not your average
or typical fundraising event. We are
excited to build on the huge success
of the 25th Anniversary Cabaret! And
we hope to see you there!
Jason Howard served on PFund’s Community Grant Review Committee and as a volunteer for several years before joining PFund’s board in 2008. Jason brings many kinds of expertise to the board, including experience leading another nonprofit, the Soo Visual Art Center in Minneapolis. Jason says he loves that PFund constantly educates and challenges him in his thinking about the vastness of our LGBTA community. He and his partner live in Minneapolis, where they enjoy their pets and a shared love of art.
“This will be my seventh Cabaret, and what keeps me
coming back is that it is a genuinely fun way to give.”
2014 issue one 5
from the board
fix the roofBy Luciano Patiño
I first heard of PFund when I was
looking for money. I was helping plan a
conference for LGBT college students
and we applied for a PFund grant.
When we didn’t get funded, we wanted
to know why. The answer we got made
a lot of sense. The grant reviewers knew
we had many funding opportunities
outside of PFund, while some of the
other groups did not. They were
members of the community, they knew
us, and they could look beyond just our
grant application.
PFund is not a traditional philanthropic organization. In more traditional
institutions, such as private or family foundations, one person or a small handful
of individuals — usually family members — directs the vision and allocation of
funds. However, as a community foundation, PFund has many stakeholders and
funders with a wide array of interests, needs, and goals.
At our recent retreat, the PFund Board of Directors had a chance to talk about
what it means to be a community foundation that is also committed to doing
social justice philanthropy. Trista Harris, president of the Minnesota Council on
Foundations, led the conversation.
Our purpose is to build community. But what does that really mean? How do
we go about it? How is that different than charity or providing services? What
are some of the common pitfalls and how do we avoid them? Trista helped us
answer many of these questions and, in the process, made us as a board better
able to guide the work that PFund does.
PFund’s grant review process focuses on our three pillars of social justice:
>> Achieving equal rights
>> Ensuring access, safety, and security
>> Creating power through community
These pillars help PFund address the very issues that cause injustice in the
first place. This is very different from charity work. As Trista described to us: If
someone has a hole in their roof, charity puts a bucket under the leak. What
PFund strives to do is to fix the roof. We want system change and long-lasting
social change, and we acknowledge that this path comes with difficulties.
Fixing the roof is, of course, much harder than putting a bucket under the leak.
It requires that we climb up on the roof. We have to find the hole first, which
Turning dollars into social change.6
from the board
may not be easy, and we may have to hire someone with the expertise to repair
it. And, chances are, it will probably still rain while we try to fix it.
System change and long-lasting social change can be harder to measure. It’s
easy to measure how many people walk into a drop-in center. It’s much harder
to estimate how many people felt safe enough that they didn’t need services.
We also talked with Trista about some of the ways PFund can reduce the
burden on our grantee partners. Many of the organizations PFund supports
are volunteer-driven. Many don’t have staff at all, and most lack a grant writer.
Putting together grant applications can hamper their ability to do their work.
It can also be unfair to compare submissions from all-volunteer groups with
submissions from groups with large budgets and development departments.
This is why I am particularly proud of our new grant review format, which
includes site visits. It evens the field, and connects us to the community.
Members of the review committee told us that they learned a lot during those
site visits, and the new format aligns better with our values.
We have also considered multi-year funding. Many grantee partners say that
the burden of having to submit a new application every year is onerous. If we
could offer them multi-year grants, we could ease that burden and give them
some much needed stability. That requires something on the other side of the
equation, though: multi-year commitments from our donors. Our staff is hard
at work trying to make this a reality.
Another concept Trista introduced us to, which was new to many of us, was
“venture philanthropy.” As a community foundation, we can afford to give
grants to smaller and newer groups. A more traditional institution is focused
mainly on outcomes. They ask questions like, “How many meals did we serve?”
or “How many people benefited from our program?” If certain thresholds aren’t
met, then the program is considered a failure.
PFund can offer assistance to a daring new group. In the past, the board has
been apprehensive about some of these grants. We equated failed outcomes
to wasted dollars. As Trista described it, though, these can be some of our
best innovators. Even if a particular program fails to meet expectations, those
leaders still learned some lessons. They will likely join other groups where they
can put those lessons to good use and they can continue to make change. By
creating opportunity and building leadership, PFund has still strengthened and
invested in the community.
more on page 8 >>>
“It’s easy to measure how many people walk into
a drop-in center. It’s much harder to estimate how
many people felt safe enough that they didn’t
need services.”
2014 issue one 7
In October 2013, PFund launched
QReach to learn, connect, and energize
the Upper Midwest LGBT movement.
In January, 48 leaders representing
16 organizations were selected as
QReach partners and we gathered at
a kick-off convening in early March to
begin the process. Through facilitated
dialogue and activities, the partners
and all participants (which included
members of the QReach Advisory
Group, PFund staff, and board
members) began learning more about
our region, connecting people and organizations that have felt isolated and
disconnected, and building and fostering relationships to help energize our
movement for equality. We are highlighting just three of the organizations that
were selected in the cohort of 16 organizations, but you can find the full listing
on our website at PFundOnline.org. We are honored and thankful to be able
to do this incredible work and are excited that QReach is underway!
Lutheran Social Services - Together for YouthThe goal of Together for Youth is to maintain a
safe space for youth to gather, provide support
and advocacy to youth and their families, and educate members as well as
the greater community about LGBTQ issues. Together for Youth encourages
school success and creates opportunities for youth leadership. Together for
Youth strives to facilitate personal growth, encouraging youth to take care
of themselves and each other. Finally, they educate around equity issues as
a first step in improving the community’s quality of life. Visit lssmn.org/lss/
together_for_youth.htm for more information.
grantee corner
fix the roof (cont’d)<<< from page 7
That first conference I helped plan taught me countless lessons about
organizing and collaboration. That group never did get funding from PFund,
but the members of the planning committee had gotten involved and they
stayed plugged in. Among those I worked with were several future PFund
employees, multiple volunteers and donors, and leaders of organizations
across the Twin Cities.
As for me, it was during those months that I met my closest friends and many,
many great local and national leaders. I connected to the community. Over
time, I became a PFund grant reviewer, a board member, and a part of the
board’s leadership team. I consider my service to PFund a privilege, because,
unlike at a traditional foundation, we are the products of our own work. We are
the communities that we serve.
©PFund
Turning dollars into social change.8
evening with music and friendsEvening with Music and Friends is a PFund tradition. A time to gather with
friends and community around inspired giving. On a chilly Fall evening
last November, our most dedicated donors were invited to a reception
for an enjoyable evening of relaxed celebration to honor their commitment to
turning dollars into social change.
even
tsEquality South Dakota The mission of Equality South Dakota is to secure and
protect the rights and well-being of LGBT South Dakotans
and their families through full engagement in the political process. They seek
dialogue with elected officials and invite them to see us as a resource in their
decision-making. In doing so, they give a voice to families that have been silent
and fearful. Visit eqsd.org for more information.
Iowa Pride NetworkIPN works directly with LGBTA youth to cultivate advocates and leaders
who fight homophobia and transphobia and strive for social justice.
Visit iowapridenetwork.org for more information.
From left to right: top: Bob Ruff, Curtis Brock, Ryan Kroening; Alfonso Wenker, Dawn LaDassor, Michele LeClaire; middle: Paul Blom; Jeff Hlavacek, Brian VanderWaal, Jaron Gil-Roering and Juan Gil-Roering; bottom: Kate Eubank, Roya Moltaji; Donald Whipple Fox, Kayva Yang
PHOTOS: ©{re}bekah photography
2014 issue one 9
why QReach?By By Victor Raymond, PhD. QReach Advisory Group Member
LGBTQ organizations in the
Upper Midwest face colossal
challenges every single
day. In many places across
Iowa, Minnesota, North
Dakota, South Dakota, and
Wisconsin, the need is great
and the resources so small
that LGBTQ organizations
struggle to keep from
being overwhelmed. Often, those
organizations are on the “front lines”
and there is very little back-up to
be found. That is a key element of
why PFund has started the QReach
assessment: to help LGBTQ leaders
and organizations learn together,
connect with each other, and
energize the Upper Midwest
LGBT movement.
Why QReach? It’s all too easy to
focus too much on our immediate
work – that daily set of issues,
crises, opportunities, discussions,
and everything else that is a part of
our efforts for social justice. If my
experience as a former nonprofit
executive director is any guide, the
chances to step back and see the
bigger picture do not occur very
often. Yet, it is vital to gain some
perspective, because it is one of the
few ways to better understand the
work that is already underway, learn
how it is getting done, and explore
the directions we, as Upper Midwest
LGBT communities, want to take it
in. We will be exploring together
things such as:
>> What challenges and
opportunities do organizations
face in helping build
strong communities?
>> What does the current ecology
of LGBT communities look like
state-by-state, community-by-
community?
>> What are the local and
regional assets, resources,
networks of organizations and
leaders in our Upper Midwest
LGBT communities?
The QReach assessment is intended
as an active effort to answer these
questions and others. QReach as
a regional assessment is focused
on bringing together 48 leaders
representing 16 organizations
from the five-state Upper Midwest
region. And, in selecting the cohort
of QReach partner organizations,
PFund and the advisory group were
thoughtful about including a strong
mix of different kinds and sizes of
organizations, working on different
issues, and representing many
different parts of our communities.
That diversity will help build greater
perspective and enhance strategic
vision, as leaders and activists share
their experiences with each other,
as well as their communities and
funders. In a very real way, QReach
is much more about providing
time and support for real, useful
communication and relationship-
spec
ial
pro
jec
ts a
nd
in
itia
tive
s
©PFund
QReach Regional Advisory Group member Victor Raymond, PhD, with PFund Executive Director Kate Eubank and Susan Raffo at the QReach kick-off convening
Turning dollars into social change.10
news
Changes for PFund FoundationBy the time you read this newsletter
you may have already seen the
announcement about the staffing
changes on the horizon for PFund.
It is with both excitement and
sorrow that we announce the
eventual departure of Kate and
Susan’s co-executive directorship
of PFund. Kate’s partner, Myrl, was
offered the professional opportunity
of a life time at Colby College in
Maine, starting this September.
While Kate and Susan’s roles at
PFund will be changing, they are
deeply committed to a smooth
transition that continues to support
the great work that is achieving
PFund’s strategic plan, including
the QReach project. In the coming
weeks and months, you can look
forward to more information about
the transition timeline and search
process as staff and the board
work to put together a plan that
helps the organization continue our
exciting momentum throughout
this transition. Kate and Susan feel
honored and fortunate to have been
part of the PFund team and vision
for the last three and a half years —
and they look forward to the
next stage in PFund’s growth as
the regional LGBT community
foundation for the Upper Midwest.
Kate Eubank Susan Raffo
building than about creating a
final report.
In the end, the value of QReach
will be measured by how much
partner organizations help each
other — and PFund – to grow and
develop. This is rooted in the idea
that the people and organizations
participating in QReach already
have a store of wisdom, knowledge,
and experience to share with one
another and funders. Why rely on
costly “outside experts” when you
are already well-versed in your own
circumstances? The regional impact
generated by QReach will happen
through sharing knowledge, building
new connections, and exploring
future opportunities. When leaders,
organizations, and funders come
together to focus their attention on
higher goals, and not on immediate
struggles, we can transform our
communities into safer spaces
that are free from discrimination,
violence, invisibility, and isolation.
PFund is uniquely positioned as a
regional funder for LGBTQ issues
and organizations to facilitate
this process. By connecting
organizations with each other,
with their communities, as well as
PFund and other funding partners,
QReach will strengthen ties between
organizations and create new ones
where such connections did not
previously exist. It isn’t intended to
be yet another initiative imposed
from outside. It is a process to make
it easier for organizations, leaders,
and activists and funders to learn
from one another and from the
larger community of which we are
all a part.
PHO
TOS:
©{r
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ekah
pho
togr
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2014 issue one 11
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