November 2-4, 2011
Moving Forward While Staying in Place
Building Grassroots Grantmaking Connections Over the Long Haul
Join us this fall in Atlanta for our next On the Ground!
We are delighted to be working in partnership with The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and Atlanta’s Place-Based Funders for the next in our series of highly regarded learning gatherings for funders.
This learning gathering will use The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta’s twenty year journey as a grassroots grantmaker through their Neighborhood Fund and in partnership with other place-based funders in Atlanta as a platform for exploring the realities of working from a “we begin with residents” perspective with a commitment to building community capacity for change.
Blazing a New TrailWe will use our time together to delve into the following questions:
- What difference does a long-term commitment to grassroots grantmaking make for the community, the funder, and partner organizations?
- How does experience with grassroots grantmaking play in opening up and enriching partnership possibilities?
- What are we learning about what it takes to sustain a commitment to grassroots grantmaking over time?
- How can grassroots grantmaking be used to increase commitment to resident-led work and citizen voice across the broader community?
In addition, our planning for this gathering is designed to ensure that those who attend:
- Get a clear picture of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta’s Neighborhood Fund – how it works and how it has evolved over its twenty-year history;
- Tap into the experience of your peers via our segments on our meeting agenda that are specifically designed for peer to peer sharing;
- Leave with strengthened networks and personal relationships, and
- Gain insights that are useful for their own practice and local context, ideas for increased impact and effectiveness, as well as with increased energy for their work. These insights will flow out of sense of connection to others doing work this work, the important contribution that this work is making, and the growing national focus on this work.
We will match the “on the ground” time with time for discussion and reflection to connect insights from The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta’s experience with grassroots grantmaking work in other contexts.
Registration will be limited to 50 participants to maximize opportunities for peer to peer connections and to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to contribute. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Who can attend?
This learning event is designed for funders so registration will be limited to staff, board members, grantees and learning partners of funding organizations or people who are sponsored by a funding organization. We strongly encourage team participation.
If you are not associated with a funding organization but would like to attend, please contact Janis Foster Richardson to see if you are eligible to attend. Space permitting, we will be generous in making special exceptions for people associated with organizations whose work supports and informs the practice of grassroots grantmaking.
What does it cost to attend?
Registration is $300/person. The registration fee will cover on-site transportation, materials, and most in-meeting meals. Participants are expected to cover their own lodging expenses, meals outside of the meeting agenda, and travel from their home community to Atlanta.
Where is our event home-base?
We will be in the community and in community settings for much of our time together, but we will be using the Sheraton Atlanta as our home base.
What is the agenda for the gathering?
We will kick off on Wednesday afternoon at 3:00, work together through the day on Thursday, and conclude on Friday by 3:00. Thursday evening activities will be integral to the learning experience, so please do not make other plans for that evening.
We are still fine-tuning the agenda, but will post it here shortly.
What about hotel accommodations?
The Sheraton Atlanta is providing a special $145/night room rate for participants for two nights – November 2-3. This special rate will be available for as long as space is available and will be honored for the two days before and after the event if you want to spend additional time in the Atlanta area.
You can make reservations at this special rate by calling 1-800-833-8624 and asking for Grassroots Grantmakers’ special rate before October 12, 2011.
How do I register?
Registrations can be submitted on-line by clicking one of the links on this page. Multiple registrations from one organization can be submitted at one time; registration fees for multiple registrations can be easily handled with one payment. You will receive an email confirmation after you register, and we will hold your space unless you notify Janis Foster Richardson that you will not be attending.
How do I submit payment of my registration fees?
Our online registration system will request payment at the time of registration via credit card.
If you to prefer to handle payment via a check, please contact us and we will process your registration and send an invoice for the registration fee.
What if I register but need to cancel?
We can accept cancellations and issue a full refund of your registration fees until October 1, 2011. After October 1, we can accept your cancellation but cannot issue a refund. If you are unable to attend but would like to offer your registration to a colleague, we will be happy to make that switch if you contact us with that request.
When will I receive meeting materials and specific logistical info?
We will launch an on-line discussion board exchange several weeks before the meeting, and will use that exchange to share background materials and logistical info about the gathering. We will also send the basic information that you will need via email about a week before the gathering.
What is the proper attire for this gathering?
Casual, of course! We will be on and off a bus several times a day so comfortable clothes and shoes for walking are definitely in order!
Other questions?
Contact Janis Foster Richardson for anything else you need to know. You can reach Janis via email or phone (361-798-1808).
