By ANN RICHARDS
More than 700 participants from 30 countries gathered November 6-9 in Montreal for the Community Foundations of Canada’s international conference on community philanthropy. The C.S. Mott Foundation marked the occasion with a reception celebrating the release of The Balancing Act: The Roles of a Community Foundation, a set of three new monographs by one of the sector’s most experienced leaders.
Dorothy “Dottie” Reynolds, the author of the three publications, has spent more than 20 years in the field of community-based philanthropy. Initially a senior staff member and CEO for community foundations in Ohio and Michigan, Reynolds has worked as a consultant for a number of philanthropic organizations for the past 11 years.
“Our most recent technical assistance efforts have been largely undertaken by Dottie Reynolds, whom we came to know and admire when she served as the CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint,” wrote Mott Foundation President William S. White in a letter to readers.
“In this role, Dottie has provided advice and assistance to community foundations and support organizations in a number of countries throughout Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.”
The monographs offer Reynolds' reflections on community foundations, with a particular focus on the differences and similarities between community foundations in the U.S. and abroad. The monographs examine the roles of community foundations as grantmakers, as vehicles for local philanthropy and as community leaders.
According to Reynolds, community foundations in the U.S. are facing challenges arising from several factors, among these a slowdown in asset growth, competition from commercial gift funds and other philanthropic vehicles, growing questions about whether their philanthropy is sufficiently inclusive and serves disadvantaged populations adequately, and increased public scrutiny.
She says community foundations are philanthropic vehicles that serve donors not only of great wealth but also of more modest means. They encourage the democratization of philanthropy, serve as community conveners and as a representative voice for the interests of a community, and, most critically, as a flexible, long-term funder that can address changing local needs.
Since the late 1970s, Mott has spent more than $122 million to strengthen and expand community foundations in the U.S. and internationally.
If you would like to provide feedback or comment on these publications, please feel free to contact the Mott Foundation at info@mott.org.