Community Foundation of Western Nevada

Large-scale resident engagement is critical to rebuilding trust between people and public institutions and strengthening connections among residents of different backgrounds, ethnicity and ideologies. <br/><br/>We will be more effective in using our resources to build resilient communities if we work in partnership with people and groups from all parts of the population to identify and address issues that are important to them. In short, CFWN has come to view resident engagement as a critical component of our community leadership approach—one that deepens and expands on the initial vision outlined in the Framework for Community Leadership by a Community Foundation created in 2008 by the National Task Force on Community Leadership, impaneled and supported by CFLeads and Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group with backing from the Council On Foundations. This work not only opens up new opportunities for us, it will also serve to develop and expand the scope and power of our community leadership role.<br/><br/>As our leadership role in the community grows more people will understand the mission of the CFWN and work with us for their philanthropic needs.

Since 1998, CFWN has worked closely with all stakeholders in the Reno-Carson City-Sparks cities. We have, during this time , also reached out and engaged with residents residing in rural communities north of Las Vegas. Because of our history of work and service both the Board and staff of the CFWN is now known by wide-ranging groups of people as their community philanthropic leader. In order to be a community asset, doing more than making grants, we expanded our Board, created advisory committees and drew membership from a diversity of stakeholders, ( Fundholders as well as leaders in the community, business, nonprofit and government sectors).<br/><br/>CFWN participates actively in a listening campaign with all of the communities we serve, on a regular basis to hear from each what are their hopes, aspirations, concerns and needs. In January 2007 we were one of the first organizations called by the Mayor of the small town of Fernley during a devastating January flood. We were able to quickly and painlessly not only accept but to that each donor for the donations that poured in from Nevada and around the country, This cooperation relieved the city of a burden in a time of crisis.

In the Fall of 2012 the Board of CFWN approved a process for resident engagement that will become a product of our leadership activities. This process has giving the Foundation a better understanding of how our communities function, including the complex and changing ways in which residents, public institutions and local decision-makers interact. <br/><br/>Increasing we realize that large-scale resident engagement is critical to rebuilding trust between people and public institutions and strengthening connections among residents of different backgrounds and cultures.<br/><br/>A survey taken among stakeholders not presently involved in the Community Foundation showed our Board that people viewed the Foundation as a potential leader which has not yet reached out to make it's full contribution to community leadership. We have in essence, been asked to "step up our game". The Board and staff have a process, and a plan, and have undertaken the first leg of this journey to initiate and encourage resident engagement. <br/><br/>As the process unfolds over 5 years or more we will be tracking the following to measure progress:<br/>1. Number people and communities involved.<br/>2. Diversity of people and community involved.

As our Legacy Society grows and the number of people who include a cause or support an organization through the Community Foundation in their will or trust the region we serve is made better. A Legacy Society with 2 names in 2000 to 50 names in 2013 is a positive growth line that will yield increasing philanthropic good as the years roll by. The Community Foundation of Western Nevada will continue to focus on building philanthropy through bequests. This year we are set to give $140,000 in Partnership grants to regional organizations through the CFWN competitive grant program. Since its inception in 2007 we will have given more than $850,000 for grants to organizations doing fine work in tiny cow towns and the region's cities. Many of these organizations are "unsung heros" that are flying under the public perception radar. The money for these grants is contributed by staff, Board, fundholders and community supporters who trust that the Community Foundation selection committee and grant process will get the biggest charitable bang for their buck. As we set out on our initiative plan to increase resident engagement we are encouraged and take confidence in our track record of success in other community leadership programs such as the free estate planning workshops, It's Your Estate. These popular 8-week free workshops are attended by hundreds of people from all walks of life and our taught by volunteer experts in their field. The Foundation worked with a passionate fundholder to create a No Bullying program for all of the Washoe County Schools and continues to work in a collaborative manner with anti-bullying groups to make schools a safer, more inclusive place for students. Finally we can show great progress in the growth of local philanthropy by the sheer numbers of fundholders that join the Community Foundation and the growth in their grants, making the Community Foundation of Western Nevada one of the important charitable funders in northern Nevada.