COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Archives

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Community Philanthropy in Central and Eastern Europe

April 1, 2022 Steve Mayer

This primer has been written for people who are interested in learning about community philanthropy organizations and the role they can play in strengthening communities in Central/Eastern Europe. The text explains what community philanthropy organizations […]

The Assets Model of Community Development

November 7, 2021 Steve Mayer

The “assets model of community development,” as distinct from the “deficits model,” has really caught on in philanthropy in the last 30 years. Articulated first by John McKnight at the Asset-Based Community Development Institute, the […]

Supporting Low-Income Neighborhood Organizations: A Guide for Community Foundations

August 23, 2021 Steve Mayer

Can community foundations learn, if given the opportunity, to be effective vehicles for channeling support to low-income neighborhood organizations while increasing their own resources, grantmaking skills, and leadership role in the community? That was the question […]

Relationships as Infrastructure in Southern African American Communities

July 13, 2021 Steve Mayer

“In human society, relationships act as a basic infrastructure, providing an underlying framework for getting things done.” This is one of the key insights of Betty Emarita, of Training and Development Resources, as part of […]

How to Assist Disadvantaged Groups

December 14, 2020 Steve Mayer

Early in my professional life, the Dayton Hudson Foundation (predecessor to Target Foundation) came to me with this challenging opportunity. “Forty percent of our grantmaking budget is now dedicated to what we’re calling ‘Social Action.’ […]

Use Advocacy To Promote Social Change

November 18, 2020 Steve Mayer

What is “advocacy”? The word is from Latin, meaning “to give voice” to a cause that it might progress and succeed. Advocacy has recently become a legitimate strategy to promote social change. What is advocacy, […]

Community Development and System Change After a Crisis

After a Crisis: Opportunities for Community Development and System Change

June 6, 2020 Steve Mayer

As we said after Katrina, foundations have many useful assets – purchasing power, influence and leadership, knowledge of communities, and development know-how – all of which can be used creatively to aid a more equitable reconstruction of Gulf Coast communities wrecked by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. […]