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Lessons Learned:2009 Knight Community Information Challenge
KCIC Boot Camp
March 21, 2010
Prepared for:
KCIC Boot Camp – FSG Grantee Panel (March 2010) © FSG Social Impact Advisors2
In 2009, FSG Learned a Lot about Cohort 1 Grantees and Their Implementation Partners through Our Interviews and Survey
These “lessons learned” helped to shape this year’s agenda for Boot Camp and other evaluation and learning activities
Introduction
1. Project Objectives
2. Partnership Structures
3. Foundation’s Role and Activities
4. Outside Resources
5. Community Networks and the Information Ecosystem
6. Sustainability
7. Challenges
Key Topics
KCIC Boot Camp – FSG Grantee Panel (March 2010) © FSG Social Impact Advisors3
KCIC Projects Are Addressing a Variety of Community Information Needs
Many grantees are trying to engage citizens both online and offline; a few are re-granting to multiple organizations that may be trying to do any of these things
1. Project Objectives
• Focus • Creating a credible news/info source• Giving voice to under-represented communities• Creating an education or awareness campaign• Building community’s info capacity
• Technology• Websites, social media, mobile,
“low-tech,” “off-line”• New and existing
• Desired Outcomes • Building awareness• Increasing engagement• Changing behaviors• Replicating models
KCIC Boot Camp – FSG Grantee Panel (March 2010) © FSG Social Impact Advisors4
Grantees Find that Partnerships Are Critical to Project Success
Grantees most often are working with more than one partner; a few are working with several in complex collaborations
2. Partnership Structures
• “Foundation-led” (13)
• “Partner-led” (9)
• University and library partners (5)
• Funder collaborations (4)
Source: FSG interview with Cohort 1 grantees
KCIC Boot Camp – FSG Grantee Panel (March 2010) © FSG Social Impact Advisors5
3. Foundation Role
Foundations Are Doing More than Just Making Grants
Foundations see their KCIC projects as an opportunity to play a community leadership role
Community & Place-based Foundation Resources
Discretionary Funding (17)
Donor Advised Funds (3)
Leveraging Outside
Money (5)
Neutral Convening (15)
Research/ Knowledge (5)
Capacity Building
Advocacy (4)
PR/Outreach (7)
Source: FSG interview with Cohort 1 grantees
KCIC Boot Camp – FSG Grantee Panel (March 2010) © FSG Social Impact Advisors6
4. Other Resources
Grantees Are Hiring Technical, Administrative and Journalism Expertise, as Well as Interns and Volunteers to Support Their KCIC Projects
• Technical Skills (7)
• Administrative Support (6)
• Content Expertise (5)
• Volunteers/interns (5)
KCIC Boot Camp – FSG Grantee Panel (March 2010) © FSG Social Impact Advisors7
4. Other Resources
Many Grantees Have Successfully Harnessed a Variety of Outside Resources to Support Their Projects
13
10
4
3
2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
50
15
6 4 40
10
20
30
40
50
60
In-KindDonations
PrivateFoundations
CorporateSponsors
PublicFunding
OtherResources
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KCIC Boot Camp – FSG Grantee Panel (March 2010) © FSG Social Impact Advisors8
Community Information Systems Map
5. Networks and Ecosystem
Grantees Are Engaging Other Local Anchor Institutions in Their Projects
University of Texas School of Public Health, San Antonio
Mark Cannan
Rackspace
Aquia Drupal
Kyte TV Esperanza Peace and Justice
Guadalupe Coffee/Baptist Child and Family Services
Our Lady of the Lake University
St. Mary’s University
Trinity University
Texas State University
University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio Public Library
City of San Antonio
Catholic Relief Services
Social Media Club of San Antonio
Advocate
U.S. Mayors’ Conference
IgoSA.com
Alamo City Times
Unnamed (multiple)
Clean Technology Forum
Council on Foundations Conference
San Antonio Community Radio
NOWCastSA
San Antonio Peace Center
San Antonio Area Foundation
Community Information NOW (CINOW)
KCIC Boot Camp – FSG Grantee Panel (March 2010) © FSG Social Impact Advisors9
6. Sustainability
Grantees Are Taking a Range of Approaches to Address Long-Term Sustainability
• Building an earned revenue component into their project (15)
• Promoting replication of model (10)
• Negotiating long-term transfer of project to new host (5)
• Seeking institutional funding and sponsorships (4)
• Seeking individual donors (3)
• Seeking government funding (1)
KCIC Boot Camp – FSG Grantee Panel (March 2010) © FSG Social Impact Advisors10
7. Key Challenges
Grantees Share Many Similar Design and Implementation Challenges
• Identifying the right business model to ensure sustainability (9)
• Reaching/engaging target audiences (9)
• Getting the technology to work well (6)
• Accessing the right technology expertise (6)
• Hiring new staff (5)
• Assessing the needs of the target audience (3)
• Finding effective partners (3)
• Getting board buy-in (2)
KCIC Boot Camp – FSG Grantee Panel (March 2010) © FSG Social Impact Advisors11
What Advice Can Your Cohort 1 Colleagues Give to You?
Let’s ask our panel!
Discussion
• Do your homework
• Don’t reinvent the wheel
• It takes more time than you think
• Things will change
• This is more than just a website
KCIC Boot Camp – FSG Grantee Panel (March 2010) © FSG Social Impact Advisors12
Grantee Panel
Today’s Panel
Roberta KingVice President for PR and MarketingGrand Rapids Community Foundation
The Rapidian
Slade SundarDirector of Digital CommunicationsCommunity Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties
YourPBC.org
Vivian VahlbergProject Director for Community NewsChicago Community Trust
Community News 2.0
KCIC Boot Camp – FSG Grantee Panel (March 2010) © FSG Social Impact Advisors13
Questions for the Grantee Panel
Discussion
• What’s one thing you didn’t know when you started your project that you wish someone had told you?
• What has been critical to maintaining a productive partnership during your first year?
• What does “life after launch” look like?