Strengthening the Impact of People, Organizations, and Communities

The Patterson Foundation’s philanthropic investments strengthen the impact of people, organizations, and communities. Its work continually flows from its values. TPF’s approach is to use a process of connecting, learning, sharing, evolving, and strengthening. Its collaborative approach is focusing on issues that identify and address aspirations derived from participative processes so interconnected systems can learn, share, and evolve together and realize their common aspirations.

In my work with TPF and its initiatives, it seems TPF can be seen as providing “wind beneath the wings” of people, organizations, and communities wanting to engage together for a better future. Not an ordinary granting foundation, TPF provides resources and expertise, then sticks around help facilitate growth — propelling shared aspirations forward.

When TPF facilitates engagement into purposeful connecting, learning and sharing — people, organizations, and communities begin to evolve and shift the focus from issues to aspirations, from enabling to engaging, from silos to systems, and from outputs to meaningful outcomes from actions taken. As people, organizations, and communities evolve, they are strengthened and can achieve greater impact. TPF’s approach is simple, but not easy. There must be alignment of leadership, willingness, readiness, capacity, and culture.

Here are just a few examples of how TPF initiatives are strengthening people, organizations, and communities for greater impact:

Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP):

•  TPF’s investment and value-add has been integral to creating impact as a go-to resource
• CDP leveraged TPF investment and communications strategy to strengthen its thrivability and impact
  
  

NetHope: Catalytic funding has secured significant funding and partners, for example, $193,000 from TPF for 16 sites grew to 30 sites thanks to Cisco and Facebook

• TPF is sharing with NetHope how to work with foundations
• Providing expanded Wi-Fi access in Greece for Syrian refugees to offer hope in a dismal reality
  
  

Collaboratory at Ringling College of Art and Design (RCAD):

• Embedded in culture and gives RCAD a competitive advantage to attract students and corporate partners
  
  

Sarasota Bayfront:

• TPF’s entry and facilitation of the Framework Group created Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization.
  
  

Season of Sharing (SoS):

• TPF’s 2016 contribution of $300K was added to SoS endowment for long-term impact.
• These funds and the growing SoS endowment allows people to stay in their homes, rather than fall into homelessness
  
  

Collaborative Partnering: (Past Initiative)

• Merger of the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota and Women’s Resource Center of Manatee completed
  
  

EdExploreSRQ:

• 106,000 EdExplorations tracked, up 2%
• Every public and charter schools worked with 9 or more providers, up 30%
• Embedding continues to spread the value and use of EdExploreSRQ
• EdExplore endowments increased by $2 million
  
  

The Giving Challenge:

• Total donations to participating organizations were up 159% over prior year
• 549 participating organizations, up 22%
• 63,567 donations to participating nonprofits, up 74%
  
  

Suncoast Nursing Action Coalition (SNAC):

• Administration now handled by SNAC
• Area Chief Nursing Officers are now meeting
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and doctoral level scholarships have been awarded
• Area BSNs, up to 33%
  
  

Don’t miss this 4-minute glimpse of how TPF strengthens:

To contact Deborah: dgauvreau@thepattersonfoundation.org
Join Deborah on Twitter: @DeborahGauvreau