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International Finance Corporation World Bank
To support local development, extractive companies often rely on community-level foundations to channel and oversee funds. Community Foundations collect donations into a coordinated investment and grant-making facility committed to the social and economic development of a particular place or region. In an extractive industry context, foundations will most likely be corporate foundations governed with a community spirit. For example, successful foundations engage stakeholders in the planning and decision-making about the use of funds. The funds established can either be expendable funds (i.e. grants can be made in any amount at any time) or they can be endowments, which limit distributions to the interest earned on the assets. Given the many different models in existence, it is important to share experiences about the possible roles and structures of community foundations in varied contexts. Some key questions include: Who sets the priorities? Who may apply for funds? Who should benefit from projects? Who monitors the outcomes? Who oversees the accounting and procurement procedures? How is the funding sustainable? CommDev seeks to share experience about the different roles and structures of foundations established to ensure that community development is implemented with win-win benefits. Featured resources include the Community Foundations Gateway and The Social Change Assistance Trust.

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Synergos Learning Library: Foundation-Building & Philanthropic Practices
19 Nov 2009
This is a collection of all Knowledge Base materials about practices in building foundations and conducting philanthropy; you can use the list of more specific topics on the right to narrow the selection.

Growing Smarter: Achieving Sustainability in Emerging Community Foundations

This report, written by FSG Social Impact Advisors and sponsored by The James Irvine Foundation, is based on research with growing and community foundations. Community foundations of virtually any size will find valuable information, case studies and economic models.

September 2007, Eva Nico, Rebecca Graves, Tracy Foster and Fay Hanleybrown | FSG Social Impact Advisors

The Social Change Assistance Trust (SCAT) and Local Development Agencies (LDAS)

This case study was compiled as one of a series of case studies on “Exploring and Developing Case Studies as Tools for Change” commissioned under the Case Study Project supported by The PartneringInitiative, Alcan and SEED.

November 2005, Septi M. Bukula / Social Change Assistance Trust (SCAT)

Expanding Research and Analysis for Community Foundations: A Field-Wide Study

The purpose of the study is to explore the level of interest in the field in new ways of collecting and analyzing data about community foundation finances and operations. In addition, to explore the potential benefits, economic model, required capabilities for an entity that could provide new data collection and analysis services.
April 2005, Foundation Strategy Group (FSG)

The Worldwide Initiative for Grantmaker Support

WINGS is a worldwide network that seeks to strengthen philanthropy and a culture of giving through mutual learning and support, knowledge sharing and professional development among its participants. WINGS also strives to give voice and visibility to philanthropy at a global level.

2007, Wingsweb

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Helpdesk Research Report: Donor Approaches to Extractive Industries
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Measuring Success in Donor Development
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Sharing Experiences: Enhancing the Benefits to Communities from Extractive Industry Projects Workshop
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The objective of the workshop was to share experiences, training, and raise awareness of the community development work that is taking place. The focus was on sharing practical examples of helping communities benefit from extractive industry, highlighting the diversity of community development activities (supply chain, social, environmental issues), and discussing successes and lessons.

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