Articles by Effective Communities partners Steven E. Mayer and/or Susan Doherty are available from this site. They are grouped into these four headings:

• Philanthropy, Community Development and Social Justice
• Youth Leadership and School Reform
• Evaluation, Support and Organizational Development
• Nonprofit and Independent Sector

 
PHILANTHROPY, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

"Introduction and Overview to Three Tools to Assist Progress" (2006, downloadable PDF file). By Steven E. Mayer, Vanessa McKendall Stephens, and Betty Emarita. Version 2.0, released September 1, 2006.

"Moving Past the Silence: A Tool for Negotiating Reflective Conversations About Race" (2006, downloadable PDF file). By Vanessa McKendall Stephens. Version 2.0, released September 1, 2006.

"Becoming a Catalyst for Social Justice: A Tool for Aligning Internal Operations to Produce Progress" (2006, downloadable PDF file). By Betty Emarita. Version 2.0, released September 1, 2006.

"Choosing Promising Ideas and Proposals: A Tool for Giving that Closes the Gaps" (2006, downloadable PDF file). By Steven E. Mayer. Version 2.0, released September 1, 2006.

A PDF of all of the above combined into one convenient (but obviously longer) package has also been posted.

“Community Philanthropy and Racial Equity: What Progress Looks Like” (2005, downloadable PDF file). This report examines how community philanthropy can deepen social justice work, especially in the American South. Supported by the Ford Foundation.

“Community Philanthropy and Racial Equity: Signs of Progress” (2005, downloadable PDF), a two-page adaptation of highlights from this report.

“Where’s the Community in Community Foundations?” (2005, downloadable PDF). This Op-Ed piece written for the Chronicle of Philanthropy questions the need for modern American community foundations to mimic private financial services institutions, and proposes three avenues for innovation.

“After the Flood: Some ‘Out of the Box’ Options for Foundations” (2005, downloadable PDF). This article, circulated in the South, offers perspective and options to guide reconstruction of communities after the Katrina disaster.

“Building Community Capacity: The Potential of Community Foundations.” This small book summarizes the experiences of 18 community foundations participating in the Ford/MacArthur Leadership Program for Community Foundations. It contains lessons for foundations and nonprofits alike on strategies for developing successful community initiatives. It is available from Rainbow Research, Inc. (www.rainbowresearch.org)

“Common Barriers to Effectiveness in the Independent Sector.” This paper, presented to Independent Sector, describes three common barriers challenging nonprofits and foundations: dominance of the deficits model over the assets model, the dysfunctional distinction between “grantmaker and grantseeker,” and racism and other failures to be inclusive. Available from Rainbow Research, Inc. (www.rainbowresearch.org).

“Building Community Capacity: How Different Groups Contribute” (downloadable PDF file). This paper, adapted from Building Community Capacity: The Potential of Community Foundations, describes how different groups, such as families, neighborhood organizations, local government, and others, can contribute to the community’s ability to address its problems.

“Supporting Low-Income Neighborhood Organizations: A Guide for Community Foundations.” This guidebook gives advice on making grants and providing other kinds of support to low-income neighborhood organizations. Available from Rainbow Research, Inc. (www.rainbowresearch.org).

“Successful Neighborhood Self-Help: Some Lessons Learned” (downloadable PDF file). Lessons learned from the experiences of 51 neighborhood organizations in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and their suburbs are profiled in this handbook. Lessons are grouped into two areas: Involving Residents, and Organizing and Governing the Work. One of the first lessons learned-style evaluations ever.

“Better Together: Religious Institutions as Partners in Community-Based Development.” Key learnings from a national initiative on how religious institutions of various kinds can contribute to low-income housing and community economic development efforts. Available from Rainbow Research, Inc. (www.rainbowresearch.org).

“The Assets Model of Community Development.” This paper presents the basics of the assets model as formulated by John McKnight and contrasts it with the deficits model, along with implications for funders. Available from Rainbow Research, Inc. (www.rainbowresearch.org).

“What is a ‘Disadvantaged Group’?” (downloadable PDF file). A short, historical paper serving up a digestible analysis to help a program design or grant review committee recognize disadvantagement in the proposals it receives.

 
YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND SCHOOL REFORM

“A Model for Community-Based Youth Leadership Development” (downloadable PDF file). This paper describes a model program to develop knowledge, skills, and understanding youth need to become effective leaders within culturally diverse communities.

 
EVALUATION, SUPPORT AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

“Results of an Inquiry into Capacity Building Programs for Nonprofit Programs” (downloadable PDF file). This paper summarizes what we have learned about the effectiveness of foundation efforts to build capacity in nonprofits, expressed as lessons learned.

“How to Purchase Evaluation Services With an RFP.” – Available soon!

“Organizational Capacity Building: Areas for Evaluation” (downloadable PDF file). This paper offers a framework for assessing organizational capacity and forms the basis of our Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool©.

“Building Community Capacity with Evaluation Activities That Empower.” A chapter in the best-selling “Empowerment Evaluation: Knowledge and Tools for Self-assessment and Accountability” (Fetterman, Kaftarian, and Wandersman; Sage, 1996). Available from Sage Publishing (www.sagepub.com).

“Inclusiveness Assessment Tool.” This tool was developed for the United Way of Minneapolis to help it and its member organizations make progress in becoming more racially inclusive and culturally competent. Available from Rainbow Research, Inc. (www.rainbowresearch.org).

 
NONPROFIT AND INDEPENDENT SECTOR

“Community Philanthropy in Central/Eastern Europe.” A primer for people who are interested in learning about community philanthropy organizations and the role they can play in strengthening communities, set in Central/Eastern Europe. Available from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation (www.mott.org).

“A Statement of Values, Accomplishments, and Intentions of the Twin Cities Neighborhood Movement.” A discussion paper prepared for the Twin Cities’ Center for Neighborhoods as part of its Neighborhood Futures Initiative. Five core values are presented, with accomplishments and challenges. Available from the Center for Neighborhoods (www.Center4Neighborhoods.org).

“Community Leadership Initiatives: Expected Outcomes” (downloadable PDF file). In this paper, Steven Mayer presents three excellent outcome areas desired of community leadership initiatives: increased commitment, increased resources, and increased skills available to address issues and opportunities. Based in work done for the Ford Foundation’s Leadership Program for Community Foundations.