Community Meeting Discusses New Collaboration-Networks
The Foundations of East Chicago recently had a community meeting to discuss the new approach for grantmaking that will help focus the limited funding dollars available for programs for East Chicago residents. Community participation was the topic of the night. The grantees were asked to help with completing research to address problems within the East Chicago community regarding improving education, improving schools, and reducing crime. The Foundations asked grantees to help form Collaboration Networks. The Networks will use professionals to facilitate a process, seek experts who know ‘Best Practices’, discuss solution-oriented initiatives and access on-going community-based programs.
The Foundations believe that no single person or organization has all the answers. We need to work together to find the best solutions to our problems before the new funding round. Our limited financial resources cannot solve community concerns alone, we hope to engage our citizens in a process to heal the community. We want to bring together agencies to find the best practices to resolve these major issues through participation.
Collaboration-Network Applications are only being accepted in electronic format (Microsoft Word). The applications can be emailed to grantinfo@foundations.org. Applications will be released via email and returned by email. They are due June 23rd at 10:00 am CDT. There will be a $2,500 award for each agency to participate in the process.
Entire Foundations Collaboration Networks Meeting Presentation:
–(Microsoft Powerpoint - 567kb)
Foundations Strategic Plan Becomes an Active Tool For Grantmaking
Fifty people joined the staff and Board members at a Town Meeting held at St. Patrick Church March 11, 2008. That meeting marked the end of a long strategic planning process which began at a Town Meeting held last June at St. Stanislaus School, where community residents voiced their ideas regarding East Chicago’s issues.
The Foundations of East Chicago 3 year Strategic Plan was presented to the community with break out sessions focusing on the two highest priorities of the Strategic Plan; Education and Public Safety. A lively discussion among participants energized the attendees. Topics of both Education and Public Safety groups reflected a resounding theme that the adult community needed to be engaged with East Chicago’s issues in order to remedy long lasting concerns.
The Strategic Plan is divided into the following topics:
–Past and Present (Foundations history and Overall Strategic Planning Process)
–Critical Priorities (Foundations Vision Statement, Mission, and Top Priorities)
–Other Priorities (Youth Development, Family Support, Health, Financial Independence and Community Development)
–Goals and Strategies (Internal Infrastructure and Governance)
CLICK HERE to read the Strategic Plan in its entirety (PDF - 626kb)
- March 2008 marked the beginning of using the Foundation’s Strategic Plan as a means of focusing grant dollars on critical issues. An explanation of how 50 residents and 110 grantees heard about and discussed the Strategic Plan is explained in the attached document. Foundations Town Meeting concerns - March 11, 2008 (PDF - 198kb)
About Us
Foundations of East Chicago is funded by the Resorts East Chicago Casino and Hotel. Foundations supports churches, schools, and nonprofit organizations that know the community best and put money where it does the most good.
Foundations of East Chicago is committed to improving the lives of every resident of our city. Since 1997, we’ve given more than $23 million in grants to local churches, government, schools, and community organizations that make our area a safer and healthier place to learn and live.
Staff
- Russell G. Taylor, Executive Director
- K. Tyrone Spann, Director of Programming
- Janet Wozniak, Program Manager
- Rosa M. Peña, Director of Administrative Services
- Almeta Williams, Administrative Assistant
- Evelyn Goins, Secretary
- Raquel Avila, Information Officer
