Thursday, July 20, 2006

A thought from the mountains

I'm 8000' above sea level so the altitude may be responsible for this.

Spent some time with some very wise, very experienced community foundation colleagues recently. One of them commented about another foundation, "They're a really good community foundation. Totally counter-cultural in their place, but a great community foundation." My thought - why the "but?" At this point in time, greatness in community foundations may require being counter-cultural: counter status quo, counter exclusivity, counter elitism, counter institutional heft.

In business and in nonprofits we value those who "think different" and create the next new thing or zag right when everyone else heads to the left. Why not with community philanthropy?

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