PFE: Shifts, Innovations, and Lessons from 2020 Forward

VISION

The past 18 months have been difficult and demanding for our nonprofit sector in ways too numerous to list. Today, our workforce is on the front lines of community and systems change through programs, services, and business as our world earnestly reopens amid ongoing health guidelines.

We are hopeful and we are exhausted.

We are committed and often over-committed.

We are compassionate, resilient, and strained.

At the Partnership for Excellence 2021, how might we reconnect to share, renew our spirits, and explore pathways to collectively strengthen our community together?

This fall, Community Connections will highlight some of the many positive shifts, new alliances and important lessons in our region in response to simultaneous pandemic/economic challenges and social justice movements/ DEIA advances. This year’s program elevates new and strengthened partnerships, funding models, programs and services, equity issues and awareness, and factors influencing our ways of working and grantmaking. Imagine hearing from your peers about what changes organizations, foundations and leaders want to keep, build on, or let go of in our communities.

PROGRAM

During this virtual program, join peers to engage in community building and reconnection through storytelling and conversations together. A presentation of the initial findings from the Santa Barbara Foundation’s countywide Nonprofit Leader Survey will launch the day's programming. Our featured Community Conversations highlight partnerships with local organizations and funders sharing their stories – innovations, tough lessons, unexpected outcomes – and illustrating our communities’ resilience. Breakout conversations will provide spaces for participants to reflect, relate and gain new perspectives. These continued conversations among participants may open other focused ideas for listening to and learning from one another.

GUESTS

The Partnership for Excellence welcomes representatives from nonprofits and foundations with the intention to represent the diversity of our community. Staff and board members from 501c(3) nonprofit organizations and foundations serving Santa Barbara County community members are invited to register. We welcome grassroots, small and larger organizations as well as a variety of roles in the sector from throughout the county. Consultants currently serving Santa Barbara County nonprofits are also welcome.

To help broaden perspectives, organizations are invited to register up to (5) persons for this virtual event. Participating organizations are encouraged to diversify your registrants, and the PFE gathering, by including staff from two or more county locations (north/mid/south), as well as representatives from foundation leadership, programs, community outreach/advocacy, executive/development, and board members.

This virtual PFE program is audio/video accessible to all registered guests with computer, internet access and installed Zoom app.

FEES

With generous sponsorship from The Foundation Roundtable members, this year’s virtual Partnership for Excellence is free to Guests as described above.

REGISTER AND JOIN US

Your participation and perspective are welcomed to help ensure diverse and regional voices from our broad community. Options for you to participate:

• Register to attend PFE Community Connections on October 20
• Volunteer to be a conversation host for a small group breakout
• Consider an adaptation or lesson your organization/foundation realized that you are willing to reflect upon during the program (and maybe briefly share during a community conversation breakout session)

NOTE: You must register in advance to participate in any part of virtual PFE 2021

GENEROUS THANKS TO:

The Foundation Roundtable Sponsors

Audacious Foundation

James S. Bower Foundation

Patricia and Paul Bragg Foundation

Cottage Health

The Crawford Idema Family Foundation

G.A. Fowler Family Foundation

Hutton Parker Foundation

The Ann Jackson Family Foundation

La Centra Sumerlin Foundation

Linked Foundation

McCune Foundation

The Henry E. and Lola Monroe Foundation

Mosher Foundation

The Natalie Orfalea Foundation

June G. Outhwaite Charitable Trust

Anthony and Kyra Rogers Family Foundation

Santa Barbara Foundation

The Santa Ynez Valley Foundation

The Towbes Foundation

United Way of Santa Barbara County

Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara

PFE Volunteer Advisors

Gary Clark, Santa Barbara Foundation

Steve De Lira, Family Service Agency

Palmer Jackson, Jr., Ann Jackson Foundation

Joni Meisel, The Foundation Roundtable

Patricia Solorio, The Fund for Santa Barbara

Stanley Tzankov, CAUSE

Produced by Ruby Road Leadership with Zoom hosting by VISIONALITY.