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Building Bridges: A Guide to Centering Community Perspective

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A downloadable toolkit featuring real life examples, tips, tools, and resources for those committed to deepening the way they engage communities they care about in their work.

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Defining Communities

We define “communities” as people with lived experience of the issues you focus on. This might mean residents of a certain neighborhood, or people with direct experience of the issues you are working on in your region. Or, if you’re a grantmaker, this might include both nonprofits that experience your funding and capacity building programs, as well as the people who serve.

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About this Toolkit

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1740700971288{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]The people closest to the issues know best the solutions, but for many nonprofits and grantmakers, when it comes to authentically centering community perspectives in the work, often there is a gap between intention and action. Building trusting relationships and changing internal processes and practices can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1736843518476{margin-top: 20px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”text-width”]

Through our work in deep partnership with nonprofits and foundations, we at Community Wealth Partners have cultivated and refined our approach to centering community in everything we do. We have developed tools and frameworks to guide our work with nonprofits and foundations. Now we are sharing them with you.

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Advice for Nonprofits and Foundations Working with Communities

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This video features parent and community leader, Fay Pierce.

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Building Bridges: Centering Community Perspective

The Toolkit offers tools and practical guidance to help nonprofits and grantmakers take the next step in centering the people closest to the issues in their work.

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How to Use This Toolkit

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This page features learning tools for two separate paths which include Starting Out / Making the Case and Launching and Troubleshooting. The learning paths were carefully designed to address common questions, and tension points nonprofits and foundations experience at various stages of centering community perspectives. Before you select your path and start downloading materials, we encourage you to review and reflect on the questions we outlined under Step 1.

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Step 1

Identify Your Learning Path

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Step 2

Download Resources

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Step 3

Continue Learning

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Step 1:

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Questions for Reflection

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• 1. Do you have buy-in from your organizational leaders and staff who will need to act on community feedback?
• 2. Are you clear on what decisions your organization is open to community members making or informing and where the organization is not yet open to community input? Do you know how the input you receive will be used?
• 3. Do you have an initial idea of how you would engage people (e.g., advisory committee, participatory design process etc)?

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If you answered no to one or more of these questions we encourage you to start
with resources outlined under Starting Out and Making the Case before you move to Ready to Launch and Troubleshooting.

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Step 2:

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Identify and download materials best for you

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” el_class=”hover-height”][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_hoverbox image=”6577″ primary_title=”Starting Out/Making the Case” hover_title=”Starting Out/Making the Case” el_class=”hover_box”]For organizations that want to understand different models of community engagement, think about how they could be applied to their organization, and work on ways to make the case within their organization for greater community engagement.

Additional reflection questions for individuals and teams:

1. Why are you engaging and/or sharing power with the community?
2. What are the key questions to answer as you explore centering community perspective in your work?

Download the resources below to help you continue to make progress.[/vc_hoverbox][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_hoverbox image=”6577″ primary_title=”Launching and Troubleshooting” hover_title=”Launching and Troubleshooting” el_class=”hover_box”]For organizations whose staff and leaders are aligned around the importance of community engagement but want to develop a plan to execute on it. What should it look like? How do we do outreach? How do we compensate etc.

Additional reflection questions for individuals and teams:

1. How do we do start to center community perspective in our work or deepen our practice to share power with community??
2. What are the common pitfalls to avoid?

Download the resources below to help you continue to make progress.[/vc_hoverbox][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner disable_element=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1736398192493{padding-top: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text el_class=”pdf_list”]The Basics: Intro to Community Engagement

• Groundwork
• Keys to community engagement and power sharing/Principles
• Choose a strategy and examples of models

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”pdf_list”]Overview of Community Engagement Process

• Overview of Community Engagement Process

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text el_class=”pdf_list”]FAQs and Common Pitfalls

• FAQs and Pitfalls

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”pdf_list”]Real Examples (structures, compensation, time required)

• Advisory Group: Community Foundation and Nonprofit

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”pdf_list”]Outreach, Recruitment, and Group Selection

• Interviews and selection tips
• Sample Selection process

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The Basics: Intro to Community Engagement

[/vc_column_text][vc_cta h2=”Groundwork” txt_align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1736397463506{margin-bottom: 25px !important;background-image: url(https://www.communitywealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mask-Group-93-2.png?id=6577) !important;}” el_class=”hover_box”]Download[/vc_cta][vc_cta h2=”Keys to community engagement and power sharing/Principles” txt_align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1736397476265{margin-bottom: 25px !important;background-image: url(https://www.communitywealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mask-Group-93-2.png?id=6577) !important;}” el_class=”hover_box”]Download[/vc_cta][vc_cta h2=”Choose a strategy and examples of models” txt_align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1736397850657{margin-bottom: 25px !important;background-image: url(https://www.communitywealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mask-Group-93-2.png?id=6577) !important;}” el_class=”hover_box”]Download[/vc_cta][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1736397867946{margin-bottom: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;}” el_class=”step_title”]

Overview of Community Engagement Process

[/vc_column_text][vc_cta h2=”Overview of Community Engagement Process” txt_align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1736397905692{margin-bottom: 25px !important;background-image: url(https://www.communitywealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mask-Group-93-2.png?id=6577) !important;}” el_class=”hover_box”]Download[/vc_cta][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1736398027192{margin-bottom: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;}” el_class=”step_title”]

FAQs and Common Pitfalls

[/vc_column_text][vc_cta h2=”FAQs and Pitfalls” txt_align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1736398052096{margin-bottom: 25px !important;background-image: url(https://www.communitywealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mask-Group-93-2.png?id=6577) !important;}” el_class=”hover_box”]Download[/vc_cta][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1736398088791{margin-bottom: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;}” el_class=”step_title”]

Real Examples (structures, compensation, time required)

[/vc_column_text][vc_cta h2=”Advisory Group: Community Foundation and Nonprofit” txt_align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1736398099786{margin-bottom: 25px !important;background-image: url(https://www.communitywealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mask-Group-93-2.png?id=6577) !important;}” el_class=”hover_box”]Download[/vc_cta][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1740700825677{margin-bottom: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;}” el_class=”step_title”]

Outreach, Recruitment, and Group Selection

[/vc_column_text][vc_cta h2=”Interviews and selection tips” txt_align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1736398148637{margin-bottom: 25px !important;background-image: url(https://www.communitywealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mask-Group-93-2.png?id=6577) !important;}” el_class=”hover_box”]Download[/vc_cta][vc_cta h2=”Sample Selection process” txt_align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1736398165872{margin-bottom: 25px !important;background-image: url(https://www.communitywealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mask-Group-93-2.png?id=6577) !important;}” el_class=”hover_box”]Download[/vc_cta][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_raw_js]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[/vc_raw_js][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” el_class=”our-services-shift-up our-services-row-with-shadow” css=”.vc_custom_1733739193018{margin-top: 50px !important;border-radius: 3px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1733729771064{padding-top: 5% !important;padding-right: 15% !important;padding-bottom: 9% !important;padding-left: 11% !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1733729822828{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”video_title”]

Step 3:

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Continue Learning About Centering Community Perspective

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Sharing power with communities is a ever evolving process that can include wins and missteps along the way.

Our resource library below features learnings and best practices from our work including links to folks we continue to learn from in the field. Feel free to pair these resources with tools you gathered from the learning paths above.

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Resource Library Links

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” el_class=”cta-height” css=”.vc_custom_1733730597942{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_cta h2=”Sharing Power Field Guide” txt_align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1734591485679{background-image: url(https://www.communitywealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mask-Group-93-2.png?id=6577) !important;}” el_class=”hover_box”]Access Now[/vc_cta][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_cta h2=”Case Study: ACT for Alexandria” txt_align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1734591508679{background-image: url(https://www.communitywealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mask-Group-93-2.png?id=6577) !important;}” el_class=”hover_box”]Access Now[/vc_cta][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” el_class=”cta-height margin-no” css=”.vc_custom_1734592177477{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_cta h2=”Sharing Power with Community Members: Perspectives from Rochester-Area Funders, Nonprofits, and Parents” txt_align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1734591671751{background-image: url(https://www.communitywealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mask-Group-93-2.png?id=6577) !important;}” el_class=”hover_box”]Access Now[/vc_cta][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_cta h2=”Participatory Grantmaking: A Tool for Deeper Relationships & Impact in Communities” txt_align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1734591698786{background-image: url(https://www.communitywealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mask-Group-93-2.png?id=6577) !important;}” el_class=”hover_box”]Access Now[/vc_cta][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” el_class=”cta-height margin-no” css=”.vc_custom_1734592177477{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_cta h2=”Webinar: Sharing Power with Communities” txt_align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1736845327913{background-image: url(https://www.communitywealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mask-Group-93-2.png?id=6577) !important;}” el_class=”hover_box”]Access Now[/vc_cta][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]