Community Leadership Networks

Community Leadership Networks (CLNs) are the on-the-ground counterparts to the National Task Force. The CLNs reflect a belief that the knowledge base on community leadership resides within and must be created by community foundations. Composed of teams from up to ten community foundations, CLNs are action-oriented peer learning groups that will work in real time on real community leadership issues, addressing both internal and external challenges to effectiveness and impact.

Active recruitment began in late summer with an open call to the field. CFLeads’ Becky Hornbeck and Martha Johnston reached out individually and in small groups to dozens of community foundations at the Council’s Fall Conference. Nearly 50 community foundations participated in a conference call co-hosted by CFLT and CFLeads in October. Scores of community foundations have contacted CFLeads staff to learn more about CLNs. This process has surfaced an enormous interest in community leadership; at the same time, it should be candidly acknowledged that many community foundations are struggling with the “what” and the “how.”

With the assistance of a selection committee composed of CFLT members and CFLeads board members, the first two CLNs were formed in December and the first meetings of these networks will begin in late winter or early spring.

The Future of Community Leadership Networks. It is hoped that the first few CLNs will grow into dozens both here and abroad over the next decade. When the pilots are complete, it will be possible to determine the proper “dose and duration” and create a basic architecture that accommodates varying content. There may also be a few different forms of CLNs, such enhanced (longer-term engagement), or issue-specific.

By the end of 2008, CFLeads will have developed CLN pricing structures and marketing materials. While the most likely funders of CLNs are regional private foundations, it will reduce costs if a regional association or group of community foundations secures funding and recruits and vets CLN members. There are a number of reasons why sponsoring a CLN should be attractive to regional private funders: 1) it builds community leadership capacity within the regional foundation’s geographic area; 2) it creates the potential for more vibrant philanthropic partnerships and collaboration on issues of mutual interest; and 3) it is a one-time expense. Moreover, the significant attrition expected with the retirement of the Baby Boom generation also create opportunities to extend CLNs by connecting them to retired community foundation CEOs who will act as coaches and conveners when CFLeads concludes its involvement.