A Collaborative Grantmaking Approach Awards $5,000 to the ‘Library of Things’
In a hands-on exercise to welcome newly elected members to the Community Foundation of Central Alberta (CFCAB) Board of Directors, the group chose to award a grant of $5,000 to the Olds Municipal Library (OML) for its innovative Library of Things. This unique community asset allows patrons to borrow items such as tools, games, instruments, small appliances, recreation equipment, arts and crafts supplies, and more.
The process of selecting the grant recipient was unique in that the goal was to give new Board Members an in-depth understanding of the granting process. Each of the four new members pitched a local agency to the group. Once all agencies had been presented, the group engaged in a collaborative process where the merits of all the pitches were discussed, using the pillars in the Community Foundation’s Strategic Plan as guideposts.
Ultimately, the Board selected the Olds Municipal Library’s Library of Things as the grant recipient after considering criteria such as community impact, sustainability, and stewardship.
Dan McPherson, an Olds resident and the Board Member who pitched the Library of Things, was particularly impressed with the reach of the Olds Municipal Library, and the impact that a $5,000 grant would have.
“The Board was drawn to the fact that this grant would support something that could impact people over and over and over again,” said Dan McPherson. “I think we had good discussion as a Board on those factors of the ability to continue to give into the future.”
“This was a new way to introduce Board members to the values of the Community Foundation, and give them an opportunity to see all that the factors that go into making granting decisions,” said Erin Peden, CFCAB Executive Director.
The activity was loosely modelled on participatory grantmaking processes where the applying agencies themselves work together to make funding decisions. “In this case, the Board members were acting as the agencies they were presenting, and were able to see the grantmaking process from all angles,” said Peden.
The Community Foundation has used this grantmaking process in the past, specifically with the Fund for Gender Equality, where seven agencies decided, collectively, how to distribute the granting funds. This model moves away from traditional ways of grantmaking to prioritize collaboration, communication, and community wisdom.
“I actually really appreciated the reflection aspect of it that we got to do as a Board, and I think we all realized that the work of the Community Foundation is incredibly rewarding, but also incredibly hard work because these are very hard decisions,” said McPherson.
The Board’s decision to support OML’s Library of Things also reflects a commitment to supporting rural initiatives, as well as projects that increase accessibility and enhance quality of life throughout Central Alberta. The OML is committed to making the Library of Things accessible to all through their collaboration efforts with other libraries in the region as well. With this funding, the Olds Municipal Library will be able to maintain their Library of Things collection for a minimum of three years.
“Thanks to this process and their willingness to grapple with tough decisions, our Board has come away with even more community knowledge, as well as an understanding of the complexity of grantmaking in a climate where so many charities are deserving,” said Peden.
