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Breaking Down the Walls between Community and Philanthropy

PhilanthropywoRx is a consulting and partnering organization engaged in efforts on a local, regional and national level to promote and implement better philanthropic practice –particularly at the convergence of community, field building, research and grantmaking. Rural is a passion and a specialty- the R is for rural.

Whether working on internal or external foundation practice, PhilanthropywoRx brings an experienced and objective sense of how foundations can best match their own needs with the needs of their communities. The work of philanthropy must be joyful while concurrently supporting and energizing communities. Equity is front and center. PhilanthropywoRx is all about creative application for results. This is no boilerplate exercise.

L-R: Allen Smart. Founder of PhilanthropyWorx; Rev. Cory Anderson of The Winthrop Rockefeller Fund; David Jordan of the United Methodist Health Ministries Fund; and Nichole Maher of the Group Health Foundation

Breaking Down the Walls between Community and Philanthropy

Effective philanthropy works from the place up, and not the initiative down.

This is particularly true in rural communities where the culture and context may dominate philanthropy’s best intentions. PhilanthropywoRx helps grantmakers of all varieties — private and public — break down silos and self‑imposed barriers that frequently lead to underutilizing their human, financial and intellectual capital.

Strategy and Implementation

Creating and supporting innovative and active philanthropy

Staff Coaching and Support

Helping foundation staff realize their potential

Interim Executive Leadership

On-site or remote executive support for short or long term roles

Working with Communities

Representing foundation or community interests

Senior Leadership & Boards

Helping leadership define roles, strategies and vision

Grantmaking

Designing and implementing grantmaking programs

Strategy and Implementation

Creating and supporting innovative and active philanthropy

Staff Coaching and Support

Helping foundation staff realize their potential

Interim Executive Leadership

On-site or remote executive support for short or long term roles

Working with Communities

Representing foundation or community interests

Senior Leadership & Boards

Helping leadership define roles, strategies and vision

Grantmaking

Designing and implementing grantmaking programs

Three Simple Ways for Funders to Make Their Rural Work Authentic

By Allen Smart | August 28, 2021

I have been there. The visit from the big city or national funder. The awkward conversations with the visitors that want to get the best shrimp and grits or crawfish. And the never-ending sense that you are selling something that, even with the best intentions, the visitor is never going to understand. They may get…

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Interim Executive Director - Foundation for Healthy High Point

I recently served as the Interim Executive Director of the $50 million Foundation for Healthy High Point a (NC) completing an engagement that ran from late summer through January of this year. It was great to get behind the walls of a funder after a few years off and bring my consulting to the day-to-day operations. As part of my engagement, I provided the Board with a set of operational and strategic recommendations that will help the new permanent Executive Director and the Board of Directors as they plan for some ambitious work in 2021.

To speak with me about serving in similar roles for your foundation or non-profit, please contact me at allen@ruralphilanthropy.net or 336-971-5201.

A Recent Engagement with North Carolina Healthcare (formerly Hospital) Association

I had the pleasure of recently completing two major efforts with NCHA.

Helped design and implement the process for the “Fill the Gap” fund—a multi-funder collaborative to support equity-based challenges in the COVID environment.
Developed the Association’s first comprehensive Grants Seeking Strategy and Administration Guide. A unique product that combines both the pre-grant and post-grant behaviors across the organization—two sectors that don’t always align. We hope this will go a long way towards creating a known playing field within the organization.

To speak with me about serving in similar roles for your foundation or non-profit, please contact me at allen@ruralphilanthropy.net or 336-971-5201.

Relationships with Philanthropy Northwest, Capital Link, MDC and The Fletcher Group

With Philanthropy Northwest (philanthropynw.org) working to deepen their rural education for both members and a national constituency.

For Capital Link (caplink.org), a national non-profit providing resources and technical assistance to Federally Qualified Health Centers, I am helping them begin a new journey of highlighting the roles of rural-based FQHCs.

With MDC (mdcinc.org), a national non-profit focused on equity, working on a project introducing rural equity concepts to national and regional funder groups.

For The Fletcher Group (fletchergroup.org) helping to frame their work for rural funders.

For assistance with these types of projects and any others with a rural or philanthropic practice theme, please use my scheduler at the bottom of the Home Page for an initial call.

Leverage Our Expertise

At times, foundations and non-profit organizations need an objective observer to help understand problems and offer possible solutions to internal and external challenges. If you would like to discuss how PhilanthrophywoRx can help your organization, book a free initial consultation by phone or video call.