Investing in Process

“A sense of urgency” is perhaps the favorite contemporary phrase in the lexicon of foundation executives and trustees. And they have a point. The problems faced by poor communities require our active engagement rather than complacency. And communities are also hungry for action. But these CCIs have repeatedly taught the importance of investing in appropriate process in order to lay the groundwork for lasting community change. Finding the right balance between urgency and deliberateness is one of the key challenges for CCIs.

An initial investment in planning is essential. Particularly if community members are directly involved in that process, skilled facilitation is important along with time and resources devoted to building appropriate skills (e.g. data interpretation). Even with professional help, it’s not unusual for community deliberations to become bogged down in interpersonal issues and controversy. There is also likely to be push back against the funders’ assumptions about change. But the planning process can also serve a key educational function by exploring what is known about best practices and allowing for the sharing of different perspectives. It can help to establish a group culture of iterative learning that can serve the Initiative well in the long run.

Challenging as it may be, maintaining direct feedback loops with the broader community is an important part of the community change process. Setting ground rules for governance by consensus (directions everyone can “live with”) rather than majority rule also helps to bring everyone along while honoring individual contributions. Forcing the pace of change adds undue stress to the proceedings. The pressure to produce results too quickly can really get in the way of necessary trust building. That said, communities have a right to be impatient with process as well. A mechanism to provide mini-grants to neighborhood groups for short-term tangible “wins” while planning proceeds can be a valuable morale booster. It also sets the tone for a continued flexible approach to funding throughout the life of the Initiative as opportunities arise.

Tom David