Photo by Asa Shutts

New Leadership and a Look Ahead

A wave of new leadership is reshaping community foundations across the country. Get to know the Rochester Area Community Foundation’s vision for the future from the perspective of Community Foundation President and CEO Simeon Banister after one year in the role.

How is philanthropy changing?

Donors are looking for a deeper understanding of the impact of their gifts and want to have confidence that the solutions they invest in will work. That’s why we’ve been focusing so much on our ability to articulate outcomes. We’ve hired a community and data analytics director and invested in things like ACT Rochester’s new data dashboard. It’s really exciting to be able to show the results of our work in new ways.

How is the role of community foundations evolving?

As a partner, our role can be to provide research, data visualization, thought leadership, or dollars. But we know there is so much wisdom in our community. Bringing people together and making space for those closest to the issue to truly be in the driver’s seat in addressing challenges is a newer role for community foundations, but so important.

“A new generation of leadership is coming up in our community, which requires fresh energy and a different approach to philanthropy. We are positioned as a Foundation to meet that enthusiasm with new solutions,” says Mollene Benison, Board Chair Elect.

What’s special about Rochester Area Community Foundation?

As an endowment-based organization, we don’t have an election cycle to worry about or a next quarter where we need to show profits. That distinction gives us the opportunity to take a long view. It also gives us an obligation to use our time and resources wisely. So, we do our homework, staff ourselves with the expertise to analyze data and identify trends, and use this thoughtful approach to make informed and intentional decisions. We can try something that hasn’t been done before. We can be a catalyst for innovation.

What’s one thing our community needs to make progress on social issues?

To connect the dots. Often, different groups describe the same issue from different vantages. For example, a grassroots organization may be advocating for job opportunities, while larger employers
are trying to address workforce shortages. It is pretty easy to make progress when everyone agrees on the problem and the solution, but it takes a certain amount of courage and skill to bring people together in ways that are productive, even when they have viewpoints that are dramatically different.

What makes you hopeful that change is possible?

My aspiration for the Rochester region is that we become a national leader in social innovation. There is evidence that we are on the precipice of exciting growth, which includes a changing economy, our current development landscape, and new leadership across the sector. For the Community Foundation, that means embracing a learning mindset and truly becoming diverse, equitable, and inclusive. It means drawing on the best of what this nation has to offer in terms of data, information, and collaboration, to inform what we do right here. I feel a deep sense of adventure and a feeling that our best days are ahead of us.

What is the upside of collaboration and partnership?

Here in our region, we can engage in complementary philanthropy by partnering with other funders, community leaders, and philanthropists in ways that maximize all of our available resources. The Community Foundation’s focus on systemic challenges blends really well with other organizations’ focus on direct service provision. While they are making sure the food cupboards are stocked, we are working to address food deserts and fortify our food system. Together, we can make headway on really big challenges.

What makes giving through the Community Foundation unique?

The Community Foundation is here. Just like you know your neighbors, we work hard to know ours: grassroots and established nonprofits, businesses, other funders, and community members throughout our eight counties. We can’t be effective without these relationships. A gift through the Foundation taps you into a whole network of people working towards a common purpose.

“I have witnessed the tremendous growth of the financial resources and trust that members of our community have placed in the hands of the RACF,” says David Ferris, Board Chair. (Photo by Asa Shutts)