IPA Takes Action on Member Feedback
The staff at Indiana Philanthropy Alliance cares about its members. It is our overriding goal to make sure we are providing you with what you want in your statewide philanthropy serving organization. That’s not lip service—it’s in our DNA.
With that in mind, we were gratified to see this year’s results of IPA’s annual Member Satisfaction Survey and appreciate the constructive feedback shared. 99% rated IPA as effective in working for the field of philanthropy as your statewide association. In addition, 95% would recommend IPA and 90% find IPA helpful in inspiring you to be innovative. With regards to IPA resources, 92% of respondents favorably rated the IPA Weekly newsletter. Other popular resources included peer groups; salary, benefits, and demographic reports; and the resource library.
“IPA is the best membership organization I am involved with,” one survey respondent said. "We are lucky in Indiana to have such a high-quality and caring staff who helps guide us through this work," said another. "The networking and peer support alone have answered many questions, and I'm grateful for IPA's work in setting these networks up."
Improving Our Practice
Rest assured, we’ll never rest on our laurels, despite the affirming positive feedback. We remain as vigilant as ever, applying your assessments to improve our practice and ensure IPA best supports members' changing needs. In response to the survey, we have already made progress on the following:
Several asked for more of a rural focus, with more training and programs for small foundations supporting rural areas. “Our community foundation and others we’ve talked to would like to see more rural community topics available,” one such comment said. On June 7, IPA hosted the Rural Prosperity Symposium, a full-day event at Mallow Run in Bargersville, where accounts of sustainable rural success were shared. Additionally, we have increased rural-focused content in the IPA Weekly newsletter and are ensuring education programs are relevant to members funding rural, suburban, and urban populations.
On a similar note, some respondents called for more private foundation programming: “More content & opportunities geared toward private/family foundations,” one said. “Innovation/best practices within the private foundation space,” said another. We heard you. In addition to existing programs for private foundations—National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) webinar partnership, Midwest Family Foundation Series, Private Foundation CEO Peer Community—IPA has begun work on a large-scale, premier event tailored for members of this type.
A few respondents requested more in-person networking and training. “Some things are better communicated/shared in person,” one respondent noted. We couldn't have said it better. After being constricted during the height of the pandemic, IPA is excited to bring our network together again for more regular on-site learning and connection. Our staff have already hit the road several times this year and are raring to do so in the rest of 2022. We encourage you to join us for Data to Action Deep Dive and the regional Legislative Roundtable events coming up in July. The Philanthropy Leads Conference in September will be in-person and we can’t wait to see you.
Some respondents also encouraged IPA to make time for more one-on-one visits with members. IPA has re-instituted the member stewardship strategy to increase outreach efforts, making it a goal for staff to hold private member meetings to build relationships and better understand your needs, challenges, and success.
Of course, so many other great ideas came through, and we will continue our work to meet the needs of every single one.
We thank everyone who took the survey for the constructive notes, and we will continue to analyze and apply them. Even though the survey has concluded, we hope you will find that we welcome any and all ongoing feedback that you can provide.
The important work at IPA, to support and amplify philanthropy's impact in Indiana, continues.