Peer Communities

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About

Peer Communities offer ongoing opportunities to connect and learn with peers with similar roles and interests. You'll be connected through email group discussions (listserv), virtual meetings, and on occasion, in-person convenings. Members are encouraged to review the listserv guidelines.

Peer Communities are led by volunteer member chairs. Working with IPA staff, chairs gather input from their group to determine discussion topics. They also identify resources and advocate for participation from members of the Peer Community. 

How to Join

Go here to sign up. 

Not sure if you're ready to join? We encourage you to register for an upcoming meeting as a trial run.
 

Eligibility

Peer Communities are open to IPA members within grantmaking organizations.

Questions?

Contact Julie Markland at jmarkland@inphilanthropy.org.

The Communications Peer Community is for those members with a communications and/or marketing role who are looking to network and share knowledge. This community explores topics such as annual report creation, social media strategy, website and other content curation, writing op-eds, effective storytelling, and more. Virtual meetings are held quarterly, and a listserv allows community members to communicate between meetings.

Email the Listserv - for group members only

Co-Chairs:

• Kathleen Alter, Director of Community Engagement & Leadership, Community Foundation of Dekalb County

2024 Meeting Dates:

All meetings are 3:00 - 4:00 pm ET

• January 23
• April 23
• July 23
• October 22

The Development Peer Community is for those members with a fundraising or donor relations role who are looking to network and share knowledge.  This community explores topics such as donor relationships, planned giving programs, stewardship, and more. Virtual meetings are held quarterly, and a listserv allows community members to communicate between meetings.

Email the Listserv - for group members only

Co-Chairs:

• Kara Fulmer, Director of Planned Giving and Grants, The Honeywell Foundation
• Kiley Tate-Potts, Director of Philanthropic Services, Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne

2024 Meeting Dates:

All meetings are 9:00 - 10:00 am ET

• February 13
• May 14
• August 13
• November 19

The Finance Peer Community is for those members with a finance and/or administration role who are looking to network and share knowledge. This community explores topics such as financial policies and procedures, accounting software, and more. Virtual meetings are held quarterly, and a listserv allows community members to communicate between meetings.

Email the Listserv - for group members only

Chair:

• Sherry Hayes, Chief Financial Officer, Community Foundation Serving Howard, Clinton, Carroll Counties
• Amy Naidu, Controller, Wabash Valley Community Foundation

2024 Meeting Dates:

All meetings are 10:00 - 11:00 am ET

• February 21
• May 8
• August 14
• November 6

The Grantmaking Peer Community is for those members with a grantmaking role who are looking to network and share knowledge. This community explores topics such as grants management, site visits, application review processes, donor-advised funds, grantee relationships, funder programming, and more. Virtual meetings are held quarterly, and a listserv allows community members to communicate between meetings.

Email the Listserv - for group members only

Co-Chairs:

• Jordan England, Grant & Nonprofit Relations Director, The Blue River Community Foundation
• Juan Galeano, Program Officer, The Clowes Fund

2024 Meeting Dates:

All meetings are 2:00 - 3:00 pm ET

• January 25
• April 25
• July 25
• October 24

The North Program Officer Peer Community is a network of program officers and staff in northern Indiana who are looking to network and share knowledge. This community explores topics such as grants management, site visits, application review processes, donor-advised funds, grantee relationships, funder programming, and more. In-person meetings are held in rotating locations such as Elkhart and Ft Wayne, along with periodic virtual meetings. A listserv allows community members to communicate between meetings.

Email the Listserv - for group members only

Co-Chairs:

• Kayla Myers, Senior Program Officer, Community Foundation of St Joseph County
• Vonnie Trumble, Program Officer, Community Foundation of Elkhart County

2024 Meeting Dates:

• January 16 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET (virtual)
• March 12 | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm ET (in person)
• June 12 | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm ET (in person)
• September 10 | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm ET (in person)

The Scholarship Peer Community is for those members with a scholarship administration role who are looking to network and share knowledge. This community explores topics such as scholarship policies, processes, application reviews, and more. Virtual meetings are held quarterly, and a listserv allows community members to communicate between meetings.

Email the Listserv - for group members only

Co-Chairs:

• Ali Maxey, Director of Education, Community Foundation of Boone County
• Katie Sly, Program & Engagement Officer, Crown Point Community Foundation

2024 Meeting Dates:

All meetings are 2:00 - 3:00 pm ET

• February 6
• May 2
• August 20
• November 19

The Young Leaders in Philanthropy Peer Community is for members who are emerging leaders in the philanthropic sector, generally between the ages of 20-40. This community explores topics such as intergenerational communication, professional development opportunities, next-gen giving trends, and more. Virtual meetings are held quarterly, and a listserv allows community members to communicate between meetings.

Email the Listserv - for group members only

Co-Chairs:

• Emerald Blankenship, Vice President of Programs, Community Foundation serving Howard, Clinton, and Carroll Counties
• Ashley Stephen, Community Grants & Operations Manager, Community Foundation of Randolph County

2024 Meeting Dates:

All meetings are 11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET

• January 25
• April 26
• July 26
• October 25

The Youth Philanthropy Peer Community is for members who have an interest or role in youth philanthropy and are looking to build networks and share knowledge. This community explores topics such as youth council facilitation, youth leadership, development, philanthropic opportunities, grantmaking, service projects, and more. Virtual meetings are held quarterly, and a listserv allows community members to communicate between meetings.

Email the Listserv - for group members only

Co-Chairs:

• Destany Pingle, Program Associate/Facilitator of Orange County Community Foundation Youth Council, Orange County Community Foundation

2024 Meeting Dates:

All meetings are 2:00 - 3:00 pm ET

• February 29
• May 30
• August 29
• November 21