AiPurpose
Our
mission is to energize Philanthropy (all gifts of talent, time
and money) to build community by engaging in appreciative inquiry
and other generative practices that build civil society, social
capital and confidence.
Our
clients explore, visualize, articulate and act to co-create
their own best futures. We use positive, appreciative
methodology to bring forth results that transform the organizations
and communities we serve.
We are experiencing powerful, positive outcomes from our work
at the:
- Individual level:
More energized philanthropists – connecting their personal
passions to meaningful contributions of work, wisdom and wealth
to the community.
- Community level:
Increased social capital - engaging voices of a diverse community
in conversations that share personal experience, develop relationships
and generate understanding and action toward positive images
of the future.
- Organizational level:
inspired organizations - enhancing their capacity, focusing
on existing resources and strengths, to translate individual
passions into breakthrough change and results.
The Alliance Inspiring Philanthropy (AIP) began as an initiative
of The San Diego Women's Foundation (SDWF), which was founded
in 1999 to engage women in significant philanthropy. In a series
of follow up visits with initial grant recipients, we were struck
not only by the results, but by the power of program participants'
stories. We also heard, repeatedly, about the importance of
ongoing relationships in sustaining the impact of the philanthropy
that, in effect “It's not just the money!”
To continue those relationships and explore the potential for
energizing philanthropy to improve the region, we conducted
an inquiry with more than 100 SDWF members, Community Partners
(past grantees), program participants and friends, exploring
times when their contributions had made a significant difference..
The inquiry culminated in a community forum for all participants
to share stories, explore the conditions that motivate philanthropy
and envision a community where everyone contributes. We also
produced a report on “Women Giving” , based on their member
responses, for SDWF.
In
August, 2004, to maximize the return on our personal investments
and more fully realize our potential as a resource to the community,
AiPhilanthropy for Positive Change was formed as a new philanthropic
venture and expanded to include women with diverse talents and
community connections .
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