by Amy Segal Shorey

Most of us want to feel deeply connected to other people.  Sixty percent of Americans celebrate that major retail event, Valentine’s Day.

Philanthropists might not send one another chocolates, but they do look to share with one another in meaningful ways.  Even The Giving Pledge promises its billionaire signers the opportunity to converse with their peers and exchange ideas about how best to give their wealth away.

Foundation boards frequently debate the merits of joining affinity groups and membership organizations, weighing the value of membership against using the funds for additional grants. The Council on Foundations website alone lists 42 affinity groups representing common grantmaking interests, geographic focus, size and governance structure, and trustee identity.  These groups boast thousands of members in the philanthropic sector, but they represent a minority of private foundations.

The strongest motivation for joining is to increase the impact or efficiency of your grantmaking, but that effect is difficult to measure, and impossible to know in advance. For practical guidance, I would offer these four reasons that our foundation clients decide to become members:

Connect with others like you. Regional associations of grantmakers offer foundation trustees and donors the opportunity to exchange ideas among trustees with similar grantmaking and organizational concerns. Rather than an exclusive club, active regional associations open doors and provide a forum for in-depth learning and strong connections.

A growing number of identity-based groups like The Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE, since 1971), Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP, since 1990) and Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP, since 2001) provide targeted opportunities for learning, grantmaking and building stronger networks.

Find useful information, resources and events.  National membership organizations geared towards foundations and donors of all types now offer a dizzying selection of online information, expert advice, and opportunities for learning and connecting with the people and resources you need. Finding memberships that suit you best depends on the nature of your foundation, trustee interests and priorities. Consider the alternatives, and know that joining for the first year can be considered an “experiment.”

Grantmakers concentrating on specific issues may prefer in-depth learning and collaborating with funding peers in issue-based networks and conferences such as Grantmakers in the Arts, Grantmakers in Education, and Grantmakers in Health.

Save.   Members usually save on the cost of conference attendance, events, webinars and educational materials, and even expenses like directors & officers liability insurance. Membership may pay for itself if a foundation’s trustees avail themselves of these discounts.

Support philanthropy. Have a voice in the national dialogue about philanthropy, and stay abreast of issues that affect foundations, nonprofits and charitable giving. An organization like the Council for Foundations engages in legislative and policy lobbying for the field in D.C., and offers its members opportunities to support the field.

So, take a moment to look around for interesting groups, join one, and deepen your connections. You may be running out for chocolates next Valentine’s Day.

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Amy Segal Shorey is a principal at GMA Foundations.    Her grantmaking expertise includes women’s and girls’ programs, health, human services, and civic engagement.   Amy brings years of foundation and private sector experience to her consulting practice in foundation strategy, guidelines, governance and succession.  She can be reached at ashorey@gmafoundations.com