Freeport Community Foundation » FCF Operational and Mission Assessment

Dear FCF Board Member,
THANK YOU for taking less than 10 minutes to provide your thoughts on the current operational and mission status of the Freeport Community Foundation. Your input will help to both direct the flow of conversation at our July 29 Board of Directors retreat, but also begin mapping the Foundation’s path for 2023, including a probable 3-5-year Strategic Planning session(s).

Please feel free to directly connect with Executive Director Michelle DeHaven if you have any thoughts beyond the scope of this survey. She is most readily reached via her cell phone at (815) 670-4123.
1. How do you feel about the overall activity and direction of FCF?*
2. What do you think are the Foundation’s three (3) greatest strengths?*
- Breadth & Volume of Community Needs Granting
- Restricted Funds (Luthin, Drogosz, Lloyd, agencies, etc.) and related granting
- Current leadership and vision
- Longevity of Organization (48 years); strong history of solid fiscal management & fund stewardship
- Relationships with Nonprofit Organizations
- Diversity of Assets and Investment Policy
- OTHER: Please specify
If you selected Other, use this field for additional comments
3. What do you view as the Foundation's three (3) greatest weaknesses?*
- Significant need within NPO / regional community v. available assets
- Lack of awareness re: the Foundation / what we do
- Lack of inclusion re: the Foundation by regional leadership
- Confusion as to who we serve based on our name and Freeport-centric giving history
- Insufficient fund development / annual fundraising
- Lack of internal investment (permanent office space; full-time CEO/President; insufficient support staff/structure)
- OTHER: Please specify
If you selected Other, use this field for additional comments
4. What do you view as the Foundation’s three (3) greatest threats?*
- Risk of giving / operational expenses out-pacing unrestricted fund growth
- Insufficient Board / staff development / internal infrastructure
- General fundraising competition from Nonprofits, civic-groups, etc.
- Granting and Donor Development competition from peers – i.e. HCC Foundation; FHN; Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (Stephenson county); Community Foundation of Jo Daviess county (Jo Daviess), United Way (all three counties), Monroe Clinic Foundation, etc.
- Declining donor-based and transfer of wealth/resources outside region/state
- Outside factors beyond our control – i.e. economy, poverty, healthcare crisis, education crisis, political leadership, COVID/pandemics, etc.
- OTHER: Please specify
If you selected Other, use this field for additional comments
5. What do you view as the Foundation’s three (3) greatest opportunities?*
- Untapped small donors (i.e. expanding annual campaign / online giving)
- Potential passing of Endow Illinois tax credit in 2023 (designed to help offset growing transfer of wealth)
- Internal investment in own space / expanded staff leading to more development & programming opportunities
- Continued development of synergistic relationships with regional / state Foundation peers, key NPO partners and key regional leadership
- Developing (re)branding / donor development campaign around upcoming 50th Anniversary (2024)
- Other: Please Specify
If you selected Other, use this field for additional comments
6. What three (3) areas of Community Needs do you believe the FCF should focus on in the overall pursuit of our mission: Empowering non-profits to develop solution that help northwest Illinois communities thrive?*
- Helping to improve region’s on-going Food Insecurity Issues
- Impacting economic growth through large-scale, NPO-driven community/tourism projects
- Leading by example and providing educational opportunities to build a strong, regional NPO community
- Priority giving (in general) to more traditional Arts & Culture grants (i.e. FAM smArt After School; historical & arts organizations, etc.)
- Priority giving (in general) for more traditional & non-traditional education grants (i.e. helping public/private schools offset basic needs; programs with organizations like Amity, YMCA and Boys & Girls Club, etc.)
- Priority giving (in general) for more Health & Human Services grants (VOICES, FACC, mental health services, etc.)
- OTHER: Please specify
If you selected Other, use this field for additional comments
7. Do you believe the FCF should diversify its revenue streams? If yes, how?*
- NO. Donors and endowments should be our focus.
- YES. We need to think creatively.
7A. Areas to think creatively (Select all that apply)*
- Fee-based trainings featuring outside experts (non-profit focused)
- Fee-based Pass-Thru Project Funds for Non-Profits
- Lower Restricted Fund minimum (currently $10,000) to increase audience base
- Developing / implementing school & service-club-based scholarship program
- Develop agri-heritage programs (gifts of land, gifts of grain, land stewardship, etc.)
- Donor-to-Endowment programs (allowing Individual donors to count part or all of a pre-arranged annual gift to apply toward a permanent endowment, which is built over time)
- OTHER: Please specify
If you selected Other, use this field for additional comments
8. Do you believe the FCF has adequate staffing for current/future (i.e. next 2-3 years) needs? (NOTE: Current staff is two (2) half-time employees and one (1) quarter-time contractor).*
9. Do you believe the FCF’s current office set-up is adequate for current/future (i.e. next 3-5 years)? (NOTE currently operate out of one small office and one designated cubical in a shared space with United Way located within the M45 office suite of 524 N. Main building, downtown Freeport).*
10. Do you believe the FCF Board of Directors should become more aggressive in their role of Board / committee-member recruitment?*
11. Do you believe the FCF Board of Directors should play a more active role in building donor relationships? (NOTE Phrase is “building donor relationships” does not necessary equate direct asks for donations.)*
12. Which role to you believe the FCF Board of Directors should fill?*