May 2003 TSC Update
Work on the Community Foundation Technology Initiative has gotten off to a running start. According to Sid Hartman, chairman of the Technology Steering Committee, "Even the TSC has been impressed by how the Initiative has burst into action so quickly and competently. Out of six development projects, two are likely to be launched with developers in early July."
On June 9 and 10 subcommittee chairs met in Chicago to manage cross-cutting issues such as: pending business needs, process issues and identification of actions needing resolution. These chairpersons' meetings provide assurance that there is a high level of coordination across the individual committees.
On the funding scene, several grants are under consideration in June, representing contributions that could top off the $3.3 million currently committed to the Funding Syndicate. Check the June update for progress in this area, as well as on other activities currently under way.
Technology Steering Committee*
Technology Initiative and Funding Syndicate Update
May, 2003
HEADLINES
Funding totaling $3.3 million (from 25 foundations) was identified in April and four high-priority subcommittees immediately began work.
Two of the six subcommittees will have a finalist vendor identified by the end of June, ready for a TSC Executive Committee decision and launch.
Research and Education is moving to put in place a Web site for technology information and support.
Seamless Processing (Kit Conroy, NY Community Trust, chair)
The subcommittee has made swift progress in identifying high-level business needs and potential development partners for this high-priority area of work. The subcommittee has received six proposals that are currently under careful review. On June 18th the subcommittee will convene in person for presentations by the finalists. If all goes well, the subcommittee will make a recommendation in late June to the TSC Executive Committee, which makes the final decision on vendor selection and budget.
"The subcommittee is very aware of how important seamless processing is to the field," says Kit Conroy, chair. "Several colleagues have told me that their main reason for investing in the Tech Initiative was to secure seamless processing for their foundation. We take this trust very seriously."
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) (Noah Wasmer, East Bay CF, chair)
Moving quickly to get field-wide input on CRM business needs, this subcommittee distributed an electronic survey and received 91 responses from across the country. Considerable effort was made to reach development, grant-making and finance staff for CRM input. The committee was expanded to include this breadth of representation as well.
Currently, TSC consultant Doug Yeager is taking these high-level needs and developing the detailed business needs required to solicit proposals starting in late June.
API and Development Standards (Greg McMillen, The Central Indiana CF, Tracy Peck, The Arizona CF, co-chairs)
Two subcommittees found overlapping areas of responsibility and merged in May.
Since API relates to the means to connect (or open up) our current legacy systems (mainly FIMS and Foundation Power) to new systems and programs, Tech Initiative planners have known that the vendor in this area would inevitably be MicoEdge/NPO. While this makes vendor selection noncompetitive in this area, this aspect of the Tech Initiative work is critical to the accomplishment of other components.
An exciting development in this area is the announcement by MicoEdge/NPO of a new approach to creating the open architecture the field has been pressing for during the past two years. "Development of a new API is thrilling work," exclaimed Greg McMillen. McMillen, co-chair, further explains, "By building a new API we are literally constructing a bridge from our legacy systems to our (community foundation's) future. This future looks bright because of the rich 'tool kit' being developed by the Technology Steering Committee to assist the work of the community foundations."
The subcommittee has already clarified API business needs with MicoEdge/NPO, and a proposal is being prepared. It is anticipated that a proposals from MicroEdge/NPO will be ready for subcommittee (and then TSC Executive Committee) review by late June.
Research and Education (Bill Solomon, The Dallas Foundation, chair)
This subcommittee, formerly called Emerging Technologies, is charged with keeping abreast of technologies, both hardware and software, that have potential to provide building blocks for the field's next generation technology environment.
Early meetings of this committee have identified the need for a technology resource center for the field. Envisioned as a Web site, the resource center will assemble and provide resources on issues such as how to build a technology plan, general maintenance & security (i.e. firewalls, antivirus, Microsoft updates, etc.), SPAM control, remote access, wireless networking, paperless office, and other technologies that can be deployed by community foundations to increase efficiency and improve customer service. The subcommittee will also collect and make available information about new and useful technologies that are currently being used in community foundations across the country so that foundations don't have to "reinvent the wheel."
The TSC Executive Committee reviewed the technology resource center concept presented by the Research and Education Subcommittee and made available $10,000 for creation of a TSC Web site which will be co-sponsored by the FAOG Technology Committee and the Council on Foundations Technology Affinity Group (TAG). TSC, FAOG, TAG and CFA will play a role in promoting the site and notifying constituents about updates and new information on the site.
Specific outcomes for the technology resource center will be developed in June and the subcommittee hopes to have the site up and operating by early fall.
Communications and Outreach
Following through on the TSC's commitment to provide consistent and open communications to the field during the Technology Initiative, the first few of a series of online discussions were held in May on the overall work of the TSC. On June 4 an on-line discussion reviewed the charge and the current status of the CRM Subcommittee's work. A repeat session will be held June 19 (and both have sold out their 23 slots). Additional online discussions will focus on other key topics, and sessions will be repeated to meet demand in the field.
* The Technology Steering Committee (TSC) is co-sponsored by the Community Foundations Leadership Team of the Council on Foundations and Community Foundations of America. The Technology Initiative is a series of integrated and prioritized development activities to build community foundation technology readiness, capacity and infrastructure over the next three years.
These updates are part of a communications effort to keep colleagues in the field informed about the TSC's work. Information in these documents may be freely distributed by TSC members providing that: 1) precise language in the updates is used (for clarity and consistency); 2) the TSC attribution language (provided to the left) is included; and 3) readers are referred to source documents on the COF or CFA Web sites.
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