Ben Starrett

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Funders Network for Smart Growth and Livable
Communities Connecting Smart Growth to Your Work
Ben Starrett Fall Conference for Community
Foundations Baltimore, Maryland October 26, 2003
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Presentation Overview

• Understanding smart growth
• Why it matters to community foundations
• Introduction to the Funders Network

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What is Urban Sprawl?
Sprawl is irresponsible development that takes
our tax dollars away from our communities and
destroys farmland and open space.
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What is Smart Growth?
Smart growth is well-planned development that
protects open space and farmland, revitalizes
communities, keeps housing affordable and
provides more transportation choices.
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Sprawl vs. Smart Growth
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What Smart Growth Is And Is Not
More transportation choices and less traffic
Not against cars and roads
Vibrant cities, suburbs and towns
Not anti-suburban
Wider variety of housing choices
Not about telling people where or how to live
Not against growth
Well-planned growth that improves quality of life
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Why Do People Prefer Smart Growth?
Sprawl generates more traffic, longer trips and
more dependence on automobiles.
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Were Driving Ourselves Crazy
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Or This?
Does Your Community Deserve
This?
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Why Do People Prefer Smart Growth?
Smart Growth Allows Farmers and Communities to
Save Farmland
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Why Do People Want Smart Growth?
This?
Or this?
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Why Do People Prefer Smart Growth?
Returns to Community Per Dollar Spent
Sprawl CostsTax Payers MoreMoney
SourceAmerican Farmland Trust
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Why It Matters to Community Foundations

• Quality of Life for Children, Elders, and
  Everyone
• Economic Opportunity
• Economic Efficiency/Good Government
• Housing Affordability
• Public Health
• Public Engagement/Social Capital
• Farms, Open Space and a Clean Environment

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Some of the Community Foundations Active in Smart
Growth
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Many Community Foundations are supporting Smart
Growth

• East Bay Community Foundation
• Baton Rouge Area Foundation
• New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
• California Community Foundation
• Rochester Area Community Foundation

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Smart Growth can work as a Lens for Community
Foundations

• New way to see current work
• Connect work to larger field
• While complex and long term, framework for
  targeted grantmaking
• Bundle of issues with varying ripeness

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Emerging Movement
Still embryonic but growing stronger with new
alliances

• Community Development
• Labor
• Faith-based
• Philanthropic

• Social Equity
• Research
• Coalitions
• Health

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Funders Network History

• Formed in Mid-1999
• Staff of Five
• 91 Member Foundations
• FY 2003-04 Budget _at_1.2 M
• 13 Member Management Board Comprised of Member
  Funders

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Our Mission

• To strengthen funders abilities to support
  organizations working to build more livable
  communities through smarter growth policies and
  practices.

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Current Work Plan

• Member Services
• Projects to Help Build the Field

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Member Services

• Annual Conference
• Information Services (web and publications)
• Consulting and Facilitation
• Outreach
• Organizational Development

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Member Services

• Annual Conference
• Top Ranked Member Service
• March 10-12, 2004
• Hosted by the Vancouver Foundation

SAVE THE DATE!! 5TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE MARCH
10-12, 2004
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Member Services

• Information Services Website

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Member Services

• Information Services Publications
• Translation Papers
• Livable Communities _at_ Work
• SpotLights
• Project Specific Publications

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Projects to Help Build the Field

• Communications
• Regional and Neighborhood Equity
• Community Foundations Leadership
• Transportation Funders Group
• Real Estate Finance
• Healthy Communities
• Housing

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Projects to Help Build the Field

• Community Foundations Leadership Project
• 1/3rd of the Networks Membership
• National Steering Committee
• Programs at Fall Conferences
• Supporting Work on the Ground
• California Livable Communities Network (9
  community foundations)
• Tools and Resources

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New Resources on the Way

• A Getting Started Toolkit for community
  foundations
• An investments guide for foundations interested
  in supporting smarter growth real estate
  development
• A funders guide for communicating about smart
  growth
• A how to guide for funders interested in
  housing
• 8 new papers on various topics

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Change is Possible
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www.fundersnetwork.org