ABSTRACT
We began the Second Century Project with a simple proposition: Theory building could help community foundations address the challenges facing the field. If we moved from a focus on best practices to a deeper inquiry into the underlying dynamics that shape the roles and possibilities of community foundations, might we be able to add insights helpful to individual foundations and enhance the overall vibrancy of the field? Rather than solicit case studies, we organized the Second Century Project as a seminar series with the intention of engaging colleagues in a sustained dialogue that would integrate theory and practice. Our work was made possible by the support of two key national funders, the James S. and John L. Knight Foundation and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, whose contributions to field-building precede this work and have proven transformative to the field’s success. We mention this not only to acknowledge their funding but to highlight one of the themes within the preceding chapters. There is a natural synergy between national funders and community foundations. When the granularity of local knowledge is paired with the intellectual and financial resources of national funders, we are able to both strengthen community leadership and accelerate the pace of change in communities.
