GUEST COLUMN.

In March 2020, Covid-19 lockdowns brought with them chaos, confusion, and rapidly changing needs for the people in our state. Philanthropic organizations needed to understand the best ways to support communities and to effectively distribute dollars that didn’t interfere with or duplicate the work of the state government. The North Carolina Network of Grantmakers (NCNG) reached out to the North Carolina Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP) with a request: Can you help gather information from state government agencies on statewide needs?

It didn’t take long for OSP to respond with dozens of ideas and recommendations from state agencies to help grantmakers identify ways to support existing programs and fill funding gaps. These suggestions ranged from food distribution systems to housing to personal protective equipment to digital access to training on responding to trauma.

Thus began a government-philanthropy collaboration that helped to bridge the mutual gap in knowledge and understanding between the two sectors. The experience of sharing information and opportunities related to COVID response reinforced discussions that had started months earlier about the possibility of a position within state government that would focus on helping the two sectors work together.

In March 2021, the Philanthropy Liaison joined OSP in a first-of-its kind (in North Carolina and nationally), full-time position conceived by OSP and co-created with philanthropy. OSP facilitates and supports cross-sector partnerships among the state government, research and philanthropic sectors with a particular focus on promoting use of evidence in state government decision making.

(This article, How Collaboration is Changing North Carolina One Project at a Time, published in Route Fifty, is about OSP’s work to facilitate cross-sector collaboration among the state government, philanthropic, and research sectors.)

Neither grant writer nor fundraiser for the state, the Philanthropy Liaison (a position currently held by Juli Kim) brings clarity and transparency to state agencies about private philanthropy and grantmaking, and helps funders navigate the big and complex state government.

Four key elements have made this a successful venture, a venture that other states, localities, and even the federal government could replicate.

First, in nearly five years (initiated by Governor Roy Cooper), OSP has become a recognizable point of contact, facilitator, and strategic partner for cross-sector engagement between and among state government, universities/colleges, and philanthropy.

Second, situated within state government, the Philanthropy Liaison has “insider status” and access to hundreds of dedicated individuals and offices across state agencies and an understanding of their critical work.

Third, in partnership with NCNG, its grantmaking members, and other philanthropic organizations, the Philanthropy Liaison gains insight into individual foundations’ goals and priorities, as well as common interests across funders. NCNG, a membership forum for philanthropic organizations working in North Carolina, now invites representatives from OSP (including the Philanthropy Liaison) and other state agencies to participate in its annual conference and other convenings. This enhances OSP’s and - particularly the Philanthropy Liaison’s - understanding of North Carolina’s philanthropic sector overall and gives state government a horn in philanthropy convenings.

And fourth, OSP and NCNG are dedicated to providing platforms and connections for one another. I led a “Philanthropy 101” webinar for state government employees as one of many resources that OSP develops to highlight ways that philanthropy and state agencies can collaborate. OSP’s Juli Kim shares state government news and information with NCNG’s 115-member grantmakers in NCNG’s monthly newsletter and frequently collaborates on virtual and in-person learning sessions for staff and board members in philanthropy.

This unique relationship allows the Philanthropy Liaison to take in the “big picture” and identify areas where additional information and analysis could benefit both state agencies and funders.

In essence, the Philanthropy Liaison and NCNG help to demystify two sectors that are not famous for being easy to navigate or understand.

Ted Lord, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of The Golden LEAF Foundation, an NCNG and OSP partner, observes that “[Cross-sector partnerships] offer important opportunities to bring together knowledge, talent, and resources in unusual and creative ways to provide benefits to communities—ways that a single sector cannot accomplish on its own.” 

In just such an example, the first Philanthropy Liaison, Joy Vermillion Heinsohn, connected Invest Early NC, a philanthropic collaborative and project of NCNG, with the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the NC Department of Commerce. With the common goal of creating high-quality childcare slots, the agencies and Invest Early NC created, funded, and hired a Child Care Business Liaison, (modeled after OSP’s Philanthropy Liaison), to engage the business sector and address massive statewide needs for North Carolinas’ youngest residents.

Another major win for our state was supported when Kim helped to share a matching funding need from NCDHHS. NC’s philanthropic community responded with some of those needed funds which helped to leverage and unlock significant federal dollars to support child nutrition this summer. 

As NCNG’s Executive Director, I celebrate these successes with our members across the state. Our work with OSP may seem straightforward, but it requires trust, mutual understanding, and proactive efforts to collaborate and help others to seize opportunities to work together. Work remains to connect state government and philanthropy in ways that maximize each other’s resources for the benefit of North Carolinians.

Although OSP’s future is uncertain as the executive branch is set to change hands in 2025, the funders of the Philanthropy Liaison position have extended their investments beyond 2024. This is a strong endorsement of the Philanthropy Liaison’s role—and cross-sector work broadly—to help government and philanthropy partner efficiently and effectively in support of a thriving North Carolina.

The contents of this Guest Column are those of the author, and not necessarily Barrett and Greene, Inc.

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