Donor Feedback Event Example “On The Table”

“On the Table” Examples 

The Chicago Community Trust pioneered “On the Table,” an initiative which brings residents together in small mealtime conversations to discuss ways to improve their community. In 2017, the Knight Foundation funded 10 community foundations to adapt the initiative.  

Akron – http://onthetableakron.com/  

From: Laura Fink [mailto:LFink@AkronCF.org] 
Sent: Friday, December 15, 2017 11:12 AM
To: Tony Macklin <community@ncfp.org>
Subject: On The Table 

Great call on Tuesday!   Thank you all for your great leadership and great ideas.  Here is information regarding the On the Table event.  The program was funded by the Knight Foundation. 

On the Table Greater Akron brought together close to 6,000 diverse residents, from all walks of life and socio-economic circumstances, to share a meal and discuss the future of our region. It was an imaginative public square manifested on one day, October 3, 2017. Residents who care about our region’s future engaged in thought-provoking conversations, shaping a public agenda to build and maintain communities that are strong, vibrant, safe and dynamic.  

We know that big ideas can spring from small conversations and that people invest in what they help create. Our community-wide mealtime conversations generated new ideas, inspired bold solutions, and provided opportunities for collaboration and investment. Akron Community Foundation plans to share the final report highlighting the ideas, conversations, themes, and outcomes that emerge from On the Table Greater Akron, and the data will inform the Foundations’ future grant making.  

Laura E. Fink, CFRE 

Director of Development and Professional Advisor Relations 

Akron Community Foundation 

Chicago – https://onthetable.com/about/ 

The site contains reports from the annual forums, resources for hosts, and stories of grants made for ideas that came from the conversations. 

Foundation for the Carolinas – http://onthetableclt.org/