What is "More Than Money?"
"More Than Money" is both a programmatic effort and a guiding principle of our practice which:
- Leverages the Foundation's non-financial capital to advance equitable practices.
- Strengthens networks and ecosystems.
- Amplifies and drives resources to under-resourced issues and organizations.
- Enhances the knowledge and capabilities of nonprofit leaders.
We seek to intentionally raise the visibility of small nonprofits and provide experiences and resources beyond the grant dollars they receive from special initiative programs. We do this through the provision of workshops, networking events, technical assistance and press opportunities, each facilitated internally or through a network of close community partners.
History of MTM: How it started”More Than Money” was inspired by the late Ambassador James A. Joseph's 2014 keynote address, Beyond Grantmaking, Reimagining the Role of the Community Foundation at the Council on Foundations conference on Oct. 20, 2014, in Cleveland, Ohio, regarding the five forms of capital – financial, social, moral, intellectual and reputational. Watch the keynote address. As a result, the Small and Mighty grants program was launched in 2016, with the understanding and intention that critical, small grants alone would not be sufficient to help some nonprofits fulfill their missions. Small organizations are valuable assets in underserved communities, yet face significant challenges to developing capacity, achieving stability and sustaining and enhancing service delivery. Typically, they have solid credibility with the people and neighborhoods they serve but are often less visible outside of their geographic areas. Even if organizations are known, concerns about their small size may overshadow their unique strengths, resulting in less support from funders and less engagement with policy makers. These ideas have been developed into workshops and events to enhance the Small and Mighty program -- what came to be known as "More Than Money." We also used the Foundation’s robust communications networks to share the work of Small and Mighty grantees, providing more visibility and recognition for the important role that they play in making Pittsburgh a place where all residents can thrive. |
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