A Rose By Any Other Name?

For the last twelve years, the name of this organization has been Ohio Grantmakers Forum. Before that time there were two regional associations of grantmakers in Ohio – with Donors Forum of Ohio based in Columbus and northeast Ohio’s Grantmakers Forum headquartered within The Cleveland Foundation. In 2000 the two organizations merged to form Ohio Grantmakers Forum. At this year’s annual conference, OGF members will be asked to approve a recommendation that our name be changed again, from Ohio Grantmakers Forum to Philanthropy Ohio.

The rationale for this change is to ensure that our organizational name matches our mission. As a result of a two-year long planning process, we are expanding our statewide network beyond just grantmaking foundations to include other organizations and individuals actively engaged in philanthropy in Ohio. In addition to private, community and corporate foundations, other grantmaking public charities and corporate giving programs, membership in OGF is now open to giving circles, federated funds, governmental agencies and individual philanthropists. And while we expect that grantmakers will continue to comprise the great majority of members, we want our name to indicate that membership is open to all those engaged in philanthropy in Ohio.

OGF’s strategic direction is based on belief that as philanthropy slowly evolves, the organization that represents and serves philanthropy needs to change as well. Donors now have more options than ever before to achieve their charitable goals. The more awareness, information sharing and collaboration we can foster among all those involved in philanthropy, the greater the potential impact on issues of common concern.

A new chapter for OGF begins at this year’s annual conference. I hope you are there to cast your vote for more effective philanthropy in Ohio.