The mission of the Grantmaker Forum on Community & National Service is to provide leadership and information about the value of service and volunteering and encourage private and public investment in the field as a means of strengthening communities and building a healthy democracy.

To carry out this mission, the Grantmaker Forum relies on the active participation and leadership of its members. Members help set the program agenda through direct communications with the board and staff or by serving on one of the following committees, each led by a member of the GFCNS board of directors. Current committees include:

Annual Conference Committee Membership Development Committee Effective Policy & Practice Advisory Group Finance Committee Nominating/Board Development Committee

The Grantmaker Forum welcomes representatives of the philanthropic community to join in our work. Please contact the Forum at 510/665-6130 or to become involved.

Annual Conference Committee:
The Annual Conference Committee is responsible for organizing the GFCNS Annual Conference; advising staff on conference design, content and logistic; and assisting with conference marketing and publicity.

Membership Development Committee:
The Membership Committee is responsible for organizing successful membership outreach and events, including an annual campaign to increase the paid membership of GFCNS.

Effective Policy & Practice Advisory Group
The Grantmaker Forum’s Effective Policy & Practice (EPP) Advisory Group monitors and discusses key policy issues and program practices affecting service, volunteering, and civic engagement, and advises GFCNS program and policy activities. EPP conducts quarterly conference call meetings so that the Grantmaker Forum can regularly benefit from the input, ideas, and perspectives of members. Reports and recommendations from the group are presented to the GFCNS board and staff by the EPP Chair. A member of the Grantmaker Forum’s Board of Directors chairs the EPP Advisory Group. The EPP includes a wide range of grantmakers and non-grantmakers, both Board members and non-Board members, with experience and interest in policy and practice.
The EPP welcomes new members. If you are interested in joining the EPP, please contact a GFCNS Board member or staff, or contact the organization at . To ensure a good flow of information from the field and productive conversations, the EPP chair monitors the balance of grantmakers and non-grantmakers participating on the EPP.

Finance Committee:
The Finance Committee is responsible for reviewing the organization's financial statements, and informing the Board of the organization's financial health.

Nominating/Board Development Committee:
The Nominating/Leadership Committee is responsible for assessing the leadership development needs of the current Board; identifying and recruiting prospective board members; presenting candidates for election to the board; and arranging for new board member orientation.