IPA News

The Numbers are In: IPA Member Survey Results

Saturday, April 1, 2023
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We got our report card back. And the news is good: IPA members are, by and large, very delighted with their statewide organization.
 

97% rate IPA as effective in working for the field of philanthropy

"I appreciate the breadth of what IPA does."

96% recommend IPA

"I cannot begin to express my appreciation for the help I have received during some difficult first years."

96% find IPA helpful in inspiring you to innovate

"We are completely revising our competitive grants process towards a trust-based philanthropy approach."


We’ve combed through the 2022 IPA Membership Survey in detail. All 208 individual responses.

One member commented, “Love that you are always seeking input and opportunities to grow and serve.”

It’s true. We can’t do right by you without hearing what you want. We rely on member feedback for so many things—what we’re doing right, what we’re doing wrong, what programming we need to offer you in the future—to help you do what you do best.

Surveys aren’t pro forma documents at IPA. Here, it’s a living, breathing document—one that continually guides our actions and offerings.


Your Go-to Resource

Among IPA’s top-ranked member resources are the Midwest Salary & Benefits Report, IPA Weekly newsletter, and peer networking.

As a membership association should be, IPA wants to be your go-to resource. Our door, figuratively and literally, is open. Several members indicated their positive experiences with IPA staff, which warms our hearts.

“I appreciate knowing that I can reach out and get the best answers in a short amount of time,” one member said. “I tell people all the time that Indiana is blessed to have IPA at the ready when it comes to ensuring that we are all doing the best possible job.”


Listening to You—And Acting on It

Each year, we ask members for the type of topics they want to learn more about. We use that feedback to create programming.

Nearly half wanted to learn about community collaboration. IPA’s biggest 2023 event? Regional Forums, which has five June events around the state each highlighting an example of cross-sector collaboration.

Roughly 40% want more on communications and storytelling. In July, we will have a workshop day with guidance on public speaking and strong messaging from Vox Global PR experts.

Several members expressed the difficulties of working with a small, lean staff. Many are looking to streamline operations, refresh policies, identify affordable insurance/benefit options, and attract high-caliber professionals. This April, IPA is hosting a human resources and benefits day, where these topics will be addressed in-depth.

In addition, nearly 40% asked for more DEI offerings. Later this year, IPA is partnering with Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) on an equity-centered learning series to help members create more inclusive grantmaking processes. Details on this program will be announced soon.

While the IPA Resource Library was considered extremely helpful, some members noted that it could be easier to navigate. This is a priority we share. Even the best resources aren’t helpful if you can’t find them.  This year, IPA began a major project to improve our content management system and integrated website with the goal of making it easier to quickly find information that helps you with your day-to-day.
 

The ‘Hidden Gems’ of IPA

The membership survey provides revealing insights into IPA offerings that are highly rated by those who use them, but aren’t necessarily known or used by a large number of members yet.

All-Member Calls, for example, are rated as helpful by a large percentage, but nearly 40% said they were either not aware of them or had not attended one. We hope to change this. All-Member Calls cover timely information and may pop up with only a couple of weeks’ notice.

These calls—which occur as needed when circumstances warrant—provide a space for our network to engage with experts and policymakers on current happenings—such as the October meeting where the Governor’s Public Health Commission laid out pressing recommendations for the current legislative session. In 2022, we had two All-Member Calls. During the tumultuous early days of COVID-19, held frequent All-Member Calls to help members negotiate the extraordinary circumstances.

Public policy & advocacy opportunities—including Foundations on the Hill, Legislative Roundtables, and one-on-on-meeting with elected officials—are another area where members who participate find them eminently useful. We encourage those who have not participated or have not heard of these opportunities to become involved.

Building relationships with lawmakers and their staff is critical to influencing policy on issues and gaining their support for the philanthropic sector. Lawmakers are considering legislation that could curtail donor-advised funds (DAFs) and place new restrictions on private foundations. Every foundation in Indiana depends on IPA to protect its organization. But we need your voice to most effectively advocate.

IPA’s listservs, where members hold ongoing dialogue on matters important to them, provide excellent chances to network and learn from others in the field. Join a Peer Community today for access to these group emails.

If you need a refresher on the benefits IPA offers you, watch our most recent member orientation or join us live on June 13.
 

A Standard of Excellence—And Vigilance

IPA tracks membership satisfaction data year by year. We’re pleased to say that from 2020-2022, the responses have been consistent and overwhelmingly positive. But rest assured, we are going to stay vigilant in support of everyone in our network and continue to strive to live up to member comments like these:

“IPA is the best professional association with which I have been associated.”
“Your friendly and knowledgeable staff are always accessible, which is important to me and my work.”
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