A Picture of the Trillium Logo

TRILLIUM FOUNDATION
1996 STAKEHOLDER SURVEY RESULTS


n = 220 = 48% return rate.
PART A:
   		 CUSTOMER SERVICE
 		  
1 Over the past 12 months, have you: Yes No
  
I) telephoned our office for advice or assistance 86% 14%
II) attended any meetings with our staff 54% 46%
III) visited the Trillium Foundation office 26% 74%
IV) received correspondence from us 97% 3%
  
Grantees and applicants only (n=151)
  
V) experienced a site visit by our volunteers/staff Yes No

 		           Grantees 52% 48%
          Non-grantees 6% 96%
  
If you answered Yes to any of the above, please complete the following:
 
Overall, your experience with us was that we were: (check whichever apply):
 		 Yes Somewhat No
    Timely and responsive
88% 9% 3%
    Helpful and informative
85% 14% 1%
    Warm and friendly
89% 11% 0
    Respectful
94% 6% 0
    Fair and honest
87% 12% 0
  
2. If we were required to send you information or follow up in some way, our response rate was: Very
prompt		 Prompt Slow
52% 41% 6%
Only applicants and grantees completed questions 3 and 4:
  
3. If your grant application was not approved (n=56): Yes Somewhat No
 
Were you clear about the reasons for this? 40% 21% 38%
Were you notified in a timely manner? 82% 10% 8%
  
4. If you received a grant from us (n= 99): Yes Somewhat No
  
Were you notified in a timely manner? 88% 11% 1%
Did you receive adequate follow-up support and assistance? 87% 11% 2%
Are you clear about the reporting and evaluation requirements? 78% 17% 5%
Were the reporting and evaluation requirements reasonable? 91% 7% 2%




PART C:      THIS PART OF THE SURVEY ASKS YOU ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

i) At both the program development stage and in the grantmaking process, decisions and directions generally aren't either a "yes" or "no". Often what we are dealing with are trade-offs, judgement calls, and a balance of competing opportunities. We would like to know how you would approach some of the larger issues we are dealing with. This will help us to know whether we are on the right track. We have set out some of the opportunities below. Please mark an "X" at the point of the scale at which you would balance the two opportunities. For example, if you think we should do the same amount of each one, your "X" should be towards the middle of the scale, like this:


[STAKE HOLDER SURVEY IMAGE]


i) Trillium is an organization that lives by its vision and values. We would like to know what your vision of Trillium is. Please select five words which best reflect what you think are the most important attributes that Trillium should aspire to. (This is an exercise which Trillium board members and staff have also done.)

Here are the clusters of words that were selected most often:

innovative, experimental, exciting, creative, cutting-edge
empowering, enabling
visionary, leader
catalyst, change-agent
proactive, initiator, reaching-out
supportive, helpful, personal, compassionate, caring, warm
collaborative, partner
progressive flexible, open
non-partisan, arm's length,
independent adaptable, evolving, strategic
responsive
holistic
inclusive
ethical
uncomplicated
fiscally- responsible, financially sound
systemic



PART D:      THIS PART OF THE SURVEY SEEKS YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE FUTURE

6.      What the issingle most important challenge that your organization (or partnership/collaborative) is facing? The responses under this section can be categorized under the following headings:
Resources: Respondents referred to financial difficulties, particularly in obtaining operating funds. As well, their volunteer and staff resources were under increasing pressure, resulting in burnout.

Increased needs: Respondents talked about increase in the number of people requiring support, the fact that problems were becoming more entrenched and that changing demographics continue to pose a challenge

The Environment: There is the perception of increased cynicism of the non-profit sector, and the suggestion that the sector has not responded to the issues in the most effective, coordinated way.

Capacity: Respondents expressed the need of having to transform themselves and their organizations, to collaborate with others, to be more effective, to be leaders rather than followers in this time of change, and for continuous improvement of their work.
7.      What is the single greatest opportunity that your organization (or partnership/collaborative) could take advantage of? The responses under this section can be categorized under the following headings:
Resources: These include the wealth of knowledge that lies within communities in dealing with problems and issues; the transformation of the role of the "client" as a recipient of service into the person who most likely holds the key to critical change; the use of technology and telecommunications; revenue diversification.

The Environment: There is increased awareness of the issues; the non-profit sector's attitude is shifting in a positive way; there is increased awareness of the role if public policy in enabling social change.

Capacity:To share knowledge and experience; to collaborate and work with others effectively, to learn and innovate.

8.      Please complete the following sentence:

"In order to deal with our key challenge and opportunity over the next two years, we will need to..........."

- Seize this opportunity. Out of chaos comes order.
- Engage other sectors and more people in the discussion of issues
- Think strategically
- Refocus: decide on what is really important and why we exist
- Increase skills
- Coping with change, collaborating with others, managing people and issues effectively
- Strengthen and broaden partnerships and ways of working with others
- Become financially stable
- Increase fundraising
- Promote our services


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The Trillium Foundation
21 Bedford Road, Toronto On. M5R 2J9
Tel: 416-961-0194 / 1-800-263-2887 Fax: 416-961-9599
Email: trillium@trilliumfoundation.org
Web: http://www.trilliumfoundation.org/