For Immediate Release
Contact: Sylvia Williams 805.985.3812
Mary McGeachy 917.334.6813

Santa Barbara, CA (May 20, 2007)...Fielding Graduate University's Institute for Social Innovation has received two major grants to improve civil society through research on democratic processes and nonprofit management, it was announced today by Charles McClintock, PhD, Dean of the School of Human & Organization Development.

As a non-partisan operating and research foundation based in Dayton, Ohio, Kettering focuses on the least understood aspect of the political process--the actions of a democratic public. What does it take to make democracy work is the compelling question that the Kettering Foundation asks in its research. "This collaboration furthers Fielding's work in building communities of practices between researchers who study democracy and community activists who work locally to build democratic participation," said John Dedrick, Director of Programs at Kettering. "We have invested in Fielding's dialogue, deliberation, and public engagement certificate for the last three years, knowing that by building the capacity for research on practice-based skills of individuals, the certificate program is helping to create an engaged citizenry-a key component of a healthy democracy." This contract is designed to promote understanding between the academic and practice communities. More information about the certificate program is available.

The Hutton Foundation, based in Santa Barbara, focuses on improving sustainability for nonprofit organizations throughout Santa Barbara county. "We are pleased to support this collaborative project between Fielding's ISI and the Nonprofit Support Center for Santa Barbara to help nonprofits achieve their highest level of performance. It is projects of this type that result in stronger communities," said Pam Hamlin, Executive Director of the Foundation. The project team, comprised of Fielding faculty, students, alumni, and consultants from the Nonprofit Support Center, works with local nonprofits to design and implement strategic plans and long-term goals to sustain their organizations. To date, this project has successfully worked with Good Samaritan Services, Transition House, La Casa de Maria, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).

The Institute for Social Innovation (ISI) builds social capital by strengthening the capacity of individuals and organizations to address societal issues. Housed in Fielding Graduate University's School of Human & Organization Development, ISI supports projects that embody the following principles: 1) Collaboration among foundations, government agencies, businesses, and non-governmental organizations, 2) Individual and institutional development through participatory change, 3) Knowledge creation that blends multidisciplinary theory and professional practice. ISI is organized into three program areas: Knowledge Frontiers in Research, Leadership for Change and Organizational Development. "The Institute has a track record of support for innovative approaches that produce systemic change in individuals, organizations and communities," said Katrina Rogers, PhD, Director. "By supporting committed and talented people who are doing creative work, we are building the kind of future we seek." For more information on the Institute, please contact krogers@fielding.edu.

Founded in 1974, Fielding Graduate University, headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA, is a world-recognized leader in doctoral education, having created one of the most successful graduate-level distributed learning models for mid-career adults. Fielding is an accredited, non-profit graduate university offering numerous programs within three schools: Psychology, Human & Organization Development, and Educational Leadership & Change. The Fielding community enables students to participate effectively from anywhere in the world and is dedicated to lifelong learning, social justice and change, and innovation in organizations, communities, and society. For more information, visit www.fielding.edu.