Self-assessment is an excellent choice for small foundation boards at any stage. Whether your board is focused on fundraising, revising your mission and strategies, or struggling with internal divisions, a good self-assessment offers practical, useful results that help your board stay on track. This primer is designed to empower your board to take a thoughtful... Read More
Your foundation needs policies in order to operate. Yet, the word policy can send some board members running. This primer walks you through 11 policies your foundation should consider and offers tools to empower your board as it works to fulfill the foundation’s mission. The policy topics covered in this primer include: Attending fundraisers Board... Read More
Illustrating the power of individual, family, and small-staffed foundation donors We are pleased to share with you our annual report, Outsized Impact 2016, which showcases many of our 2016 accomplishments and illustrates the power of small-staffed foundations, philanthropic families, and individual donors. We invite you to read these stories, share them with others, and embrace the... Read More
What’s your system for foundation recordkeeping? If you haven’t yet established a system for keeping good records, now is the time. This primer explains what documents to keep and for how long, and then describes how to organize your documents by creating a records management system. Why Should You Keep Good Records? As any foundation... Read More
As a foundation, your success hinges on the success of your nonprofit grantees. And strong leaders play an essential role in the success of nonprofit organizations. This primer explores how your foundation can support emerging leaders in the nonprofit sector. In it, you will: Learn about the obstacles to recruiting and retaining leaders in the... Read More
How do you avoid self-dealing? The IRS developed self-dealing rules to ensure that foundations use their assets solely for charitable purposes. However, foundation managers not familiar with the law can find themselves violating self-dealing rules without even knowing it, or having any self-serving intent. And, ignorance of the rules or acting without malice will not excuse... Read More