The Outsized Impact Award celebrates an individual from an Exponent Philanthropy member organization whose giving has achieved results that are greater than expected. Get to know the 2026 finalists below. Submit your vote by October 28! VOTE NOW Dawn Charaba Executive Director, Reidsville Area Foundation As Executive Director of the Reidsville Area Foundation (RAF) in... Read More
Running a foundation means navigating complex regulations, usually without a large staff or a legal team down the hall. And most legal questions don’t look like legal questions at first. They start as ordinary situations: A grantee offers the board tickets to its gala. A trustee joins a grantee’s board. A donor asks whether a... Read More
One of the defining dynamics of this moment in philanthropy is that while there has been visible retrenchment around DEI, it has also forced a deeper and more disciplined examination of the work itself. Across the sector, institutions are being pushed to clarify not only what they believe but why their leadership structures matter in... Read More
Over the past two years, federal backlash against nonprofits doing racial equity work has been relentless. Executive orders have targeted DEI programs directly, threatening funding and inviting legal scrutiny for foundations that keep equity language in their mission statements, according to the National Council of Nonprofits. Federal funding freezes have hit hardest in the communities... Read More
What does it actually look like to bring the next generation into your foundation’s work? Most family foundations have good intentions here, welcoming children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or younger staff and board members into the mission, but intentions rarely translate into a clear plan. If that gap has led your foundation to treat next-gen engagement... Read More
Trustees have a lot on their plates, but nothing matters more than getting their legal duties right. A foundation’s board does more than show up to meetings. Trustees must ensure the foundation follows its own bylaws, meets federal and state requirements, and stays true to its charitable purpose. Beyond simply following the law, a foundation’s... Read More
