For society to advance gender equity, intersectional feminism must become part of the mainstream narrative and mindset. Philanthropy is our opportunity to be change agents, so that this statistic increases: Just 1.9% of philanthropic dollars go toward women and girls, according to the “The Women and Girls Index: Measuring Giving to Women and Girls” from the... Read More
Are your foundation’s finances well-managed? As a lean funder, you know the importance of keeping things efficient and organized. Taking care of the finance function is no exception. Follow these four fundamentals to ensure your foundation’s finances are in great shape. 1. Keep a Finance Calendar At lean foundations, it’s common for one or two... Read More
Funders and grantees share a relationship that goes beyond just financial support—it’s built on mutual respect, trust, and collaboration to create meaningful change. One powerful but often overlooked way funders can strengthen this relationship is by actively championing their grantee partners. Feedback from our Grantee and Applicant Perception Surveys (GAPS) shows that grantees want funders... Read More
While the U.S. Census happens only once per decade, New York State is already working to build the nonprofit infrastructure for a successful 2030 count. This effort is led by the New York State Census Equity Fund — a group formed in 2017 by a coalition of funders who came together to create a statewide,... Read More
Exponent Philanthropy is proud to release the latest edition of the Foundation Operations and Management Report (FOMR). This premier benchmarking resource offers mission-critical statistics on grantmaking, boards and governance, investments, and administration—including salary and benefits—for foundations with few or no staff. This blog has an interesting or important finding from each section of our 2024 report.... Read More
Philanthropy relies on the amassed wealth of families and institutions that have benefited from systemic racism. As a result, the institution has a power imbalance in where funds go and what organizations and initiatives receive support. Developing a deeper understanding of institutional racism in the United States can help lean funders dismantle the harmful practices... Read More