Building trust has been a key part of philanthropy for years for lean funders. Nevertheless, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, trust and strong relationships have taken on an even greater significance. Building strong relationships with grantees doesn’t happen overnight. But from our research, we know that lean funders are perfectly positioned... Read More
This primer introduces you to the wide world of foundation strategic planning. No two strategic plans are alike, and the process for developing and implementing strategic plans can be just as different. In this primer, you’ll discover why funders engage in strategic planning, get an overview of the strategic planning process, and hear what other... Read More
Leanly staffed foundations and donors have a unique opportunity to influence policy and create meaningful change. The Advocacy Field Guide for Lean Funders provides a practical, step-by-step roadmap to help you navigate advocacy with confidence—leveraging your expertise, relationships, and resources to drive real results. Why This Guide? Many funders hesitate to engage in advocacy, worried... Read More
Funders are being asked to show how they are addressing social inequities by specifying what they do and how they are doing it—as well as who they are. How does philanthropy begin to embed equity into grantmaking, policies, and culture? Healthy Communities Foundation has been on a journey to address this question by advancing health... Read More
Every foundation’s goal is to have a thoughtful, disciplined investment process that is aligned with the foundation’s purpose and goals. This guide provides a high-level overview to quickly help you understand different aspects of foundation investment. Within these pages, you’ll find out how to start off with an investment policy statement (IPS), why your foundation... Read More
To highlight the current state of lean funder evaluation, this report provides an overview of the evaluation methods funders use most often, what they find most useful, how those techniques play out in practice, and how funders use evaluation information to support their work. This report expands on data presented in Exponent Philanthropy’s 2020 Foundation... Read More