These days, impact investing or mission-aligned investing are hot topics, but to many it’s not always clear how to get started. We suggest taking a look at mission-aligned investment opportunities in your own backyard: investing in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and supporting a local social enterprise. CDFIs are private financial institutions with a 100%... Read More
Members named the following as great resources for foundations to have an impact with grantmaking: Twenty Ways to Make a Difference: Stories from Small Foundations Beyond dollars, small foundations hold unique assets that benefit your mission, program focus, or community. These include: Deep knowledge of community needs Ability to focus over time Ability to act... Read More
Without open, honest conversations, funders can’t learn what nonprofits really need to deliver outcomes desired by funders, grantees, and, most of all, people and communities in need. One of the biggest barriers to getting the complete story is the lack of trust between funders and grantees. Another task is creating the conditions necessary to listen... 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. Our Investing in Nonprofit Leaders primer explores how your foundation can support emerging leaders in the nonprofit sector. In it, you will: Learn about the obstacles to recruiting and... Read More
Suki O’Kane of the Walter and Elise Haas Fund said: Our foundation is in the middle of a participatory grantmaking pilot for our education grants: staff + 10 public school youth + 10 adults from the classroom, school leadership, and education-serving CBOs. Candid just came out with an insightful blog post: Participatory grantmaking in a... Read More
Exponent Philanthropy’s Primer How to Avoid Self-Dealing has guidance on how to approach tickets to fundraisers and other grantee events. Halley Kruse of the Acklie Charitable Foundation also shared: My family foundation has a blanket policy that we do not fund fundraising events or sponsorships. The reasons for this are two-fold. Adopting a policy against... Read More