You are wise to want to get up to speed on your foundation’s investment goals and strategies. Even though your foundation may have enlisted trusted financial advisors or skilled board members to manage the foundation’s investments, you cannot rely on the experts alone. As fiduciaries, foundation trustees are stewards of someone else’s money—in this case the... Read More
Right-sizing means tailoring what you require of grantseekers and grantees to apply for and report on grants so that the requirements are proportionate to the size of grant, appropriate to the type of grant, and reflective of any existing relationship with the grantee. In short, right-sizing considers the notion of net grants, that is, the grant dollars received... Read More
Because few documents are available to evaluate start-ups, site visits and interviews often are critical in evaluating a grant proposal from a start-up. As you talk to key individuals in the organization, you want to determine whether they have an adequate understanding of the project, and the tools and resources required to succeed. On a... Read More
It is always a good policy to have a grant agreement with grant recipients—not for when the grant goes well but, rather, for when it does not. With a grant agreement in place, it is easier to monitor a grant for performance according to the application, to see if anticipated outcomes are achieved, and to... Read More
Although travel costs may prohibit international site visits, many alternatives exist that make due diligence and grant tracking affordable and effective. Intermediary organizations, which are U.S.-based public charities with contacts abroad, focus on providing domestic donors with photos, videos, and electronic reports that keep them in the know from across the globe. Peer funders also... Read More
A well-written annual report shares your work, encourages others to set up foundations or increase their giving, helps suitable applicants find you, and helps the public and lawmakers learn about the foundation—and see that it is a responsible and accountable organization. Annual reports often include: Year and name of the foundation A brief history of... Read More