It’s not always easy for grantseekers to understand how foundations work or how to access them. Grant guidelines are a great way to communicate your interests and strategies to potential grantees, making it clear what you fund and how to apply. The clearer your guidelines, the more likely you are to receive grant applications that... Read More
As a leanly staffed foundation, you may feel like you’re operating on a tightrope when it comes to cybersecurity. With limited resources and a constant need to focus on your core mission, the thought of investing in robust cyber defenses can seem daunting. However, the reality is that cyber threats pose a significant risk to... Read More
No topic within private foundation rules raises as many questions and concerns as self-dealing. The self-dealing rules prohibit a range of transactions between private foundations and their insiders (called disqualified persons) to ensure that foundation assets are used for charitable purposes rather than private benefit. Common Acts of Self-Dealing The self-dealing rules are broad and... Read More
For far too long, foundations and philanthropists have stayed out of policy debates. Consequently, many nonprofits supported by these foundations have avoided political involvement to avoid upsetting their donors. However, this silence comes at a cost. Advocacy and Lobbying by Private Foundations Funders can support and participate in advocacy and encourage their grantees to do... Read More
Data can be a scary word, but it also can be a thing of beauty when you’re looking to develop more efficient processes, make better decisions, or help your grantees find new ways of doing things. As a funder, you can have a role in supporting the data collection efforts of your grantees. This doesn’t... Read More
How to catalyze impact for the environment using venture philanthropy—three perspectives from our new member Howell Conservation Fund I’m Brett Howell, founder of Howell Conservation Fund, and a new member of Exponent Philanthropy. My mission is to catalyze teams to achieve breakthrough solutions to the systemic sustainability issues we face on our planet. As a... Read More