Developing an Investment Policy Statement (IPS) sets the course for managing your foundation’s assets through time. It also reinforces how your investment policy and practices will help to achieve your foundation’s mission and goals. This primer describes how to develop your IPS and guides you through three main tasks, including: Making strategy decisions that lay... Read More
Ramping up giving offers your foundation a number of opportunities, including deeper stakeholder engagement, extended reach and influence, new funding strategies, and greater impact in your interest area. This primer is designed to help foundations like yours thoughtfully and responsibly plan for a significant ramp-up in giving and/or adjust to a sudden infusion of assets.... Read More
How can you be sure your foundation’s Form 990-PF filing is accurate, complete, and compliant? Can you simply assume your accountant will get it right? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Regulators estimate that at least 25% of all Form 990-PF filings contain errors, which can lead to compliance issues or penalties. A Practical Guide to... Read More
Private foundations are a great way to give. And many foundations use multiple giving vehicles to accomplish their charitable goals. One of these vehicles is donor advised funds (DAFs). This primer looks at how DAFs work and how your foundation can use DAFs to further its philanthropic goals. It covers: How DAFs differ from private... Read More
Determining where to spend your foundation’s grant funding is an important, and time-consuming task. This primer is designed to help you set up a proposal review process that meets your foundation’s goals and style and frees up time for you to go into the community and develop your knowledge and insight. In this primer, you’ll... Read More
Foundation boards and their accountants often use different formats for financial statements. In response, a group of experienced foundation financial officers, CPAs, and attorneys developed a uniform financial reporting system as a model for any private foundation. This uniform system can: Help your foundation prepare your Form 990-PF. The statements were created with the Form... Read More