Project funding often is more appealing than general support funding because projects are time limited and focused. It is easier to evaluate whether a project has met its goals. In addition, project budgets are smaller than overall organizational budgets, and thus your grant provides a larger percentage of needed funds. Also, new projects make sense... Read More
The field of behavioral finance has been a hot one of late as researchers define precisely the biases we all tend to exhibit as investors. How did behavioral finance originate? About 50 years ago, finance earned widespread respect as an academic discipline firmly grounded in economic models based on the rational behavior of humans. Over... Read More
A board retreat can be an excellent way to spend time on an issue too significant or time intensive to be handled properly within a normal meeting agenda. Many foundations hold board retreats on occasion (ranging from every year to every few years) to ensure that the board addresses important topics, such as the foundation’s... Read More
Exponent Philanthropy cannot offer sample bylaws—there are many state variations and characteristics and needs of individual foundations—but the following overview does describe common sections and what a foundation board might expect within its own bylaws: Name—In some states, the first section gives the name of the foundation or other similar details required by state corporate... Read More
With more than 2,100 members, SVP is a global network of philanthropists with affiliates in 25 cities across North America and Japan. Since 1997, we’ve given $40 million and hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours to strengthen nonprofits that are improving the lives of children and protecting our environment. Social Venture Partners International (SVPI) helps... Read More
Last summer, I read Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, having bought my copy in a New Hampshire bookstore, where the owner just happened to mention, “This book should be in the hands of every high school student in New Hampshire.” Halfway through the book, I understood what she meant... Read More