In a recent conversation, I found myself wrestling with a familiar question: How do we encourage funding for the arts during times of crisis, as people are struggling to meet basic needs like food, shelter, and physical and mental health? It’s a valid consideration. Just before the coronavirus hit, I questioned myself and my own... Read More
Identifying effective nonprofits begins with clarity about your goals and values. As a donor, focusing on the impact you want to achieve can help you find organizations that align with your mission. By honing in on your priorities, you can support nonprofits that share your vision and help them advance the work you care about... Read More
In a time of economic uncertainty, staffing shortages, and growing community needs, funders can offer critical support, not just through dollars, but by streamlining practices. Simplifying grant applications and reporting is one of the most effective ways to reduce the burden on nonprofits and free up their time for mission-driven work. Especially now, every hour spent... Read More
A Practical Guide To Flexible, Long-Term Funding Multiyear general operating support is one of the most effective ways foundations can support nonprofit sustainability and one of the funding approaches nonprofits request most often. By offering unrestricted funding over multiple years, multiyear GOS gives organizations the flexibility and stability to plan ahead, invest in people and... Read More
Lana Vento Charitable Trust (LVCT) recently tailored its grant process to fit a local theater’s organizational capacity and reflect the size of its grant. Read about the steps it took to minimize the theater’s paperwork and maximize its time spent on programs. For the past 7 years, Lana Vento Charitable Trust (LVCT) awarded Pistarckle Theater... Read More
Five years ago, The Belk Foundation looked very different than it does today. When I was asked to come on as the foundation’s first full-time director, the objective from the board was clear: help us connect this 80-plus-year-old foundation more fully into the community, so that we may better understand the impact of our grantmaking.... Read More
