Foundations use software for some of the following tasks: preparing mailing labels, creating lists of grantees, recalling grant history, tracking outstanding commitments, sharing grant requests with other trustees online, and tracking letters and reports from grantees. Assessing your needs Any computer consultant will tell you that the first step in choosing software is to take... Read More
A well-run board retreat energizes people and propels your foundation forward. Unfortunately, many board members approach retreats with about as much enthusiasm as a trip to the dentist. This dread often is justified: Lack of preparation, hidden agendas, or unproductive communication can make a retreat seem like a big step backward for the foundation. The... Read More
Private foundations are permitted to pay for or reimburse ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in carrying out their activities, including the costs of travel by board members. These expenses typically include travel expenses for board meetings or philanthropy conferences, long-distance telephone expenses for conference calls, and expenses incurred while going on site visits (e.g., mileage,... Read More
Through two separate grants to the Florida Audubon Society, the Conservation, Food & Health Foundation (CFHF) of Boston supported the work of distinguished sea turtle researcher and conservationist Dr. Peter Pritchard to protect a critical sea turtle nesting beach on the northwest coast of Guyana in South America. Despite 30 years of efforts and the... Read More
What follows are ways in which Exponent Philanthropy members are making the most of their foundations. Is one of these strategies right for you? Fill important gaps As you review proposals, have conversations with community leaders, and participate in the community as volunteers, parents, employers, or employees, keep an eye out for crucial gaps that... Read More
Why does Atkinson Foundation, a small-staffed funder, engage in grantmaking abroad? Locally we can make site visits, but that’s usually impossible when the project is in the Bolivian highlands, the Moroccan desert, the Brazilian rainforest, or a rural village in Eritrea or Honduras. Yet, overseas grants justify one-fifth of our foundation’s grantmaking and at least... Read More