In the wake of the dramatic economic downturn in 2008, Exponent Philanthropy heard the following from our conversations throughout 2009 with nearly 400 foundation members: Members stayed the course—Although most members shared concerns about the economy and discussed changes at their foundations in response, they also spoke of business as usual—or, to the best of... Read More
For many Exponent Philanthropy members, grants management software is a huge timesaver. It can allow you to receive grant applications and grant reports online, manage online proposal reviews, and track your grants all in one place. The best system is one that will save your foundation and grantees the most time, energy, and stress, and... Read More
When initiated from the ground up—from the nonprofits themselves—collaborations can serve communities effectively and efficiently. Strong collaborations maximize nonprofits’ impact by providing administrative stability; decreasing duplication, competition, and overlap of services; and bringing more diverse approaches to complex social and environmental problems. Funders are uniquely positioned to cultivate and support nonprofit collaborations, and to do... Read More
It is understandable that emerging leaders may feel underprepared. They often are the youngest or newest member of a board or staff, sometimes just starting their professional journeys. Something more powerful than age or experience also is at work, though: Almost to a fault—and, in Exponent Philanthropy’s experience, without exception—young leaders in philanthropy approach their... Read More
An increasing number of grantmakers and nonprofits alike understand that large-scale impact requires working in nontraditional ways with numerous partners. This approach recognizes the interdependence of the people and organizations working on social change through a network, people, groups, or organizations connected by relationships and aligned values. Networks vary in form: They can be both... Read More
Each week, dozens of economic reports and indicators are released, providing measurements for evaluating the health of our economy, the latest business cycles, how consumers are spending, and consumers’ general outlook. Investment professionals use this information not only to explain their investment strategy, make tactical portfolio decisions, and provide context around the performance of assets... Read More