This toolkit is for seasoned donors, donor advised fund holders, foundation trustees, and staff who are taking steps to significantly ramp up the impact of their giving. No longer content with just “making good grants” or “doing good things for the community,” you have taken a fresh look at your goals, strategies, and outcomes and... Read More
Taking on risky, large, or new projects when you are a small staffed foundation can be very challenging and seem aspirational. What if you could deploy a strategy to expand your giving, receive rapid and early validation to enable more confidence in your giving, all while investing in capacity- and relationship-building with your grantee partners?... Read More
Learning in philanthropy can happen in any number of ways, from traditional training programs to regular discussions with board members, staff members, or grantees about how things are going and how to get better results. Individuals and organizations with learning mindsets realize that learning is about more than ensuring that grantees are doing what they... Read More
For many funders, evaluation conjures up images of jargon, data, and complicated surveys. Evaluation doesn’t have to be overwhelming, though. If it builds on the following principles, evaluation can be manageable and meaningful for even the smallest funders: Evaluation is about learning, rather than judging—Evaluation can bring to mind a report card or a feeling... Read More
It is possible to impact complex and challenging social issues, even with limited time, energy, and resources. The following factors are key to achieving significant impact: Impact takes passion—Many barriers impede impact, but you can overcome them if your heart is engaged. People who care deeply about a cause will press on when challenges seem... Read More
In recent years, with support from Exponent Philanthropy, 70 thoughtful, committed member volunteers have explored the path to impact in small-staffed philanthropy and contributed to publications, seminars, and other resources to make achieving impact more accessible to fellow funders. We’re grateful for their ongoing efforts and delighted to share some of the group’s insights here.... Read More