Resources

Results for: Keyword: “catalytic leadership in philanthropy”

When Advocacy Looks More Like Partnership: Inside the Work of a Successful Funders Coalition

When we strip away the messaging and maneuvering in politics, it’s clear that governments and foundations across the country often seek common goals. Among these are: Strengthening education and vocational training Increasing access to childcare and healthcare Creating jobs and new businesses Safeguarding the environment Unfortunately, government and foundations tend to operate in silos. They... Read More

Planting Seeds for Organizational Financial Health and Independence

Over the past few years throughout the social sector, we’ve witnessed an unprecedented number of what many have termed, transformational gifts. These contributions span widely. Depending on the size of the recipient organization, they range from tens of thousands to hundreds of millions of dollars across a broad range of institutions and issues. However, their... Read More

Why Your Net Grant Matters

What is a net grant and why does it matter? Well, time is money and grantees incur costs while applying for grants. For instance, think about how long it could take a nonprofit to customize their financial documents to your specifications, and language to your unique questions and formatting. According to Project Streamline, nonprofits can... Read More

What Grantees Want: Championing Your Partners and Their Work

Funders and grantees share a relationship that goes beyond just financial support—it’s built on mutual respect, trust, and collaboration to create meaningful change. One powerful but often overlooked way funders can strengthen this relationship is by actively championing their grantee partners. Feedback from our Grantee and Applicant Perception Surveys (GAPS) shows that grantees want funders... Read More

By Going on the Road Together, Our Foundation Board and Staff Travel Far

“You need to get out and kick the tires,” is one of two key phrases our founder, Stewart Kean, used frequently when advising his board at the 1772 Foundation before he passed away in 2003. The other was, “I want you to have fun.” Although these may seem to be casual statements, Stewart Kean actually was creating... Read More

Small Foundations Embrace Advocacy to Catalyze Change

This post, based on research by Exponent Philanthropy Senior Program Director Andy Carroll, was originally featured on the Bolder Advocacy blog. An initiative of the Alliance for Justice, Bolder Advocacy equips nonprofits and foundations with the knowledge and tools to advocate effectively. People who believe in advocacy as a strategy for change wonder: “How can we encourage more foundations to... Read More