How can funders help their grantees to be as effective as possible? Even small amounts can go a long way toward alleviating the tremendous demands on executive directors. Exponent Philanthropy members offer these suggestions: Board recruitment, training, and development—Consider making a grant to allow the nonprofit to focus on board recruitment, training, and development. According... Read More
When it works, collaboration in any form is a powerful tool for enhancing organizational capacity. It can keep lone organizations strong and sustainable over time. In a sector in which services often are duplicated, collaboration can streamline efforts and produce better results. In his report Real Collaboration: A Guide for Grantmakers, David La Piana lists... Read More
Foundations face a number of possible investment expenses whose range is considerable. Be sure to ask questions of your investment managers or your consultant, and don’t accept fuzzy answers. Make reviewing these fees a regular leadership activity. A snapshot of typical fees Custodial fees—These fees are paid to an institution (e.g., bank) to hold your... Read More
There isn’t a right or wrong way to administer your foundation—staffed or unstaffed, paid or volunteer, consultant or employee. Choose the right model for you Volunteers Many small foundations are administered entirely by volunteers. Often, a founder or board member responds to calls, keeps records, and pays bills, just to name a few common tasks;... Read More
Kick off Exponent Philanthropy’s yearlong 20th anniversary celebration with a conversation about data and trends in small-staffed foundation giving. Senior Program Director Ruth Masterson will be joined by several Exponent Philanthropy members to reflect on what funders have come to see and do differently over the years—and what they haven’t, all grounded in data from... Read More
In Exponent Philanthropy’s 2016 Foundation Operations and Management Report, only 10% of respondents report investing in “alternative” strategies. These investments include commodities, real estate, hedge funds, and private equity, and they are increasingly seen as a way to mitigate the volatility of stocks and bonds. Learn what these asset classes represent, why and how to include... Read More