In philanthropy, like in life, we have relatively little ability to control disruptions, internal or external, and the big changes they often portend. Although we may anticipate an influx of assets upon the sale of a business, or predict the arrival of the next generation, most of us can’t really manage the exact timing and... Read More
At Exponent Philanthropy, we believe that listening is an essential skill for effective philanthropy. Deep listening helps our members truly understand the needs of their community and cultivate connected and impactful relationships with others. At the same time, listening is a skill that very few of us are ever trained to do well. Once you’re... Read More
Despite the growing number of youth philanthropy programs in the United States, a 2002 survey found that “only 48 percent of adults believe it is important to seek young people’s opinions when making decisions that affect them.” As Katie Richards-Schuster, a professor at University of Michigan stated in 2012, “In general, American society, through its policies and practices, tends to... Read More
The following is an excerpt from Foundant’s publication “On Philanthropy: What’s Changed in the Past Decade and What It Means for the Sector,” a product of its 2017 survey of its grantmaking and grantseeking clients. Read the full article and many others at the Foundant Philanthropy Experience site. By Sharmila Rao Thakkar Ten years ago... Read More
Though many of us support partnerships between grantees, our role is often limited to grant-related financial transactions. Time and again in our work at the Crimsonbridge Foundation, we’ve found that going beyond grants to be partners alongside our grantees has a multiplying effect on our philanthropic dollars. One example is our decade-long partnership with the... Read More
COVID-19 is hitting investment portfolios hard with a series of precipitous plunges in asset values not seen since the market meltdown of 2008. The financial news is stomach-churning; all manner of “worst since,” “biggest drop in” statistics accompanied by graphs with lines helpfully pointing straight down in case you didn’t quite get the point. And... Read More