With so many urgent issues in the world, deciding where to give can feel overwhelming. It’s natural to want to support multiple causes, but spreading your resources too thin can weaken your impact. Instead, consider the power of focused giving. By concentrating on a specific issue, community, or strategy, you can develop deeper expertise, build... Read More
When lean funders combine their grantmaking, influence, and passion, they have more impact than either could individually. The Leighty Foundation (Juneau, AK) and the Lodestar Foundation (Phoenix, AZ) both believe that strategic volunteer engagement can advance the missions of funders and their grant partners. Volunteers are often the first to respond to pressing community needs.... Read More
How can foundation leaders best advance their focus areas? By developing extensive knowledge and insight. Leanly-staffed foundations hold a wealth of diverse connections with people in their communities, and they can leverage these relationships to gain knowledge and expertise. Insight helps these leaders identify gaps and solutions and address key issues in the smartest ways.... Read More
This Op-Ed originally appeared on the Ball Brothers Foundation website. The threats we face in the digital world are evolving at a frightening pace. From phishing schemes and ransomware attacks to identity theft and deepfake impersonations, the list of cyber threats keeps expanding. As technology advances—and the internet becomes ever more integrated into our daily... Read More
At Exponent Philanthropy, we believe lean foundations can drive significant change through thoughtful strategies and meaningful community engagement. Malcolm MacLeod, board chair of the Johnson Scholarship Foundation, recently shared how his foundation has embraced these practices to achieve transformative outcomes. He discusses this in depth on a recent episode of The Catalytic Podcast: Supercharging Impact:... Read More
One powerful way to regain focus in uncertain times is to support those doing work you know is important and relevant. To riff on Mr. Rogers’ famous advice: Don’t just look for the helpers; look for the helpers and help them. As funders, we support organizations advancing change and addressing urgent needs. One of the... Read More