If your foundation encounters an organization struggling with its operations, how can you say no—declining or not renewing a grant—in a way that makes a difference? For our small family foundation, the facts were clear. Getting to those facts had not been easy: The board of directors of the nonprofit we were funding had not... Read More
This article suggests that it will be useful for foundations to think about investment manager due diligence in a different conceptual framework than typically has been used in the past. The typical framework has had two major elements: Investment due diligence Operational due diligence This article suggests that investors, including foundations, will be well-served by... Read More
“Too often as funders, we force our grantees to embark on new projects because that’s what we’re willing to fund,” says Exponent Philanthropy member Judy Peckham of the Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation in Binghamton, NY. “Yet, organizations with good core programs often desperately need funds for administrative costs to keep those programs strong. If... Read More
The legal and practical aspects of international grantmaking may seem burdensome. Yet, small foundations can and do make grants to foreign organizations in legal and trusted ways. Let’s correct seven misconceptions and provide examples of how Exponent Philanthropy members fund effectively around the world. Myth 1: Because our bylaws limit our giving to U.S.-based 501(c)(3)... Read More
Whether joining together to voice your support for a cause or to make grants as a pooled fund, funding partnerships have many benefits: They allow you to work on a larger scale—either in dollars, visibility, or other resources—to risk-share, and to leverage your dollars. Funding partnerships also make for deepened relationships with other funders, which,... Read More
By relying simply on stated fees, such as management fee or advisory fee, foundation trustees may be underestimating the full impact of the aggregate investment expenses because as there may be other components of investment costs that are not explicitly stated as fees. In the 1990s, when portfolio performance was beating the S&P 500, it... Read More