Racial equity is a critical element of philanthropy. While lean funders are increasingly focused on it, foundation boards and staff remain disproportionately White. Two of the primary factors holding back philanthropy’s efforts to advance social change are both tied to race: Understanding Race’s Role in the Issues: How race shapes the problems philanthropists aim to... Read More
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
Originally posted to GrantCraft’s blog “It must be so fun to give money away!” We’ve all heard this reaction when we tell people we are staff or board members of a grantmaking organization. And, yes, it is fun. But it’s also hard work. Good grantmaking, as we know, is about far more than reading piles... Read More
The Outsized Impact Award honors an individual at an Exponent Philanthropy member organization whose style of philanthropy is achieving outsized (or greater than expected) impact. Read the wonderful stories of the 2022 finalists. Danyelle O’HaraMortenson Family Foundation (Minneapolis, Minnesota) As the community relationship officer at the Mortenson Family Foundation, Danyelle O’Hara is centering community in the foundation’s decision-making. Danyelle... Read More
Closing the Gap Between Intention and Impact Collected through FOMR data, surveys, and interviews with members, this report centers on the relevance of racial equity to our members’ mission, as well as their board and staff demographics. We also describe how racial equity relates to good governance, grantmaking, and investment practices. Why Racial Equity in... Read More
Building trust has been a key part of philanthropy for years for lean funders. Nevertheless, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, trust and strong relationships have taken on an even greater significance. Building strong relationships with grantees doesn’t happen overnight. But from our research, we know that lean funders are perfectly positioned... Read More