In philanthropy, many leadership decisions don’t come with clear solutions. Where should you focus your giving? What happens when community needs shift quickly? How do you balance the many roles funders play as grantmakers, listeners, conveners, or advocates? Questions like these rarely have a single right path. Often, the most valuable insights emerge not from... Read More
Exponent Philanthropy’s 2026 Foundation Operations and Management Report (FOMR) sheds light on ongoing pay disparities in the philanthropic sector. While the gender pay gap narrowed slightly from the previous year, it has by no means disappeared. Women in leadership roles, such as CEOs, still earn 23% less than their male counterparts, underscoring that meaningful progress... Read More
As Presidents’ Day approaches, I’m reflecting on the leadership our communities need right now: leadership grounded in courage, humility, and a willingness to engage across differences. That theme came to life at Exponent Philanthropy’s 2025 Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio. One event in particular stands out: our second-day plenary, a staged reading of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick... Read More
Raise your hand if you’ve heard this before: Two weeks before a foundation announced its annual RFP, my organization found out we wouldn’t be invited to reapply. After five years of funding, deep collaboration, and conversations just months earlier that suggested continued support, 30% of our overall budget suddenly disappeared. I was funder ghosted. BS... Read More
Celebrating 30 years of impact! What began as an idea in 1995 has evolved into the largest philanthropic network in the nation – more than 1,500 strong – that works together to address the hands-on challenges of lean funders. As the Exponent Philanthropy team settles into 2026 – our 30th year advancing meaningful philanthropy – we are filled with gratitude for our community and all that we accomplished together last year. During a year shaped by political,... Read More
In a year defined by political polarization, rising community needs, and shifting expectations across the philanthropic sector, 2025 challenged funders to reconsider how they show up and where they can make the greatest difference. Nonprofits faced mounting pressures, from constrained budgets to expanding service demands, requiring deeper partnerships, greater flexibility, and renewed trust. Against this... Read More