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
Are you talking with your board and investment advisors about asset allocation? Concepts to consider A number of concepts should be understood before you tackle the important work of creating an investment policy and allocating assets. Investment time horizon How long do you want your foundation to exist? Do you plan for your foundation to... Read More
Foundations represent a pool of financial resources to be spent for social good. Whereas much has been penned about how to spend foundation resources wisely to maximize impact, less attention generally has been paid to how to care for those resources before they are spent. Stewarding philanthropic resources requires a series of complex economic, market,... Read More
From masterful communicators to continual learners, phenomenal foundation executive directors share a number of characteristics and skills. Masterful communicators It’s taken me time to feel comfortable communicating from my heart. For many years, I thought of that as less than professional, but I’m learning that part of being an effective communicator is to deliver authentic... Read More
An increasing number of grantmakers and nonprofits alike understand that large-scale impact requires working in nontraditional ways with numerous partners. This approach recognizes the interdependence of the people and organizations working on social change through a network, people, groups, or organizations connected by relationships and aligned values. Networks vary in form: They can be both... Read More
Funders scan to learn everything there is to know about an issue. They scan to uncover key needs, especially those that are overlooked. They also scan to find out more about their chosen focus areas and to design or refine their strategies. Through scanning, you can learn about promising programs, unsuccessful strategies, barriers to progress,... Read More