You probably know the feeling. You’ve attended a dynamic conference, read a groundbreaking book, or had an inspiring conversation with a colleague. You know that if you could just get your boss or your board to act on this newfound knowledge, you could make some real changes that result in measurable improvement—either within your own... Read More
Site visits are one of the best ways to make grant decisions because in essence, site visits are a living, breathing grant proposal. These visits give you the chance to connect directly with the organization’s board and staff, discover things that can’t be learned from a written proposal, and clarify information that is important to... Read More
Managing and running a foundation is fantastic work. However, in addition to the joy of grantmaking comes the critically important task of complying with a myriad of tax and other laws governing grantmaking, investment strategies, and public disclosures, to name just a few. This primer summarizes important laws that are relevant to running a foundation.... Read More
How does today’s social impact culture affect the way you engage your children and grandchildren in your family’s philanthropy? That’s a question many trustees of America’s 42,000 family foundations are asking themselves as they look more closely at strategies to fulfill community passions, conduct responsible grantmaking, and inspire a philanthropic legacy for the next generation.... Read More
This discussion guide walks you through one foundation’s process of engaging in evaluation. Although this foundation is fictitious, it represents many small funders across the country. Using this guide, you’ll explore how this foundation: Engages in a strategic planning process. Keeps evaluation manageable. Learns and improves. The guide also features relevant Exponent Philanthropy resources as... Read More
This discussion guide helps you understand why evaluation is critical to increasing your foundation’s impact and that evaluation is possible—even if small. Your foundation can use this guide to explore: Why to evaluate. The benefits of evaluation. Evaluation and cost-efficiency. The guide also features relevant Exponent Philanthropy primers and resources for your use. 10 pages Read More