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Did the Pandemic Change Lean Funders?
In recent years, we have collected data on how our community of lean funders is responding to the pandemic. In April 2020, we surveyed members on what they planned to do. We shared those findings in this report. The next year, our 2021 Foundation Operations and Management Survey (FOMS) collected more detailed information on how... Read More
Using Venture Philanthropy To Fill Gaps and Advance Medical Breakthroughs
My family and I are dedicated philanthropists. We work hard to maximize the impact of our philanthropic dollars across a wide range of social issues. My passion is children’s health. This area of medical research and care is often overlooked or underfunded, and yet the unmet needs are great. As a survivor of brain cancer... Read More
Key Insights From the 2022 Foundation Operations and Management Report
Exponent Philanthropy’s 2022 Foundation Operations and Management Report (FOMR) continues to offer mission-critical statistics about member foundations’ boards and governance, investments, administration (including salary and benefits), and grantmaking. Thank you to the 400+ members who participated in the 2021 survey informing this report. Below are some of its interesting and exciting findings. However, we encourage... Read More
How a Diversity Focus Changed One Foundation’s Board
Over 20 years ago, the Anna B. Stearns Charitable Foundation launched its Girls’ Initiative to amplify support for women and girls. More recently, the foundation’s board, historically mostly women, expanded its equity and inclusion focus to include race and culture for both grantmaking and board composition. Leadership sees its own diversity as essential to driving... Read More
Let’s Be Candid About Board Succession Planning
Joe Wilson, founder of the Xerox Corporation, and his wife, Peggy, formed the Wilson Foundation in 1963. A few years ago, we engaged in strategic planning to revisit our giving priorities. At the time, our board had 24 members that spanned three generations, and were spread across the country. In order to achieve our impact... Read More
Preventing Wire Fraud at Foundations and Family Offices
Wire fraud is a daily danger. Cyber-security filters may stop 90%+ of attempts, but some still get through. For international clients, efforts are especially focused when US, European and Asian bank holidays are out of sync. Scammers want to prevent you from verbally verifying a wire request, since the requester’s office is closed. Here are other... Read More