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Succession Planning for Foundations
Similar to any business, your foundation should have a succession plan that establishes key roles and identifies future leaders. A comprehensive plan can help steer your organization through moments of transition—whether expected or unexpected—to ensure continuity. Maintaining Stability During Times of Transition At some point, every foundation and its board will face a leadership transition... Read More
Catalytic Leadership Skills: A Case Study of Relationship-Driven Change
Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy (CLIP) is a mindset that transforms lean funders from grantmakers into changemakers. Its key skills—listening deeply, building strong relationships, and understanding the landscape—help funders stay grounded in their communities and use every asset at their disposal, not just dollars, to spark lasting change. This case study highlights how Sheena Solomon, executive... Read More
2025 Outsized Impact Award Finalists
The Outsized Impact Award celebrates an individual from an Exponent Philanthropy member organization whose giving has achieved results that are greater than expected. Get to know the 2025 finalists below. Jessica Olson Grants Director, John T. Vucurevich Foundation As Grants Director of the John T. Vucurevich Foundation (JTVF) in Rapid City, South Dakota, Jessica Olson has... Read More
Staying the Course Toward Inclusive Philanthropy
Imagine your neighborhood, town, city, or rural community is facing a significant need or an exciting opportunity, yet it is lacking the financial resources to respond. Too often, the funding and decisions that shape our communities are made far from home without local voices at the table. Even when wealth has been built from the... Read More
Catalytic Leadership Virtues: A Case Study of Bold Philanthropy
Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy (CLIP) is a mindset that transforms lean funders from grantmakers into changemakers. Rooted in humility, passion, curiosity, and patience, CLIP encourages funders to build deep relationships, understand the systems in which they work, and use every asset at their disposal—not just dollars—to spark lasting change. This case study shows how Colleen... Read More
Should Your Foundation Exist Forever? A Guide to Spend-Down Strategies and Closure
In today’s rapidly changing world, where urgent needs, economic uncertainty, and a historic transfer of wealth are reshaping philanthropy, foundations are reexamining a core question: Should they exist in perpetuity or spend down their assets within a set timeframe? This debate isn’t new, but it feels especially relevant as funders weigh their desire for a... Read More