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Fund International Development? A Framework for Collaboration With Beneficiary Communities
For nearly a century, donor-driven development has struggled to create sustainable change in the Global South. Today, funders realize the key to improving community self-reliance lies in healthy collaboration with beneficiary communities. A challenge, then, is how to collaborate with rural communities in the Global South. How do we maintain financial management standards when our... Read More
The Funder’s Role in Data Collection: Insights From Peer Funders
Data can be a scary word, but it also can be a thing of beauty when you’re looking to develop more efficient processes, make better decisions, or help your grantees find new ways of doing things. As a funder, you can have a role in supporting the data collection efforts of your grantees. This doesn’t... Read More
Youth Philanthropy, Trust Building, and Sharing Power
Despite the growing number of youth philanthropy programs in the United States, a 2002 survey found that “only 48 percent of adults believe it is important to seek young people’s opinions when making decisions that affect them.” As Katie Richards-Schuster, a professor at University of Michigan stated in 2012, “In general, American society, through its policies and practices, tends to... Read More
Two Tools I Plan to Add to My Toolbox
Until he retired, my friend Chet was a junior high school shop teacher. I remember visiting his classroom and seeing the walls lined with tools. “For every job there is a tool,” he said. Having done my share of home repair over the years, I know how true that is. As a funder, I’ve also... Read More
How to Evaluate a Nonprofit Social Enterprise
How does a nonprofit organization operate effective programs and also run a successful social enterprise? How does its enterprise generate both earned revenue and significant benefits to the organization’s target population? Balancing these two goals is harder than it looks, requiring adept leadership that is mission-focused and skilled in resource management and clear messaging. Some... Read More
The Economic Impact of Human Service Nonprofits
At Foellinger Foundation, we know that nonprofit organizations provide immeasurable support to our communities. By nature, they balance the scales, delivering services that otherwise might not be available to those who need it most. These organizations touch individuals in our community on a very personal level—counseling those who’ve experienced trauma, helping people re-enter the workforce,... Read More