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- Category: Blog
- Cybersecurity Insurance: A Lifeline for Foundations with Limited Resources
- Is This Self-Dealing? 3 Quick Questions to Ask
- Advocacy: A Crucial Tool for Lean Funders
- Equipping Lean Funders: Key Takeaways From the 2024 Pacific Northwest Regional Events
- When Philanthropy Partners, Communities Prosper
- Governance Best Practices for Foundation Boards
- More Lean Funders Should Consider General Operating Support
- Creating a Cost-Effective Grant Management System
- Connecting Our Philanthropic Community – 2024 Boston Regional Gathering
- Simplifying Grant Applications and Reporting for Nonprofits
- Protecting Your Lean Foundation from Cyber Threats: A Vital Investment
- How Can Lean Funders Proactively Advance Racial Equity? Don’t Go It Alone
- Equitable Grantmaking: Essential, Fundamental Practices
- Grantmaking Due Diligence: Organizational Budget Size
- How Lean Funders Responded to Recent Historic Inflation
- Using Multiyear Funding to Supercharge Your Grantmaking
- Building Family Connection Through Values Alignment
- 5 Characteristics of Effective Nonprofits
- How a Lean Foundation Sparked Economic Revitalization Where Business and Government Could Not
- Adapting Your Grant Approach Series: Tips for Funding Returning Grantees
- Data on Family Foundations from the 2024 Foundation Operations & Management Report
- Working Collaboratively in Philanthropy
- Integrating Feminism Into Philanthropy
- 4 Finance Fundamentals for Your Foundation
- What Grantees Want: Championing Your Partners and Their Work
- The Case for Funding Collaboratives
- Key Insights from the 2024 Foundation Operations and Management Report
- Moving Towards Racial Equity in Philanthropy: Developing a Shared Language
- Foundations on the Hill: Understand and Participate in the Political Process
- Connect More: How Lean Funders Develop Knowledge and Relationships to Catalyze Change on Priority Issues
- The Foundation Data Dilemma: On Making and Measuring Change
- Bringing People Together: How Convening Can Make a Big Difference
- Legal Basics: 5 Strategies for Keeping Trustees on the High Road
- Foundation Recordkeeping: A Quick Guide
- How Funders Can Better Equip Grassroots Nonprofits to Diversify Their Revenue
- Making a Significant Shift in Funding Priorities
- In Support of Sabbaticals
- Next Generation Philanthropy: Where To Start
- Investment Management Request for Proposals: Everything You Need to Know
- Payout Requirements: Year-End Tips for Meeting Your Minimum
- Recapping Our 2023 Annual Conference in Baltimore
- Social Justice Investing: Aligning Portfolios With a Social Justice Mission
- The “Next Gen” Is Not as “Other” as You May Think
- Investing in Democracy: Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement
- 2023 Outsized Impact Award Finalists
- How To Create an Investment Policy Statement
- Understanding the Modern Grantee Experience
- Philanthropic Impact: Key Strategies and Factors
- Partnerships Equal More Impact
- How Leanly Staffed Foundations Give Employees Health Insurance
- A Call for Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy
- 8 Podcast Episodes for Anyone Who Works in Philanthropy
- How a Grant Management System Can Streamline Your Giving
- We Need More Disability Inclusive Philanthropy
- Why Your Foundation Needs a Great Brand
- Disaggregated Data Collection and Use by Lean Foundations
- Lean Foundations: Perfectly Positioned for Advocacy
- Beyond Grants: How to Manage a Successful Private Foundation
- Program Related Investments: A Powerful Tool for Grantmakers
- Filing Your IRS Form 990-PF with Confidence
- Power Sharing for Systems Change
- How To Make Your First Seed Funding Grant
- Key Insights from the 2023 Foundation Operations and Management Report
- Why Impact Investing Is Even More Important in Uncertain Times
- The Value of Focusing Your Giving
- Getting Out Into the Community: Start Identifying Gaps and Leveraging Points for Change
- Unravelling the Mysteries of Investment Fees
- Annual Board To-Dos: The Must-Have Checklist for Running a Foundation
- When and How to Partner with Philanthropic Advisers
- Lean Funders Can Help Nonprofits Tackle Inflation Costs
- Involving Non-Family Members in the Foundation
- Planting Seeds for Organizational Financial Health and Independence
- Advocating For State-Level Systems Change: Policy Work By a Small Foundation
- How Deep Relationships With Community Informs Our Grantmaking
- 2022 Outsized Impact Award Finalists
- Help Your Foundation Board Conquer Fear and Anxiety About Engaging in Advocacy
- Actionable Ways To Add Diversity to Your Foundation Board and Staff
- Going Beyond the Grant To Support Nonprofits
- What the Law Requires When Making Grants
- Lessons From a Founder Winding Down Their Foundation
- Grantmaking Basics: Creating Grant Guidelines
- Foundation Transitions Happen: Are You Prepared?
- Why Your Net Grant Matters
- Collective Giving and Foundations: Learning From and With One Another
- I Used To Be on the Other Side: Reducing the Power Dynamic in Philanthropy
- Funding Local Arts
- Is There an Ideal Career Path To Working at a Small Foundation?
- Collaborating for Data Sharing: The Story of One Funders Group
- 10 Ways To Boost Your Facilitation Skills
- Breaking New Ground: Funders Partner to Advance Strategic Volunteer Engagement
- Funders: Considering Collaboration? Start With a Light Touch and See Where It Leads
- Did the Pandemic Change Lean Funders?
- Using Venture Philanthropy To Fill Gaps and Advance Medical Breakthroughs
- Key Insights From the 2022 Foundation Operations and Management Report
- How a Diversity Focus Changed One Foundation’s Board
- Let’s Be Candid About Board Succession Planning
- Why We Accept Proposals Written for Other Funders
- Preventing Wire Fraud at Foundations and Family Offices
- Lessons From Launching an Impact Investing Portfolio: One Family Foundation’s Journey
- 7 Types of Successful Philanthropists
- Help Us to Expand the Philanthropic Landscape to Support Native Americans
- 9 Easy Cyber Security Actions Lean Funders Should Take
- How One Family Foundation Honors Its Living Founder
- When Advocacy Looks More Like Partnership: Inside the Work of a Successful Funders Coalition
- How Lean Funders Can Support Refugees and Displaced People
- Key Insights on Diversity and Racial Equity in Leanly Staffed Foundations
- Addressing Challenges on the Journey to Equity, Inclusion and Justice
- How Lean Funders Incorporate Racial Equity Into Their Work
- Understanding Brains: Funding Basic Medical Research
- Why Invest in Volunteer Engagement?
- Identifying Unmet Needs in Black-Led Organizations and Black Communities
- Investing in Evidence-Based Support for Greater Philanthropic Impact
- Infusing New Perspectives Into Philanthropy
- How Small Funders Can Help Local School Systems Use Federal Relief to Target Local Needs
- Disaster Response: Connect, Collaborate, Consider, Communicate
- Funder Collaboration: It’s Not Always What You Think
- Getting Started on the Journey to Equity and Inclusion
- Moving From Idea to Initiative
- Are You Using Your Power, or Leaving It on the Table?
- Community and Collaboration Drive Family Foundation’s Grantmaking
- Thinking Critically While Investing Responsibly
- Accelerating Charitable Efforts (ACE) Act
- Pivoting to Advocacy and Organizing: Changing Grantmaking Tactics in Service of Our Core Mission
- Beyond Governance: Training Foundation Board Members for Leadership
- 4 Resilient Trends From the COVID Era That Philanthropy Can (and Should) Maintain
- Making Your Board More Equitable Requires an Intentional Transformation
- Why Our Foundation Created Oklahoma’s First Legislative Caucus on Early Childhood
- Foundation’s DEI Progress Reflects Its Place-Based Grantmaking
- Spring Cleaning Your Investment Portfolio
- Investment Management Oversight: Preparing To Invest for Impact
- Funders Reflect on the Craft of Catalyzing Change in Exponent’s New Podcast Series
- Foundation Board Meetings: Basic Requirements and Strategies
- Getting Started: Nonprofit Sector 101
- Time-Limited Philanthropy: Embracing Mortality Can Drive Urgency and Excellence
- Why Our Foundation Prioritizes Trustee Diversity
- Pivoting Through COVID-19: Portfolio Alignment for Foundations
- How We Help Black Business Enterprises Access Capital To Grow and Thrive
- How We Spark Economic Renewal in Our Rural Community
- Lean Funders Reflect on 2020 and Race Equity
- Best Practices for Virtual Foundation Board Meetings
- Key Insights From This Year’s Foundation Operations and Management Report
- How We Created Education Programming for Seniors in Our Rural Region
- Lean Funders Reflect on COVID-19 and 2020
- Combating Climate Change With Your Foundation’s Investment Portfolio
- My Family’s Foundation Entered the Policy Arena, and We Are Not Looking Back
- We Cannot Stop Moving Forward
- After 26 Years, What I’ve Learned About Making Catalytic Impact
- Orange County Grantmakers: Our Equity Journey
- 3 Steps Your Foundation Can Take To Tackle Systemic Racism
- Boosting Civic Engagement Through Impactful Grantmaking
- Bettering Political Civil Discourse in Your Community
- Taking the First Steps to Become a Catalytic Leader
- How Participatory Grantmaking Can Strengthen Your Philanthropy
- How Humanities Organizations Can Help Us Heal More Equitably
- Bringing Health Innovation and Nonprofit Capacity Building To Rural Communities
- Changing How and What Philanthropy Supports
- Strategically Furthering Purpose and Impact
- Part 2: How Funders Can Strengthen Connections To Community; Calibrating Your Role for Success
- Part 1: How Funders Can Strengthen Connections To Community; Seeing Your Community and Navigating Relationships
- Betting on Systems Change: One Foundation’s Journey
- 3 Immediate Steps Funders Can Take To Move Towards Racial Equity
- Our Family Foundation’s Approach To Trust-Based Philanthropy
- Introducing an Anti-Racist, Intersectional Frame for Lean Funders
- Nonprofit Collaboration Is Essential Now—How Funders Can Play a Role
- MacKenzie Scott Gives a Masterclass in Philanthropy
- Collaborating to Address COVID Racial Health Equity in Louisiana
- Nurturing a Culture of Curiosity, Inquiry and Innovation
- By Going on the Road Together, Our Foundation Board and Staff Travel Far
- How You Can Discern and Inspire Promising New Ideas—Before Anyone Else
- How Racial Equity Supports Better Grantmaking Practices
- Funding the Arts Is Funding for Social Change
- How We Catalyzed a Fellows Program to Meet Legal Services Needs During COVID-19
- Standing With Grantees to Foster Transparency and Trust
- An Open Letter From Exponent Philanthropy Board Chair, Paul Spivey
- My Mind Is Confused. My Heart Is Heavy.
- Lean Funders Are Adjusting Grantmaking and Operations to Respond to COVID-19: Week of May 19
- Should Foundation Executive Directors Serve on the Board?
- Lean Funders Are Adjusting Grantmaking and Operations to Respond to COVID-19: Week of May 11
- How to Engage the National Student Response Network During COVID-19
- How Lean Funders Are Responding to COVID-19
- Lean Funders Are Adjusting Their Grantmaking and Operations to Respond to COVID-19: Week of May 4
- Lean Funders Are Adjusting Their Grantmaking and Operations to Respond to COVID-19: Week of April 27
- Please, If You Don’t Need It, Don’t Take It; If You Took It and Don’t Need It, Repay It
- Lean Funders Are Adjusting Their Grantmaking and Operations to Respond to COVID-19: Week of April 20
- How We Leveraged Our Super Powers to Respond to COVID-19
- Lean Funders Are Adjusting Their Grantmaking and Operations to Respond to COVID-19: Week of April 13
- Reflections on COVID-19
- Lean Funders Are Adjusting Their Grantmaking and Operations to Respond to COVID-19: Week of April 6
- Is COVID-19 Our Proverbial “Rainy Day”?
- Lean Funders Are Adjusting Their Grantmaking and Operations to Respond to COVID-19: Week of March 30
- Lean Funders Are Adjusting Their Grantmaking to Respond to COVID-19: Week of March 23
- Market Volatility in the Face of COVID-19
- COVID-19: Our Response as Funders
- Inspiring a Nonprofit Community
- To Understand Nonprofits’ Real Costs, We Shifted the Way We Interpret 990s
- Reflective Practice for a Small Foundation
- A Grantee’s Landscape Scan Was a Game Changer
- New Legislation Impacting Private Foundations
- How a Small Foundation Leverages State and County Expertise
- The Hardest Thing About Making a Big Bet? Letting Go
- Think “Perspective” for Effective Feedback Loops
- Using the Courts to Create Systemic Change
- Synchronize Your Foundation
- We Invest in Nonprofit Leaders: Here’s How
- Network-Weaving: A Key Factor in My Philanthropic Success
- How Funders Can Build and Sustain Cross-Sector Partnerships
- Summer Listening: Try These 9 Social Good Podcasts
- Take a Step Back and Think About Your Impact
- Perpetuity or Spend Down: It’s Not a Binary Decision
- Funders Pool Resources to Provide Capacity Building to Their Region’s Nonprofits
- Daring to Dream
- Where Does Your Cash Sleep at Night?
- Venture Philanthropy and the World’s Most Plastic-Polluted Beach
- Planning a Meeting? Ditch the Conference Room and Hit the Hiking Trail
- Is Change Calling You in Life, Love, or Philanthropy?
- Introducing a New Evaluation System
- Making a Big Bet: Moving From Transactional to Transformational Philanthropy
- Amy’s Story: Using Privilege to Promote Equity
- When Saying No Can Be Almost as Helpful as Saying Yes
- The Mutual Benefit of Funding Consultant-Led Organizational Assessments
- Bracing for Market Volatility
- Refining Our Foundation’s Capacity Building Framework
- Discretionary Grantmaking: Should Your Foundation Let Members Go Solo?
- The Newest Book to Guide—and Challenge—My Philanthropy
- On Philanthropy: What’s Changed in the Past Decade
- Thinking Creatively/Differently About Grant Agreements
- Help Your Grantees Prepare for Market Downturns—and Do It Now
- How an Improv Class Helped Me Be a Better Listener and Funder
- Find the Giving Brand You Didn’t Know You Had
- What Can Funders Learn From Dropping the Ball?
- Embracing a Racial Equity Lens in Your Philanthropy
- Collaboration Across Differences: A High-Return Investment
- How Planning to Close My Foundation’s Doors Was the Right Business Model: Part 3
- Advocacy With a Small “a”—Big Ideas for Small Foundations
- Just Say No: The Art of the Turndown
- Fund International Development? A Framework for Collaboration With Beneficiary Communities
- The Funder’s Role in Data Collection: Insights From Peer Funders
- Youth Philanthropy, Trust Building, and Sharing Power
- Two Tools I Plan to Add to My Toolbox
- How to Evaluate a Nonprofit Social Enterprise
- The Economic Impact of Human Service Nonprofits
- Book It and Ship It
- Small-Staffed Funders Can and Do Influence Policy and Engage Voters: New Toolkits
- Free to Fee: Help Your Nonprofit Partners Generate Earned Income
- Good Meetings Require Good Ground Rules
- Much More Than Money – The Impact of Small Rural Foundations
- Increase Foundation Cash Flow, Conservatively
- How Planning to Close My Foundation’s Doors Was the Right Business Model: Part 2
- We Achieve Our Greatest Impact Through Nonprofit Leadership Training
- None of Us Has Any Wiggle Room on This
- Are You the Bottleneck to Effective Giving?
- Equity: It’s Not Just an Urban Issue
- How Planning to Close Her Foundation’s Doors Was the Right Business Model
- National Funder, Local Influence: How To Be Mindful of Your Playing Field
- Find Your Guiding Purpose in Philanthropy
- Storytelling Mantras That Move Funders to Act: My Advice to Nonprofits
- Are Face-to-Face Meetings Obsolete?
- To Spark or Sustain? Two Equally Important Rural Funder Choices
- Meet Taproot: A Resource on What Nonprofits Need
- Beyond the Checkbook: The Power of Transformational Giving
- When $100,000 Goes Further Than a Traditional Grant
- Foundations Regroup to Meet Shifting Public Policy
- The Lonely Rural Funder’s Guide to Networking
- What Your Grantees Wish You Knew
- 5 Reasons Your Applicants Deserve a Submission Portal (and a Few Why You Do Too)
- You Don’t Need the Ruby Slippers
- Insights From a Decade of Philanthropic R&D
- Hatred Never Takes a Day Off; Neither Should We
- Creating Champions for Change From Within
- Funder-Nonprofit Relations Matter, But Is Anyone Listening?
- Three Levels of Listening
- Cross-Border Philanthropy and Counterterrorism Regulations: Guidance for U.S. Grantmakers
- How Small Funders Can Make a Big Impact in Higher Education
- The Healing Power of “No”
- Social Impact Culture: Three Strategies to Help Your Family Foundation Connect With the Next Generation
- Why Academic Research Should Be Part of Every Giving Portfolio
- Three Ways to Keep Delusional Altruism From Undermining Your Philanthropy
- Foundations, Know Thyself
- Look to Your Community Foundation in Times of Crisis
- Top 5 Ways to Make an Impact Beyond Grantmaking
- Going Beyond the Grant in Rural Communities
- Deep Listening Starts Here
- Community Foundations: Balancing Community Needs and the New Donor Mindset
- Thoughtful, Informed Philanthropy in the Wake of Disaster
- Succession Planning: Becoming New After 40 Years
- Sending 12 Members of Our Family Foundation to a Single Conference
- Considerations for Hiring an OCIO—Take the “T” Test
- New to Grantmaking? I Was Too
- 10 Foundation Activities That Call For Additional Care
- A Compass Only Works When You Trust It
- Donor Intent: Building a Legacy of Impact Through Partnerships
- Embracing Our Foundation’s Role as a Convenor
- Data, Trends, and the Value of Written Foundation Policies
- The Challenges Grantmakers Face in Supporting Technology
- Collective Impact vs. Collaboration: Do You Know the Differences?
- 5 Building Blocks of a Successful Media Strategy
- From the Mouths of Funders and Nonprofits: 20 Ways to Build Better Relationships
- Coming to the Work as Equals
- Tips for Effective Meetings With Government Officials
- Meet the World’s Largest Impact Investing Network
- Mentoring Young Adults in the Youth Philanthropy Movement
- My “Mission Sabbatical” and Why Your Foundation CEO Needs One Too
- Our Grantees Increase Visibility by Updating Free GuideStar Profiles
- Why Foundations Should Reconsider Warren Buffett’s Advice
- Foundation CEOs Experience Gender Pay Gap
- What Is Behind Great Funder–Nonprofit Relationships?
- Giving Globally: When to Go Big & When to Go Small
- Ready to Be an Impact Investor? Move Slowly, Stay Curious
- Foundation Catalyzes Change for First-Gen College Students
- Thinking Big & Bold: How the Kendall Foundation Is Transforming New England’s Food System
- Right-Sizing a New Risk Toolkit for Your Needs
- Why Our Community Foundation Partners With State Legislators
- Show Me the Story: Data Visualization
- Trust Is Essential to Changemaking; Funders Must Take the First Step
- You Talk With Your Mentor About What Exactly?
- Take a Fresh Look at Feedback
- Mindful Grantmaking for Effective Results
- Impact Investing: Impact Measures and Monitoring Tools
- How Funders Can Support Grantees’ Storytelling
- How Funders Can Help Nonprofits Leverage Their Data
- Perpetuity Doesn’t Have to Be Forever
- Curiosity as Catalyst for Personal Renewal, Community Transformation
- Try These 7 Methods to Get to a Giving Focus
- Making the Early Grant, and Very Often the First
- What’s Your “Type”? Complex New Regulations Highlight Importance of Supporting Organization Classification
- Impact Investing: A Foundation’s 15-Year Journey to Catalytic and Direct Investments
- Creating the Funder Network I Needed
- Lending Support: Keeping Your End Users in Mind
- Creative Grantmaking Done Legally
- Lessons From Our Foundation’s Nonprofit Mentoring Program
- 5 Tips for New Foundation Staff
- Ready to ACT? 3 Steps to Effective Foundation Communications
- Investing in Nonprofit Leadership for the Long Run
- What Will You Do Today?
- Impact Investing: Where to Source Investments?
- Hypothesis: Shorter Board Terms Can Increase Family Engagement
- More Ways to Create Space for Your Next Generation
- Reflective Practice to Move Your Philanthropy Forward
- Changing the Culture of Philanthropy: Building a Movement to Fund Real Cost
- Philanthropy Lessons: Getting Out of the Office
- The “Other” Investment Policy Statement
- From Our Work With 1,000 Funders, Here Are 3 Tips for Measuring Impact
- The Missing Piece of Modern Philanthropy: Part II
- Impact Investing: Best Practices for RFPs
- There’s No Such Thing as Nonprofit Sustainability… and What To Do About It (Part 2)
- The Missing Piece of Modern Philanthropy: Part I
- A Unique American Story: Public Policy and Private Philanthropy
- There’s No Such Thing as Nonprofit Sustainability…and What To Do About It (Part 1)
- Philanthropy Lessons: Who Knows More?
- Seizing the Opportunity to Tell Our Story Online
- Sabbaticals for Nonprofit Leaders and Their Funders
- Foundation Openness: A Critical Component of Foundation Effectiveness
- Find Out What It’s Like on Your Grantees’ Side of the Table
- The Case for Investing in Nonprofit Talent
- Peer Coaching: The Gift of Deep Listening
- Philanthropy Lessons: We Are Part of a Whole
- Strategies for Educating and Developing Your Board
- Impact Investing: Addressing Expertise and Staffing Needs
- My Observations About Good Deeds Done Well
- Philanthropy Lessons: The Power Dynamic
- Planning for a Ramp Up in Giving
- 20 Years: A Great Time for Reflection
- Supporting Nonprofit Collaboration: Helping Your Grantees Accomplish More Together
- Impact Investing: Making the Case to Your Trustees
- High Visibility, High Reward: Why We Publicize Our Guidelines & Process
- There Is a Reporter on the Phone—Top 10 Tips
- A Program Officer’s Go-To Resources
- The Buying Season
- A Small Funder Engages Its Community’s Expertise
- What Do You Know? What Can You Do?
- Is Playing It Cool Holding Us Back in Philanthropy?
- Reducing the Burden on Our Grantseekers and Ourselves
- 9 Ways to Make a Difference: Strategies From Small-Staffed Foundations
- The Attitude, and What We Can Learn From Funders Who Possess It
- Is Your Story Newsworthy? Six Elements to Help You Spot One, or Create One
- The Marriage of Passive and Active Investment Strategies
- The Importance of a Funder’s Humility
- Foundation Benchmarking Demystified
- Engaging With Members of the Media
- How Leadership Succession Planning Can More Deeply Engage Family and Board
- Think Like a Designer for Greater Impact in Philanthropy
- Listening In on a System
- Why It’s Important to Start Planning for Leadership Succession Now
- A Citizen and a Small Foundation Awaken a Community’s Ties
- Five Barriers to Focus and Ways to Push Past Them
- Listening and Learning to Assess Needs, Find Your Niche
- Change Demands More Than Programmatic Grants
- ‘Opting out’ is OK in this funder-nonprofit dynamic
- Thoughtful Blueprints, Well-Built Houses
- Reclaiming Philanthropy’s Role as Changemaker
- 6 Ways to Champion Change From the Inside Out
- Considerations When Making Significant Gifts
- 11 Paths to Effective Giving – Recapturing What Is Powerful
- Help Your Board Members (or Anyone) Be Open to New Ideas
- Are You Creating Space for Young Leaders to Lead?
- Smarter Site Visits
- 5 Ways to Involve Youth in Philanthropy
- 6 Ways Self-Dealing Can Creep Into a Foundation’s Work
- Paying Proper Attention to Your Professional Staff
- Are Your Trustees Involved Too Much—or Too Little—in Grantmaking?
- Bringing the Next Generation on Board—at Its Own Pace
- 5 Ways Relationships Matter: Tips From Foundation Executive Directors
- 5 Fundamentals Foundations May Overlook
- Tips on Building a Career in Philanthropy
- Shaping a Foundation’s Future While Honoring Its Past
- Strengthen Your People Powers
- Is Bullying Part of Your Board Meetings?
- Ways to Build a Culturally Competent Board
- Make Way for Mentoring
- Living in Truth
- New Regulations Spotlight Nonprofit Overhead
- Change: The Invisible Thread in Our Work
- The Power of Our Peer Coaching Circle
- How Do Funders Navigate the Power of the Purse?
- Pioneering a Unique Kind of Changemaking
- We Need More Bridge-Builders in Our Fractured Era
- Philanthropy Debates Its Role
- Young Leaders: Take Charge of Your Professional Development
- Success in CEO Transitions
- Sharing the Baton: One Foundation’s Perspective on Family Leadership Transitions
- What’s Different With a Focus?
- The Fiduciary Standard in Investment Management—Why Is It So Important?
- If Only We Are Intentional
- Plan for Transitions Before It’s Too Late
- After 400 Requests for Funding, We Refined Our Grantmaking Goals in These 4 Steps
- Readying Your Philanthropy for an Influx of Assets
- Measuring the Effectiveness of Capacity Building Support: A Metrics Menu
- Are You Prepared for Philanthropy’s Common Transition Points?
- Why We Focus on Learning
- How Your Generation Influences Your Giving
- Foundation Trustees Find Their Policy Voice
- I’m on a Listening Tour, and It’s One of the Best Things I’ve Ever Done
- Build Your Pipeline of Philanthropic Talent
- How to Make Big Data Relevant and Useful
- Strengthening the Nonprofit Sector by Strengthening Nonprofit Boards
- Your Point of View Gives You an Edge
- The Power of Simple Questions
- Change Up Your Giving With These Creative Strategies
- What Is Financial Due Diligence Really All About?
- Going Public With Your Giving
- Key Questions for Collaborators
- Convince Your Board to Pursue Greater Impact
- Just Say No to the Dog and Pony Show…and Other Advice on International Site Visits
- Convening to Build Capacity
- Why We Convene Grantees
- Creating Fair, Equitable Relationships in International Grantmaking
- Small Foundations Embrace Advocacy to Catalyze Change
- 12 Ways to Help Grantees Use Volunteers
- Why Do We Call Ourselves Grantmakers?
- Streamlining Our Grant Process
- Ask Your Way to Impact: Holding Up the Mirror
- Making an Impact on a Very Small Budget
- Foundations and Lobbying: Sorting Out the Do’s and Don’ts
- Ask Your Way to Impact: Nonprofit Dialogue
- Grantee Capacity Building: First, Do No Harm
- Ask Your Way to Impact: Funder Dialogue
- Experience Informs Focus for Making International Grants
- The Language of What We Do
- A Perfect Role for Foundations: Finding and Spreading Solutions
- Making a Big Impact With a Small Grant
- How to Know You Made a Difference: Grant Impact Reports
- Put Your Plans Into Action – Not on the Shelf
- Beyond Administrative Costs: A Better Way to Judge a Charity
- Giving Anonymously: A Personal Struggle
- How We Made a Small Foundation Internship Work
- Why We Started an Internship at Our Foundation
- Small Foundation Leadership: A Portrait Emerges
- Category: Leadership
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Resources
- Essentials
Greatest Hits - Sample Document
Procedures for External Board and Committee Service - Sample Document
Request for Proposals: Bookkeeping/Accounting Services - Sample Employee Manual
- Sample Document: Table of Contents for Small Foundation Operations Manual
- Essentials
Spring 2023: Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy - Sample Document:
Sample Questions To Collect Grantee Demographic Data - Sample Document
Youth Ambassadors for Philanthropy Birthday Grants - Sample Document
Sabbatical Leave Policy - Webinar Recording
Now Is the Time to Change the Face of Board Leadership: How Small Funders Can Do It - Essentials: Transitions
- Webinar Recording
Busting Perceptions: Investing for Mission and Market-Rate Returns - Webinar Recording
Activating the S in ESG Investing - Webinar Recording
Embracing Strategic Planning in Lean Philanthropy - Credit Card Policy and Procedures
- Essentials: All About the Board
- Sample Document
Community Member Compensation Policy - Sample Document
Engaging the Next Gen - Salary and Administrative Benchmarking with the Foundation Operations and Management Report
- Sample Document
Strategic Plan Sample - Sample Document
Abbreviated Version of Strategic Plan - Webinar Recording
Start Now, Stop Climate Change: Leveraging Foundation Portfolios to Impact the Environment - Sample Document
Tool for Guiding Applicants in Writing Strong Grant Outcomes - Webinar Recording
Advocacy by Small Foundations - Sample Document
Grant Dashboards - Essentials
Winter 2021: Community Civic Engagement - Webinar Recording
Racial Equity Investing: Opportunities for Foundations - Webinar Recording
Journeys to Equity - Webinar Recording
Philanthropy + Journalism x Society's Possibilities = YOUR opportunity - Sample Document
Grants Process Flow Chart - Webinar Recording
5 Steps to Ensure Your Grantmaking Will Have More Impact - Sample Document
Foundation Contingency & Disaster Recovery Plan - Sample Document
Traditional Grantmaking Process Flow Chart - Sample Document
Place-based Grantmaking Process Flow Chart - Essentials
Summer 2020: Paradigm Shifts - Webinar Recording
Rapid Learning to Reduce Risk and Build Trust - Sample Document
Board of Directors Profile Grid - Ramping Up for High-Impact Philanthropy
- Great Funder–Nonprofit Relationships Toolkit
- Sample Document
The Leighty Foundation Job Responsibilities - Sample Document
Inclusiveness and Diversity Statement - Webinar Recording
Walking the Talk: Building Equity into Your Organization’s DNA - Webinar Recording
Nuance of Words: Re-Framing Language to Increase Advocacy - Webinar Recording
Funders are changing their approaches in response to COVID-19. What’s going to stick? - Webinar Recording
Navigating COVID-19 Markets: Maximizing Your Capacity to Make an Impact - Webinar Recording
Emergency and Hardship Grants to Individuals - Webinar Recording
Effectively Partnering with Philanthropy Consultants: How Lean Funders Can Enhance Impact and Extend Their Team - COVID-19 Resources for Funders
- Webinar Recording
Investing Like a Fiduciary - Peer Circles Planning Guide
- Webinar Recording
Gender Lens Investing: A Unique Approach for Foundations - Essentials
Fall 2019: Funder Collaboration - Disability-Inclusive Grantmaking
- Sample Donor Receipt Letter, for Donors to a Foundation
- How Small-Staffed Community Foundations Keep Donors Engaged And Satisfied
- Essentials
Spring 2019: Engaging Your Board - Webinar Recording Making the Most of Your Membership
- Sample Documents Library
- Sample Document
Emergency Succession Plan - Sample Document
Final Succession Policy - Sample Document
Succession Plan for Executive Director / Chief Executive Officer - Webinar Recording
The State of Small-Staffed Foundations - Essentials
Winter 2019: Building Grantee Capacity - Webinar Recording
Managing Your Investment Manager - Webinar Recording
Force for Good: Philanthropy and Family Business - How Can Community Foundations Prepare to Invest for Impact
- Community Foundation Investment Oversight: Getting Up to Speed
- Essentials
Fall 2018: Managing Change - Webinar Recording
Covered Call Writing, An Alternative Investment Strategy - Sample Document
Phone Script for Consultant Interviews - Sample Document
Nominating Committee Charter - Sample Document
Committee Guidelines Worksheet - Sample Document
Board Composition - Sample Document
Term Limits and Rotation Policies - Sample Document
Board Profile Grid - Sample Document
Board Size and Eligibility - Sample Document
Authorization of Grants Policy - Sample Document
Decision-Making Policy - Sample Document
Conflict of Interest Policies - Sample Document
Discretionary Grants Checklist - Sample Document
Discretionary Grants Policies - Sample Document
Board Procedures Manual - Sample Document
Board Member Position Descriptions - Sample Document
Code of Conduct – Directors/Officers - Sample Document
Code of Ethics Policies - Sample Document
Board Service Agreement - Sample Document
Bylaws for Foundation Officers - Sample Document
Treasurer Position Description - Sample Document
Managing Trustee Position Description - Sample Document
Travel Expense Reimbursement Policies - Sample Document
Board Member Removal Policies - Sample Document
Loan Agreement - Sample Document
Loan Application - Sample Document
Recommendation to Board - Sample Document
Grant Guidelines - Sample Document
Letter of Inquiry Review Form - Sample Document
Grant Evaluation Rubric - Sample Document
Guidelines for Due Diligence - Sample Document
Financial Review Form - Sample Document
Proposal Summary Form - Sample Document
Site Visit Guidelines - Sample Document
Site Visit Evaluation Checklist - Sample Document
Policy and Consideration for Awarding Multiyear Support - Sample Document
Landscape Scan Document - Sample Document
Disaster Grantmaking Plan - Sample Document
Grant Report Forms - Sample Document
Streamlined Application for Returning Grantees - Sample Document
Streamlined Application - Sample Document
Press Release - Sample Document
Board Meeting Agenda - Sample Document
Board Meeting Minutes - Sample Document
Board Meeting Evaluation Form - Sample Document
Board Orientation Handouts - Sample Document
Board Orientation Handbook - Sample Document
Whistleblower Policy - Sample Document
Guidebook to Engaging the Next Generation - Sample Document
Next Gen Newsletter - Sample Document
Money Matters, Talking to the Next Gen - Sample Document
Next Generation Retreat Agenda - Sample Document
Next Gen Deliverables - Sample Document
Evaluation Plans and Results - Sample Document
Theories of Change - Sample Document
Determining Fiduciary Duty - Sample Document
Hiring Investment Professionals - Sample Document
Corporate Giving Program Guidelines - Sample Document
General Operating Support Guidelines - Sample Document
Grant Award Letters - Sample Document
Grant Agreements - Sample Document
Matching Grant Agreement - Sample Document
Spending Policy - Sample Document
Proposal Review Pending Letter - Sample Document
Requests for Additional Information - Sample Document
Guidelines for Saying No - Sample Document
Declination Letters - Sample Document
Grant Applications - Sample Document
Proposal Assessment Forms - Sample Document
Site Visit Reports - Sample Document
Letter of Inquiry Response - Sample Document
Board Docket - Sample Document
Statement of Donor Intent - Sample Document
Mission Statements - Sample Document
Guidelines for Linking Grantmaking and Mission - Sample Document
Annual Reports - Sample Document
Social Media Policy - Sample Document
Records Retention Policies - Sample Document
Consulting Services Request for Proposals - Sample Document
Consulting Contracts - Sample Document
Media Tools - Sample Document
Executive Director Position Descriptions - Sample Document
Administrative Staff Position Descriptions - Sample Document
Employment Application - Sample Document
Reference Check Questions - Sample Document
Interview Questions – CEO - Sample Document
Employment Agreement - Sample Document
Exit Interview - Sample Document
Audit Request for Proposals - Sample Document
Audit Contract - Sample Document
Sick Leave Policy - Sample Document
Expense Tracking Spreadsheet - Sample Document
Employee Personal Planning and Goal Setting - Sample Document
Parental Leave Policies - Sample Document
Employee Self-Evaluation - Sample Document
Employee Evaluations - Sample Document
Executive Director Evaluations - Sample Document
Confidentiality Statement - Sample Document
Harassment and Discrimination Policy - Sample Document
Personnel Policies - Sample Document
Investment Dashboard - Sample Document
Investment Policy Statement With Impact Investment Components - Sample Document
Investment Policy Statements - Webinar Recording
How Grantmaking Organizations Drive Social Change - Is Your Foundation Subject to GDPR?
- Serving as a Fiscal Sponsor
- Transform Your Bookkeeping With These Simple T’s
- Involving Teens in Philanthropy
- Involving Young Children and Preteens in Philanthropy
- Essentials
Spring 2018: Funder Advocacy - Webinar Recording
Managing Risk to Maximize Impact in Grantmaking - IRS Regulations Regarding DAFs
- What You Need to Know About the "Tax Act"
- Webinar Recording
What Is a Coach Approach to Philanthropy? - Evaluating Foundation Staff
- Recordkeeping if Sunsetting Your Foundation
- Evaluating Your CEO
- Recordkeeping Requirements and Tips
- Creating an Executive Director Job Description
- Foundation Consultants: An Industry Overview
- Inviting an Audit
- The 'Typical' Small Foundation Budget
- Tips for a Successful Hiring Process
- Why Written Job Descriptions Are So Important
- Tools for Engaging With Media
- Using Foundation Consultants: Pros and Cons
- Why Some Foundations Keep Grant Records Indefinitely
- Records Retention Policy
- Using Social Media to Move Mission
- Annual Reports
- Going Paperless in a Small Foundation Office
- Employment-Related Taxes
- Creating a Foundation Website
- The Universe of Giving Structures
- Creating and Running a Giving Circle
- An Introduction to Giving Circles
- Your Foundation's Brand Identity
- The Case for a Foundation Website
- Taking a Sabbatical
- Software Solutions for Grantmaking
- Setting Staff Compensation
- Prioritize Your Professional Development
- Pension Plans for Small Foundations
- Minimum Private Foundation Requirements
- Health Insurance Options
- Getting Your Work Done Well
- Filing Systems
- Engaging Your Board
- Employee Compensation: Legal Responsibilities
- Classifying Staff: Employees Versus Independent Contractors
- Administrative Expenses: Too Much? Too Little?
- A Human Resources Checklist
- Starting a Private Foundation
- Comparing Mission, Vision, and Values Statements
- The Benefits of Mission Statements
- Nonprofit Sector 101
- Key Private Foundation Laws
- Developing a Mission Statement
- Comparing Private Foundations and Public Charities
- A Foundation's State of Incorporation
- Essentials
Winter 2017: Funder-Grantee Relationships - Webinar Recording
Impact Investing: From Concept to Reality - Essentials
Fall 2014: Soft Skills - Essentials
Summer 2014: Trends - Essentials
Spring 2014: Transition Points - Essentials
Winter 2016: Telling Your Story - Essentials
Winter 2015: Organizational Effectiveness - Essentials
Summer 2016: Gifts of All Sizes - Essentials
Spring/Summer 2017: Multigenerational Philanthropy - Essentials
Spring 2016: Investing in Talent - Essentials
Spring 2015: Minding Your Ps and Qs - Essentials
Fall 2017: Diverse Perspectives - Essentials
Fall 2015: Setting Your Giving Path - Essentials
Summer 2015: Leadership - A Well-Crafted Investment Policy Statement
- Selecting Investment Advisors
- Preparing to Invest for Impact
- Is It Time for New Investment Professionals?
- Impact Investing Overview
- Impact Investing Resources
- Impact Investing: Q&A With Financial Advisors
- Impact Investing: How One Foundation Is Extending Its Mission
- Developing an Investment Policy Statement
- What Are Alternative Investments?
- The Potential of Program Related Investments
- Socially Responsible Investing: From Negative to Positive
- Rebalancing a Portfolio
- Real Estate Assets
- Prudent Investment Practices
- Preparing for a Fiduciary Audit
- How Do Investment Professionals Create Market Forecasts?
- Investment Oversight: Lessons Learned From the Great Recession
- Investment Terminology
- Investment Oversight: Getting Up to Speed
- Investment Oversight: Getting the Work Done
- Investment Manager Selection and Traditional Due Diligence
- Investment Fees Overview
- Investment Committees
- How the Brain’s Wiring Can Hurt Investment Returns
- Fiduciary Responsibility
- Designing a Spending Policy That Works
- Controlling Fees
- Broader & Deeper: 5-Part Investment Due Diligence Program
- Allocating Your Assets
- Advisors as Fiduciaries (or Not)
- The Makings of Phenomenal Foundation Executive Directors
- Supporting and Engaging in Networks
- Scanning the Landscape: Funder Examples
- Leadership Succession
- The Power of Convening
- Ten Ways to Move Your Philanthropy From Transactional to Transformational
- Reclaiming Philanthropy’s Role as Change Maker: How Three Funders Catalyzed Change
- Reclaiming Philanthropy’s Role as Change Maker: Embracing the Journey to Insight and Leadership
- Listening Well
- How to Champion Change From the Inside Out
- Going Public
- Giving More Than Grants: One Foundation’s Story
- Getting a More Complete Story From Your Grantees
- Exploring the Essence of Leadership
- Catalyzing Change
- Are You Leaving Your Power on the Table?
- Using Evaluation to Become an Effective Learning Organization
- Using Data to Inform Grantmaking
- The Path to Impact
- Impact Is Worth It
- Getting to Impact: Why Evaluation Is Key
- Getting to Impact Through Evaluation
- Focus Your Giving: A Key to Impact
- Adopting a Learning Mindset
- The Power of Focus: Q&A With Funders
- Building Capacity of the Local Nonprofit Community: One Funder’s Story
- Looking for Impact in All the Right Places
- From Tough Economic Times Come Smart Strategies
- Five Barriers to Focus and Ways to Push Past Them
- Facilitating Understanding, Communication, and Learning
- Engaging the Unusual Suspects
- Connecting Empathy With Better Results
- Choosing a Focus
- A Conversation With Experienced Collaborators
- Multigenerational Engagement in Philanthropy
- Involving Children and Teens in Your Foundation
- How a Foundation Can Prepare Its Next Generation
- From the Desks of Junior Board Members
- Engaging Young Adults in Philanthropy
- Engage the Next Generation in Giving
- What’s Role Have to Do With It?
- Tools for Philanthropic Families
- Telling Your Foundation’s Story
- Suggestions for Family Staff
- Succession Planning: A Foundation’s Success Story
- Promoting Youth Philanthropy in Your Community
- Planning for a Foundation’s Next 100 Years
- Nonfamily Members on Family Foundation Boards
- Making the Most of Succession
- Leadership Succession Planning: What’s Success Have to Do With It?
- Creating Space for Young Leaders to Lead
- Compensating Family Members for Foundation Duties
- Webinar Recording
Youth Philanthropy – Making a Difference - Webinar Recording
Why Does Your Foundation Need Insurance? - Webinar Recording
Understanding Your Investment Advisor's Responsibility to Your Foundation - Webinar Recording
The Role of Alternative Investments in Foundation Investing - Webinar Recording
Taking Steps to Increase Your Impact - Webinar Recording
Small-Staffed Foundation Trends: Exponent Philanthropy Turns 20 - Webinar Recording
Small Staffed Foundation Data and Trends in 2017 - Webinar Recording
Self-Dealing and Conflicts of Interest - Webinar Recording
Navigating the World of Donated and Discounted Technology - Webinar Recording
Making the Most of Your Giving - Webinar Recording
Leveraging Media to Advance Your Philanthropic Goals - Webinar Recording
Leadership Succession - Webinar Recording
Jargon and Gibberish: Understanding the Essentials of Investing - Webinar Recording
Impact Investing for Small-Staffed Foundations: Webinar Series - Webinar Recording
How to Engage Youth in Philanthropy in Meaningful, Fun Ways - Webinar Recording
Give and Get Better Data to Support Your Giving Strategy - Webinar Recording
Foundation Technology: How to Update the Outdated - Webinar Recording
Foundation Investing: Using Passive & Active Management in Volatile Markets - Webinar Recording
Evidence-Based Approaches to Grantmaking - Webinar Recording
Data for Decision Making: KIDS COUNT Data Center - Webinar Recording
Collective Impact: B'More for Babies Case Study - Webinar Recording
Coaching as a Tool for Effective Philanthropy - Webinar Recording
Building Effective Youth-Adult Partnerships - Webinar Recording
Back to the Future: Planning for Succession Before It’s Too Late - What Makes an Effective Nonprofit?
- Ways to Let the Public Know You Give Grants
- Values-Based Giving During the Great Recession
- Understanding Nonprofit Financials
- The Benefits of Program Related Investments: One Foundation’s Story
- Ten Ways to Streamline
- Supporting Nonprofit Collaboration: Respectful Ways to Help Your Grantees Accomplish More Together
- Successful Site Visits
- Streamlining Your Financial Due Diligence
- Small, Steady Dollars Make a Difference
- Scanning the Landscape
- Right-Sizing Your Requirements
- Red Flags in Nonprofit Financials
- Proposal Review
- Program Related Investments: Leverage Your Assets for Greater Impact
- PRIs: Smart Grants for Down Markets
- PRIs: One Foundation Invests in Community Services
- PRIs: A Powerful Tool for Grantmakers
- Organizations That Simplify the PRI Process
- Navigating Nonprofit Financials
- Lessons on Evaluation From a Foundation Executive Director
- It's Not Enough to Know Your Grantee Is a 501(c)(3)
- Grant Tracking: Designing a System That Fits Your Foundation
- General Operating Support: Grantmaking to Support Mission
- Funder Collaboratives: A Guide to Successful Partnerships
- Five Steps to Conducting Effective Site Visits
- Finding Focus, Honoring Values
- Engaging Stakeholders for More Effective Grantmaking
- Disaster Response: Connect, Collaborate, Consider, Communicate
- Disaster Grantmaking Strategies
- Disaster Grantmaking Principles and Considerations
- Choosing the Right Grantees
- Awarding Multiyear Grants
- Assessing Start-Up Organizations
- Addressing Key Financial Challenges Facing Nonprofits: Five Strategies for Grantmakers
- When Should a Foundation Have a Grant Agreement?
- Working With Your Community Foundation
- Why Our Small Foundation Gives Internationally
- What We Heard From Foundations During the Great Recession
- What Two Foundations Learned From a Grantee Survey
- Using Donor Advised Funds
- The Advantages of Online Grantmaking
- Supporting Start-Ups
- Supporting Nonprofit Leaders
- Supporting Nonprofit Collaboration
- Seven Global Grantmaking Myths
- Setting Up a Scholarship Program
- Saying No and Making a Difference
- Rescinding Grants
- Q&A With Foundations During the Great Recession
- Put Your Money Where Your Mission Is
- Provide General Support or Not?
- Minding Your Ps and Qs
- Making Global Grants
- Make the Most of Your Foundation
- Key Elements of a Grantmaking Strategy
- International Intermediaries
- Insights Into Innovation
- How to Read Potential Grantees’ Financial Statements
- How a Small Foundation Makes Capacity Building Grants
- Healthy Nonprofit Leaders, Healthy Nonprofits
- Giving to Individuals Through Scholarships and Loans: Five Foundations Share Their Strategies
- Giving to Individual Teachers Through a Donor Advised Fund
- Beyond Grantmaking: On-Ramps to Nongrant Strategies
- General Operating Support
- Funding Fundraising Infrastructure: A Funder’s Examples
- Funders Collaborate to Support Education
- Foundation Uses Technology Know-How to Make an Impact for Grantees
- Embracing Unique Investment Opportunities
- Eleven Funders Collaborate to Support Ministries
- Domestic Grants in Support of Overseas Causes
- Creative Giving Strategies
- Creating Grant Guidelines
- Corporate Giving Strategies
- Convenings and Other Ways to Bring Grantees Together: One Foundation’s Strategies
- Considering Charity Ratings Services
- Complying With Anti-Terrorist Financing Rules
- Communicating With Grantseekers
- Collaborating With Other Funders
- Changing Young Lives Through Scholarships
- Changing Lives Through Microfinance
- Beyond Grants: Providing Information to Help Grantees
- Beyond Grantmaking: Examples of Nongrant Strategies
- Beyond Dollars: How Social Venture Partners Make Connections to Achieve Greater Impact
- Are Your Grantees Governed Well?
- Alleviating the Challenges of Challenge Grants
- A Strategic Funder and Convener
- A Little More Money Makes an Impact
- A Grants Management System
- A Family Foundation Shares Goals at the Heart of Its Giving
- Year-End Tips for Meeting Your Minimum
- Understanding the Excise Tax
- Top Seven Year-End Foundation Tax Tips
- Tipping the Scales With a Large Grant
- Three Types of Audits
- Taxable Expenditures
- Tax Filing Methods
- Supporting Organizations
- Should We Convert to an Operating Foundation?
- Self-Dealing Issues for Private Foundations That Co-Invest With Disqualified Persons
- Scholarships and Other Grants to Individuals
- Public Disclosure Requirements
- Protecting Your Foundation With Insurance
- Preparing for an IRS Audit
- Planning for Set-Asides
- Overview of Laws Governing Private Foundations
- Meeting Your Minimum Distribution Requirement
- Lobbying: Is Incorrect Advice Inhibiting Your Ability to Act?
- Legal Requirements for Foundation Investments
- Is This Self-Dealing? Three Questions to Ask
- Is Our Foundation Likely to Experience an IRS Audit?
- Foundation Bylaws
- Form 990-PF: Preparing to File
- Form 990-PF Tax Tips
- Expenditure Responsibility and Equivalency Determination for International Grantmaking
- Expenditure Responsibility
- Excess Business Holdings
- Direct Charitable Activities
- Differences Between Foundations and Other Charities
- Closing Shop
- Beyond the Numbers: Telling Your Story on the Form 990-PF
- Attending Fundraisers
- Are You Underestimating Your D&O Liability?
- Allocating Foundation Expenses for Tax Purposes
- Advocacy and Lobbying by Private Foundations
- A Foundation Sued by a Potential Grantee
- 10 Ways Self-Dealing Can Creep Into a Foundation’s Work
- Travel and Expense Reimbursement Policy
- Setting Great Board Meeting Agendas
- Officers and Leadership
- Five Strategies for Keeping Trustees on the High Road
- Facilitation: Tools of the Trade for Grantmakers
- Expectations of Board Members
- Discretionary Grants Policy
- Conflict of Interest Policy
- Board Policies
- Board Composition
- Board Committees and Advisory Committees
- Annual Board To-Dos: A Checklist for Running a Foundation
- A Quick Guide to Foundation Bylaws
- Whistleblower Policy
- Orienting New Trustees
- Board Meeting Requirements and Strategies
- Working Together From a Distance
- What To Do Today for Successful Succession
- Turning Your Next Board Retreat Into a Board Advance
- The Perpetuity Debate
- Technology Tools for Foundation Boards
- Setting an Agenda Is Half the Battle
- Recruiting Foundation Trustees
- Records Retention Policy
- Personnel Policy
- Making the Most of Your Board Meetings
- 10 Lessons Learned From the King Foundation Case
- Governing Documents and Mission Statement
- Five Ways to Keep Your Trustees on Track
- Fiduciary Duties and Suggested Code of Conduct for Foundation Managers
- Donor Intent
- Disaster and Emergency Response Policy
- Considering Trustee Compensation
- Board Retreats
- Board Assessment: Three Common Methods
- Avoiding Conflicts of Interest: A Funder Story
- Attending to Conflicts of Interest and Self-Dealing
- Assessing Your Board
Publications
- How Grantees Think Funders Can Improve
- 2023 Racial Equity in Lean Foundations
- Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy: How to Get Started
- Mind the Gap: Reflection Questions & Implementation Ideas
- Mind the Gap: Reflection Questions and Implementation
- Custom Salary and Benefits Survey
- Foundation Operations and Management Report Executive Summary
- 2022 Racial Equity in Lean Foundations
- How Lean Funders Build Stronger Relationships With Grantees
- Embracing Strategic Planning In Philanthropy
- Advocacy Field Guide
for Lean Funders - Advocacy Field Guide
for Lean Funders - Spotlight Report
Building Equity Into your Foundation’s DNA - Spotlight Report
A Leanly Staffed Funder’s Guide to Foundation Investing - Spotlight Report
How Lean Funders Evaluate
Their Work - Peer Coaching Guide
- Spotlight Report
COVID-19: How Have Funders Changed Their Approach & What Will Stick? - 2019 Foundation Operations and Management Report
- Setting Up a Small Foundation Office
- The Best of Both Worlds: Using Private Foundations and Donor Advised Funds
- Foundation Operations and Management Report
- Ramping Up for High-Impact Philanthropy Toolkit
- Great Funder–Nonprofit Relationships Toolkit
- RECORDING
Foundations 101 Virtual Seminar: Investment Management Oversight - RECORDING
Foundations 101 Virtual Seminar: Legal Basics - RECORDING
Foundations 101 Virtual Seminar: Governance Basics - RECORDING
Foundations 101 Virtual Seminar: Getting Started - With Your Own Eyes: Using Site Visits to Make Better Grants and Fulfill Your Mission
- Recruiting Foundation Board Members: How to Find the Right People
- Leveraging Your Assets With Loans and Other Program-Related Investments
- Legal Essentials for Small Foundations
- How to Start a Private Foundation
- Basics of Proposal Review
- Investments Collection
- The Grandparent Legacy Project
- Getting to Impact Discussion Guide #8: Making Evaluation Manageable and Meaningful
- Getting to Impact Discussion Guide #7: What Evaluation Is and Isn’t
- Getting to Impact Discussion Guide #6: Why Evaluation is a Key Component in Increasing Your Impact
- Getting to Impact Discussion Guide #5: Moving Staff and Board Members to Pursue Impact
- Getting to Impact Discussion Guide #4: Finding Success Through a Clear Vision and Road Map
- Getting to Impact Discussion Guide #3: Good Grantmaking Demands Field Knowledge
- Getting to Impact Discussion Guide #2: Why Defining Your Focus Is Critical
- Getting to Impact Discussion Guide #1: Why Every Foundation Can and Should Have Impact
- Media Toolkit: A Funder's Guide to Engaging With Members of the Media
- Teen Philanthropy Café
- Working With Community Foundations: A Guide for Small Foundations
- Twenty Ways to Make a Difference: Stories From Small Foundations
- The Trustee Handbook: Essentials for Effective Foundation Board Members
- Strategic Uses of Donor Advised Funds
- Ramping Up Your Foundation: Key Considerations for Planning and Managing a Significant Increase in Giving
- Protecting Your Small Foundation With Insurance
- Practical Board Self-Assessment: Improve Your Foundation’s Effectiveness
- Policymaking Made Clear: Eleven Foundation Policies Your Board Should Consider
- Outsized Impact
- Keeping Good Records: Small Foundations’ Guide to Staying Organized
- Investing in Nonprofit Leaders
- How to Avoid Self-Dealing
- Hiring Great Staff
- Getting to Impact: Why Evaluation Is Key – Stories From Small Foundations
- Grantee and Applicant Perception Survey
- Getting to Impact Through Planning
- Getting to Impact Through Evaluation
- Getting It Done: The Who and How of Small Foundation Investing
- Funding and Engaging in Advocacy: Opportunities for Small-Staffed Foundations
- The Foundation Guidebook
- Financial Reporting for Private Foundations: A Uniform System
- Filing the Form 990-PF
- Creating a Strategy and Plan for Your Foundation’s Investing: Developing and Using an Investment Policy Statement
- Closing Shop: When Small Foundations Get Out of the Foundation Business
- Bringing on the Board: Practical Steps for Orienting Foundation Board Members
- Board Compensation: What Is the Right Answer for Your Foundation?
- 10-Minute Impact Assessment: Explore How to Make The Most of Your Giving
Events
- Equity in Practice: A Conversation with Two Foundation Staff & Trustees
- 10 Things You Can Do Today to Increase Your Cybersecurity
- Foundation Advocacy Intensive: Develop Your Policy Acumen
- 2025 Annual Conference
- 2024 Annual Conference
- Grassroots Grantmaking
- Next Gen Fellows Program
- 990-PF Pre-Conference Tax Seminar
Testimonials
- Lora Junkin
- Catherine Gura
- Lois Savage
- Greg Cantori (TRY IT!...)
- Alex Carter
- Sister David Ann Niski
- Marybeth Lernihan
- Jason Born
- Carolyn Watson
- Greg Cantori
- Bill Sommerville
- Lindsey Stammerjohn
- Amy Zell Ellsworth
- Bob Wahlert
- Mary Walachy
- Heather Carroll
- Christine Elbel
Q&A's
- Can you share a sample table of contents for a lean foundation operations manual?
- Is Exponent holding a 990-PF program this year?
- How can I nominate someone for an Outsized Impact Award?
- Are there any 2024 conference sessions that specifically address family foundations?
- Can you share a sample document that can help my foundation create a statement of donor intent?
- How common is board compensation among Exponent’s membership?
- Do you have tips for funding returning grantees?
- What documents should I have ready and organized before I start to file the Form 990-PF?
- How do I preorder a hard copy of the 2024 Foundation Operations and Management Report?
- Are there self-dealing issues related to foundation board, staff, and family attending nonprofit events?
- What should I know about the investment management RFP process?
- What makes a phenomenal foundation executive director?
- How can small-staffed foundations fund and engage in advocacy?
- What conference sessions center around legal compliance?
- What 2024 conference sessions will help advance my DEI learning journey?
- What 2024 conference sessions are meant for those new to this space?
- What can my foundation fund with minimal legal effort?
- I want to know how my grantees and applicants feel about working with me. Do you have any resources for that?
- Do you have data on the average number of paid staff Exponent members have by asset size?
- What technology discounts do I have access to as a member?
- Where can I find the agenda and session descriptions for the 2024 Annual Conference?
- What are the legal obligations of nonprofit board members?
- Can you share a checklist for board meetings?
- What's the board-building cycle?
- Why is having a foundation website valuable?
- My foundation just hired someone. How can we determine how to classify them taxwise?
- Why should I consider focusing my giving?
- What types of benefits do foundations typically give to staff?
- How can I ensure that my foundation’s travel expenses remain “reasonable and necessary”?
- Does Exponent Philanthropy offer a group health insurance policy?
- What's expected of foundation board members?
- Do my Exponent Philanthropy membership dues count toward my distribution requirement?
- What should I know when navigating nonprofit financials?
- Would my foundation benefit from a grants management system?
- How do board policies work?
- Do you have any tips for compiling an annual report?
- Foundation administrative expenses; what's important to know?
- What are some ways I can let the public know my foundation gives grants?
- Can you share a harassment and discrimination policy sample?
- We’re considering setting up a scholarship program. Got any tips?
- How can I tell if there are red flags in a nonprofit’s financials?
- What are some barriers to building strong relationships with grantees?
- Why should I address succession now?
- What assets do small-staffed funders bring to policy work?
- Can you share some foundation best practices for handling money?
- What questions should I consider when hiring investment managers directly?
- What does the position of board chair demand?
- What can I do to encourage staff to express their professional development goals?
- How can my foundation design a spending policy that works?
- Do you have text I can use to set board term limits and rotation policies?
- Do you have any updates on the Accelerating Charitable Efforts (ACE) Act?
- We’re considering collecting demographic data on grantees and grantseekers. How can we do so effectively and equitably?
- What are program-related investments?
- How can we review our foundation’s HR policies?
- Do foundations change investment advisors often?
- How can I let the public know my foundation gives grants?
- When should a foundation have a grant agreement?
- What is discretionary grantmaking?
- Can a private foundation count administrative expenses toward its annual distribution requirement?
- Where can I find the schedule and registration for the 2021 Virtual Annual Conference?
- What do I need to include in an "expenditure responsibility" grant agreement?
- Can I register for the 2021 Annual Conference?
- How can I start to involve the next generation in my foundation?
- Why is a well-crafted investment policy statement vital?
- Is my investment policy statement up to task?
- What is the Accelerating Charitable Efforts Act?
- What are the legal responsibilities for employee compensation?
- Got any tips for keeping foundation records?
- Why are written job descriptions important?
- How can I streamline my financial due diligence?
- What are direct charitable activities?
- What’s the easiest way to fund international causes?
- Got any tips for a successful hiring process?
- Which foundations should consider having a pension plan?
- What’s the difference between employees and independent contractors?
- What are some common ways foundations engage in impact investing?
- What policies and processes help keep trustees on the high road?
- What advance preparation should I do for foundation board meetings?
- Can you share a sample document for site visit reports?
- How can our foundation prepare its next generation?
- How can I make the most of my board meetings?
- What’s the first step for implementing an impact investment strategy?
- Can you share a sample position description for the secretary/treasurer of a foundation board including their roles and responsibilities?
- Why is general operating support valuable?
- I need additional information from a grant applicant. What should I do?
- Can you share sample parental leave policies?
- How can I nominate qualified candidates to our board of directors?
- What can I do to help employees set goals?
- Do you have resources for issuing a press release?
- How can I support Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities?
- How can I learn about societal/community needs?
- Can you share guidelines for providing general operating support?
- Do you have investment policy statements that include impact investing?
- Can I pre-order the Advocacy Field Guide for Lean Funders?
- What are the basics of proposal review?
- Do you have recommendations on professionals who work with lean funders?
- What should I say when declining a grant?
- Do you have a streamlined application for returning grantees?
- How can I focus my giving?
- Do you have any resources for engaging my next generation?
- How can I make the most of my membership?
- Do you have suggestions for funding Black-led social change?
- What resources do you have for awarding multiyear support?
- How can I have an investment process that’s aligned with my foundation’s purpose and goals?
- What information do you have on forming an advisory committee to serve alongside the board?
- Do you have any resources to help with landscape scanning?
- We’re updating our employee handbook—can you share any family and medical leave policies?
- I missed a webinar that I wanted to attend—what should I do?
- How do I make a disaster grantmaking plan?
- Can I write a blog for Exponent Philanthropy?
- Why does my foundation need insurance?
- What are the recordkeeping requirements for private foundations?
- Can you share a succession plan for executive directors?
- Do we need to have a yearly foundation audit?
- How can we prepare to continue operating during an unplanned event, like a natural disaster?
- Do you have resources for hiring facilitators and consultants?
- What evaluation methods do lean funders use most often?
- How can we streamline our grant application?
- How have tax filing requirements for exempt organizations changed?
- How can lean funders assess their board?
- What are the elements of an executive director succession plan when there are no internal candidates?
- How do you start leadership succession planning?
- What advice do you have on adding staff?
- Why should you consider making CDFIs a part of your portfolio?
- What are some best practices resources that have made a major difference in the success of member organizations?
- How can funders and grantees overcome barriers to trust?
- How can your foundation support emerging leaders in the nonprofit sector?
- What advice do you have on using participatory grantmaking in a family foundation setting?
- How should foundations responded to event sponsorship requests?
- How can I build better relationships with my nonprofit partners?
- Do you have recommendations for anti-racist training for nonprofits?
- Do you have an impact investing policy statement you could share?
- What budget process do you use?
- How can I streamline making grants, and what are the minimum requirements?
- How can small staffed foundations embrace diversity, equity and inclusion work?
- Are foundations eligible for the Employee Retention Tax Credit in the CARES Act?
- If my foundation gives out significantly more money this year, will we face a tax penalty?
- How can the Coronavirus Relief Bill, the CARES Act, help grantees?
- How can I prepare my board to meet via teleconference or videoconference?
- How are Exponent Philanthropy members responding to the COVID-19 pandemic?
- What are private foundation taxable expenditures?
- What should we include in a grant agreement?
- How do member foundations structure their investment management? Board or staff? Outside managers?
- Do you have templates for grant applications and final reports?
- Do you have advice on setting a foundation spending policy?
- We are interested in supporting a local church, but it is unable to document its tax-exempt status. What do you recommend?
- Does Exponent Philanthropy publish data on trustee compensation?
- Can we recoup grant funds from a grantee?
- May our foundation give grants to supporting organizations?
- Is it self-dealing for our foundation to invest in the same fund as our trustees?
- What types of insurance do foundations typically carry?
- Can you suggest creative retirement or transition packages for a long-serving foundation CEO?
- What information do I have to disclose to the public?
- What are taxable expenditures, and how can we avoid them?
- Where can I find copies of our foundation's prior years' tax returns?
- Do you have advice on making site visits?
- What resources do you recommend to new foundation staff?
- Our board wants to adopt a policy around disaster response. Can you help?
- If our foundation operations move to a new state, do we also need to change our state of incorporation?
- As a new trustee, where can I learn about foundation investing?
- What does it mean to right-size your grant requirements?
- Do you have advice for evaluating start-up organizations?
- When should a foundation have a grant agreement?
- How do small funders monitor international grantees?
- What do foundations typically include in an annual report?
- What are the pros and cons of discretionary grantmaking?
- Does our foundation need a mission statement?
- How do foundations set their spending rates?
- What is the excise tax?
- Is our foundation likely to experience an audit?
- What do foundations usually include in a board orientation?
- We’re a very small, very new foundation. What should we do to set up the foundation for successful grantmaking?
- Can a private foundation make a grant to a government agency?
- What should we consider when hiring family members as foundation staff?
- Can site visit expenses count toward our 5% distribution requirement?
- Can a private foundation contribute to a donor advised fund. Are there special considerations or documentation?
- Our accountant says our foundation should distribute the required amount by year end, but don’t we have an additional year?
- What do funders typically say when declining a grant request?
- Are there any restrictions on a private foundation’s matching gift program for trustees/staff?
- What does workers’ compensation insurance cover, and must we have it if we have paid employees?
- I’m looking for guidance on preparing a foundation's financial statements, and any templates.
- Where can we learn more about reviewing grant proposals?
- Please settle a disagreement about whether we must have a grantee’s IRS determination letter on file.
- Can you remind me of the rules governing foundation grants to individuals?
- Does Exponent Philanthropy have sample language for travel reimbursement policies?
- Should we hire a new staff person as a contractor or an employee?
- Do you have resources on funder collaboration? We want to consider it.
- What does a typical grant application look like?
- What are some of the most common self-dealing abuses?
- How do you recommend we orient a new trustee?
- Do you have tips for family members who staff their foundations? I’m new to this role.
- What policies do you recommend for foundation boards?
- How often is our foundation board required to meet? Are there other meeting requirements we should know?
- Do you offer health insurance options for members?
- What should we consider before granting to an organization’s fiscal sponsor?
- I want to learn more about reviewing nonprofit financials. What do you recommend?
- Why can’t our family business rent space to our foundation at below market rates?
- Can our family foundation use foundation funds to produce a biography of our founder?
- Do you have sample letters to say "no" to a grant application?
- I want our board to assess how we’re functioning, and I’m looking for a checklist or resource to guide the discussion.
- How do other foundations define financial need for the purpose of scholarships? Do state savings programs come into play?
- Can a private foundation make a grant to another private foundation?
- May our foundation provide a bridge loan to a grantee for which I also serve as a board member?
- Can a foundation recoup grant funds from a grantee?
- I hope to streamline our grantmaking with technology. What are popular products or tools?
- If our foundation purchases a laptop for a trustee's home office, which they will use for personal and foundation business, is this self-dealing?
- Our grantees expressed interest in meeting regularly to talk about shared interests/issues. Are other funders hosting similar meetings?
- Does Exponent Philanthropy offer discounts on grantmaking software?
- Do you have a list of tasks involved in running a foundation?
- My board is so involved in the details of our grants process, I’m afraid they’ll burn out. Help!
- Annual reports—does our foundation need one?
- We need to take stock of ourselves as a board. What is the best way?
- We’re hiring our foundation’s first executive director? Do you have sample job descriptions?
- Our board will discuss spend-down at our next meeting. What can you tell me about the process?
- What are the best practices for archiving communications/gift agreements from both inactive and active grantees?
- May board members be covered under the foundation’s employee health plan?
- Is it self-dealing for our private foundation to invest in the same funds as our board members?
- Do you have any tips on foundation bookkeeping? We hope to make next year’s tax season go smoother.
- Can foundation board members vote by email?
- I want to encourage my board members to attend site visits. Do you have resources that may convince them?
- We want to focus our grantmaking in hopes of having more impact, but how? There are so many competing needs and interests.
- Do you have sample conflict of interest policies I can adapt for our foundation?
- Do you recommend that our small foundation board (just 5 members) create an investment committee to monitor performance?
- Our newest trustee is encouraging our foundation to be more public about our interests and grants. Can you suggest small ways to start?
- Do you have tips for managing difficult, disruptive “bullies” on a board?
- If my teen daughter travels with me to a seminar to learn about my work as a foundation trustee, may the foundation cover her expenses?
- Do you have advice on awarding in-kind gifts?
- What do foundations do when something goes wrong or goes nowhere?
- How can we streamline our foundation paperwork?
- What books are popular among Exponent Philanthropy members?
- Is it common for funders to use foundations and donor advised funds?
- We're reconsidering our foundation's policy on board compensation. What's common among Exponent Philanthropy members?
- Can our foundation, run from the founder's family office, pay the family office for space and services?
- Is it common for Exponent Philanthropy members to compensate board members for routine board service?
- How can I help our board have conversations about our impact?
- How do Exponent Philanthropy members stay in the know about their communities and causes?
- Should we have an investment policy?
- What options exist for those with small staffs to offer a medical insurance program as part of their benefits package?
- Is there an efficient way to evaluate gaps and needs on our board as we open nominations for new trustees?
- Does Exponent Philanthropy record its webinars?
- When should a foundation have a grant agreement?
- Cybersecurity Insurance
- Nonprofits for Disaster Relief
- Determining an Organization's Tax Status
- Sample policies
- Do you offer consulting services for families who want guidance in starting a family foundation?
- Are there any special considerations or documentation we should consider before making a contribution to a colleague's donor advised fund, which is housed at a 501(c)(3) organization?
- Is there an average ratio of administrative expenses to grants for foundations similar in size to mine?
- Are there limitations of the SignaturePLUS membership?
- What is the difference between Signature and SignaturePLUS membership?
- If I’m not a SignaturePLUS member, can I still call your Q&A service for legal questions?
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Resource Types
Resource Topics
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- Boards and Governance
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- Equity
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- Impact and Evaluation
- Investments
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- Selecting a Giving Structure
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