PEAK Grantmaking is a vibrant member-led community of professionals who specialize in grants management for funding organizations. Together, we power knowledge and foster collaboration to advance equitable, effective grantmaking practice – transforming how grants get made.

We advance grantmaking so grantmakers and grantseekers can best achieve their missions.

We connect members of the grantmaking profession, offer educational opportunities for grants management professionals at all levels, and guide grantmakers in strengthening practices – improving outcomes for grantmakers and grantseekers alike.

Contributions

From Words to Action at Bainum Family Foundation

Posted on April 16, 2021 by PEAK Grantmaking

The principles guiding one grantmaker’s successful efforts to tie practices to values, including practical methods for getting staff involved in the process and gathering the most relevant insight into your practices. Like many family foundations, the Bainum Family Foundation has been guided implicitly, from the start, by the life story and core beliefs of its founder. To make the leap… Read More

Strategies for Aligning Practices and Values

Posted on April 16, 2021 by PEAK Grantmaking

Want to secure more trusting relationships, met expectations, and true partnerships—as well as better, more sustainable outcomes? Discover they key questions you should be asking and the three strategies to connect the “how” of grantmaking to values, strategy, and impact: Develop strategic goals related to improving your grantmaking practice Recognize that grantmaking staff are integral to the realization of your… Read More

Case Study: Humility, Modesty, and Curiosity at the Barr Foundation

Posted on April 16, 2021 by PEAK Grantmaking

At the Barr Foundation, narrowing the power gap begins with their mission statement and stated values, by thoughtfully focusing on potential, and being a catalyst and steward. “Modesty and humility come from seeing what grantees are doing in the community, and that our role is a helping role: The impact that our grantees are making is what’s most important,” says… Read More

Strategies for Narrowing the Power Gap in Philanthropy

Posted on April 16, 2021 by PEAK Grantmaking

Effective grantmaking organizations deliberately act to redefine the power balance with their grantees, recognizing that grantmakers and grantees are equal partners in the quest for impact. Learn more about expanding your impact by focusing on. The power that we often have as grantmakers shows up in the processes that we ask grantseekers and grantees to follow in order to secure… Read More

Strategies for Driving Equity in Grantmaking

Posted on April 16, 2021 by PEAK Grantmaking

In order to implement strategies that promote justice, inclusion, and equity, we must work with purpose and urgency to establish grantmaking practices that advance equity. This goes beyond narrowing the power gap (which helps all grantseekers and grantees) to a more specific focus on building power for under-resourced communities. On a tactical level, driving equity requires taking an intentional look… Read More

How To Guide: Uncovering Unconscious Bias in Philanthropy

Posted on April 16, 2021 by PEAK Grantmaking

This guide is designed to help you, the grants management professional, understand bias, how it shows up in philanthropy, why it matters, and how you can improve impact and outcomes for communities historically disenfranchised from philanthropic benefit. This guide will cover some basic concepts and definitions around unconscious bias and some proven ways to reduce bias that can be applied… Read More

Courage in Practice: 5 Principles for Peak Grantmaking

Posted on October 13, 2020 by PEAK Grantmaking

PEAK Grantmaking believes that a set of principles is needed to support grantmakers in their efforts to make practices a strategic imperative within their organizations. Created by and for our members, the Principles for Peak Grantmaking is our call to action to transform the practice of philanthropy into the practice of principled grantmaking. These five Principles will help you implement more effective,… Read More