Grantee Relationships and Power Dynamics

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Anthony Richardson, Mailee Walker, Melinda Tuan

man holding out hand - agreement, relationships
Power dynamics are inherent in traditional philanthropy: a funder gives and a grantee receives. This imbalance has the ability to inhibit productive, honest partnerships and stymie successful outcomes. It is often difficult for a grantee to discuss their needs and concerns when their financial future is on the line. Funders must acknowledge these dynamics with grantee partners and learn how… Read More

Building a Social Impact Strategy and Approach

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Kara Inae Carlisle, Melissa A. Berman, Robert Dortch

stacks of coins - grantmaking
Grantmaking is the fundamental element of a family philanthropy effort. The practice of grantmaking actualizes the motivations of a donor, advances their values, and accomplishes their aims and objectives. However, it requires careful planning and consideration. A family must decide on focus areas, articulate desired outcomes—near- and long-term—and identify the appropriate partners. And how you fund matters just as much… Read More

Community Foundations Network Topical Call: Improving and Re-Envisioning Donor Experience

Posted on December 3, 2020

binoculars, future, imagine
Have you re-envisioned your client experience? Gather with your peers to dive deeper into the recent Community Foundation Workshop presentation by Julie Littlechild, “How Client Engagement is Being Disrupted.” Building off of Julie’s workbook, we will discuss how to move from satisfaction to engagement. Prepare to better support your donors at each stage of their journey. If you missed the… Read More

Trends 2020: Foundation Giving

Posted on November 19, 2020

This excerpt from NCFP’s Trends 2020 study shares data and analysis regarding various US family foundation giving trends, including payout rate, influences of giving decisions, discretionary grants, and much more. Family foundations must make choices around the size, number, and focus of their grants. They also have choices around how much they payout annually, the types of grants they make, and how… Read More

Community Foundations Network Topical Call: Holiday and Winter Family Meetings

Posted on October 5, 2020

How are you preparing for holiday and winter meetings with your donor families during this challenging and partisan moment? Donors are looking for guidance as they navigate uncertain times and a changing giving landscape. Join this safe, facilitated dialogue to talk with your peers about common strategies and important questions. Resources: Civil Conversations & Social Healing at The On Being… Read More

Values-based Leadership for the Future of Health: A Conversation with Barbara Bush and Global Health Corps

Posted on October 5, 2020 by Joanna Galaris, Barbara Bush, Sandra Isano, Heather Anderson

Join us in welcoming to our virtual stage Global Health Corps (GHC) Co-Founder and Board Chair Barbara Bush and CEO Heather Anderson. Barbara will share a brief history of her inspiration and initial vision for the organization, and then engage in a conversation with other panelists that illuminates GHC’s journey from launching as a small startup in 2009 to building… Read More

How to Do A Trust-Based Grantee Meeting

Posted on October 2, 2020 by Trust-Based Philanthropy Project

How can funders approach grantee check-in meetings to foster productive relationships and glean important insights, all while proactively alleviating power imbalances? And how can we consider grantee check-ins  as an alternate approach to reporting? This funder-specific tool offers a checklist of trust-based considerations before, during, and after grantee check-in meetings… Read More

Trust-Based Philanthropy Self-Reflection Tool

Posted on October 2, 2020 by Trust-Based Philanthropy Project

Trust-based philanthropy is a holistic approach that requires alignment in a grantmaking organization’s four interrelated areas: 1) practice, 2) leadership, 3) culture, and 4) values. This tool is designed to help funders at various stages of the trust-based journey examine how trust shows up across your organization, and identify areas that may need more inquiry, refinement, or deepening. This is… Read More