How will you use your resources to achieve your purpose?
At its core, grantmaking brings your objectives to life to create good for others. Your philanthropic strategy is the roadmap to achieve your desired social impact.
Philanthropy is often described as society’s “risk capital.” This NCFP Content Collection provides context for how generous families can assess philanthropic risk, tame and mitigate risk, and even expand their comfort zone to embrace uncertainty and learn from their mistakes. Know of other good resources on this topic? Please suggest a resource.
If you asked at a gathering of family foundation folks whether using discretionary grants is a good idea, you’d never reach consensus. Many family foundations don’t use them. Those that do have widely varied policies governing how much money is available, who is eligible to make the grants, and whether the grants must be within the foundation’s mission and guidelines.
Natural disasters occur with disturbing frequency. Family philanthropists are often on the front line in responding to them. Strategic disaster-related giving requires an understanding of the nuances of the disaster life cycle, from risk reduction through long-term recovery, and the timely planning of gifts that make the most of available resources, cut down on duplication of efforts, and offer more
