Data, impact, and assessment

A Guide to Actionable Measurement

Posted on January 30, 2010

This guide provides a basis for a common understanding of results measurement at the Gates Foundation. The guide uses the term ‘measurement’ to refer to indicator monitoring, evaluation, as well as long-term impact tracking, and is intended to inform choices about measurement within funder strategies… Read More

Logic Models: Not Just for Big Foundations Anymore

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Erica V. Ekwurzel

Logic modeling is popular with large foundations, but has not been embraced by many of the smaller ones. One reason is that foundations with few or no staff fear that producing one is complicated and time consuming. It doesn’t have to be. And it can be a crucial tool for small asset foundations looking to make sustained impact, as explained… Read More

Logic Models: How They Can Increase Your Impact

Posted on April 2, 2009 by Janet Harman, Kristin Brewer

Logic modeling has been embraced by some large foundations, but has not been as popular with smaller ones because the process may seem overly complicated. The KDK-Harman Foundation, a $20 million family foundation in Austin, Texas, believes use of logic models—a systematic, visual way to present a plan with its underlying assumptions and theoretical framework—is even more crucial for small foundations seeking to make sustained impact… Read More

Generations of Giving: Chapter 8 – Developing the Organizational Structure

Posted on September 27, 2006 by Deanne Stone, Howard Muson, Katherine Grady, Kelin E. Gersick, Ph.D., Michele Desjardins

Chapter 8 of Generations of Giving: Leadership and Continuity in Family Foundations, a landmark 2006 study by a team of researchers led by Kelin Gersick and co-published by the National Center for Family Philanthropy. This chapter features the authors conclusions regarding the importance of organizational structure for achieving the mission of a foundation. Review the complete collection of chapters from… Read More

Using competitions and RFPs: Requests for proposals

Posted on November 18, 2004 by Ellen Arrick

When does it make sense to hold a grant competition or use an RFP? In addition to looking at management issues to consider along the way, this guide explores how grant makers shape competitions to serve larger strategic goals, communicate with wider audiences, create a learning community, and find ways to work with those who are not selected. Now with… Read More

Discretionary Grants: Encouraging Participation… or Dividing Families?

Posted on August 5, 2001 by Jason Born

The practice of discretionary grantmaking brings out a wide variety of responses. This Passages Issue Brief looks at the common reasons that families use or opt not to use discretionary grants, and the typical process that is used to make these types of grants. The paper also examines how different approaches to discretionary grants can support or hinder the work… Read More

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