Grantmaking Strategy and Evaluation

Funding Locally

Posted on May 24, 2014 by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

Local philanthropy has a long and impressive history. Individuals have given to help communities where they feel a special connection over many generations. And community foundations have for decades epitomized the potential to build nonprofit capacity and philanthropy in a particular area… Read More

How shortcuts cut us short: Cognitive traps in philanthropic decision making

Posted on May 24, 2014 by Center for Evaluation Innovation, The MasterCard Foundation

Cognitive traps can hinder any decision a foundation makes about its strategies. This includes how to construct a theory of change to address it, and which grantees are best suited to do the work. It also includes decisions made during implementation, such as whether strategy adjustments are needed or whether to renew funding for certain activities or grantees… Read More

Launching your own major project

Posted on May 24, 2014 by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

Philanthropic entrepreneurs thrive when building a new program or organization, or making a lead gift in a campaign they champion. But there are also funders who catalyze significant new projects without becoming donor-operators or becoming public spokespeople for their cause. In this sense, the key to a successful major project is largely dependent on the depth of a donor’s engagement… Read More

Giving That Gets Results: SSIR x Bridgespan series on adaptive philanthropy

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Alison Powell, Susan Wolf Ditkoff

Adaptive philanthropy is one of the more interesting developments in the field of philanthropy. Over the course of eight weeks in the late fall of 2013, SSIR and Bridgespan presented Giving That Gets Results (www.ssireview.org/effective_ philanthropy), a series of blogs, videos, and webinars that explored adaptive philanthropy, and other important approaches to philanthropy. … Read More

How to Apply for a Discretionary Grant (Marion I. and Henry J. Knott Foundation)

Posted on March 4, 2014 by The Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation

This FAQ page describes The Knott Foundation’s guidelines around discretionary grantmaking, and provides a good example for other family foundations. The Knott Foundation provides a limited number of Discretionary Grants on a rolling basis throughout the year. These grants, ranging between $500 to $2,500, are designed to increase the Foundation’s grantmaking options as well as its responsiveness to community needs… Read More

Positive Tracks: A Story of Generation Next Philanthropy

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Gioia C. Perugini, Nini Meyer

[Photo: Youth gather at the beginning of a Postive Tracks fundraising race.] Much has been written about the “next generation” and its integration into family philanthropy. How will they get involved? Will their philanthropic initiatives look different from those of their parents and grandparents? What tools and resources can help them be most effective? Nini Meyer was raised in a… Read More

Telling your story to maximize community impact

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Jay Ruderman, Kate Wolford, Lora Smith, Vince Stehle

Have you thought about using Twitter or google hangouts but aren’t sure if it is a good use of your time? Have you been approached by a long-time grantee who has an idea to create a film dedicated to highlighting their cause – and wondering if this is a good use of your philanthropic dollars? Have you been told to have a website but not sure it is worth the bother? Are you interested in learning how to leverage the reputation of the foundation in the twittersphere to make a difference in issues you care about?… Read More

FAQ: How to apply for a discretionary grant

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Knott Foundation

This FAQ page describes The Knott Foundation’s guidelines around discretionary grantmaking, and provides a good example for other family foundations. The Knott Foundation provides a limited number of Discretionary Grants on a rolling basis throughout the year… Read More

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