Keeping Good Records: Small Foundations’ Guide to Staying Organized - Exponent Philanthropy

Keeping Good Records: Small Foundations’ Guide to Staying Organized

If you haven’t established a system for keeping good records, now is the time!

This primer explains what documents to keep and for how long, and describes how to organize your documents by creating a records management system. A system includes:

  • Sorting your documents into categories.
  • Organizing documents and setting up files so you can retrieve documents easily.
  • Purging inactive documents regularly to keep your files clean and compact.
  • Archiving documents regularly that you no longer use but wish to keep for historical purposes.
  • Protecting your records.

It takes a little time to set up and maintain a records management system, but benefits are invaluable to your foundation. You’ll have the documents you need at your fingertips, you’ll save lots of time, you’ll find it easier to fulfill legal requirements, and you’ll be able to track progress toward your mission.

28 pages