Q&A's Archive - Page 34 of 41 - Exponent Philanthropy

Q&A Archive

If our foundation purchases a laptop for a trustee’s home office, which will used for personal and foundation business, is this self-dealing?

To avoid self-dealing, include the value of the laptop as part of the trustee’s compensation (and report it for tax purposes). The foundation may even “gross up” the trustee’s compensation to account for the income taxes the trustee would have to pay. If the laptop were used for foundation business 40 hours per week, you... Read More

Our grantees expressed interest in meeting regularly to talk about shared interests/issues. Are other funders hosting similar meetings?

When it comes to tackling important issues and moving the needle in the right direction, convening is a low-cost and high-impact tool. Here are examples of how and why your fellow funders convene their grantees: The Power of Convening Why We Convene Convening to Build Capacity Convenings and Other Ways to Bring Grantees Together: One... Read More

Annual reports—does our foundation need one?

Some states require foundations to submit an “annual report” along with their Form 990-PF so that regulators can ensure foundations are fulfilling their charitable purpose. This is typically a template that must be completed, as determined by the state, and should not be confused with the voluntary annual reports created by many foundations. Well-written, voluntary... Read More