The Presser Foundation is the only foundation dedicated solely to funding music organizations in the Greater Philadelphia region. Its holistic approach to grantmaking also makes it unique among funders. The foundation gives to music organizations through special projects, general operating support, and capital support grants. At the same time, it supports music students through undergraduate... Read More
As a co-founder of Impact100 Philadelphia with my colleague Beth Dahle, I have worked in collective giving for the past 14 years. That means: Thinking about member recruitment, engagement and management This year, we have 454 women members who joined to have their individual donations pooled into our larger collective grants to nonprofits in the... Read More
As funders, you may participate in board meetings and site visits, committee meetings and funder collaboratives, grantee convenings and focus groups, staff meetings, and more. Having adept facilitation skills can make these gatherings more efficient, engaging and enjoyable for all. Here are ten ways to boost your facilitation skills: 1. Plan, Plan, Plan Most facilitation... Read More
There is no one path to having a career in leanly staffed foundations, as they operate in almost every locale in the nation. Still, there are qualities, skills and experiences that prepare people to effectively manage small foundation operations, engage boards, and leverage resources for impact. Patterns in Hiring First, let’s look at some career... Read More
Building trust has been a key part of philanthropy for years for lean funders. Nevertheless, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, trust and strong relationships have taken on an even greater significance. Building strong relationships with grantees doesn’t happen overnight. But from our research, we know that lean funders are perfectly positioned... Read More
A leadership succession plan is an essential source of guidance, and a commitment to organizational stability, when foundation transitions occur. Specifically, this written document identifies a course of action for when key leaders depart, whether planned or unplanned, permanent or temporary. To illustrate, consider what happened to one of our members: “Our foundation had succession... Read More