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Nurturing a Culture of Curiosity, Inquiry and Innovation
As funders seek to leverage their resources for impact and change, many ignore a powerful asset right under their gaze. This hidden asset is the donor, board member, family member, or staff person who possesses curiosity—the drive to venture out into the community or field to listen, talk with people, and learn. From interviews with... Read More
By Going on the Road Together, Our Foundation Board and Staff Travel Far
“You need to get out and kick the tires,” is one of two key phrases our founder, Stewart Kean, used frequently when advising his board at the 1772 Foundation before he passed away in 2003. The other was, “I want you to have fun.” Although these may seem to be casual statements, Stewart Kean actually was creating... Read More
How You Can Discern and Inspire Promising New Ideas—Before Anyone Else
Many foundations avoid being the first funder of new initiatives. For the Blackstone Ranch Institute, being first-in is often the ultimate sweet spot. For over a decade, our foundation has been placing early philanthropic investments in a broad range of new initiatives in the environment and sustainability fields. Very often they have been the first... Read More
Getting Out Into the Community: Identifying Gaps and Leverage Points for Change
Originally posted to GrantCraft’s blog “It must be so fun to give money away!” It’s a reaction we’ve all heard when we tell people we are staff members or board members of a grantmaking organization. And yes, it is fun…but it’s also hard work. Good grantmaking – as we know – is about far more... Read More
How Racial Equity Supports Better Grantmaking Practices
This post originally appeared on the GrantCraft by Candid blog. Exponent Philanthropy is on a journey to understand, embrace, and champion equity, and we are embedding it in our programmatic and research efforts. Much of our 2020 Foundation Operations and Management Report centered around exploring how racial equity relates to good grantmaking and governance practices. The relevance... Read More
Funding the Arts Is Funding for Social Change
In a recent conversation, I found myself wrestling with a familiar question: How do we encourage funding for the arts during times of crisis, as people are struggling to meet basic needs like food, shelter, and physical and mental health? It’s a valid consideration. Just before the coronavirus hit, I questioned myself and my own... Read More