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Advocating For State-Level Systems Change: Policy Work By a Small Foundation
Leanly staffed family foundations can punch well above their weight, working with other funders and grantees to change systems. Over the past eight years, the Thornburg Foundation has experienced this firsthand. Given the depth of the challenges facing the state of New Mexico, systemic change is particularly important to our board chair and founder, Garrett... Read More
How Deep Relationships With Community Informs Our Grantmaking
The coronavirus pandemic opened our eyes to how sectors and systems do or do not address the ever-growing health and income inequities in this country. We can approach this in two ways: Admit the inadequacies of our systems. Especially those focused on health, housing, food insecurity and education, or Go a step further to recognize that the... Read More
10 Ways To Right-Size Your Requirements
To right-size your requirements mean tailoring what you require from grantseekers and grantees when they apply for and report on your grants. As an illustration, what you require is proportionate to the size of grant, appropriate for the type of grant, and reflective of any existing relationship with the grantee. In short, right-sizing considers the... Read More
2022 Outsized Impact Award Finalists
The Outsized Impact Award honors an individual at an Exponent Philanthropy member organization whose style of philanthropy is achieving outsized (or greater than expected) impact. Read this year’s inspiring stories below. Danyelle O’HaraMortenson Family Foundation (Minneapolis, Minnesota) As the community relationship officer at the Mortenson Family Foundation, Danyelle O’Hara is centering community in the foundation’s decision-making. Danyelle and the... Read More
Help Your Foundation Board Conquer Fear and Anxiety About Engaging in Advocacy
Advocacy is a long game, and it can be messy at times. However, when combined with grantmaking, advocacy is a powerful tool to advance system change, strengthen relationships with your grantee partners, and enhance learning and understanding around the issues your foundation supports. Helping your board understand the broader concept of advocacy will help shift... Read More
Actionable Ways To Add Diversity to Your Foundation Board and Staff
“Philanthropy relies on the amassed wealth of families and institutions that have benefited from systemic racism. As a result, the institution has a power imbalance in where funds go and what organizations and initiatives receive support,” said Maya Pendleton and Juanita Gallion of The Center for the Study of Social Policy in an Exponent Philanthropy... Read More