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Getting Out Into the Community: Start Identifying Gaps and Leveraging Points for Change
Originally posted to GrantCraft’s blog “It must be so fun to give money away!” We’ve all heard this reaction when we tell people we are staff 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 than reading piles... Read More
Working Collaboratively in Philanthropy
Working collaboratively in philanthropy is a powerful tool for funders. Philanthropic collaboration can enhance organizational capacity, keeping lone organizations strong and sustainable over time. Moreover, in a sector where organizations often duplicate services, collaboration can streamline efforts and produce better results. Here are some ways funders are supporting nonprofit collaboration, as well as collaborating with... Read More
Unravelling the Mysteries of Investment Fees
Investment fees intertwine with market ups and downs, and both are integral to a foundation’s investment strategy. In low-return environments, higher fees could be a hindrance to higher return, but they might be necessary to reach to that higher return. It is more important than ever to be aware of the fees and costs so... Read More
Annual Board To-Dos: The Must-Have Checklist for Running a Foundation
What’s on the agenda for your board this year? Are you covering the bases of good governance? Maintaining a checklist of annual to-dos can be an easy way to keep your foundation up to date and on-track. A checklist for your board can serve as a reminder of your legal obligations and governance best practices.... Read More
Payout Requirements: Year-End Tips for Meeting Your Minimum
A private foundation must make annual charitable expenditures, called qualifying distributions, equal to at least 5% of the fair market value of its previous year’s endowment. Thus, a foundation with average assets of $5 million in fiscal year 2022 must make roughly $250,000 of qualifying distributions by the end of its next fiscal year, or December... Read More
When and How to Partner with Philanthropic Advisers
To paraphrase the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, it’s easy to give away money. However, it’s much more difficult to know how and where to give it. Anyone who has managed a grantmaking program understands. Granting money is not difficult. Doing it effectively is another story. That’s why many leanly staffed foundations often enlist philanthropic advisers—organizations... Read More