Spotlight Reports | Exponent Philanthropy

Spotlight Reports


Grounded in research, survey data, and interviews with funders, these spotlight reports highlight some of the strongest approaches in lean philanthropy.

A Leanly Staffed Funder’s Guide to Foundation Investing

Every foundation wants a thoughtful, disciplined investment process that aligns with its purpose and goals. This guide helps you quickly understand the different aspects of foundation investments.


Building Equity Into your Foundation’s DNA

Funders increasingly care about equity, but how can they start to embed it in their grantmaking, policies, and culture? This report describes the Healthy Communities Foundation’s journey to integrate a racial equity lens into their DNA.


COVID-19: How Have Funders Changed Their Approach & What Will Stick?

In April 2020, Exponent Philanthropy and PEAK Grantmaking each fielded a survey to see how our respective funder communities were responding to COVID-19. This report shares our findings.


How Lean Funders Evaluate Their Work

This report provides an overview of the evaluation methods funders use most often, what they find most useful, how those techniques play out in practice, and how funders use evaluation information to support their work.