5 Ways Foundations Cause More Problems Than They Solve

It’s the nature of philanthropy to want to help. It’s what foundations were created to do. Yet all too often, foundations, corporate grantmakers, and donors unintentionally cause problems instead of helping to solve them. Even with the best intentions, foundations take actions that are counter to the outcome they – and their grantees – hope to achieve.

Here are five common examples:

1.     Providing short term funding for a long-term outcome. Most funders are loathe to commit to any one organization or initiative for more than a year or two. (In fact, if foundations were people, we’d call many of them commitment-phobes and recommend therapy!) Even when foundations have long-term goals like closing achievement gaps in schools or improving drinking water they only provide support to organizations committed to this work for relatively short amounts of time. As a result, those organizations must take time and energy away from doing the work in order to continually chase funding. Don’t get me wrong – I’m all about creating a diverse funding base to ensure sustainability, but think of the difference one or two long-term, reliable funding streams might make in terms of impact. Consider the Rotary Club’s long-term commitment to eradicating polio. It took 25 years, and there were many other enticing causes to pursue, but they stuck with it along with other funders and as a result, polio is now near eradication.

2.     Offering seed money without considering sustainability. Many philanthropists fancy themselves as venture capitalists, investing in new and interesting programs or organizations with seed funds to “get things going.” That’s very valuable work, and a role to which foundations are well-suited, given the fact that most are free to take risks that businesses or governments cannot.  But unlike venture capitalists in the business world, foundations that offer seed money often do more damage than good because they fail to think beyond the heady days of start-up excitement to the slower and more methodical – yet equally important – days of sustainability and growth. I get it, new things are exciting. They make us feel effective because we can see immediate changes occurring. But if funders aren’t prepared to help new programs or organizations find a path to sustainable operations, then their investments are just a flash in the pan.

3.     Hiding board members who could do more. I am constantly amazed at the firewalls that some foundations put up around their board members – separating them from staff, from grantees, and even from community. I suppose there are board members who might appreciate that shelter, and I question whether they should serve in that role. Foundation board members should be a key means of connection with community. They should leverage not just their money, but their relationships and influence to further the work of the foundation and its grantees. Board members can make key introductions, act as advocates, participate in discussions, make presentations, ask questions and make themselves available to community members as representatives of the foundation. Yes, that can be more work for staff, but it ultimately enhances effectiveness.

4.     Not speaking up. I have come across many grantmakers that care deeply about issues that affect their communities, but never speak up publicly to weigh in on critical issues. For example, a colleague of mine who lives in North Carolina was appalled at the passage of a state law that openly discriminated against the LGBT community. In conversations with many foundation colleagues, she learned that they shared the outrage. But when she proposed a public statement from the philanthropic community, only two foundations agreed to sign on. Foundations are traditionally loathe to offend any group, or to feel like they might be overly influencing opinion. But I’ve come to believe that the voice of philanthropy doesn’t carry nearly as much weight as it once did – so weighing in with an opinion doesn’t risk tipping the scales so much as it might help to balance them.

5.     Not showing up. Philanthropy isn’t all that effective from afar, yet many foundations persist in maintaining an arms-length relationship with their grantees and communities. They refrain from appearing at community events for fear of any number of things: being pestered by requests, unduly influencing proceedings, being seen as taking a side, being accused of accepting free tickets (an IRS no-no for private foundations). I once worked with a foundation director who refused to visit nonprofits at their offices, insisting they come to him because it was more convenient (for him). But showing up is the number one way to show you believe in the cause, or the process, or the outcome. And it’s a great way to learn. Just like everyone else, foundations “vote with their feet” whether they mean to or not.

These practices may be so deeply imbedded in a funder’s culture that they are practiced without anyone realizing the problems they may cause. So at your next staff or board meeting, take a minute to determine whether you might be doing these (or other) things that cause more problems than they solve.

And if you’re unsure, here’s a hint: ask your grantees. They’ll know for certain!

______________________________________________________________________