Practice Transformational Giving with Courage and Creativity Ask almost anyone even vaguely familiar with philanthropy what a foundation does, and the answer will likely be “they give money away.” That’s true, but what if instead the go-to answer was: “They improve people’s lives,” or “They transform communities,” or even, “They make a difference you can […]
Beyond the Checkbook: The Power of Transformational Giving Read More »
Spot and change behaviors that undermine your own altruistic goals. Delusional altruism is rampant in the philanthropic sector. I coined the term “Delusional Altruism®” to describe situations in which a funder is genuinely trying to make a difference on the issues and communities it cares about—while paying absolutely no attention to how it may be
10 Ways To Overcome Delusional Altruism In Your Philanthropy Read More »
6 Questions to Regularly Ask Yourself and Your Partners Most philanthropies seek to be strategic and have an impact. Yet few build their own internal capacity to be strategic grantmakers. In particular, most funders forget to intentionally learn from their initial piloting and testing of strategies so that they can make early modifications and course
Are You Really Learning and Improving? Read More »
Engage more deeply in learning about the issues you address and the places you serve. Effective grantmaking rarely happens if grantmakers spend all their time behind their desks. Solving intractable problems requires that funders have a true understanding of the issue, a range of partners to join in the work and an ability to continually
Leave The Office And Break Out Of Your Bubble Read More »
Being more strategic doesn’t have to be complex. The term “strategic philanthropy” is everywhere these days. That’s not surprising, since most funders are looking for ways to increase their impact. Being more strategic can be a complex undertaking — and like every complex undertaking, shifting toward strategic grantmaking comes with multiple pitfalls and opportunities to
Five Mistakes to Avoid When Pursuing Strategic Grantmaking Read More »
Get rid of vague terms and confusing philanthropy jargon forever. In my line of work, I pick up a lot of interesting stories from the front lines of the foundation world. Some are inspiring, some heart-wrenching, and others downright funny. This one made me want to both laugh and cry simultaneously. A foundation leader told
Are You Driving Your Staff (and Grantees) to Drink? Read More »