Years ago, my father owned a company that made a business of storing information on microfiche. (Remember microfiche?) As the computer age dawned, he was definitely an early adopter and enthusiast in our home. He was swept up in the latest and greatest developments and it seemed as if he read everything published about computers […]
What is Signal and What is Noise? Read More »
For several years now, funders have found themselves amid a rising tide of metrics and data. We look to numbers to tell us if we’ve “moved the needle,” “closed the gap” or otherwise made progress. We disaggregate data to better understand the populations we want to serve, and to determine where funding opportunities might lie.
Telling the Stories of Change Read More »
There are many rules of thumb and lists of best practices out there for grantmakers. Yet, so many grantmakers seem to get caught in ruts of practice and policy that hold them back from achieving the effectiveness and impact they want to deliver. Here are five of the most common mistakes that I’ve seen through
5 Common Philanthropy Mistakes You Cannot Afford to Make Read More »
No one likes to feel left out or overlooked, and when key stakeholders feel that way, the results can be painful and long lasting. I recently conducted a focus group of community leaders who expressed serious concerns about the lack of communication within a significant regional initiative. When I asked the group what could be
The 4 Dimensions of a Successful Communications Plan Read More »
If I had a career do-over, I might choose to be a signage expert. I am constantly appalled by poor signage, and occasionally impressed by excellent signage. To me, useful, informative, and strategically placed signs are one way for people to be kind to each other. “We’re thrilled you chose come to Stanford University’s campus,
What Message Are You Sending To Grantees? Read More »
This is a guest post by Lora Smith, Communications Officer at the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation. Public policy discussion has always been a cornerstone of American democracy. Policy change can’t happen without constructive public discourse and influence. Getting to that influence involves persuasive conversations and well-framed messages. Policy advocacy organizations must reach and effectively communicate
Invest in the Strategic Communications Capacity of Policy Grantees Read More »