Feb 26 2013
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Elaine Gast Fawcett, Investments

Investing for Social Good

By Elaine Gast Fawcett on behalf of ASF

When investing and philanthropy come together, it can seem messy.

On the one hand, there’s investing, which focuses on financial return. Philanthropy, on the other, focuses on achieving social change, and tends to downplay financial returns. 

Impact investing, a relatively newer term for mission investing, combines the goals of investing and philanthropy. It means investing money intentionally into companies, organizations, and funds to get a social return along with a financial one.

Sound like having your investment pie and eating it too?

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Feb 22 2013
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Becca Freeburn-Steinhoff, Grantmaking, Mary Garland

A “Cowboy Approach” to Grantmaking Improves Education in Wyoming

By Becca Freeburn-Steinhoff, Wyoming Kids First and Mary Garland, John P. Ellbogen Foundation

The cowboy way of life in Wyoming has changed over the past 150 years, and yet we still live by the simple, basic values at the heart of the cowboy way.

The John P. Ellbogen Foundation invested in the start of Wyoming Kids First in 2009. Wyoming Kids First communicates a vision for comprehensive early childhood work and helps cross-community partners see how their work – individually and collectively – contributes to the bigger picture of children being valued, healthy, and prepared for success in school and life.

Wyoming Kids First has become a grassroots movement of people who agree that together we can and must do better for our kids and families.

Our approach connects to the Code of the West that – for us – is an abiding source of inspiration.

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Feb 13 2013
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Janis Reischmann, Leadership

Why Do We Call Ourselves Grantmakers?

By Janis Reischmann, Hau’oli Mau Loa Foundation

Hau'oli Mau Loa Foundation
I recently returned to a favorite publication of mine—Small Can Be Effective by Paul Ylvisaker, published first in 1989. I remember thinking it was thoughtful and relevant years ago, and I was particularly taken this time by the discussion of the five roles of small foundations. 

One of the things that struck me was the misnomer we use to label ourselves: grantmaker. According to Ylvisaker, grantmaker is only one function within the financial role of foundations. He wisely adds lender, insurer, investor—and 16 other functions within the financial role alone. That left me puzzling over why we place so much emphasis on grantmaking; on the act of writing checks. There is so much more we can do with our resources. 

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Feb 12 2013
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Gail Vento, Streamlining

Streamlining Our Grant Process

By Gail Vento, Lana Vento Charitable Trust

streamliningLana Vento Charitable Trust (LVCT) recently tailored its grant process to fit a local theater’s organizational capacity and reflect the size of its grant. Read about the steps it took to minimize the theater’s paperwork and maximize its time spent on programs.

For the past 7 years, Lana Vento Charitable Trust (LVCT) awarded Pistarckle Theater program-specific grants. Pistarckle is a small nonprofit theater that provides educational programs to youths in addition to running a regular performance program. It is a relatively small organization with an operating and program budget of $330K.

Initially Pistarckle was asked to submit a complete grant application, but, during the grant evaluation process, it became evident that Pistarckle is truly a grassroots program with few staff, none dedicated to grantwriting.

LVCT saw the need to minimize the theater’s time spent gathering paperwork and maximize its time spent on programs. In an effort to do so, and only after establishing a healthy grantmaking relationship, our application process was streamlined in the following ways.

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Feb 07 2013
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Family, Governance, Lauren Kotkin

Do Our Generational Differences Divide Us?

By Lauren Kotkin, ASF

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A friend’s older cousin is a World War II veteran, a bombardier who spent 8 months in a German camp for prisoners of war. He wrote a book about his experiences, and I finished it quickly, completely taken by his detailed storytelling. The politics he sprinkled throughout? Not as much appreciated by this reader and very much in contrast to my own. But they in no way colored my enjoyment of the book, because I understand that his views are a direct result of his life experiences—and similar to many in his Traditionalist generation.

On the recent ASF webinar Multiple Generations at the Table, I was intrigued by the generational descriptions given by Danielle Oristian York at 21/64, an organization that works to bridge generational differences in philanthropy. I’d heard many before, and like Danielle, I have Gen X pride and agree with most of how Gen X is described. If the shoe fits, as they say.

But how would I serve on the same foundation board with someone like my friend’s cousin? How would we find common ground given our different paths, different generations, and different truths?

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Feb 04 2013
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Grantmaking, Jane Leighty Justis

Volunteer Energy: A Renewable Resource

By Jane Leighty Justis, The Leighty Foundation

The Leighty Foundation directors and advisors

The Leighty Foundation directors and advisors

In her previous post on PhilanthroFiles, ASF member Jane Leighty Justis made the case for investing in volunteer infrastructure. Here she shares her foundation’s efforts to increase the capacity of its local nonprofits to use volunteers.

We are faced with new realities. Our world continues to move deeper into economic instability, and needs are increasing exponentially. The time has come to support and strengthen volunteer engagement, which has proven to be a high impact, renewable asset if mobilized and used effectively.

As funders, we have the opportunity to support our grantees’ capacity to reimagine how they can unleash this natural renewable resource to accomplish their missions, strengthen their communities, and increase the return on our investments.

At The Leighty Foundation, our actions changed from granting capacity building dollars to individual organizations to supporting an initiative that would involve many organizations. Our goal: to build the capacity of our community to engage its citizens.

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Jan 31 2013
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Impact & Evaluation, Lindsay Matush

Ask Your Way to Impact: Holding Up the Mirror

By Lindsay Matush, The Brown Sisters Foundation

In her previous posts on PhilanthroFiles, ASF member Lindsay Matush shared the questions for nonprofits and questions for fellow funders that informed her foundation’s pursuit of impact. Here she discusses the value of adding self-assessment to the dialogue.

The best path to impact lies at the intersection of effectiveness, capacity, and passion. As you engage in self-reflection and board dialogue, you will find that a host of possible strategies for impact emerge.

Each foundation’s unique approach to impact will represent its passion, character, leadership, capacity, and history. As we dialogue with other funders, nonprofits, and thought leaders in the field, I find it’s important to honestly self-assess—to have great conversations with our board about our unique appetite and approach.

Here are some questions to get you going.

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Jan 29 2013
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Grantmaking, Rob DiLeonardi

The Power of Sharing: Why VNA Foundation Joined the Reporting Commitment

By Rob DiLeonardi, VNA Foundation

Reporting Commitment

The Reporting Commitment’s interactive map allows people to see at a glance the reach of U.S. foundations.

This article was published originally on Transparency Talk, the Glasspockets blog, on January 23, 2013.

During the two decades I’ve worked for and with small grantmaking foundations, I’ve addressed problems ranging from healthcare access to domestic violence to homelessness. One of the most vexing problems I’ve faced over the years, however, relates not to the subject matter of my grantmaking, but rather to the results of it.

Time and again, I’ve helped develop a grantmaking program to address a particular problem, only to find out after the fact that another foundation was funding the identical issue, often with a remarkably similar approach, in the same or a nearby area. We were addressing the same need, often via the same method, but doing so in blissful isolation. In short, we were reinventing the wheel, sometimes only a few miles apart.

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Jan 25 2013
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Gerald P. McCarthy, Grantmaking

How to Win Friends and Influence Public Policy Without Lobbying

ASF member Jerry McCarthy (left) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA)

ASF member Jerry McCarthy (left) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA)

By Gerald P. McCarthy, Virginia Environmental  Endowment

In his previous post on PhilanthroFiles, Jerry McCarthy shared pointers on lobbying. Here he offers ways to inform and influence policymakers without lobbying—all strategies to start now with the new Congress in place.

In conversations with elected representatives in Congress over the years, I have been impressed with how willing they are to learn what foundations do—and how little they know about what we are doing!

If the latter point surprises you, take a look in the mirror: When was the last time you told your Senator or representative a great story about what your grants are doing in your community for their constituents?

Here are some suggestions for how to go about this effectively.

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Dec 31 2012
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Family, Jack Siragusa, Next Generation

Respect Tradition and Look Towards the Future

By Jack Siragusa, Siragusa Foundation

Jack-SiragusaBack in 2002, my beloved alma mater, the University of Miami, began a campaign centered on their highly successful football program. The title read: “Respect Tradition and Look Towards the Future.”

The slogan was in homage to the star players and coaches that took a small private university to a nationally recognized football powerhouse with 5 national titles in the span of 20 years. The hope was to continue building upon the success of years past while growing and evolving with the ever-changing landscape of college football.

Fast forward 10 years, the slogan still resonates with me. Not for football though, but for foundations.

For those fortunate enough to be involved with a family foundation or a non-profit that gives back in any way, the story is often similar. An individual or group starts the foundation with a vision of the greater good and an inherent mission. Over time, as the foundation grows and the originator phases out, there are new decision makers that enter the arena. Continue reading →

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