Monthly Archives: February 2013

Feb 28 2013
1 Comment
Grantmaking, Jane Leighty Justis

12 Ways to Help Grantees Use Volunteers

By Jane Leighty Justis, The Leighty Foundation 

hands raised

In her previous posts on PhilanthroFiles, ASF member Jane Leighty Justis made the case for investing in volunteer infrastructure and shared her foundation’s efforts to increase the capacity of its local nonprofits to use volunteers. Here she offers ideas for helping grantees to use volunteers more effectively.

As small foundations, we are always looking for leverage. Where and how can we invest our assets in ways that will produce the best returns? Will organizations we funded in the past survive these times of shrinking resources and growing needs?

We must encourage and support our grantees as they reimagine how to accomplish their missions with fewer resources. The effective engagement of additional volunteer resources is an obvious part of the solution.  Continue reading →

Tagged , , , ,
Feb 26 2013
1 Comment
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?

Continue reading →

Tagged , , , , ,
Feb 22 2013
1 Comment
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.

Continue reading →

Tagged , , ,
Feb 13 2013
1 Comment
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. 

Continue reading →

Tagged , , , ,
Feb 12 2013
3 Comments
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.

Continue reading →

Tagged , , , ,
Feb 07 2013
3 Comments
Family, Governance, Lauren Kotkin

Do Our Generational Differences Divide Us?

By Lauren Kotkin, ASF

IMG_6306
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?

Continue reading →

Tagged , , ,
Feb 04 2013
1 Comment
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.

Continue reading →

Tagged , , , ,