networks

Tips on Building a Career in Philanthropy

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By Stephen Alexander, Exponent Philanthropy

For career-minded professionals working in philanthropy—whether in program or administrative roles at foundations, philanthropy support organizations, consulting firms, or academic centers—the field can be a difficult space to navigate. Career paths tend to be limited and unconventional, and, although funders are making great strides in going public with their giving, the field has yet to overcome its tendency toward anonymity.

Last month, I had the opportunity to participate in an open and honest conversation with Kathleen Enright, CEO of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, on building a career in philanthropy. Many thanks to EPIP DC for organizing the program.

Here are my takeaways—some offered candidly by Kathleen and others from my personal experience.

How do I pursue a career in philanthropy?

The answer isn’t what we might want to hear. Job openings are rare, and a direct approach—zeroing in on a specific organization—isn’t necessarily fruitful or wise. So what steps can you take?

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The Power of Networks: More Than a Cliché

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By Hanh Le, Exponent Philanthropy

Exponent Philanthropy and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) partnered earlier this year to publish Supporting and Engaging in Network: Partnering for Greater Impact. Based on GEO’s Cracking the Network Code, it explores how funders are working with and through networks to achieve more with their giving—essentially, how funders can leverage the power of networks.

And there it is, a phrase we hear and see so often these days: the power of networks. When will we stop hearing people espouse “the power of the network”? Not likely anytime soon, since networks are indeed powerful, and they aren’t going anywhere. Networks, groups or systems of interconnected things or people, have been around as long as there have been things and people, and they will continue to be around as long as things and people continue to exist.

Why all the buzz now, then, and what’s the “so what” for philanthropy?

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Program Notes: A Mindset Shift for Successful Collaboration

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Collaboration is not new, but there is increasing interest among grantmakers in how to be smarter in collaborative work and in the factors that can facilitate (and undermine) success. Last month Exponent Philanthropy and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations co-hosted a call to examine a particular form of collaboration: networks. While networks can take a variety of forms and have varied levels of formality, we describe them as people, groups and organizations connected by relationships and shared values.

What did we uncover about what makes networks work well?

We turned to Amanda Standerfer of Lumpkin Family Foundation who has played an active role in the creation of Good Works CONNECT, an online community space and resource center for nonprofits across Eastern Illinois to form relationships, share tools and resources, and grow and improve their work. Joining her was Megan McTiernan of Thomson Family Foundation, steering committee member of Asset Funders Network, a community of funders committed to informed grantmaking practices that promote asset building and economic security.

A key theme emerged: While the seemingly simple of act of coming together to share ideas, resources, and practice can produce profound results, it doesn’t always come naturally. Part of what enables networks to take hold is a shift in mindset — a shift in how we see ourselves and our organizations relative to the issues or missions we are working on. Instead of being the hub of the action, successful collaborators see themselves as participants in a shared ecosystem working toward a shared outcome. This shift to a more collaborative mindset also requires greater comfort with shared decision-making and control, and often longer and less-clear timeframe for outcomes that characterize networks and other collaborations. The hope, of course, is that outcomes, once they emerge, are greater than what a single funder could achieve alone.

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Get Into a Network Mindset

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By Emily Wexler, GEO, and Hanh Le, Exponent Philanthropy

As grantmakers and nonprofits look for ways to collaborate more effectively, many are working with and through networks to achieve greater impact.

The Sunflower Foundation works with a network of 29 health care safety net providers committed to integrating medical and behavioral health systems.

Said President and CEO Billie Hall, “We see networks as a forum for learning and dialogue—bringing together diverse organizations committed to a common goal. The willingness to share experiences and strategize solutions, the collective voices, and the leadership that emerges from such a network can be the catalyst for change.”

Because networks are by definition loosely controlled and emergent, understanding how to effectively support them can be difficult for many philanthropists. The successful use of networks for collective action is typically guided by a “network mindset,” which consists of four main principles: 

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