Monthly Archive
September 2010Student Feedback: The Missing Piece in Education Reform
September 28th, 2010
We are in the midst of an unprecedented period of experimentation across the US education system. Check out any of the recent debates on proposed teacher assessment systems or commentary on the DC mayoral election, which many describe as a referendum on education reform, for evidence. ...
Leadership, Strategy, and Focus: Reflections on the COF Community Foundation Conference
September 21st, 2010
Last week, Vice President—Assessment Tools Kevin Bolduc and Senior Research Analyst Andrea Brock attended the Council on Foundation’s Community Foundation Conference in Charlotte, NC. Here they reflect on some of the conference’s major speakers and themes. ...
Lessons in Grantee Interactions
September 16th, 2010
November 2010 will mark my second year as a grantmaker. It’s been a whirlwind of new information, new people, and new ways of working in the nonprofit sector, for which I am extremely appreciative. ...
CEP’s 2011 Conference: Learning from the Veterans and the New Players
September 15th, 2010
CEP’s conference will include perspectives from outside the world of organized philanthropy, such as those of Esther Duflo and Michael Mauboussin, but we can also learn from those among the ranks of foundation leaders. Today I am announcing two more confirmed speakers for our May 10-11 conference in Boston: Jeff Raikes, CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; and Christine DeVita, CEO of the Wallace Foundation. ...
Challenging How We Think, Part II: Michael Mauboussin
September 13th, 2010
I always grimace when I hear people extol the virtues of “intuition” in philanthropic decision-making. Often, I hear people say there is too much emphasis on data, and that good decisions require intuition. ...
Investing in Data
September 10th, 2010
The Hewlett Foundation’s approach to philanthropy is grounded in a belief that we should strive to maximize the expected return of our grant investments relative to our goals. However, as many nonprofit folks have written ad nauseum, measuring social and environmental impact is challenging and decidedly imperfect. ...
Challenging How We Think: Esther Duflo
September 9th, 2010
Every two years, CEP hosts a conference for CEOs and senior leaders at larger foundations (roughly $5 million in giving or more). We always feature findings from CEP’s newest research and some of the leading thinkers within philanthropy, but we also try to draw thinkers from outside the world of organized philanthropy, whose work will challenge us to think differently about decision-making in pursuit of impact. ...
Keepin’ It Real with GPR Results
September 8th, 2010
Before I get started, I’d like to thank the folks at CEP for asking me to contribute to their blog. I’m looking forward to the conversation that will unfold here. ...
Introducing Guest Blogger Ron Ragin
September 7th, 2010
At CEP, we take great pride in recruiting amazingly talented staff, giving them training and tools and opportunities, and watching what they can do. CEP staff “alumni” include Sarah Di Troia, partner at New Profit, Judy Huang, consultant at Bridgespan, and a host of others making a difference in the nonprofit sector who we are proud to point to as part of CEP’s network. ...
assessing performance
beneficiary feedback
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community foundations
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conferences
developing strategy
Donor Perception Report
economy
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Essentials of Foundation Strategy
foundation effectiveness
foundation governance
foundation performance
foundation staff/program officers
foundation strategy
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Funder/Grantee Relationships
funder/grantee relationships
funder effectiveness
giving strategy
goals
Grantee Perception Report
grantee perspectives
Grantee Voice
indicators
leadership
nonprofit sector
overall foundation performance assessment
performance assessment
performance measurement
philanthropy
role of philanthropy
social media
Staff Perception Report
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youth
YouthTruth
Lessons from a Risk Taken
I really appreciate your willingness to share this and your assessment of what didn't work out as planned or anticipated. Thanks.
I really appreciate your willingness to share this and your assessment of what didn't work out as planned or anticipated. Thanks.
Lessons from a Risk Taken
Jon, thanks for the comment. If there’s one thing we learned, it’s that the cost in time and effort and dollars were all higher than...
Jon, thanks for the comment. If there’s one thing we learned, it’s that the cost in time and effort and dollars were all higher than...
Lessons from a Risk Taken
Thanks for sharing the lessons learned, and what I sense are second thoughts about the cost/benefit of the whole enterprise. I appreciate the thirst for...
Thanks for sharing the lessons learned, and what I sense are second thoughts about the cost/benefit of the whole enterprise. I appreciate the thirst for...
Foundations and Impact Investing: What Is Really Going On?
Great insight. Sometimes it's great to invest in multiple countries as security as the economy in one country might decrease and increase in another.
Great insight. Sometimes it's great to invest in multiple countries as security as the economy in one country might decrease and increase in another.
Foundations and Impact Investing: What Is Really Going On?
Great questions. It is likely still too early to get a handle on whether the (potential) results reflect the hype meaningfully. However, I will be...
Great questions. It is likely still too early to get a handle on whether the (potential) results reflect the hype meaningfully. However, I will be...
