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September 2010

Student Feedback: The Missing Piece in Education Reform

by Valerie Threlfall | 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

by Kevin Bolduc and Andrea Brock | 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

by Ron Ragin | 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

by Phil Buchanan | 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. ...

Thoughts on General Operating Support in Uncertain Times

by Ron Ragin | September 14th, 2010
The Hewlett Foundation has long been an advocate of making general operating support grants when appropriate alignment between an organization’s goals and strategies and those of the Foundation programs exists. Our President’s statement in the Foundation’s 2008 Annual Report covers this topic in detail. ...

Challenging How We Think, Part II: Michael Mauboussin

by Phil Buchanan | 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

by Ron Ragin | 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

by Phil Buchanan | 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

by Ron Ragin | 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

by Phil Buchanan | 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. ...
 
Lessons from a Risk Taken
Julia Coffman on May 2nd
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
Kevin Bolduc on April 30th
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
Jon Pratt on April 25th
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?
The Children's ISA on April 22nd
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?
Rashmir Balasubramaniam on April 8th
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...
 
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