Author Archive
Lessons from a Risk Taken
April 25th, 2013
We hear a lot about “risk” in the social sector. We’re told that it’s a key function of philanthropy to provide risk capital. ...
If a Former President Can’t Give Funder Feedback, Then Who Can?
April 17th, 2013
For all the talk of new technologies that might allow grant recipients to provide candid feedback to funders, the funder-grantee power imbalance remains very real. I was reminded of this, vividly, when I was catching up on The Daily Show a couple days ago. ...
Building Through Collective Experience
February 27th, 2013
Philanthropy tends to work on big problems, where the way forward isn’t necessarily clear and even the end point is up for debate. Given that ambiguity and the scope of work required to make meaningful progress, it can be hard to know where to start or how to keep yourself focused on moving forward. ...
Forging Ahead: A Refresh for the GPR in 2013
December 10th, 2012
In my last post, I talked about the constructive feedback regarding the quality and utility of the Grantee Perception Report (GPR) that we heard through our 2012 third-party surveys of GPR users. One major thrust of our improvement process focused on an overhaul of the comparative data format of the Grantee Perception Report itself. ...
Fueling Change Through Feedback
December 6th, 2012
All the survey feedback in the world doesn’t matter even a tiny bit unless it’s acted on. So the test of the Grantee Perception Report (GPR) isn’t whether a foundation receives interesting grantee feedback, but whether it is able to create productive change based on the feedback it receives. ...
From Vision To Reality
December 4th, 2012
Around this time in December 2002 – 10 years ago! – The Rhode Island Foundation sent CEP one of the best emails we’ve ever received. ...
CEP’s Work to Date on the Topic of Racial Diversity in Philanthropy
April 5th, 2012
In the past several years, discussions about foundations and diversity – in particular diversity as it relates to race – have surfaced more frequently in philanthropy. Perhaps one of the most widely known – if highly controversial – efforts came from The Greenlining Institute’s work on The Foundation Diversity and Transparency Act. ...
A Step Forward for Charting Impact
February 22nd, 2012
One of the most common questions I get from friends and acquaintances when I tell them I work at the Center for Effective Philanthropy is this one: “I was asked to make a donation to XYZ Charity. How do I know if they’re very good at what they do? ...
Data Point: Stakeholders’ Understanding of Foundation Goals and Strategies
September 30th, 2011
The use and management of data stands at the core of the work undertaken by the Center for Effective Philanthropy. The set of survey tools CEP has developed as well as field-wide research builds comparative data drawn from key constituent groups—grantees, donors, staff members and others—providing insights that enable funders to better define, assess and improve their effectiveness. ...
2013 Conference
assessing performance
beneficiary feedback
beneficiary perceptions
communications
community foundations
comparative data
conferences
developing strategy
Donor Perception Report
economy
effective philanthropy
Essentials of Foundation Strategy
foundation effectiveness
foundation governance
foundation performance
foundation staff/program officers
foundation strategy
foundation transparency
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
stakeholder engagement
strategy implementation
youth
YouthTruth
Will What Was Said in Detroit Stay in Detroit?
While I unable to attend the conference, I was interested in this edition of your blog. As someone who has moved in and out of...
While I unable to attend the conference, I was interested in this edition of your blog. As someone who has moved in and out of...
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.
