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Volume 6, Issue 2 (released June 14, 2010)


 

Foundations' Response to Downturn Does Little for Nonprofits

A new report from the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) finds that nonprofits do not perceive funders to have communicated their responses to the economic downturn clearly, if at all. They also report that funders have offered them little useful help in responding to the challenges of the downturn.

CEP began asking grantees about their funders’ communications and helpfulness in response to the downturn in the last half of 2009. A Time of Need: Nonprofits Report Poor Communication and Little Help from Foundations During the Economic Downturn analyzes data gathered from surveys of over 6,000 grantees of 37 foundations.

  • Funders Say Greater Efforts Needed To Assess Performance
  • The Program Officer Perspective: Justin Laing
  • CEP Webinar Showcases the Power of Beneficiary Feedback
  • CEP's 2009 Annual Report Now Available
  • Five CEP Staff Members Head to Graduate School
  • CEP Welcomes New Staff 

 

Issue Archive

2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005

 

2010
Volume 6, Issue 1 (released March 22, 2010)

  • Funders Make Significant Change Based on Grantee Feedback
  • An Interview with Anne Warhover, CEO of the Colorado Health Foundation
  • Donor Perception Report Offers Comparative Data
  • Stuart Foundation Lends Its Support to YouthTruth Project
  • Deep Pockets Aren't Enough: Foundations Also Need Glass Pockets
  • CEP Blog Gets the Conversation Going
  • Coming Soon: Five of the Best Program Officers

 

 

 

2009

Volume 5, Issue 4 (released December 9, 2009)

  • A Strategic Plan Is Not Enough for Foundations
  • Stuart Foundation Exemplifies a Strategic Approach to Change
  • CEP Launches a New Website and Blog
  • CEP's Kevin Bolduc Chosen as an American Express NGen Fellow

Volume 5, Issue 3 (released September 22, 2009)

  • Report and Video on CEP's 2009 Conference Now Available
  • Breaking Through: An Update on the Wallace Foundation
  • Funders Collaborative Helps CEP Strengthen Foundation Performance
  • Ellie Buteau, PhD Named Vice President – Research
  • Christine James-Brown, President and CEO, Child Welfare League of America, Joins the Center for Effective Philanthropy's Board of Directors
  • The Virginia G. Piper Trust Uses CEP's Assessment Tools to Create Change

Volume 5, Issue 2 (released June 5, 2009)

  • One Word: "Data."
  • Becoming Strategic at the Flinn Foundation
  • "Ask the Tough Questions": An Interview with CEP Board Chair Stephen Heintz
  • Listening to Beneficiaries
  • CEP Launches Its Donor Perception Report
  • CEP Collaborates with TCC to Refine a Foundation's Strategic Plan
  • Foundations Get Grantee Feedback on their Responses to Current Economic Environment
  • Lisa Jackson Moves On  

Volume 5, Issue 1 (released February 5, 2009)

  • Uncovering the Youth's Truth: Piloting a "Beneficiary Perception Report" with the Gates Foundation
  • New Report Documents Impact of Grantee Perception Report
  • None of Your Business: CEP's Buchanan Takes on Corporate Leaders who Say Business Has All the Answers

 

 

2008
Volume 4, Issue 5 (released December 4, 2008)

  • CEP Research Reveals What Works 'Beyond the Money'
  • CEP 2009 Conference — Aligning for Impact in Tough Times
  • Improving Philanthropy One Data Set at a Time
  • In Defense of a Distinct, High-Performing Nonprofit Sector: Buchanan on "Philanthrocapitalism"
  • Funders Becoming Less Reticent
  • CEP Joins Forces with UK's Association of Charitable Foundations

Volume 4, Issue 4 (released October 6, 2008)

  • Using Baseline Data as a New CEO: An Interview with McKnight Foundation President Kate Wolford
  • RBF President Stephen Heintz Elected CEP Board Chair
  • CEP Data Assists Effort to Streamline Grant Processes
  • Crystal Hayling, Blue Shield of California Foundation's President and CEO, Joins CEP's Board of Directors
  • CEP on the Road
  • News from the West Coast: CEP San Francisco Office Opens in October
  • CEP Expands Assessment Tool Staff to Meet Growing Demand

Volume 4, Issue 3 (released June 23, 2008)

  • The Wallace Foundation Case: The Quest for "Honest Assessment"
  • Listening to Your Staff: An Interview with Doug Kridler, CEO of the Columbus Foundation
  • Bestselling Author Jim Collins to Speak at CEP's 2009 Conference
  • CEP "MAP" Provides 360-Degree Look at Performance
  • From Data to Impact: CEP's 2007 Annual Report Released

Volume 4, Issue 2 (released April 22, 2008)

  • Foundation Funders Join Forces to Support CEP
  • Research Spotlight: Gender Matters in Foundation Processes
  • Gates Foundation and CEP Aim to Pump Up the Volume of Students' Voices
  • James R. Knickman and Nadya K. Shmavonian Join CEP's Board of Directors
  • CEP Tools Inform Foundation Leadership at Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Blandin Foundation
  • Feedback Informs CEP's Agenda and Strategy
  • CEP Adds Four to Team
  • CEP Says Goodbye to Early Staffer

Volume 4, Issue 1 (released January 10, 2008)

  • Center for Effective Philanthropy Releases Case Study, "Improving the Grantee Experience at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation"
  • Kathryn E. Merchant, President and CEO of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Joins CEP's Board of Directors
  • On Being Strategic: The Gill Foundation
  • CEP Names Paul Heggarty as New Vice President, Finance & Administration
  • CEP Adds Staff, Plans West Coast Office to Open in Fall

 

2007

Volume 3, Issue 3 (released September 14, 2007)

  • Report on CEP’s March Conference "Assessment to Action: Creating Change"
  • Assistance Beyond the Grant Check: Maximizing Foundation Impact
  • Findings of CEP Strategy Study to be Presented on October 10 in San Francisco
  • Study Shows Comparative Data Is Powerful Motivator for Change
  • Foundation Freedoms: Virtue and Vice
  • CEP in the News

Special Governance Issue (released August 29, 2007)

  • Five Keys to Board Effectiveness: A Message from CEP's Vice President - Research
  • A Common Boardroom Challenge: Wrong Topics, Unconstructive Dynamics, Frustrated Trustees
  • The Perils of Politeness
  • What's Race Got to Do With It? Effectiveness in Numbers
  • How Is Your Board Doing? Assessing Board Effectiveness

Volume 3, Issue 2 (released May 23, 2007)

  • Tough Issues, Good Data, Strong Leadership: A Message from the Executive Director
  • CEP Conference Report: Creating Change in the Boardroom
  • Turnaround in Philadelphia: An Interview with Nancy Burd
  • "Luck of the Draw" Explores Program Officer Performance
  • Judy Huang, Early Staffer, to Leave CEP
  • CEP Staff Expands, Adds Foundation Experience

Volume 3, Issue 1 (released February 5, 2007)

  • CEP Conference, Assessment to Action: Creating Change, to Tackle the Challenges Facing Foundation Leaders
  • SPOTLIGHT: The Power of Data: The Rockefeller Foundation's Story
  • Luck of the Draw: Program Officers and Grantees
  • In Search of Impact Informs Debate on How Foundations Designate Funds
  • Buchanan and Enright Offer Steps to Greater Foundation Effectiveness

 

 

2006

Volume 2, Issue 4 (released December 8, 2006)

  • New CEP Report Suggests that Debate on Provision of Support Is Too Narrow: Operating Support Is
  • Stephen Heintz on Listening to Grantees
  • Five Years of CEP, Five Elements of Effectiveness
  • CEP Adds New Speakers to 2007 Conference Agenda
  • Sign Up for the Grantee Perception Report
  • CEP Adds Senior Research Writer

Volume 2, Issue 3 (released September 12, 2006)

  • Research Spotlight: Strategy and the Foundation Board
  • CEP in the News: Gates Foundation's Challenges
  • CEP's Research Analysts Get It Done
  • Conference Update: New Speakers Confirmed; Registration to Open in October
  • CEP on the Road

Volume 2, Issue 2 (released June 5, 2006)

  • New Associate Director of CEP Named; Other Staff Changes Announced
  • "Beyond Learning for Learning's Sake"
  • CEP Research Update
  • Michael Bailin and Pat Kozu Join CEP's Board of Directors
  • Foundations Seek to Improve Governance through the Comparative Board Report
  • Rosabeth Moss Kanter to Address 2007 Conference Attendees

Volume 2, Issue 1 (released February 23, 2006)

  • A Message from the Executive Director
  • SPOTLIGHT: Foundation Communications: The Grantee Perspective
  • CEP Foundation Study Launched
  • "Business Thinking is Not the Answer"
  • CEP on the Road

 

 

2005

Volume 1 Issue 2 (released November 6, 2005)

  • A Message from the Executive Director
  • Spotlight: Beyond Compliance: The Trustee Viewpoint on Effective Foundation Governance Released
  • Understanding the Candid Views of Foundation Staff
  • Forthcoming Issue Paper to Identify Best Practices in Communicating with Grantees
  • CEP's Board Assessment Tool Now Widely Available
  • CEP on the Road

Volume 1, Issue 1 (released August 3, 2005)

  • Just Released: Insights from a Gathering of Foundation CEOs, Trustees, and Senior Executives
  • Spotlight: Foundations Making Change as a Result of
    Comparative Data
  • Foundation Governance Project Report to Be Published this Fall
  • CEP Launches Three New Assessment Tools
  • Book Chapter, Turning the Table on Assessment: The Grantee Perception Report, Available Online
  • New Research: The Foundation Strategy Pilot Study