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In a Time of Economic Crisis and Political Change, Isolation is Not an Option November 10, 2008 Dear Colleague, In this moment of change, challenge, and opportunity, funders need to reach out and hear from those upon whom they depend to achieve impact. Last month, I was in the office of the CEO of a large, regionally focused foundation in an area that has been hit hard by the economic downturn. He told me that his foundation's assets had been decimated, perhaps losing more than a third of their value. As a result, the foundation was cutting its non-grant spending. I was there to talk with him about CEP's Grantee Perception Report (GPR) and Applicant Perception Report (APR), so I half-expected his next statement to be about postponing these processes, which, for this foundation, would cost around $30,000. I got ready to make the case for why waiting would be a mistake. But then he surprised me. "I don't think hearing from those on the front lines about what they need from us in the downturn is a choice," he said. "It's a necessity." He told me that though those at his foundation may feel like they're reeling from the losses, it was nothing compared to the challenges faced by the nonprofits working on important issues in his state. "What are we here for if not to step up in times like these, when needs are greatest?" he asked. It's an important question. Funders cannot do their part if they're isolated from the views of those on the front lines of making change. Foundations and other grantmakers need to hear the candid views of the nonprofit institutions they fund, the applicants they decline, the policymakers and thought leaders they seek to influence - even the beneficiaries whose lives they seek to affect. In a time of economic difficulty and political change, it is tempting to hold onto resources more tightly rather than to invest them in such assessments. But the price of not reaching out to key constituents is high: funders that withdraw and turn inward do so at the risk of compromising their impact. Funders that do solicit feedback from those they depend on to achieve their goals are better positioned to ensure that the money they spend on activities like assistance beyond the grant is actually having its desired effect. If it isn't, that information enables them to redeploy their resources toward what works. Funders are stepping up to find answers with a new urgency because they are operating in a context of change and opportunity. CEP is working with those funders to add the right custom questions to our comparative survey instruments, so they get the information they need to make the best decisions possible. The comparative feedback CEP provides has led to dramatic change and improvement. For examples, see our recent case studies on changes at the David and Lucile Packard and Wallace Foundations, this interview with Kate Wolford of the McKnight Foundation, or this recent profile of CEP from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation newsletter. Already, numerous foundations and other funders have signed up to participate in CEP's assessment tool processes in 2009, including the Saint Paul Foundation, Maine Health Access Foundation, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. They vary in size, type, and location, but they share a desire to understand the views of key stakeholders about how they are performing today - so that they can achieve greater impact tomorrow. At CEP, we're all about providing data to enable higher performance. Funders' need for this data - including feedback from grantees, applicants, and others - is particularly acute today. We hope we can help you in this challenging yet exciting time. Please contact us so we can ensure we are able to meet your needs for assessment data in 2009. Yours sincerely,
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