What makes a foundation seem more or less responsive, communicative, or expert? A foundation’s leadership, assets, age, and geographic location – combined with grantees’ personalities, past experiences, and expectations – are partly responsible for how it is perceived. But our research, based on thousands of surveys completed by grantees, shows that the personalities, interpersonal styles, and expertise of program officers also share a portion of the credit – or blame – for a foundation’s reputation among its grantees.