2007
Assessment to Action: Creating Change
March 8-9, 2007

This conference focused on the challenges foundations leaders face as they implement canges within their foundations inorder to achieve desired social outcomes. The goal is impact, and the challenges to foundation leaders are many. Sessions featured the latest research on foundation effectivness and highlighted practices of innovative foundations. Plenary and break-out sessions included:

• Leadership expert Rosabeth Moss Kanter, who holds the Ernest L. Arbucke Professorship at Harvard Business school, on overcoming the challenges facing foundation leaders in creating change
• John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation President Jonathan Fanton on the promise, and pitfalls, of focusing on foundation effectiveness
• Spelman College President and nationally recognized expert on race relations Beverly Tatum on race in the foundation boardroom
• Presentations from CEP staff featuring the latest pracitcal insights drawn from groundbreaking research studies on foundation strategy, foundation governance, and foundation grantmaking choices

2005
Higher Impact: Improving Foundation Performance
March 17-18, 2005

This seminar explored key elements of foundation performance, featuring sessions on strategy development, performance assessment, governance, and leadership. It also featured the latest Center for Effective Philanthropy research, including:

• Results from CEP's Foundation Governance Project, which seeks to highlight challenges and effective practices in the foundation boardroom
• Key findings from CEP's research on other elements of foundation performance and effectiveness, including results of new analyses of foundation-grantee relationships

In a difficult economic climate and with increasing scrutiny from lawmakers and the public, foundations are challenged to measure, improve, and articulate their performance and effectiveness. Over 100 foundation CEOs, trustees, and senior staff gathered at the seminar to discuss these and other issues. Participants heard talks by Michael Bailin, President of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, Edward Skloot, Executive Director of the Surdna Foundation, and others; participated in interactive panels; and candidly shared their experiences in making their organizations more effective.