One of the most common questions we’re asked at CEP is what it takes for a foundation to be as effective as possible. Over the years, through our assessments and research on foundation best practices, we have created a working definition of foundation effectiveness, which Phil Buchanan unveiled in a blog post in December.
At the Southeastern Council of Foundations Annual Meeting in November 2015, Buchanan unpacked this definition and talked about why being effective as a foundation is uniquely challenging during an engaging plenary session entitled Foundation Effectiveness: What Is It and Why Is It So Darn Difficult? We hope this video can be a helpful resource to foundations seeking to use their resources in the most effective and impactful ways possible.
As always, we welcome your comments and feedback on this definition. What has your experience been on the journey to more effective grantmaking? What changes have you made that have been transformative for your foundation? What hasn’t worked? We’d love to hear your story.
Grace Nicolette is vice president, programming and external relations, at CEP. Follow her on Twitter at @GraceNicolette.
