About Us
The Center for Effective Philanthropy seeks to influence foundations and major donors to be more effective.
Our Mission and Vision
Mission
CEP provides data, feedback, programs, and insights to help individual and institutional donors improve their effectiveness. We do this work because we believe effective donors, working collaboratively and thoughtfully, can profoundly contribute to creating a better and more just world.
Vision
This mission is based on a vision of a world in which pressing social needs are more effectively addressed. It stems from a belief that improved effectiveness of philanthropic funders can have a profoundly positive impact on nonprofit organizations and the people and communities they serve.
For more on CEP’s work and mission, watch this brief video here.
Our YouthTruth Initiative
Learn about our YouthTruth initiative where we harness student perceptions to help school system leaders and education funders accelerate improvements.
CEP is a nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. We do not endorse, support, or oppose any political party or candidate for public office. Our research, programs, and public communications are designed to advance our mission and serve the public interest without regard to partisan considerations.
More About Our Work
How We Make a Difference
Our working definition of philanthropic effectiveness guides us. Everything we do is in service of helping more funders exemplify effectiveness.
Foundations and major donors can take on pressing challenges that have defied government and business solutions. But being effective in this work is uniquely challenging.
To make every dollar count, foundations and major donors need to continually assess their performance, learn from data and exemplars, and adapt their practices in ways that are consistent with effectiveness.
That’s where CEP comes in.
Assessments
Our core assessments – the Grantee Perception Report, Applicant Perception Report, Donor Perception Report, and Staff Perception Report – offer grantmaking institutions the opportunity to learn from data, insights, and benchmarked feedback from their key stakeholders.
Research
Our grant-funded research projects delve into issues central to funder effectiveness, informed by rigorous quantitative and qualitative analysis of large-scale datasets, in-depth interviews, and profiles of high-performing organizations and staff.
CEP Learning Institute
Through learning cohorts, trainings, and custom workshops, CEP’s Learning Institute supports individuals and groups looking to improve philanthropic practice and maximize positive impact on partners, fields, and communities.
YouthTruth
CEP’s YouthTruth initiative harnesses student perceptions to help school and school system leaders and education funders accelerate improvements through validated survey instruments and tailored advisory services. YouthTruth also engages in grant-funded research leveraging its dataset to generate insight for a national audience.
Events
CEP hosts in-person and virtual events where foundation leaders, trustees, philanthropic advisors, major donors, and nonprofit leaders can learn and connect in ways that are meaningful to their work. Our expert staff are dynamic speakers who frequently appear at global and regional sector events.
Key Funders
Our Team
Meet Our People
We are a group of high performers doing high-quality, meaningful work with a commitment to excellence
Our Staff
Board of Directors
Advisory Board
From the Blog
Then and Now: A Look Back on 10 Years of Grantee and Foundation Staff Perceptions
This year, my attention has been constantly pulled in two directions at once: toward the immediate pressure that nonprofits are facing and toward the broad, sweeping shifts shaping the future of civil society, often in ways that feel like 10 steps backwards. Both feel...
The Gift That Keeps on Giving: Wallis Annenberg’s Blueprint for Legacy Planning
Wallis Annenberg was passionate about creating spaces, opportunities, and access where people could connect, learn, and thrive. From community institutions to bold new ventures, she believed philanthropy should enrich lives, strengthen the civic fabric, and inspire...
A Message for Philanthropy in the 2025 Giving Season
This is an edited version of comments Phil Buchanan made to the Maryland Philanthropy Network on September 17, 2025. These comments draw on some previously published material, including Phil’s blog posts on the CEP Blog and his 2019 book, Giving Done Right, and have...