Bruce Trachtenberg shares the foundation communication trends and themes he observed at CEP’s 2011 conference.
Connecting the Dots with Data
read more
Blog
The CEP blog aims to offer a range of perspectives, experiences, and opinions related to effective philanthropic practice. We welcome submissions that address crucial issues facing individual and institutional donors and are not self-promotional in nature. The views expressed in these posts are not necessarily CEP’s own.
New Analysis Shows Foundations’ Grantee Perception Report Results Improving
Ellie Buteau shares the press release for “Can Feedback Fuel Change at Foundations?,” which shows that foundations that use the Grantee Perception Report (GPR) more than once are making changes that are benefiting the organizations they fund. In addition to describing the data analysis and profiling foundations that have made improvements, the report identifies four keys to driving change as a result of the GPR.
The Art of Harnessing Collective Wisdom
Kate Wolford reflects on how themes at CEP’s conference align with her own foundation’s work and challenges.
A Passion for Results
Ed Pauly shares what he believes is the most important step in achieving results: getting the facts.
Three Attributes That Are Vital for Effective Philanthropy
As I leave a conference marking the 10th anniversary of the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP), I find myself reflecting on our progress as a field in understanding what exactly constitutes “effective philanthropy.” At the heart of CEP’s approach has been...
Is Our Emphasis on Measurement Leading Us to Lose Other Important Guideposts?
I was en route to the Center for Effective Philanthropy's (CEP) bi-annual conference in Boston when an in-flight magazine article prompted some thinking about issues of measurement in our sector. The article references a 15-year old essay by Paul Krugman and compares...
The Power of Data to Tell Our Stories
The ______ Little Pigs. The ______ Bears. Catch-____. Stories don’t amount to much without the numbers. We all know the power of story-telling in philanthropy. Stories can move our grantees to action, compel our colleagues to support important work, engage our...
Does Transparency Make Foundations More Effective?
The subject of foundation transparency – especially to whom and for what purpose – can sometimes be murky. While there's no doubt that foundations should be transparent – and I can't imagine anyone disagreeing with that – to me it's not simply a question of whether...
Grantee Feedback Fuels Changes at Foundations
Collecting feedback from grantees about a foundation’s performance seems like a good idea, but does it lead to any change? “Since we began [the Grantee Perception Report®] eight years ago, a big question is whether collecting feedback from grantees that is candid,...
The Most Important Topic We Never Talk About: Exit Strategies
Philanthropy is about beginnings - new ideas, new projects, new awards, and new initiatives. Foundation program staff are attracted to philanthropic jobs because of the opportunity to start projects that will make a difference in people’s lives. To the...
Crystal Hayling Shares Pre-Conference Thoughts
In advance of next week’s conference, CEP Board Member Crystal Hayling has been sharing via short videos her excitement about the event and what she hopes to take away from the sessions. Her videos are below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpovQu0JLp8...
Addressing Concerns: Why We Invited Esther Duflo to CEP’s Conference
As CEP’s May 10-11 conference approaches, I have been contacted by a few in the foundation community and asked, “What kind of a statement do you intend to make by having Esther Duflo speak at your conference?” Does CEP’s invitation to Duflo – an MIT economist and...
M. Christine DeVita, President of The Wallace Foundation, Joins the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s Board of Directors
Alyse d’Amico welcomes M. Christine DeVita, president of The Wallace Foundation, to CEP’s Board of Directors.
We Get By with a Little Help from Our Friends
Kevin Bolduc needs help! Please share your suggestions, your sketches, and your knowledge to improve CEP’s comparative data charts.
Don’t Believe the Hype, Believe the Data
Phil Buchanan questions what constitutes a “trend” in the nonprofit sector.
Sharpening the Streamlining Mindset
Amber Bradley introduces a new tool that highlights ways grantmaking procedures can be streamlined—reducing the burdens on both funders and applicants.
Learning and Improving Together: Feedback from CEP’s Grantee Perception Report Subscribers
Travis Manzione thanks funders that have provided feedback on the Grantee Perception Report and reflects on results from CEP’s annual third-party assessment.
A New Must-Read Book Offers Advice to Donors and Foundation Officials
This opinion piece was originally published by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. I welcome your feedback. “How-to” philanthropy books and articles are becoming plentiful, but their quality is wildly uneven. Many, unfortunately, grossly oversimplify with promises that a...
Michael J. Fox to Speak at Center for Effective Philanthropy’s May 10-11 Conference
Alyse d’Amico announces that Michael J. Fox will speak at CEP’s May 10-11 conference for foundation leaders in Boston.
For Performance Assessments, How Public Should Foundations Be?
Kevin Bolduc shares four reasons foundations make their Grantee Perception Reports public, but also builds an argument for why Glasspockets should consider including other, equally strong accountability efforts on its site.