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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.

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The Leadership Development DisconnectLinda Wood Senior Director, Haas Leadership Initiative, Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund

The Leadership Development Disconnect
Linda Wood Senior Director, Haas Leadership Initiative, Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund

by Linda WoodCEP Staff | Nov 7, 2013 | Guest Author Funder/Grantee Relationships, Guest Author Guest Author

Guest author Linda Wood, Senior Director of the Haas Leadership Initiative at the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, responds to the finding from Nonprofit Challenges: What Foundations Can Do that the majority of nonprofits do not feel adequately supported by their foundation funders. Wood argues that foundations’ skepticism towards investing in leadership development is misplaced, and wonders if funders are providing the right type of support to meet specific needs.

Leadership Aggregation in Nonprofits: Maximizing the Value of Nonprofit InvestmentsNicki Roth Co-Founder, Saroga, The Nonprofit Leadership ForumGavin Fenn-Smith Co-Founder, Saroga, The Nonprofit Leadership Forum

Leadership Aggregation in Nonprofits: Maximizing the Value of Nonprofit Investments
Nicki Roth Co-Founder, Saroga, The Nonprofit Leadership Forum
Gavin Fenn-Smith Co-Founder, Saroga, The Nonprofit Leadership Forum

by Nicki Roth, Gavin Fenn-SmithCEP Staff | Nov 5, 2013 | Guest Author Administration, Guest Author Developing Strategy, Guest Author Guest Author

Guest authors Gavin Fenn-Smith and Nicki Roth, of Saroga, the Nonprofit Leadership Forum, make the case for investing in talent and leadership in nonprofit organizations, recognizing that the desired impact to affect social change does not occur without effective leadership.

Data Point: Nonprofits Struggle with Meeting Demand, Using Technology, and Developing LeadershipMark Chaffin Former Senior Research Analyst, CEP

Data Point: Nonprofits Struggle with Meeting Demand, Using Technology, and Developing Leadership
Mark Chaffin Former Senior Research Analyst, CEP

by Mark ChaffinMark Chaffin | Oct 31, 2013 | Funder/Grantee Relationships Developing Strategy, Funder/Grantee Relationships Funder/Grantee Relationships

Nonprofit leaders do not want help from their foundation funders with every challenge their organizations face, but would like more foundation help specifically in meeting the demand for their programs and services, using technology to improve their effectiveness, and developing their leadership skills. Mark Chaffin highlights another key finding from our research report Nonprofit Challenges: What Foundations Can Do.

Data Point: Nonprofits Think Foundations Can Do More to Help with Their ChallengesMark Chaffin Former Senior Research Analyst, CEP

Data Point: Nonprofits Think Foundations Can Do More to Help with Their Challenges
Mark Chaffin Former Senior Research Analyst, CEP

by Mark ChaffinMark Chaffin | Oct 29, 2013 | Funder/Grantee Relationships Data Point, Funder/Grantee Relationships Funder/Grantee Relationships

Nonprofit leaders do not believe foundations are taking full advantage of their resources to help them address their challenges and would like their foundation funders to share knowledge of other nonprofits facing similar challenges. Mark Chaffin highlights these two key findings from our research report Nonprofit Challenges: What Foundations Can Do.

Looking Within for the Next Foundation CEOPhil Buchanan President, CEP

Looking Within for the Next Foundation CEO
Phil Buchanan President, CEP

by Phil BuchananPhil Buchanan | Oct 23, 2013 | By Phil Buchanan Administration, By Phil Buchanan By Phil Buchanan, By Phil Buchanan Managing Operations

Phil Buchanan highlights the recent promotions of internal foundation staff members to CEO and calls out the value of professional experience working in philanthropy.

Better than a Bad Lunch… An Honest CritiqueJessica Bearman Principal, Bearman Consulting

Better than a Bad Lunch… An Honest Critique
Jessica Bearman Principal, Bearman Consulting

by Jessica BearmanCEP Staff | Oct 17, 2013 | Guest Author Assessing Performance, Guest Author Constituent Feedback, Guest Author Funder/Grantee Relationships, Guest Author Guest Author

Guest author Jessica Bearman, of Bearman Consulting and Project Streamline, calls on grantmakers to seek candid feedback about the impact of their grantmaking practices on grantseekers’ organizations.

Expanding the Boundaries of Philanthropy through Giving CirclesPatricia J. Kozu Interim Executive Director, New York Chinese Cultural Center

Expanding the Boundaries of Philanthropy through Giving Circles
Patricia J. Kozu Interim Executive Director, New York Chinese Cultural Center

by Patricia J. KozuCEP Staff | Oct 15, 2013 | Guest Author Guest Author

Guest author Patricia Kozu of the National Employment Law Project makes the case for both individuals and foundations to target their philanthropy using Giving Circles.

Foundations Get Ready: There’s a #GivingTuesday ComingPhil Buchanan President, CEP

Foundations Get Ready: There’s a #GivingTuesday Coming
Phil Buchanan President, CEP

by Phil BuchananPhil Buchanan | Oct 8, 2013 | Funder/Grantee Relationships By Phil Buchanan, Funder/Grantee Relationships Developing Strategy, Funder/Grantee Relationships Funder/Grantee Relationships

Phil Buchanan calls on foundations to play a role in #GivingTuesday by rewarding effective organizations with impact grants.

One Year Later, What Is the State of Grantees’ Use of Foundations’ Social Media?Ramya Gopal Former Associate Manager, Research, CEP

One Year Later, What Is the State of Grantees’ Use of Foundations’ Social Media?
Ramya Gopal Former Associate Manager, Research, CEP

by Ramya GopalCEP Staff | Oct 3, 2013 | Funder/Grantee Relationships Data Point, Funder/Grantee Relationships Funder/Grantee Relationships, Funder/Grantee Relationships Programming and Communications

Ramya Gopal provides an updated look at our research on how nonprofits are interacting—or not—with their funders’ social media efforts.

The Most Common Words Grantees Use to Describe Their Funders
Kevin Bolduc Vice President, Assessment and Advisory Services, CEP

by Kevin BolducKevin Bolduc | Oct 1, 2013 | Funder/Grantee Relationships Assessment Tools, Funder/Grantee Relationships Funder/Grantee Relationships

Kevin Bolduc shares an important piece of qualitative data on how nonprofits view their funders.

Data Point: In the Dark: What Are My CEO’s Goals?Ramya Gopal Former Associate Manager, Research, CEP

Data Point: In the Dark: What Are My CEO’s Goals?
Ramya Gopal Former Associate Manager, Research, CEP

by Ramya GopalCEP Staff | Sep 25, 2013 | Data Point Data Point, Data Point Managing Operations

Ramya Gopal shares data displaying differences on key measures between staff who know the extent to which they are working toward the same goals as their CEO and staff who do not.

A Worthy Investment in a Powerful Asset
Sarah Di Troia Managing Director of OutcomesAI, Project Evident

by Sarah Di TroiaCEP Staff | Sep 18, 2013 | Guest Author Funder/Grantee Relationships, Guest Author Guest Author

Guest author Sarah Di Troia shares the powerful story of how technology investments from foundation funders have allowed Health Leads to take advantage of new partnerships and build a more sustainable earned revenue stream.

Sustainability is a Shared Responsibility
Andrea Cohen Barrack CEO, Ontario Trillium Foundation

by Andrea Cohen BarrackCEP Staff | Sep 13, 2013 | Funder/Grantee Relationships Funder/Grantee Relationships

Guest author Andrea Cohen Barrack discusses the need for funders to support grantees in building core strength sustainability.

Under the Microscope: A Closer Look at Nonprofit ChallengesEllie Buteau, Ph.D. Director of Research Projects and Special Advisor on Research Methodology and Analysis, CEP

Under the Microscope: A Closer Look at Nonprofit Challenges
Ellie Buteau, Ph.D. Director of Research Projects and Special Advisor on Research Methodology and Analysis, CEP

by Ellie Buteau, Ph.D.Ellie Buteau, PhD | Sep 9, 2013 | Funder/Grantee Relationships Funder/Grantee Relationships

Ellie Buteau introduces our newest research report on how nonprofits would like their foundation funders to aid them in responding to the challenges they face.

Data Point: Feedback Keeps Fueling ChangeKevin Bolduc Vice President, Assessment and Advisory Services, CEPMark Chaffin Former Senior Research Analyst, CEP

Data Point: Feedback Keeps Fueling Change
Kevin Bolduc Vice President, Assessment and Advisory Services, CEP
Mark Chaffin Former Senior Research Analyst, CEP

by Kevin Bolduc, Mark ChaffinKevin Bolduc | Sep 5, 2013 | Assessing Performance Assessing Performance, Assessing Performance Assessment Tools, Assessing Performance Data Point

Kevin Bolduc and Mark Chaffin present data about the changes in ratings seen by funders who have used the GPR survey three times.

Giving Talent Professionals a Seat at the Table
Brian Hughes Director of Talent & Administration, Center for Effective Philanthropy

by Brian HughesCEP Staff | Sep 4, 2013 | Managing Operations Managing Operations

Brian Hughes makes the case for why talent professionals are vital contributors to getting the most from your staff.

Philanthropy End of Summer Beach Reading: Part 3Phil Buchanan President, CEP

Philanthropy End of Summer Beach Reading: Part 3
Phil Buchanan President, CEP

by Phil BuchananPhil Buchanan | Aug 29, 2013 | Funder/Grantee Relationships By Phil Buchanan, Funder/Grantee Relationships Funder/Grantee Relationships

In the finale to his summer reading mini-series, Phil Buchanan highlights two articles that call attention to the importance of relationships.

Philanthropy End of Summer Beach Reading: Part 2Phil Buchanan President, CEP

Philanthropy End of Summer Beach Reading: Part 2
Phil Buchanan President, CEP

by Phil BuchananPhil Buchanan | Aug 28, 2013 | Assessing Performance Assessing Performance, Assessing Performance By Phil Buchanan

In the second of three posts on what’s he’s been reading this summer, Phil Buchanan raises questions about the call for nonprofits to work on bold, upstream goals rather than simply symptoms of our big challenges.

Philanthropy End of Summer Beach Reading: Part 1Phil Buchanan President, CEP

Philanthropy End of Summer Beach Reading: Part 1
Phil Buchanan President, CEP

by Phil BuchananPhil Buchanan | Aug 26, 2013 | Developing Strategy By Phil Buchanan, Developing Strategy Developing Strategy

In the first of three posts on what’s he’s been reading this summer, Phil Buchanan offers his take on the strategic philanthropy discussion prompted by recent articles by Bill Schambra, Paul Brest, and Larry Kramer.

Avoiding the Perils of Surface PersuasivenessStephen Sullivan Senior Coordinator, Communications and Programming, Center for Effective Philanthropy

Avoiding the Perils of Surface Persuasiveness
Stephen Sullivan Senior Coordinator, Communications and Programming, Center for Effective Philanthropy

by Stephen SullivanCEP Staff | Aug 22, 2013 | Programming and Communications Programming and Communications

Stephen Sullivan makes the case for taking provocative sound bites not as confrontational bait, but opportunities for thoughtful reflection and meaningful debate.