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.

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New Analysis Shows Foundations’ Grantee Perception Report Results Improving

by Ellie Buteau, PhDEllie Buteau, PhD | May 18, 2011 | Funder/Grantee Relationships Funder/Grantee Relationships

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

by Kate WolfordCEP Staff | May 17, 2011 | Funder/Grantee Relationships Funder/Grantee Relationships

Kate Wolford reflects on how themes at CEP’s conference align with her own foundation’s work and challenges.

A Passion for Results

by Ed PaulyCEP Staff | May 16, 2011 | Assessing Performance Assessing Performance

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

by Jim CanalesCEP Staff | May 12, 2011 | Assessing Performance Assessing Performance

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?

by Darin McKeeverCEP Staff | May 11, 2011 | Assessing Performance Assessing Performance

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

by Molly MartinCEP Staff | May 11, 2011 | Developing Strategy Constituent Feedback, Developing Strategy Developing Strategy

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?

by Bruce TrachtenbergCEP Staff | May 11, 2011 | Managing Operations Managing Operations

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

by Susan ParkerCEP Staff | May 10, 2011 | Funder/Grantee Relationships Assessment Tools, Funder/Grantee Relationships Funder/Grantee Relationships

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

by Bob HughesBob Hughes | May 6, 2011 | Funder/Grantee Relationships Funder/Grantee Relationships, Funder/Grantee Relationships Managing Operations, Funder/Grantee Relationships Programming and Communications

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

by Alyse d'AmicoAlyse d'Amico | May 6, 2011 | CEP Conference CEP Conference

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

by Phil BuchananPhil Buchanan | May 4, 2011 | Assessing Performance Assessing Performance, Assessing Performance By Phil Buchanan, Assessing Performance Developing Strategy

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

by Alyse d'AmicoAlyse d'Amico | Apr 19, 2011 | Administration Administration

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

by Kevin BolducKevin Bolduc | Apr 13, 2011 | Assessment Tools Assessment Tools

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

by Phil BuchananPhil Buchanan | Apr 5, 2011 | Managing Operations Managing Operations

Phil Buchanan questions what constitutes a “trend” in the nonprofit sector.

Sharpening the Streamlining Mindset

by Amber BradleyAmber Bradley | Apr 1, 2011 | Funder/Grantee Relationships Funder/Grantee Relationships, Funder/Grantee Relationships Managing Operations

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

by Travis ManzioneCEP Staff | Mar 28, 2011 | Assessing Performance Assessing Performance, Assessing Performance Managing Operations

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

by Phil BuchananPhil Buchanan | Mar 23, 2011 | Developing Strategy By Phil Buchanan, Developing Strategy Developing Strategy

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

by Alyse d'AmicoAlyse d'Amico | Mar 9, 2011 | Programming and Communications Programming and Communications

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?

by Kevin BolducKevin Bolduc | Mar 8, 2011 | Funder/Grantee Relationships Assessing Performance, Funder/Grantee Relationships Funder/Grantee Relationships

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.

Not Your Typical Meeting

by Kacie ShermanCEP Staff | Mar 3, 2011 | Programming and Communications Programming and Communications

Kacie Sherman announces that only fifty seats remain for CEP’s 2011 conference and introduces a new video by Phil Buchanan, sharing details from the agenda.