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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.
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
Alyse d’Amico welcomes M. Christine DeVita, president of The Wallace Foundation, to CEP’s Board of Directors.
Kevin Bolduc needs help! Please share your suggestions, your sketches, and your knowledge to improve CEP’s comparative data charts.
Phil Buchanan questions what constitutes a “trend” in the nonprofit sector.
Amber Bradley introduces a new tool that highlights ways grantmaking procedures can be streamlined—reducing the burdens on both funders and applicants.
Travis Manzione thanks funders that have provided feedback on the Grantee Perception Report and reflects on results from CEP’s annual third-party assessment.
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...
Alyse d’Amico announces that Michael J. Fox will speak at CEP’s May 10-11 conference for foundation leaders in Boston.
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.
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.
Phil Buchanan shares a video that further explains CEP’s public strategic plan, “Better Data, Better Decisions, Better Philanthropy: The Plan for CEP 2011-2014.”
Phil Buchanan introduces CEP’s strategic plan for the next four years and highlights new initiatives that CEP will undertake.
Alyse d’Amico celebrates a former CEP staff member’s role in a Grammy-winning vocal arrangement.
Travis Manzione on declined applicants: how declined applicant feedback can improve foundation processes and save foundations and grantees alike valuable time and energy.
Phil Buchanan opens the search for a director of communications and applauds the many accomplishments of current vice president-programming, communications, and developement Alyse d’Amico.