Phil Buchanan questions what constitutes a “trend” in the nonprofit sector.
Don’t Believe the Hype, Believe the Data
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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.
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.
Not Your Typical Meeting
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.
The Plan for CEP 2011-2014, Part II
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.”
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.
Former CEP Staff Member Ron Ragin Featured in Grammy-Winning Song
Alyse d’Amico celebrates a former CEP staff member’s role in a Grammy-winning vocal arrangement.
Declined Applicants – The Forgotten Perspective
Travis Manzione on declined applicants: how declined applicant feedback can improve foundation processes and save foundations and grantees alike valuable time and energy.
Organizational Changes at CEP
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.
CEP Conference To Unveil New Research on Community Foundation Strategy
Ellie Buteau shares the many ways that CEP’s 2011 conference will be featuring community foundations, including new CEP research on community foundation strategy.
Early Bird Rates End February 1 for CEP’s 2011 Conference
Alyse d’Amico announces Harvard Business School professor Linda A. Hill’s participation in CEP’s 2011 conference and reminds readers of the upcoming early bird registration deadline.
Talk It Out: The Value of Discussing Reports and Evaluations
Tim Chu shares the value of discussing his annual performance review with his manager and wonders why more grantees are not afforded this same opportunity with their foundation funders.
Farmers or Merchants?
Crystal Hayling on the debate surrounding different approaches to microfinance.
Grantees Tell Foundations How to Make Reporting and Evaluation More Helpful
Ellie Buteau introduces a new research piece that provides a detailed look at grantees’ experience of the reporting and evaluation processes, what makes them most helpful, and how foundations could improve them.
Back to Basics: What Are You Trying to Achieve?
Ellie Buteau, PhD posits that before a foundation can contribute assessment data to Glasspockets, it must clarify goals, strategies, and indicators of success.
How Understanding Their Fields Helped Three Foundations Make Better Decisions and Avoid Costly Mistakes
Our case study, Lessons from the Field: From Understanding to Impact, provides an in-depth look at how three different foundations cultivate an understanding of their fields and then translate that understanding into more effective grantmaking.
Here’s Some Philanthropy Advice for Mark Zuckerberg
Phil Buchanan shares an op-ed by him and Stephen Heintz that offers four pieces of advice to Mark Zuckerberg and the other Giving Pledgers.