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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.
CEP’s research shows that while many grantees have experienced poor communication and little help from their funders during the economic downturn, some funders did more than others. The Cleveland Foundation was one of them. In this interview, Senior Research Writer Judith Ross asked its leaders what they did.
Phil Buchanan blogs about CEP’s market assessment survey, noting that while CEP’s work has made important inroads, there is much work to do when it comes to foundation performance assessment.
Sindhu Knotz and Mishan Araujo discuss social justice funders in a post inspired by a session at 2010 Council on Foundations annual conference.
Kathleen Enright, president and CEO of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, offers steps all funders can take to benefit their grantees, regardless of the funder’s goals or strategies.
Kathleen Enright, president and CEO of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, shares her thoughts on whether or not funders should be problem solvers or social investors.
Kathleen Enright, president and CEO of Grantmaker’s for Effective Organizations (GEO), tackles the concept of philanthropic empathy.
Phil Buchanan introduces guest blogger Kathleen Enright, president and CEO of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations.
Vice President—Research Ellie Buteau, PhD introduces CEP’s latest research publication on foundation-grantee relationships, “Working with Grantees.”
Phil Buchanan offers a preview of “Working with Grantees” and explains why CEP selected five exemplar program officers to highlight in the report.
Phil Buchanan shares excerpts from Crystal Hayling’s speech to the Association of Black Foundation Executives, calling it “one of the best talks on philanthropy” he has ever heard.
Jim Canales of the James Irvine Foundation shares six questions that have been central to his foundation’s approach to performance assessment.
Jim Canales of the James Irvine Foundation shares two themes that arose when he and his team shared their Annual Performance Report with the Foundation’s board.
Alyse d’Amico shares an op-ed by Phil Buchanan and Ellie Buteau that cautions against new philanthropic formulas and advocates for decision making that is informed by rigorous thought and research.
Jim Canales of the James Irvine foundation explains three challenges he has encountered while engaging in institutional assessment work.
Jim Canales of the James Irvine Foundation explains the framework for his foundation’s Annual Performance Report and expresses his hope to be challenged and questioned by readers in his blog post series.
Phil Buchanan introduces guest blogger Jim Canales, CEO of the James Irvine Foundation.
Kevin Bolduc shares two powerful predictors of donor satisfaction that have emerged from Donor Perception Reports.
Phil Buchanan asks what has changed in philanthropy since GEO’s first conference in 2002, and suggests that though many areas have had dramatic change and progress, the answer to his question is more ambiguous than he would have hoped.
Guest blogger Bob Hughes explores why erroneous public expectations are yet another reason for foundations to sharpen their communications skills.
Phil Buchanan challenges Peter Frumkin on the issue of what drives philanthropic success.