Blog

Foundations, Obama, and Independence
Phil Buchanan President, CEP

by Phil BuchananPhil Buchanan | Mar 25, 2010 | Funder/Grantee Relationships By Phil Buchanan, Funder/Grantee Relationships Developing Strategy, Funder/Grantee Relationships Funder/Grantee Relationships

Phil Buchanan asks readers to think critically about partnerships between foundations and government.

Déjà Vu (or 1969) All over Again?
Joel Orosz Distinguished Professor of Philanthropic Studies, The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership, Grand Valley State University

by Joel OroszCEP Staff | Mar 10, 2010 | Administration Administration

Joel Orosz draws connections between current political leanings and historical examples of populist criticism of foundations.

The Foundation: An Abiding American Mystery
Joel Orosz Distinguished Professor of Philanthropic Studies, The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership, Grand Valley State University

by Joel OroszCEP Staff | Mar 3, 2010 | Guest Author Guest Author, Guest Author Programming and Communications

CEP guest blogger Joel Orosz, PhD, reacts to findings of a survey published by the Philanthropy Awareness Initiative (PAI) that shows that even the most engaged citizens are in the dark when it comes to the accomplishments of foundations.

Introducing Guest Blogger Joel Orosz
Phil Buchanan President, CEP

by Phil BuchananPhil Buchanan | Mar 2, 2010 | Managing Operations By Phil Buchanan, Managing Operations Managing Operations

Phil Buchanan introduces guest blogger Joel Orosz, PhD, distinguished professor of philanthropic studies at the Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University.

Funders Should Do More to Help Nonprofits Build Evidence
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 | Feb 23, 2010 | Funder/Grantee Relationships Assessing Performance, Funder/Grantee Relationships Funder/Grantee Relationships

Ellie Buteau, PhD urges funders to proactively offer grantees resources as they collect evidence of their effectiveness, rather than demanding proof of grantees’ impact without first supporting data collection efforts.

Experimental Design Can Be a Powerful Evaluation Tool
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 | Feb 17, 2010 | Assessing Performance Assessing Performance

Ellie Buteau, PhD defends experimental design as an informative and rigorous means of assessment.

A Dose of Honesty: Expectations
Kevin Bolduc Vice President, Assessment and Advisory Services, CEP

by Kevin BolducKevin Bolduc | Feb 12, 2010 | Funder/Grantee Relationships Funder/Grantee Relationships, Funder/Grantee Relationships Managing Operations

Kevin Bolduc encourages funders to be clear about setting grantees’ expectations for processes and requirements, noting it will lay a foundation for greater trust and understanding.

A Dose of Honesty: The Tyranny of the Anecdote
Kevin Bolduc Vice President, Assessment and Advisory Services, CEP

by Kevin BolducKevin Bolduc | Feb 10, 2010 | Funder/Grantee Relationships Assessing Performance, Funder/Grantee Relationships Funder/Grantee Relationships

Kevin Bolduc shares a few scathing examples of grantee comments about foundations, but urges funders not to let these colorful perceptions distract from important insights that other grantees may be offering in a Grantee Perception Report.

Philanthropy and the Social Contract: What Comes Next
Georgia Levenson Keohane

by Georgia Levenson KeohaneCEP Staff | Feb 5, 2010 | Developing Strategy Administration, Developing Strategy Developing Strategy, Developing Strategy Managing Operations

Georgia Levenson Keohane asks, “Just what kind of society do we want to live in? What is the role of government? Of markets? And can philanthropy fill in the gaps?”