In its recently released report, Foundations Respond to Crisis: Lasting Change?, the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) shared new research in which foundations reported working differently now than in early 2020 — and indicated plans to sustain most of these...
Naomi Orensten
Advancing Equity with Better Demographic Data Collection Practices
In its recently released report, Foundations Respond to Crisis: Lasting Change?, the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) shared new research in which foundations reported working differently now than in early 2020 — and indicated plans to sustain most of these...
Funders Share Stories of Change, Part Three: Listening, Collaboration, & Systems Change
This is part three of a CEP blog series in which leaders from eight foundations shared — in their own words — the most important changes they have made at their foundation since 2020 that they plan to sustain going forward. These funders’ stories, which can be read in...
Funders Share Stories of Change, Part Two: Increased Flexibility & Responsiveness
This is part two of three in a CEP blog series in which leaders from eight foundations shared — in their own words — the most important changes they have made at their foundation since 2020 that they plan to sustain going forward. These funders’ stories, which can be...
Funders Share Stories of Change, Part One: Greater Focus on Systemic Inequities & Racial Equity
This is part one of three in a CEP blog series in which leaders from eight foundations shared — in their own words — the most important changes they have made at their foundation since 2020 that they plan to sustain going forward. These funders’ stories, which can be...
What’s Not Changing (Much) in Funder Practice: Multiyear GOS
In its recently released report, “Foundations Respond to Crisis: Lasting Change?,” the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) shared new research in which foundations reported working differently now than in early 2020 — and indicated plans to sustain most of these...
Strengthening Nonprofits: The Value of Complementing Multiyear GOS Grants with Capacity Building Supports
Nonprofit leaders and sector advocates have long called on funders to prioritize strengthening nonprofit organizations. Our research here at CEP has found that nonprofit leaders not only want help from their funders to strengthen their organizations, but they go on to...
A Pivotal Moment of Real Change for Philanthropy?
Funders have been pushed over the past year to make big changes to how they approach their work. They’ve been called on to provide long-term flexible funding, to shift power, to trust and listen to nonprofits, to increase payout, to fund more organizations led by...
Towards Greater Flexibility and Responsiveness in a Time of Crisis
Nonprofits and funders alike have long called on foundations to be more flexible and responsive; to provide more unrestricted funding; to reduce what they ask of grantees; and to build stronger, more trusting relationships with grantees. These calls for change have...
2020: A Moment of Transformation for Philanthropy?
In early spring this year, as the coronavirus pandemic worsened, foundations in the U.S. began to respond by shifting resources and practices. Some funders, nonprofits, and others in the field called for fundamental changes in how funders approach their work —...
Assessing Impact with General Operating Support Grants: Debunking the Myths
For several decades now, it’s been a common refrain from funders that choose not to provide general operating support (GOS) grants: we can’t make those grants because it’s too difficult to measure and assess their impact. In CEP’s 2006 report, In Search of Impact, the...
Foundations and Policy Engagement: Insights in Their Own Words, Part 5
Change Realized: How Foundations are Contributing to Public Policy Successes This post is the final in “Foundations and Policy Engagement: Insights in Their Own Words,” a five-part series on the CEP Blog. (Read Post 1 here, Post 2 here, Post 3 here, and Post 4 here.)...
Foundations and Policy Engagement: Insights in Their Own Words, Part 4
How Foundations Are Using Their Voice to Influence Public Policy This post is the fourth in “Foundations and Policy Engagement: Insights in Their Own Words,” a five-part series on the CEP Blog. (Read Post 1 here, Post 2 here, Post 3 here, and Post...
Foundations and Policy Engagement: Insights in Their Own Words, Part 3
How Foundations are Collaborating with Others to Achieve Their Public Policy Goals This post is the third in “Foundations and Policy Engagement: Insights in Their Own Words,” a five-part series on the CEP Blog. (Read Post 1 here, Post 2 here, Post...
Funders Need to Advocate for Policy Change Right Now
Amid multiple pandemics in the United States that are disproportionately harming communities of color — and a colossal failure in government response — we need philanthropy to pursue policy changes that dismantle the structural inequities plaguing the nation....
Foundations and Policy Engagement: Insights in Their Own Words, Part 2
Building Board Support for Foundation Public Policy Efforts This post is the second in “Foundations and Policy Engagement: Insights in Their Own Words,” a five-part series on the CEP Blog. (Read Post 1 here, Post 3 here, Post 4 here, and Post 5 here.) The COVID-19...
Foundations and Policy Engagement: Insights in Their Own Words, Part 1
Why Foundations are Engaging in Public Policy Efforts This post is the first in “Foundations and Policy Engagement: Insights in Their Own Words,” a five-part series on the CEP Blog. (Read Post 2 here, Post 3 here, Post 4 here, and Post 5 here.) The COVID-19 pandemic;...
Foundations and Policy Influence: CEP’s New Report
Public policy engagement is emerging as a crucial element of the philanthropic response to the COVID-19 crisis. It is especially timely, then, that new research out today from CEP sheds light on how foundations think about and approach their efforts to influence...
Grantee Voice: Relationships Matter
This is the final post in a six-part series on what nonprofit leaders think foundation funders could improve upon in their work. Findings are based on survey responses from 244 nonprofit leaders who have agreed to be a part of CEP’s Grantee Voice Panel — a nationally...
Grantee Voice: Provide Multiyear, Flexible Funding
This is the fifth post in a six-part series on what nonprofit leaders think foundation funders could improve upon in their work. Findings are based on survey responses from 244 nonprofit leaders who have agreed to be a part of CEP’s Grantee Voice Panel — a nationally...