Tag: CEP Author
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In Conversation: The State of Nonprofits is … Precarious
This is the second in a series of occasional chats among some of CEP’s staff we’ll be posting on the blog, in which they discuss the current context for philanthropy […] The post In Conversation: The State of Nonprofits is … Precarious appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto full post >>
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In Conversation: About Those 100-and-Some Days
This is the first in a series of occasional chats among some of CEP’s staff we’ll be posting on the blog, in which they discuss the current context for philanthropy […] The post In Conversation: About Those 100-and-Some Days appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto full post >>
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Positioning and Repositioning: What if What We Inherited Doesn’t Have to Be the Legacy We Leave?
Individualism. Competition. Risk aversion. Short-termism. Scarcity. Presumed expertise. Many of the norms by which philanthropy operates perpetuate the very narratives our sector seeks to change. In this series on the CEP […] The post Positioning and Repositioning: What if What We Inherited Doesn’t Have to Be the Legacy We Leave? appeared first on The Center for…
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How Can You Know If You Don’t Ask? Nonprofits Report Primary Concerns in Recent CEP Surveys
In uncertain times, strong relationships matter more than ever. We’d argue that it’s nearly impossible to build genuinely strong relationships with grantees if you’re not asking them about their challenges […] The post How Can You Know If You Don’t Ask? Nonprofits Report Primary Concerns in Recent CEP Surveys appeared first on The Center for…
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A Wave Forming? Funders Taking Action in Response to a Challenging Context
It’s clear that nonprofits are looking for more support from their foundation funders, in both words and deeds, as they grapple with a Trump administration that seems hell-bent on going […] The post A Wave Forming? Funders Taking Action in Response to a Challenging Context appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto full…
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It’s Time for a New Approach to the Current Context
I think it’s time for a shift away from the approach that some larger U.S. foundations and key infrastructure organizations have taken to operating in the second Trump administration. That […] The post It’s Time for a New Approach to the Current Context appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto full post >>
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Chaos, Cruelty, and Coercion: How Philanthropy Can Respond
Just after executive orders started to flow, I described the Trump administration as seeking to create chaos and cruelty. I should’ve added a third “c” — coercion. For philanthropic funders, […] The post Chaos, Cruelty, and Coercion: How Philanthropy Can Respond appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto full post >>
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Introducing ‘Transformative Gifts’ — A Closer Look at What Big Gifts Mean for Nonprofits
“I was left in awe. I didn’t know what to say except thank you. Our core values were repeated back to us as we were given this gift and investment. […] The post Introducing ‘Transformative Gifts’ — A Closer Look at What Big Gifts Mean for Nonprofits appeared first on The Center for Effective…
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After Three Years of Study, the Transformative Effects of MacKenzie Scott’s Big Gifts are Clear
Big, unrestricted gifts have a transformative effect on nonprofits that receive them. They can lead to greater financial strength and documented program results. They can also lead to increased confidence […] The post After Three Years of Study, the Transformative Effects of MacKenzie Scott’s Big Gifts are Clear appeared first on The Center for…
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Now is the Time to Lay the Foundation for Long-Term Civic Resilience
Just as we adults are processing the White House’s actions since the presidential inauguration, so too are our children. For those of us with young people in our lives — […] The post Now is the Time to Lay the Foundation for Long-Term Civic Resilience appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto full…
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What’s in a Name: The Politics of Trust and What We Lose When We Talk Past Each Other
Recently, I had a call with a funder who was considering whether to commission a Grantee Perception Report (GPR) for the very first time. Usually, these kinds of conversations have […] The post What’s in a Name: The Politics of Trust and What We Lose When We Talk Past Each Other appeared first on The…
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Words of Wisdom: Advice from Donors for 2025
Earlier this week, my colleague Emma Relle shared a post to kick off the new year featuring a selection of candid feedback for funders from grantees that CEP surveyed in […] The post Words of Wisdom: Advice from Donors for 2025 appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto full post >>
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What Are You Bringing to 2025 and Leaving Behind in 2024? Here’s What Your Grantees Are Saying
A new year is often a moment to pause and reflect — about what we’ve been doing well that we’d like to carry forward into 2025, and some things that […] The post What Are You Bringing to 2025 and Leaving Behind in 2024? Here’s What Your Grantees Are Saying appeared first on The Center…
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Editor’s Picks: The Best of the CEP Blog in 2024
In the final weeks of a year, when content calendars slow and we collectively begin to reflect on the year nearly gone — and plan, with some level of disbelief, […] The post Editor’s Picks: The Best of the CEP Blog in 2024 appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto full post >>
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Thanks (Again) for the Memories: 10 Reasons to Look Back on 2024 With Gratitude and Optimism
When putting together year-end lists, it’s hard to avoid a slight feeling of déjà vu; after all, you’re not only looking back on the year that was, but repeating an […] The post Thanks (Again) for the Memories: 10 Reasons to Look Back on 2024 With Gratitude and Optimism appeared first on The Center for…
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Our Own Medicine: Learning from Feedback at CEP
It will surprise no one that at the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP), we’re big fans of feedback. For more than two decades, we’ve been encouraging funders to seek confidential […] The post Our Own Medicine: Learning from Feedback at CEP appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto full post >>
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Listening to Nonprofits in Moments of Political Uncertainty: Five Suggestions from Grantees
In moments of great uncertainty, it can be easy to freeze. However, as the pandemic taught us, funders have a crucial responsibility to support nonprofits to weather moments of rapid […] The post Listening to Nonprofits in Moments of Political Uncertainty: Five Suggestions from Grantees appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto full…
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You Know What They Say About Assumptions: A Reflection on New Research About Intermediary Funders
CEP’s new research, Bridging the Gap: Grantee Perspectives on Intermediary Funders, makes one very clear point: Grantee experiences with intermediary funders mirror their experiences with originating funders (those that are […] The post You Know What They Say About Assumptions: A Reflection on New Research About Intermediary Funders appeared first on The Center for Effective…
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Catalyzing Civic Change: It’s Time for Philanthropy to Elevate Youth Voices
America’s public schools were founded with a clear mission: to prepare each generation anew for the responsibilities of citizenship. Over the last year, YouthTruth, an initiative of the Center for […] The post Catalyzing Civic Change: It’s Time for Philanthropy to Elevate Youth Voices appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto full post…
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What Do Grantees Think of Intermediary Funders?
Over the past decade, there has been a significant rise in both the interest in and number of intermediary organizations — those that primarily regrant funds from institutional sources on […] The post What Do Grantees Think of Intermediary Funders? appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto full post >>