Tag: Guest Author
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In Light of New ‘State of Nonprofits’ Data, Philanthropy Must Harness the ‘Power of Possible’Alfonso Tomás Wenker Senior Vice President of Community Impact, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
Amid burnout, fear of being targeted and funding cuts, our grantee partners are clear that things are not sustainable. Funders, our response cannot be silence, self-protection, or simply falling back […] The post In Light of New ‘State of Nonprofits’ Data, Philanthropy Must Harness the ‘Power of Possible’Alfonso Tomás Wenker Senior Vice President of Community…
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Responding to the State of Nonprofits in 2026: What Funders Can DoJoanne Florino Adam Meyerson Distinguished Fellow in Philanthropic Excellence, Philanthropy Roundtable
Reading CEP’s latest report on the current state of nonprofits took me back to the Great Recession and the challenges brought on by COVID-19. The combination of CEO and staff […] The post Responding to the State of Nonprofits in 2026: What Funders Can DoJoanne Florino Adam Meyerson Distinguished Fellow in Philanthropic Excellence, Philanthropy Roundtable…
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A Decade of Listening: How Houston Endowment Turned Staff Survey Data into a Stronger CultureSherry Fultz Director of People and Culture, Houston Endowment
At Houston Endowment, we’ve used the Center for Effective Philanthropy Staff Perception Report since 2012, and one thing has become clear: the data points us in the right direction, but deciding […] The post A Decade of Listening: How Houston Endowment Turned Staff Survey Data into a Stronger CultureSherry Fultz Director of People and Culture, Houston…
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Funding What You Can’t See: The Vital, Invisible Work of Disaster PreparednessPatricia McIlreavy President and CEO, Center for Disaster Philanthropy
Across the United States and around the world, communities are preparing for disasters that have not yet occurred. Emergency response teams are reviewing and refining their playbooks. Public works crews […] The post Funding What You Can’t See: The Vital, Invisible Work of Disaster PreparednessPatricia McIlreavy President and CEO, Center for Disaster Philanthropy appeared first…
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Why Philanthropy Needs a New Language for Digital RiskJean Westrick Executive Director, Technology Association of Grantmakers
Ask most foundation leaders what “cybersecurity” means, and they’ll describe firewalls, phishing simulations, and password policies. They’re not wrong, but what they describe is a much smaller problem than the […] The post Why Philanthropy Needs a New Language for Digital RiskJean Westrick Executive Director, Technology Association of Grantmakers appeared first on The Center for…
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When Shift Happens, What Does It Mean for Philanthropy to Leave Well?Laila Bell, M.P.A. Vice President, Learning and Impact, The Skillman FoundationStephanie Teleki, Ph.D. Director of Learning and Impact, The California Health Care FoundationJaime Vazquez, M.A. Senior Associate, Planning and Evaluation, The Pew Charitable Trusts
When a foundation shifts course or steps away, what happens to the work — and to the people who depend on it? Few funders will support a single strategy or […] The post When Shift Happens, What Does It Mean for Philanthropy to Leave Well?Laila Bell, M.P.A. Vice President, Learning and Impact, The Skillman FoundationStephanie…
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Funders Want Impact, Strong Coalitions Can Deliver It Monica Martinez Program Director, College Success, Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. FundRia Sengupta Bhatt Founder and Principal Consultant, Mandala Strategies
As California lawmakers were assembling the most recent state budget, a coalition of nonprofits played a leading role in securing emergency aid for undocumented students facing unexpected costs that could derail their journey to a life-changing […] The post Funders Want Impact, Strong Coalitions Can Deliver It Monica Martinez Program Director, College Success, Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. FundRia Sengupta Bhatt Founder and…
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From Belief to Practice: Why Multiyear Flexible Funding Still Lags Behind ConsensusHannah Smith Manager, Editorial and Publications, Exponent Philanthropy
Most funders agree on what nonprofits need to thrive: flexibility, trust, and sustained support. These principles are widely endorsed, reflected in conference panels and board conversations alike. Yet multiyear general […] The post From Belief to Practice: Why Multiyear Flexible Funding Still Lags Behind ConsensusHannah Smith Manager, Editorial and Publications, Exponent Philanthropy appeared first on…
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Rethinking Payout: The Hidden Costs of Undervaluing Social ReturnKendall Pettygrove Senior Financial Analyst, David and Lucile Packard Foundation
What We Miss When We Measure Foundations typically make payout decisions using logic borrowed from finance. The underlying assumption is straightforward: over the long term, endowment assets generate reliable financial […] The post Rethinking Payout: The Hidden Costs of Undervaluing Social ReturnKendall Pettygrove Senior Financial Analyst, David and Lucile Packard Foundation appeared first on The…
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Governing Through Nonprofit Instability: A Purpose-Driven FrameworkDanielle Gilmore, Ph.D., MPP, CHES Director of Learning and Research, BoardSource
The Center for Effective Philanthropy’s recent research tells a clear story: Nonprofits are carrying more demand with fewer resources. Foundations have responded, yet many still believe the response does not […] The post Governing Through Nonprofit Instability: A Purpose-Driven FrameworkDanielle Gilmore, Ph.D., MPP, CHES Director of Learning and Research, BoardSource appeared first on The Center…
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Foundation Governance Today and Tomorrow: Shifting the Mindset from Managing Crises to Long-Term TransformationHanna Stähle Head of Foresight and Innovation, Philea – Philanthropy Europe Association
The Center for Effective Philanthropy’s research on “Foundation Governance Today” could not be more timely. Foundation leadership and governance are operating in a challenging, disruptive environment. It is not only […] The post Foundation Governance Today and Tomorrow: Shifting the Mindset from Managing Crises to Long-Term TransformationHanna Stähle Head of Foresight and Innovation, Philea –…
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Four Nonprofit Leaders on a Year of Extraordinary ChallengeCEP Staff
CEP’s recently released report, “A Sector in Crisis,” revealed that nonprofits are responding to both increased demand and reduced funding. We asked four nonprofit leaders to briefly describe what this […] The post Four Nonprofit Leaders on a Year of Extraordinary ChallengeCEP Staff appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto full post >>
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Rethinking the Spend-Down Debate: Mission First, Timeline SecondTracy McFerrin Founder and Principal, Credo AdvisorsBen Zeno
Bill Gates’s May 2025 announcement that his foundation will spend its $200 billion endowment by 2045 reignites a long-running question in philanthropy: whether to exist in perpetuity or spend down […] The post Rethinking the Spend-Down Debate: Mission First, Timeline SecondTracy McFerrin Founder and Principal, Credo AdvisorsBen Zeno appeared first on The Center for Effective…
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How Getting Clear on Values Helped One Foundation Show Up for Its PartnersElizabeth Love CEO, Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation
The Center for Effective Philanthropy’s new research snapshot, “Foundation Governance Today: How Boards and CEOs Are Navigating Risk, Accountability, and a Shifting Landscape,” reveals that many foundation CEOs feel their […] The post How Getting Clear on Values Helped One Foundation Show Up for Its PartnersElizabeth Love CEO, Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation appeared first…
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Governance Shifts Can Unlock Big Impact for GrantmakersMeghan Duffy Executive Vice President, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
After talking with hundreds of foundation staff and board members over the past two years about governance, I’m not surprised by the findings in the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s new […] The post Governance Shifts Can Unlock Big Impact for GrantmakersMeghan Duffy Executive Vice President, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations appeared first on The Center for…
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Common Ground for Donors: Supporting Our Youngest Children and Their FamiliesKatherine (Kat) Kaufmann Partner, The Bridgespan GroupMaggie Davies Partner, The Bridgespan GroupRebecca Brondfield Principal, The Bridgespan Group
Today, while American families increasingly struggle to get by, the political divisions dominating public debate are impeding concerted policy progress to help them. But there is at least one approach […] The post Common Ground for Donors: Supporting Our Youngest Children and Their FamiliesKatherine (Kat) Kaufmann Partner, The Bridgespan GroupMaggie Davies Partner, The Bridgespan GroupRebecca…
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A Practical Roadmap to Funder Listening in This MomentMelinda Tuan Managing Director, Fund for Shared InsightBritt Lake CEO, Feedback Labs
No matter how you look at it, the last year-plus has been a challenging one for foundations, nonprofits, and the people and communities they aim to support. Our sector faced […] The post A Practical Roadmap to Funder Listening in This MomentMelinda Tuan Managing Director, Fund for Shared InsightBritt Lake CEO, Feedback Labs appeared first…
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Responding to Fragility and Fear: What’s Required of Funders Right NowTony Richardson President, The George Gund Foundation
The U.S. political-socio-economic context and its broader impact on nonprofits and foundations continue to evolve. As such, relationships between nonprofits and funders must also keep evolving. In the Center for […] The post Responding to Fragility and Fear: What’s Required of Funders Right NowTony Richardson President, The George Gund Foundation appeared first on The Center…
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Bridging Philanthropy’s Say-Do GapCarmen Rojas, Ph.D. President and CEO, Marguerite Casey Foundation
Most Funders Say They Get It — Only Half of Grantees Agree A striking disconnect sits at the heart of the new Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) report: 93% of […] The post Bridging Philanthropy’s Say-Do GapCarmen Rojas, Ph.D. President and CEO, Marguerite Casey Foundation appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto full…
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The View From the Other Side: How Nonprofits Interpret Funder Responses to Current ChallengesJohn MacIntosh Managing Partner, SeaChange Capital Partners
In relationships with significant power imbalances, research shows the weaker partner must be highly attuned to the behavior of the stronger partner to ensure their own safety and stability, while […] The post The View From the Other Side: How Nonprofits Interpret Funder Responses to Current ChallengesJohn MacIntosh Managing Partner, SeaChange Capital Partners appeared first…