Tag: philanthropy
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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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Change is a Process: What If Philanthropy Had the Courage to Take Its Cues From Nature?
Those of us who engage in radical resource redistribution know that the goal of institutional philanthropy should be its own obsolescence. But that will not happen overnight; change is a […] The post Change is a Process: What If Philanthropy Had the Courage to Take Its Cues From Nature? appeared first on The Center for…
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As Needs Keep Mounting, How Philanthropists Can Prioritize Support to Global Civil Society
The rapid dismantling of U.S. foreign assistance has thrown the social and civic sectors into upheaval worldwide. Media reports understandably focus on the human costs of shuttering global health programs, […] The post As Needs Keep Mounting, How Philanthropists Can Prioritize Support to Global Civil Society appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto…
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May 2025 Updates
Every month we send an email newsletter to our supporters sharing recent updates from our work. We publish selected portions of the newsletter on our blog to make this news more accessible to people who visit our website. For key updates from the latest installment, please see below! If you’d like to receive the complete…
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Reconsidering Our Relationship to Power: What If Philanthropy’s Greatest Resource Isn’t Financial but Relational Capital?
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 […] The post Reconsidering Our Relationship to Power: What If Philanthropy’s Greatest Resource Isn’t Financial but Relational Capital? appeared first on The Center for Effective…
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If You Know You Know: What If Philanthropy is Mistaking Wealth for Expertise?
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 […] The post If You Know You Know: What If Philanthropy is Mistaking Wealth for Expertise? appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto…
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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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Leaning Into Abundance: What If Philanthropy’s Potential Wasn’t Limited by Manufactured Scarcity?
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 […] The post Leaning Into Abundance: What If Philanthropy’s Potential Wasn’t Limited by Manufactured Scarcity? appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto full…
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The Long Arc: Philanthropy’s Role in Nurturing Multiracial Democracy
In times of political turbulence, the impulse to focus solely on immediate challenges is understandable. Yet history reminds us that democracy has always been a long-term project — one that […] The post The Long Arc: Philanthropy’s Role in Nurturing Multiracial Democracy appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto full post >>
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The AI Wave is Here – And Too Many Funders Are Standing on the Beach
An education nonprofit uses artificial intelligence (AI) to support k-12 students individually to become stronger writers. A metropolitan county deploys AI to forecast which individuals accessing services are at risk […] The post The AI Wave is Here – And Too Many Funders Are Standing on the Beach appeared first on The Center for Effective…
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Trust, Transparency, and Resilience: How a Multiyear Grants Budget Benefits Grantees and Foundation Staff
Four years ago, the Sewall Foundation decided to tackle an incongruence in our practice of trust-based philanthropy: how to make multiyear grants within a structure of single-year grants budgets. The […] The post Trust, Transparency, and Resilience: How a Multiyear Grants Budget Benefits Grantees and Foundation Staff appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy.…
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Spending Stories: Moving from Perpetuity to Purpose
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 Spending Stories: Moving from Perpetuity to Purpose 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 Path to Repair: What if Philanthropy Wasn’t About Giving Away Money, but Returning It?
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 A Path to Repair: What if Philanthropy Wasn’t About Giving Away Money, but Returning It? appeared first on The Center for Effective…
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Responding to the Current Context: Resources for Funders
The change in presidential administrations has created new challenges for funders and the nonprofits whose work they support. Executive actions have targeted DEI and mis-characterized the work of nonprofit organizations; […] The post Responding to the Current Context: Resources for Funders appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto full post >>
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Moving Towards Respect and Redistribution: A Reflection on the Power of Sharing and Giving from Three Indigenous Peoples Organizations
Despite proven effectiveness, Indigenous Peoples organizations remain underfunded compared to mainstream philanthropic initiatives. Structural barriers and lack of trust within the funding landscape — such as rigid grant requirements, short-term […] The post Moving Towards Respect and Redistribution: A Reflection on the Power of Sharing and Giving from Three Indigenous Peoples Organizations appeared first on…
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It’s Time for Funders to Move Into Swift Alignment With Movements — Participatory Processes Can Help
As we collectively navigate a new political reality that has devalued and divested from equity, justice, and inclusion, funders must interrogate how we think about movement impact and progress. Community […] The post It’s Time for Funders to Move Into Swift Alignment With Movements — Participatory Processes Can Help appeared first on The Center for…
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To Weather the Storm, We Must Support ‘Movements’ Over ‘Moments’
In the last few years, our country has experienced turbulent times that have left indelible marks on our collective psyche. We witnessed the COVID-19 pandemic, a crisis that gripped the […] The post To Weather the Storm, We Must Support ‘Movements’ Over ‘Moments’ appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy. Goto full post >>
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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…