by Phil Hall

Most of us would agree that lasting change seldom occurs through a collection of isolated grants.  Instead, change begins when a complex web of leaders across sectors and communities works simultaneously to embrace a common mission, collaborate for a sustained period of time and inspire others to do the same.

Large-scale movements for change are often considered the province of only the largest foundations. In fact, funders of all shapes and sizes can adopt the skills and attitudes that are associated with supporting movements. Knowingly or not, even the most individualistic funder is in one way or another contributing to long-term, large-scale change.

This past November, I attended the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations’ conference on movements in Washington, DC. The key learning points of this conference are outlined below and detailed in GEO’s publication, Many Hands More Impact: Philanthropy’s Role in Supporting Movements.

What is a Movement?

One of the most basic decisions any foundation must make has to do with scale.  Do we focus on helping people in need, on a set geography, or a group of favored organizations?  Do we collaborate with other funders?

Continue Reading »

NPO CONVERSATION on MARCH 12:   COMMUNICATIONS

What do you know about your nonprofit’s work that others should know too?

Please join GMA’s associates for a guided lunchtime conversation with a small group of leaders from the non-profit sector.  Although this is an opportunity for us to get to know one another, we’ll talk primarily about communications. 

Come ready to tell us about your efforts to raise awareness and money through your communications program.  We’d like to hear about what has worked, what hasn’t and how funders can help.

These are some of our questions:

• Do you have a favorite story that you use to demonstrate the impact of your work?
• How do you keep your content fresh, without spending more time and money than you have? How do you use technology?
• Are you looking for a new audience?  How will you try to reach them? Continue Reading »

by Chaletta Huertas
This post appeared originally in the National Center for Family Philanthropy’s column, Voices from the Field.

Historically, only a small percentage of philanthropic dollars goes to communities of color, goes to organizations led by people of color, or comes from people of color.  For many people, the word ‘philanthropist’ itself conjures up images of elderly white gentlemen in business suits.

Has this changed much in today’s society which some would call ‘post-racial’?

No.  The Greenlining Institute reports that communities of color receive less than 5 percent of all charitable donations from the more than 72,000 foundations in the country (A Promise to Diverse Communities: Summary of the Foundation Coalition’s Efforts, Avis Atkins and Orson Aguilar, June 2012).

In reality only “10 percent of all charitable deductions are directed at the poor,” according to Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor and Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley.

Mmm…so…why?

Continue Reading »