Center for Effective Philanthropy’s Post

Intermediaries have a big role to play in the future of this sector. For data corralling. For capacity support. For upskilling delivery. IF we aspire to drive #impact I can’t wait to read the report.

In today’s fast-evolving philanthropic landscape, funders face the challenge of moving beyond traditional funding practices to maximise impact. Savvy Giving author Genevieve Timmons shares four tips to bring focus to your giving and amplify your impact. https://lnkd.in/gBZzenYF

An article published in Axios on April 2nd by Felix Salmon highlighted collective giving as the fastest-growing form of philanthropy in America. Collective giving in the form of giving circles, shared community funds and pooled grant making are shaking up traditional philanthropy and offering a glimpse into the future of a more inclusive and democratic philanthropic sector. Collective giving is taking the fundraising and philanthropic community by storm! Movements are gaining traction, and new research already shows the value of this collaborative and trust-based approach. Key takeaways from a 2023 report published by the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy that analyzed the landscape of collective giving in the US: 📌 Collective giving is a catalyst for social cohesion and change! 📌 Giving tends to support small, community organizations. This funding is often locally concentrated.  📌Rather than being focused on metrics, groups practicing collective giving tend to be more motivated by inclusion and cultivating equity. #nonprofit #philanthropy #grantmaking #community #axios https://lnkd.in/ge7A2riu

New research from Center for Effective Philanthropy provides insight into grantee experiences with intermediary funders. The report digs into why funders are choosing them and how grantee experiences differ from originating funders. https://lnkd.in/g8CjaQ7W Our thanks to Center for Effective Philanthropy for including insights from Making the Case to Invest in Collaborative Funds, published by Panorama’s Collaborative Learning for Impact Philanthropy, which reflects the collective experience and wisdom of collaborative fund leaders and partners: https://lnkd.in/eTtXn2K8

A must read for anyone in #philanthropy seeking to change it's assumptions and practices. Shoutout to Isabel Sousa for your insights! "Many of our peers are far along in examining their grantmaking philosophy and practice. Others are just beginning. Still, others are stuck, unsure of the risk they are willing to take to use their power to challenge the fields we have helped sustain. We hope that this report serves as a stepping stone for action. To our peers in #philanthropy, we urge you to question the assumptions rooted in privileges that have been passed down to us. We risk causing more harm by perpetuating an inequitable system than by attempting to change it." Link to download the report: https://lnkd.in/eZPJAYQE

"At a time when many philanthropic funders are looking to address the power imbalance between community organizations and their funders, supporting community bond issuers and building a thriving marketplace is one way to do so." - The Philanthropist Journal https://ow.ly/2kIh50SCrAc #SocialImpact #CommunityEmpowerment #SocialChange #NonprofitSupport #ImpactInvesting #FundingEquality

Grantmaking isn’t just about writing checks — it’s about building trust, promoting transparency, and ensuring funding reaches those who need it most. Yet, for many non-profits and community initiatives, the complex and unclear nature of funding processes can be a huge barrier, sometimes even preventing these projects from happening in the first place. Enter choice architecture, a behavioral science-backed approach that puts grantees at the center of the process. By thoughtfully designing grant applications and decision-making pathways, grantmakers can reduce friction, build trust, and foster more equitable outcomes. In our latest piece, our contributors Anjali Chainani-Jha, PhD, MPH, MSW and Henry Feinstein from Anavi Strategies share insights on how to streamline grantmaking and highlight a powerful, real-world example from the Philadelphia Activities Fund that can inspire change across the philanthropic sector. Discover how small shifts can transform grantmaking here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eiqGtvYs #Grantmaking #BehavioralScience #ChoiceArchitecture #Philanthropy

The Hazen Foundation has an important new report out with wisdom from social justice nonprofit leaders that goes beyond the standard recommendations for funders and gets into the real deal of how to make social justice grantmaking a reality. Some of my favorite nuggets from the report: -Program officers need to be transparent about internal challenges at their funding institutions and work with grantees to strategize about how to address those challenges. -Don't underestimate the scale of resources required to support movements! With recent high inflation, if you awarded a $50,000 grant in 2019 and maintained it at the same level for three years, that grant has gradually decreased the worth of the grant by about 20%! And funding to scale means supporting salaries and benefits at a level that can compete in our current challenging labor market. -Be wary of strategies and coalitions that are too funder-driven - collaborations usually only work if they come from the ground-up based on authentic relationship building. -PLUS: Nine steps for reimagining your application process with a social justice, grantee-oriented lens. As Hazen moves toward the end of its planned close-down, this report is a wonderful parting gift to the field. I was honored to be part of the research team for the report and to have one more chance to collaborate with the inimitable Lori Bezahler, Lyle Matthew Kan, and the wonderful team at Minerva Strategies!

Leading Forward Steering Committee member Lori Bezahler and her colleagues at Edward W. Hazen Foundation have just published their final report, which compiles a plethora of insightful reflections and 🚀actionable recommendations from their years of funding #socialjustice #nonprofits. "We hope this report is a catalyst for creating a future for philanthropy where its value is based not on its exorbitant wealth, but rather on its fierce advocacy for and commitment to equity and justice." 📥 Download the Report 📚TODAY: Reevaluating Practice: Reimagining Philanthropy

Out now: The Hazen Foundation’s final report, “Reevaluating Practice: Reimagining Philanthropy,” is available on the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO)’ website! We are honored that GEO has offered to give it a home beyond the life of the Foundation. The report is a final offering from Hazen and our #nonprofit partners to #philanthropy. In it, grantees offer recommendations that will help our peers and partners to develop partnerships that advance a more effective and sustainable movement for social justice: “It helps to know what their constraints are—it humanizes them. When funders are open about their work, their approach to funding, and what they are up against, then we can come to a place of mutual understanding,” recommends Cathy Dang-Santa Anna, national co-director of Grassroots Asians Rising. The Foundation also shares some of the lessons we’ve learned throughout our five-year spend down, through a strategy defined by grantee input and collaboration. We know many of our peers in the field have long been working to implement strategies and practices that develop authentic relationships with nonprofit leaders and that center justice. We hope this report adds to your work and is a catalyst for pushing us all to go further in the pursuit of a just society. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/g6C9V69Y #ReimaginingPhilanthropy