“Roughly half of family foundations that responded to the National Center for Family Philanthropy’s first-ever Trends in Family Philanthropy survey reported that they are exploring how to assess their impact…”
Learning about impact is getting increased and well-deserved attention from more foundations. Strategy + Action/Philanthropy has worked with family, private and community foundations around the country in designing and implementing evaluation efforts to answer the question, are we making a difference? These endeavors help grantmakers and grant recipients better understand how they are helping solve problems, build communities and tackle issues.
“We wanted to learn about the impact of our funding investments to help shape our decisions in going forward,” said Art Treuhaft, President of the Treu-Mart Fund in Cleveland. “The program evaluation and recommendations from Strategy + Action exceeded our expectations.”
And on February 29, Philanthropy Southwest is hosting a presentation in Dallas by Jeff Glebocki, CEO, Strategy + Action/Philanthropy, on this important issue. “Evaluation: Using Stories, Numbers and Relationships to Learn How You are Making a Difference” will highlight tools and techniques for how foundations with small staffs can learn about the impact they are having.
Contact jeff@strategyplusaction.com for more examples about foundation and nonprofit evaluation efforts led by Strategy + Action/Philanthropy.
*National Center for Family Philanthropy, January 7, 2016 Blog
From the Job Market*
Policy Matters Ohio – Outreach Coordinator
http://www.policymattersohio.org/about-us/employment
Resource Generation – Retreat Organizer
http://resourcegeneration.org/get-involved/job-volunteer-opportunities/
From the Blogosphere:
Why it’s important to start planning for leadership succession now
*We’re not running these searches, but think these are cool jobs!
How Nonprofits Can Overcome the Challenge of Limited Resource
While attending a recent conference in New Orleans, Strategy + Action/Philanthropy Associate Tina Milano quizzed her colleagues – all nonprofit managers – about their greatest challenges, what issues keep you up at night?
- Raising money
- Developing a sustainable business model
- Limited resources
- Governance issues
- Serving increased needs in our communities
These concerns are consistent with the most significant trend – limited resources – documented by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) in its national study of philanthropic practice. The report notes, “Nonprofits still don’t have the resources they need to respond to new opportunities, leadership transitions or changes in their environment.”
If they are to sustain and enhance the work of the organization, it is time for many nonprofit leaders to conduct an organizational audit, consider making programmatic changes, and strategize about how to meet demands into the future. All will want to think about what changes are required and consider trends in the field if they are to enlist the support of foundations, corporations, individuals and government.
Strategy + Action/Philanthropy has worked with a wide range of organizations to help them with just this – to succeed. We have reviewed programming strategies, management and governance, and funding and finances to provide blueprints for crucial improvements.
If your organization has similar concerns to those expressed here, call on our team to help develop a model of change for your organization.
