Give Smart Blog Posts

Nonprofit Due Diligence: Customize Your Approach for Better Results

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:12:00 GMT

Conducting nonprofit due diligence on a potential grantee is a unique process for each philanthropist: Everything from the size of the grant to how important it is for the nonprofit comes into play. Deciding the level of nonprofit research your grant warrants will help you focus on the most important questions and be efficient with your time (and the potential grantee’s).

Proposed Regulations May Allow Foundations to Fund Rural Communities More Flexibly Through PRIs

Thu, 10 May 2012 15:10:35 GMT

Proposed changes to PRI regulations may enable more flexible funding to flow to rural areas, which is a critical need as recent Bridgespan and other research illustrates.

Four Tips for Maximizing Your Nonprofit Research

Tue, 08 May 2012 08:56:27 GMT

Should I invest in a particular nonprofit organization? To help you answer that critical question, every week over the next four months we will be sharing a new tip or trick to help you with the process some call due diligence: learning enough about the results, leadership, financials, and operations of an organization to make the right investment decision, while respecting the limited time of its busy leaders. We're calling this our #NonprofitDueDiligence campaign.

Facebook's Support for Organ Donation Offers Philanthropic Inspiration

Thu, 03 May 2012 16:45:05 GMT

While the Facebook organ donation move is not a traditionally philanthropic strategy, it reminded of something we see in strong philanthropic initiatives - that often the passion of those involved and the creative use of unique skills, relationships, and influence can trump actual dollars.

Donors, Grantees, and the Problem of Leaky Pipes

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:43:44 GMT

Most donor-grantee relationships are like bad plumbing, says Bridgespan's Tom Tierney. Find out how you can fix yours.

Is Grantmaking Truly Getting Smarter? GEO’s Findings Reveal Some Stagnation, and Some Causes for Hope

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:06:05 GMT

New survey from Grantmakers for Effective Organizations asks: Is grantmaking getting smarter? GEO’s findings reveal some stagnation, and some causes for hope.

Pam Omidyar and the Science of Giving

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:59:40 GMT

Pam Omidyar's philanthropic work—including founding or co-founding with her husband, Pierre, the Omidyar Network, Hope Lab, and Humanity United—demonstrates how she has translated her passions into social change.

In Philanthropy, Getting Focused Pays Off

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:52:12 GMT

Donors who engage in “fewer, bigger, longer” strategic initiatives generally get greater results than donors who shift their strategies frequently. Why? Because philanthropy is “not just about writing checks, it’s also about influence.”

One Donor’s Answer to Broken Government: Think Long-Term

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:53:25 GMT

How do you fix California's entrenched governmental problems? For Nicholas Berggruen and the Think Long Committee for California, the answer lies in taking the long view, bringing together diverse leaders, and in removing barriers that prevent growth and renewal.

How Public to Be About Your Giving?

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:15:04 GMT

Leaders and trustees from the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation working towards children’s literacy found having a focused strategy, which in their case included being more public about their giving than they had been in the past, marshaled resources to their cause.

How Do You Research Nonprofit Grantees?

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:41:03 GMT

Deciding whether you want to give to a nonprofit can be a difficult decision. The Donor Decision Tool, with its targeted questions and guidance on how much research to do, can help you decide.

How Might Philanthropy Help Change Government-Funded Nonprofits’ Uncertain Funding Outlook?

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:00:27 GMT

Recent research from Bridgespan’s Daniel Stid and Vishal Shah paints a bleak picture for government-funded nonprofits. Given this challenging environment, what are some responses for philanthropy in helping government-funded nonprofits facing a funding cliff?

Foundation Center Report Uncovers Philanthropy Roadblocks

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:58:14 GMT

A recent study by the Foundation Center of its own fundraising efforts revealed that disparity in funder application and reporting requirements, taken cumulatively, place significant demands on nonprofit staff. The result? Death by a thousand (virtual) papercuts.

2011’s Philanthropy Ideas Worth Pursuing

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:26:14 GMT

As 2012 begins, let's take a moment to reflect on the specific, actionable ideas we can use to refine our giving in the coming year.

What Is Necessary for Philanthropic Transparency to Drive Results?

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:30:36 GMT

Many are calling for increased transparency from funders, often around how they have or have not gotten results with their philanthropic investments. In general, more transparency is better, but this story illustrates how transparency, when it lacks implications for how others should act, is not necessarily useful.

The Power of Small Changes

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:38:21 GMT

If philanthropy is so hard to do well, how can you possibly distill lessons into a 140 character tweet? What we have learned about the power of small changes through the #30DayDonorChallenge.

Philanthropy Challenge: Balancing Donor and Grantee Needs

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:23:01 GMT

Community foundations, like the Jewish Federations of North America, struggle to balance the donor and grantee sides of the equation and remain relevant to donors and their communities.

Philanthropy as Risk Capital: Partnering for Cures Gets Personal

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:43:49 GMT

Discussions at the Milken Institute’s Partnering for Cures conference demonstrate how tapping into donor values helps drive results and partnership opportunities.

The Give Smart #30DayDonorChallenge: 30 Simple and Practical Ways to Jumpstart Your Philanthropy This Giving Season

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:37:08 GMT

Give Smart challenges you to do 30 little things that can jumpstart your philanthropy during this giving season. Take the challenge and, in the spirit of the holidays, share your results with others.

The Hilton Foundation: Funding—and Empowering—an Overlooked Cause

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:24:11 GMT

Conrad Hilton left a set of clear but flexible guidelines to enable those leading his foundation, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, to continue to execute on his intent. One result of this: A fruitful partnership with the Perkins School for the Blind.

Philanthropy Traps and the Power of Hope

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:25:30 GMT

How can you avoid the common pitfalls you may encounter as a donor? By remembering your story of hope and learning from the wisdom of the philanthropic community.

The Million-Dollar List: New Tool for Data-Hungry Donors

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:52:40 GMT

The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University has just published a great new online resource. The Million Dollar List shows publicly announced grants over $1 million since 2000 by U.S.-based donors. It is searchable by donor, recipient, specific subsectors, location, and amount given.

Spend Down or Perpetuity: Philanthropists Should Make a Choice—and Choose Wisely

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:03:45 GMT

Should philanthropists create a foundation in perpetuity or spend down their funds in a given period? While there are technical issues (such as tax implications) involved in these decisions, here's the really interesting question: Which approach creates the best results and the most social impact?

Celebrating Women in the World

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:09:59 GMT

This week is a treasure trove for global development fans: The Clinton Global Initiative and the United Nations General Assembly are both convening in New York. In addition to these established players, a new entrant has come on the scene: The Women in the World Foundation was launched to "spotlight to the causes of women who need so badly to be seen," such as those suffering from violence, lack of economic opportunity, or poor education. The Foundation has assembled a core set of committed funders (such as the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations) as well as key solutions partners (including excellent organizations such as Vital Voices).

One of the most intriguing examples of economic empowerment for women that we’ve seen combines the business savvy and philanthropic mission of Connie Duckworth, a pioneering businesswoman who turned her skills toward Afghanistan after September 11, 2001. Duckworth became the first female sales and trading partner at Goldman Sachs in 1990 and went on to serve her country as a member of the U.S. Department of State’s U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council. As a result of her experience, she went on to found ARZU STUDIO HOPE, an organization led by women in Afghanistan to produce and market high-quality rugs.

Duckworth’s work captures the spirit of engaged philanthropy: She identified an issue, decided on a strong approach that took into account the cultural context, and adapted her approach through trial and error. The result? An enterprise that has empowered people to create tangible benefits for their communities. Duckworth's story is an excellent lesson for all of us who are passionate about powerful, humble, and durable social change.

To read more about Duckworth and ARZU STUDIO HOPE, click here.

Susan Wolf Ditkoff is a partner at the Bridgespan Group and co-leader of its philanthropy practice.

Anchors Can Help Your Philanthropy Take Flight

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:26:29 GMT

Is it better to fund clean-air projects, after-school tutoring, or cancer research? There is no right answer—your personal passions and what you believe is worth doing will drive your philanthropic priorities. In my work advising donors, I’ve found that encouraging them to “anchor” their giving in a broad category can provide a good jumping off point.

One Idea for Helping a Nonprofit Grow

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:51:01 GMT

Looking to give a nonprofit a gift that keeps giving? Consider collaborating with grantees to help them identify and build sustainable funding models.

Train Wreck, or True Philanthropic Partnership?

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:43:26 GMT

There are many ways to create results as a funder. But if you’re a donor who mostly funds nonprofit organizations, your results are their results. How then, besides selecting the right organizations, can you help them succeed?

Partnering for Philanthropy: How Jeff Walker and NPower Teamed Up to Get Results

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:38:21 GMT

You are passionate about a cause and you want to create real change in people’s lives. But the needs of your chosen cause will consistently dwarf the supply of available capital. So how can you put your money where it will make the most difference? Read how philanthropist Jeff Walker answered this question for himself. Walker discovered an existing nonprofit–NPower–that was focused on the problem he hoped to solve. But instead of duplicating NPower’s efforts by creating a new organization, Walker and NPower partnered to create a thriving nonprofit.

When a Pulitzer’s Not the Goal: How the Sandler Foundation Defines Success for ProPublica

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:46:56 GMT

Sometimes conventional goals and measures don’t capture what you are really trying to achieve with your philanthropy. Take ProPublica, an independent newsroom created to conduct investigative reporting. The Sandler Foundation conceived and incubated ProPublica in 2007 as a way to fight corruption. What does success mean for them? If you think Pulitzer, think again.

Strategy Lessons from a "Jargon Diet": The Importance of Candid Conversations About Goals

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:38:27 GMT

In launching the Give Smart initiative, one of my mantras has been to "de-jargonify." Which has led me to realize that jargon isn’t just a translation challenge (for example, translate one word for another and the job’s done). My "jargon diet" has taught me that the challenge is more fundamental. Take, for instance, strategy–I know what it means to me, but what does it mean to you?

The Top 10 Questions Posed By Philanthropists

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:38:40 GMT

How can philanthropists get inspired? Sometimes it's just a matter of asking themselves the right types of questions.

Adaptive Strategy in Philanthropy Pt III: All That and a Bag of Chips

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 11:39:07 GMT

This week’s inspiration is brought to you by a bag of pita chips.

Here’s the story I read on the back of the bag: "Stacy worked out of her sandwich cart in Boston, baking up tasty, seasoned pita chips to give her loyal fans while they waited in line. The chips soon became more popular than her sandwiches! Today, Stacy’s idea is still winning people over…" And it turns out she now has 150,000 "likes" on Facebook in addition to being distributed nationally via outlets like US Airways and Costco.

As I crunched on my chips at 30,000 feet, I wondered about the conversation Stacy had with her investors as she shifted her business from being a sandwich cart to manufacturing and distributing pita chips.

I imagine they didn’t question her commitment to excellence in sandwich-making. I imagine they didn’t insist on their desire to invest only in sandwich- or meal-making operations, or things sold by cart. I imagine they were delighted that she’d flexibly adapted her strategy towards selling pita chips and not sandwiches, based on clear feedback from her customers, and that she’d found a path to profitability.

It was a quick leap from there to imagine Stacy as a nonprofit CEO, trying to convince her donors of her new strategy. How many philanthropists would have made the leap with her? Would they themselves have had an adaptive enough strategy to focus on innovation and continuous improvement toward a common purpose (feeding people successfully), or would they have been overly focused on a particular intervention that they’d liked and committed to (restaurant carts rather than retail sales), regardless of the outcome?

In my experience, philanthropists frequently struggle with how narrowly to define their strategies. At what level do their grants have to add up to more than the sum of their parts? How can their strategies be adaptive but still bounded? Define your strategy too narrowly, and you miss the opportunity to shift investment to successful pita chips. Define too widely, and you become a jack-of-all-trades, but master of none.

So as a philanthropist, are you more interested in the intervention or in the underlying purpose?

Does Your Philanthropy Have an Adaptive Strategy? (Pt II)

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:02:35 GMT

What advice would you give on balancing the need for a start-up plan with the need to create an adaptive strategy?

Does Your Philanthropy Have an Adaptive Strategy?

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:13:56 GMT

Decisions in philanthropy are sometimes painted in terms of false dichotomies – either you’re thoughtful and strategic, or you’re whimsical and opportunistic. But today’s rapidly-changing world demands a more adaptive approach to strategy.

Getting Results Sometimes Means Giving More Than Money

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:25:22 GMT

There are clearly some principles and best practices for philanthropists who want to engage successfully with grantees. But following them isn't always going to be easy. And many of them involve more than simply providing dollars.

Unlocking Philanthropic Potential: Making a Case for Getting Better

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:05:55 GMT

Are you complacent or are you a learner? Maximizing your philanthropy means trying to always improve your efforts.

Blending Philanthropic Dreams with Data

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:21:24 GMT

Thoughtful philanthropists are blending their dreams of a better world with the hard data and evidence required to make change happen.

Avoiding Distractions (and Ruts!) in Philanthropy

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:13:22 GMT

In working with philanthropists for the past decade, it's become clear to me that there are many reasons that it's hard to get better over time: it's hard to define "success" for your philanthropy; it's hard to measure that success; it's hard to change behavior and keep holding yourself to a higher standard. But also it strikes me that there are two other, opposing pressures that make it hard to know when to stick with a strategy and when to shift course.