Foundation Center/GrantCraft



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Measuring the State of Disaster Philanthropy 2018: Data to Drive Decisions

FavoriteThe Center for Disaster Philanthropy is proud to partner with Foundation Center, the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide, to present this interactive dashboard, which provides an analysis of disaster-related funding by foundations, governments, corporations, and individuals. The data presented here illuminate funding trends, expose imbalances in where and when contributions are made, and can help donors make more strategic decisions about their investments in the full life cycle of disasters, including preparedness and recovery efforts. The report draws from 12 data sources, including first-time analysis of contributions by non-U.S. donors, public charities, and smaller U.S. foundations. In total, Read more





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U.S. Foundation Funding for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Infrastructure 2004–2015

FavoriteThere are an estimated 10 million non-governmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide. If NGOs were a country, they’d have the fifth-largest economy in the world.¹ The nonprofit sector in the United States alone contributed more than $930 billion to the economy in 2014.² Given the volume and complexity of civil society organizations around the world, a substantial ecosystem of support organizations have emerged over time to enable, strengthen, and evolve their work. These support organizations, also known as “infrastructure organizations,” provide essential services such as strategic planning; evaluation, assessment, and feedback; board and staff development; data and research; legal services; business modeling; and support Read more





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Deciding Together: Shifting Power and Resources Through Participatory Grantmaking

FavoriteParticipatory grantmaking is increasingly visible and of interest to a range of funders, because it revolutionizes traditional structures of philanthropy. Specifically: It redefines who qualifies as a “grantmaker,” and challenges traditional power dynamics, which affect everything from who knows about grant opportunities to who gets those grants. It goes beyond grantmaking to the importance of advancing public and democratic participation in decision making. It strengthens trust and credibility between donors and grantees. Written by Cynthia Gibson, the guide features voices and examples drawn from a range of participatory grantmakers. Participatory grantmaking models range in geographic scale—from local neighborhoods to global Read more





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The State of Global Giving by U.S. Foundations

FavoriteThis report represents the latest in a decades-long collaboration between Foundation Center and Council on Foundations to regularly analyze the data and trends on international grantmaking by U.S. foundations. In addition to a detailed analysis of funding trends by issue areas, regions, population focus, and strategies, this report also relates these trends to key events and developments during the time period, such as the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Ebola crisis in West Africa, the reversal of the global gag rule, and the increasing legal restrictions faced by civil society in countries around the world.





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Open for Good: Knowledge Sharing to Strengthen Grantmaking

Favorite The guide lays out the benefits of knowledge sharing in philanthropy for both the receivers and sharers of knowledge. It also explores barriers that get in the way of foundations sharing knowledge and strategies to overcome those barriers. Sprinkled throughout are ideas to borrow from grantmakers (shared knowledge!) and practical examples of how foundations of all sizes and types are experimenting with new ways to share insights. Finally, this guide will help grantmakers understand where they fit within philanthropy’s knowledge sharing landscape and encourage advancing their organizational capacities and practices.





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From Words to Action A Practical Philanthropic Guide to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Favorite As communities worldwide are becoming more diverse, they are increasingly tackling the realities of systemic inequity. Philanthropy too must acknowledge its place in the context of transformative demographic changes. Addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has been an ongoing challenge within philanthropy, and while there has been progress, it requires continual work. This GrantCraft leadership series paper by Barbara Chow dives into those challenges and opportunities to explore how DEI can become more integrated into grantmaking practices and broader foundation ethos. This paper aims to inspire new ideas and thinking by foundations about how DEI can become more integrated in grantmaking practices Read more





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How Community Philanthropy Shifts Power: What Donors Can Do to Help Make That Happen

Favorite This paper is for donors looking for ways to ensure that our interventions produce lasting results that are owned and directed by the people they are meant to benefit. It offers practical advice and examples based on the experiences of a variety of different donors, as well as some thoughts on how we donors can do more to share and shift power while fulfilling our own institutional oversight and accountability requirements.





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Peace and Security Funding Index — An Analysis of Global Foundation Grantmaking

Favorite Since its launch in 2016, the Peace and Security Funding Index has helped define the field of peace and security grantmaking. Each year, we collect and categorize thousands of grants awarded by hundreds of foundations working on peace and security issues across the globe. In 2015—the latest complete year for which grants data is available1—336 foundations made 2,908 grants, totaling $351 million, in support of peace and security work. This research centers around a framework of three overarching categories that support activities to prevent future conflict, resolve existing conflict, and support stability and resiliency. The three categories are further Read more







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Measuring the State of Disaster Philanthropy

FavoriteSupport for disaster risk reduction and preparedness can mitigate the impact of disasters, and many communities need sustained funding for the long road to recovery. We hope this analysis will aid donors in considering how to maximize the impact of their disaster-related giving.





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Global Philanthropy Data Charter

FavoriteTo realize this vision of improved data for deeper philanthropic impact and transparency, WINGS, Foundation Center, CENTRIS, and partners from around the world created and refined the Global Philanthropy Data Charter. The main objective of this revision is to make the document more accessible and provide concrete guidance on how to successfully engage in data-sharing processes.





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International Giving by U.S. Community Foundations: Local Communities with Global Reach

FavoriteThis report, a joint effort by the Council on Foundations and Foundation Center, examines the current state and recent trends in international giving and engagement by large U.S. community foundations. The first-ever analysis of this type suggests that many community foundations are beginning to adopt a broader, more nuanced definition of “community” than they have in the past.





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Frameworks for Private Foundations

FavoriteThis GrantCraft Leadership Series paper produced in partnership with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, explores the core frameworks that shape private foundations, and offers a roadmap for funders interested in reflecting on these frameworks to better align purpose, public benefit, and action.





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Philanthropy and the Social Economy: Blueprint 2017

FavoriteThis publication is an annual industry forecast about the ways we use private resources for public benefit. Each year, the Blueprint provides an overview of the current landscape, points to major trends, and directs your attention to horizons where you can expect some important breakthroughs in the coming year.





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Innovations in Open Grantmaking

FavoriteThis publication seeks to provide inspiration and early proof of concept regarding innovative practices at every stage of the grantmaking process. The examples and lessons included can act as suggested guidelines for future research and experimentation around more openly and effectively providing access to public money.  





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Funding Indigenous Peoples: Strategies for Support

FavoriteThis guide looks at how funders collaborate with and bring support to indigenous communities around the world. Through examples from a diverse range of foundations, this guide explores how grantmakers work with indigenous peoples, the approaches they take, and the practices they find effective.





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Communication That Counts: Lessons From South African Social Investors

FavoriteThis guide offers practical lessons in communicating for impact based on the experiences of funders and others involved in social investment in South Africa. It explores universal themes related to how to communicate with partners, social investors, and grantees; how to identify and achieve communication goals; and how different media can help enhance different messages.





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Supporting Grantee Capacity: Strengthening Effectiveness Together

Favorite In this publication, we look at how funders approach building capacity with grantees. Through examples from foundations ranging in size, mission, and geography, we explore various strategies for capacity building and the types of awareness that funders can choose to incorporate in decision making to facilitate informed, thoughtful judgments about strengthening organizations.





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Scanning the Landscape of Youth Philanthropy

FavoriteThis report shares reflections on an in-depth examination of the story and needs of youth grantmaking (young people making monetary contributions to organizations through established institutions or governing bodies). The report finds that while more than 200 foundations worldwide offer youth grantmaking programs and more than 100 related resources exist, that information is not broadly available. This scan was conducted in partnership with Youth Philanthropy Connect, a program of the Frieda C. Fox Family Foundation.





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Map of the Craft

FavoriteThis tool identifies seven challenges in grantmaking, as well as the practices and skills that can help you meet them: Planning My Work, Organizing for Impact, Working with Grantees, Finding Allies, Making the Grant, Understanding My Role, Leading on the Inside.