Comments on: Current and Future Trends in Foundations http://www.asmallchange.net/current-and-future-trends-in-foundations/ Making sense of fundraising for non-profits. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:57:23 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Nonprofit Communications » Blog Archive » Nonprofit Trends - What’s Hot & Not @ the Carnival http://www.asmallchange.net/current-and-future-trends-in-foundations/comment-page-1/#comment-6602 Nonprofit Communications » Blog Archive » Nonprofit Trends - What’s Hot & Not @ the Carnival Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:54:57 +0000 http://www.asmallchange.net/?p=36#comment-6602 [...] Dick at A Small Change - Fundraising Blog applauds the trends of multi-year grants and more strategic giving by foundations. Phil Cubeta at Gift Hub also sees some big trends in philanthropy, including the role financial [...] [...] Dick at A Small Change – Fundraising Blog applauds the trends of multi-year grants and more strategic giving by foundations. Phil Cubeta at Gift Hub also sees some big trends in philanthropy, including the role financial [...]

]]> By: Dave http://www.asmallchange.net/current-and-future-trends-in-foundations/comment-page-1/#comment-254 Dave Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:51:32 +0000 http://www.asmallchange.net/?p=36#comment-254 I think nonprofits are changing as well. They are trying to get away from the grant model of funding, they are looking for income generation strategies, utilizing non-financial resources, using creativity to become more sustainable. citizenbase.org has a good collection of examples showing this trend. It's hard to say who's responding to who as far as the trend away from one-time large grants. I like the trend of matching donations putting responsibility on the nonprofit to engage their community. I think nonprofits are changing as well. They are trying to get away from the grant model of funding, they are looking for income generation strategies, utilizing non-financial resources, using creativity to become more sustainable. citizenbase.org has a good collection of examples showing this trend. It’s hard to say who’s responding to who as far as the trend away from one-time large grants. I like the trend of matching donations putting responsibility on the nonprofit to engage their community.

]]> By: Leo Notenboom http://www.asmallchange.net/current-and-future-trends-in-foundations/comment-page-1/#comment-115 Leo Notenboom Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:08:15 +0000 http://www.asmallchange.net/?p=36#comment-115 In many ways many foundations are no different, really, than major donors. As we're seeing a shift into results-oriented accountability form more sophisticated donors it's no real surprise that we're seeing the same from foundations. And as with your major donors it pays to establish relationships with foundations. I'm a managing partner in a small family foundation and I'm quite amazed at the number of grant requests we recieve that are the grant-writing equivelant of a cold-call. They have zero lead-up or relationship building, and explicitly ignore the "we are not accepting grant requests at this time" on our web site. That may have worked in the past, but in my opinion not today. Relationships are more important than ever. And I totally agree with the narrower focus - I know our foundation has always maintained fewer yet deeper relationships with the organizations it takes on. It allows us to understand the beneficiary better and have a much higher level of confidence that our grants are being used in ways that the foundation intends. But really, all that's really saying is what I've said already: it's about the relationship. I hadn't thought a lot about matching programs, and it's an interesting concept that I may want to investigate further. Leo In many ways many foundations are no different, really, than
major donors. As we’re seeing a shift into results-oriented
accountability form more sophisticated donors it’s no real
surprise that we’re seeing the same from foundations.

And as with your major donors it pays to establish
relationships with foundations. I’m a managing partner in a
small family foundation and I’m quite amazed at the number
of grant requests we recieve that are the grant-writing
equivelant of a cold-call. They have zero lead-up or
relationship building, and explicitly ignore the “we are not
accepting grant requests at this time” on our web site. That
may have worked in the past, but in my opinion not today.
Relationships are more important than ever.

And I totally agree with the narrower focus – I know our
foundation has always maintained fewer yet deeper
relationships with the organizations it takes on. It allows
us to understand the beneficiary better and have a much
higher level of confidence that our grants are being used in
ways that the foundation intends.

But really, all that’s really saying is what I’ve said
already: it’s about the relationship.

I hadn’t thought a lot about matching programs, and it’s an
interesting concept that I may want to investigate further.

Leo

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