philanthropy and foundations

Joint Master of Social Work ProgramNC A&T and UNCGJanuary 24, 2012

Philanthropy and Foundations

AGENDA

Philanthropy Private Foundations

Grantmaking Trends

Careers in Philanthropy

Who Gives?

Who Receives?

Foundation Funding

Giving Trends

• More than 3/5 of active foundations

were established after 1989*

• 17% are staffed

• 8% ARs

• 17% have publications

• 11% have Web sites

A Typical Foundation?

2009 Perspective

Philanthropy: $303 Billion • $383 Billion = national debt service• $672 Billion = Social Security benefits• $404 Billion = Wal-Mart Revenue

1) What are foundations? What are the different kinds? What do they do?

2) What is the relationship between grant proposals and foundation work?

3) What do foundations and other funders look for when determining who gets grant dollars?

4) What are some procedural do’s and don'ts in trying to get projects funded?

Working with Foundations

THE TEDIOUS AND TIME CONSUMING METHOD THAT IS, UNFORTUNATELY, OFTEN TIMES NECESSARY

What are you trying to find out?

1) Who they give to? (Eligibility)

2) When? (Deadlines)

3) Who they have given to? (Previous Recipients)

4) How to apply? (Format)

SOME UNOFFICIAL TRUTHS ABOUT GRANTSEEKING

1) You will have a much easier time getting funded for something new rather than something you have been doing already.

2) Submitting joint proposals with collaborators increases your chances of success exponentially.

3) No one can sit in a room by themselves and develop an effective grants

project.

SOME UNOFFICIAL TRUTHS ABOUT GRANTSEEKING(continued)

4) Your chances for success increase

dramatically if you have had positive

interaction with the funder before you

submit your proposal.

5) Much of the information required in grants can, and should be prepared ahead of time.

6) The worst way to develop a grant seeking project is in response to a notice of fund availability.

4 DRAWBACKS OF GRANTS PURSUIT (AND REALIZATION)- IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER-

1) THE MONEY RUNS OUT

2) EFFORT DOES NOT EQUAL RETURN

3) INTRAORGANIZATIONAL STRESS

4) UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

KEY COMPONENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL GRANT PROPOSAL

ESTABLISHMENT OF PROBLEM/NEED YOU WANT TO ADDRESS

• Statistics• Anecdotal reports from within or outside• Community-wide needs vs. institutional• Surveys/Public Forums/Community Input

YOUR PROPOSED SOLUTION

• Logic• Within your capacity and experience• Considers other providers• Reasonable within the timeframe you have suggested

DO

• Read all the materials that the foundation or

other funder has published.

• Start talking to the foundation representatives well before their deadlines and before your proposed project start dates.

• Develop a system within your organization that identifies potential projects early on and is prepared when opportunities present themselves. Have a system whereby people involved in accounting, finance and other areas of operations can respond quickly and knowledgably to the needs of the funders.

DO (continued)

• Commit time and work to participation in community or regional networks relevant to health and human service issues.

• Enhance your knowledge of the people you currently serve and those who you are not currently serving.

• Demonstrate an in depth knowledge of what other services are being offered in the community.

• Realistic goals

• Leadership—management/board

• Financial viability

• Collaboration

• Sustainability

• Local commitment, including organization putting in some of their own money

DO NOT

• Call a foundation saying that you need money for XYZ.• Use the names of elected officials of other prominent persons

unless you are absolutely sure of the relationships in the community.

• Try to shame the foundation person into acknowledging the need for your project.

• Request funding for items or program areas that the foundation does not fund.

• Criticize the efforts of others.• Get consultants involved as spokespersons.

Trends and Progress

Outcomes-Focused Grantmaking

• Focus Shift (Compliance – Outcomes)• Use of Language is Important• Budget – not interested in money, but money in

motion• Measuring gain• Milestones/Results• Resources: Outcome Funding,

Hal Williams

Resources

• Grant Proposal Makeover by Cheryl A. Clarke and Susan P. Fox

• Center for Effective Philanthropy• The Rensselvaerville Institute/Center for What

Works• NC Center for Nonprofits• QENO @ UNCW

Resources

Questions and Answers

Edgar Villanueva, MHA, FACHEOwner/Principal Consultantedgar@leveragepartners.net[T} LEVERAGEpartnerwww.leveragepartners.net