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Explore how far we’ve come, together.
Our 25th anniversary in 2021 was a celebration of community and all that we’ve accomplished to date. It was also a call to action to prepare for the work ahead as we embark on PEAK’s next chapter—empowering grants professionals to lead the way in operationalizing equity in philanthropy.
Here, we’ll continue to chronicle our evolution, sharing stories of progress and community as we continue to make history together.
Inside, we chronicle a year of progress in empowering our community of change agents—through member expansion and investment, increased participation in our expanding peer networks, cohorts, and convenings, and record online engagement; and by deepening strategic partnerships and strengthening our team.
In May, 1,244 members of the PEAK community reunited in Baltimore (and virtually) for our first annual convening since 2019—together delving into our Principle to Learn, Share, Evolve to become empowered as change agents for equitable grantmaking practices.
PEAK membership continues to grow, surpassing 7,000 members in 2022.
We released two issues of the PEAK Grantmaking Journal in 2022—Driving Racial Equity in Philanthropy in February and PEAK’s Emergent Learning Playbook in November—as calls to action to our community and the field to center equity and learning.
2021 was a year full of turmoil, heartbreak, and immense need. It was also a time when PEAK Grantmaking rallied our community around a call to action: How can philanthropy do better? Explore what we accomplished together, as we reflected on PEAK’s first 25 years and embarked on our next chapter.
A 25th anniversary highlight: A dynamic CEO panel of PEAK’s Satonya Fair, Kresge Foundation’s Rip Rapson, Ford Foundation’s Darren Walker, and GEO’s Marcus Walton reflects on philanthropy’s evolution and challenges ahead, and discusses how grants professionals can lead the way as change agents for operationalizing equity.
PEAK receives a transformative gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in June 2021. Read President and CEO Satonya Fair’s note to gratitude.
At our 2021 annual meeting, President and CEO Satonya Fair and the Board of Directors announced plans for PEAK’s “next chapter,” guided by a new strategic framework that will define our goals and guide our work in the years ahead
We also articulated what “PEAK” stands for—Principles, Equity, Advocacy, Knowledge—and unveiled evolved branding that keeps PEAK’s visual identity in step with our bold aspirations to transform philanthropy.
PEAK releases 2020 Grants Management Salary Report. First started in 2003 as the Salary Survey, the report shows the evolution and growth of the profession as key to organizational strategy. Key findings explore differences in pay within gender, race, education, sexual orientation, job band, and more.
Just days before attendees were set to arrive in Seattle, the PEAK2020 conference is canceled in March due to the emergence of the novel coronavirus.
Event tote bags are donated to the local food bank. While a record 975 people had registered to attend in person, the event takes place virtually a few months later, with 1,132 attendees. The organization reaches 5,000 total members.
PEAK launches a re-envisioned member magazine with the first issue raising up the often-unheard voices and experiences of Black professionals in philanthropy. Read about the evolution of PEAK’s Journal.
With the 2019 launch of the Principles for Peak Grantmaking, PEAK issues a clarion call for action to transform the practice of philanthropy into the practice of principled grantmaking, helping grants professionals lead the way with a values-driven, equity-centered, practice-based roadmap for change.
The first iteration of the Courage in Practice white paper is presented at the Denver conference.
Later that year, the Principles initiative expands with an online hub and the release of its first of five suites of resources and tools: Tie Practices to Values.
PEAK releases the Grants Management Professional Competency Model, which defines the professional knowledge, skills, and abilities expected of grants management professionals regardless of area of specialization, the size of organization, or role within the field. The competencies provide a comprehensive look at the profession. In just three years, the model is downloaded nearly 2,000 times by members.
The organization reaches the 3,000-member mark, signaling an exponential growth in membership and resources.
GMN holds its first Leadership Summit for Chapter Officers at the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington, D.C During the meeting, Sara Davis of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and consultant Daniel Weinzveg presented a workshop on the evolution of grants management. Chapter officers discussed strategies for growing chapters and ways to design better learning sessions for members.
MY GMN online portal is launched. The website features forum discussions, a knowledge database, job postings, and a membership directory. Two years later, CONNECT online communities are launched.
GMN reaches 2,000 total members.
GMN publishes the first issue of GMNinsight, themed Brave New World. The quarterly online publication was designed to share key knowledge of grants professionals gained through years of experience in grants management; explore the trends and practices of modern grantmaking; and drive forward thinking and progress that will shape new approaches to delivering mission-critical funding and support services.
Grants Managers Network launches Project Streamline, a field-wide effort led by GMN. The project publishes Drowning in Paperwork, Distracted from Purpose, a study of the burdens of applications and reporting. In 2013, Project Streamline produces the Practices That Matter report.
To support Project Streamline, GMN introduces Dr. Streamline to answer—in a sassy, fun way—questions from members about the project.
GMN publishes Staffing Grants Management. The guide is pivotal for grants managers to help senior staff at foundations understand their work. Many grants management professionals use the guide to advocate for additional staff and title changes.
GMN celebrates its 10th anniversary. The organization is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) public nonprofit.
Congress passes the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, adding new, strict financial reporting and auditing requirements for publicly traded companies in response to several high-profile scandals.
Many foundations also adopt these regulations, putting grants managers at the forefront of compliance.
Following the attacks on the United States on 9/11, President George W. Bush signs Executive Order 13324, designed to prevent the funding of terrorism overseas.
GMN shifts focus to protecting foundations from inadvertently funding terrorism by providing clear guidance on compliance with the Treasury Department and Office of Foreign Asset Control.
Grants Managers Network (GMN) is formed, initially focused in and around the New York region. By 2000, the organization holds three group meetings annually in Washington, D.C., Cleveland, and Los Angeles.
Two grants managers, Ann Gael and Margaret Egan, have lunch in New York at Cafe Un Deux Trois. Their discussion and desire for a comprehensive, organized resource to help grants managers leads to the founding of the Grants Managers Network. Read more…
We are a community with a shared vision to transform philanthropy and lead equitable grantmaking practices.
Where We've Been
Explore the history of PEAK and evolution of grants management.
1991
Grants managers Ann Gael and Margaret Egan discuss the need for a network.
1996
The Grants Managers Network (GMN) is born and expands nationally.
2017
GMN changes its name to PEAK Grantmaking.
2021
PEAK now has more than 6,000 members in its network.