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PEAK Grantmaking

Weekly Reads—June 24, 2022

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Enjoy PEAK’s weekly roundup of timely insights from the grantmaking community and beyond.

“With investments and innovation, funders can move the needle on partnerships and ultimately increase the chances that research informs decision-making and strengthens outcomes across policy areas.” [more]
Angela Bednarek, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Jenni Owen, North Carolina Office of Strategic Partnerships, and Alex Sileo, The Pew Charitable Trusts, for the Center for Effective Philanthropy

“Here are five things nonprofit leaders want their donors to know, but may not be telling them directly:

  1. Understanding the needs of the constituents that nonprofits are serving is essential for donors and nonprofits alike.
  2. Strong relationships between donors and nonprofits are grounded in understanding and openness.
  3. Generous, unrestricted financial support best enables nonprofit leaders to strengthen their organizations.
  4. Most nonprofits want to assess their performance so they can learn and improve, and they could use more support to do this.
  5. Providing support beyond money can help nonprofit staffs strengthen their skills, make important connections, and better pursue their missions.” [more]

Ellie Buteau, Center for Effective Philanthropy

“Participatory grantmaking goes beyond consulting the community through surveys, town hall-style meetings, or other one-way feedback channels. The decisions entrusted to the community need to have teeth, truly giving power to the community.” [more]
Meg Massey, journalist, and Ben Wrobel, Village Capital, for Candid

“Corporate social-responsibility departments, which identify where the company’s charitable dollars go and build relationships with nonprofit leaders, lack the diversity and lived experience of the people and communities their programs are designed to serve… Billions of dollars in pledges will not have the intended impact unless companies also invest in the people doing the work.” [more]
Carolyn Berkowitz, Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals, and Edgar Villanueva, Leverage Philanthropic Partners, for the Chronicle of Philanthropy