Designing a Values-Driven Financial Review Process

“At its core, financial management is about the allocation of resources. It is not neutral. We make choices.”
—Hilda Polanco, BDO

Assessing the financial health of grantees is often a critical part of a foundation’s due diligence process. But who makes decisions, with what information, and using what criteria? When designing a financial review process, a foundation should consider its choices and ensure its values are integrated. In this interactive session, The California Endowment shares their ongoing journey toward implementing a grantee financial review process tied to their values, incorporating trust-based philanthropy principles and centering equity. Learn about the foundation’s decision to use publicly available data as the primary source for their review, how they are integrating equity, and what they’re learning.

Speakers

Jennifer Chheang
The California Endowment

Rodney Christopher
BDO

Ethan Zatko
BDO