Summer Grantmaking Intensives!   Mini-Intensive for New Philanthropists & Grantmakers July 7 – July 11, 2014 9:30am – 5:00pm

Immerse yourself in a comprehensive learning experience, and fuel your passion for grantmaking and private philanthropy. Faculty members and guest speakers from across the philanthropic community help you to learn how to give more wisely. 

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By William Fenn, Innovation Network and EPIP-DC 

“One page, that’s all you get,” I was told the first time I presented to the board. How is that possible, I thought? I had been running due diligence on this project for months, collecting several hundred pages of budget and proposal information with multiple rounds of revisions. Now I understand the one page limit. I was only working on one small grant out of hundreds that the board would debate – and that wasn’t even considering the documentation the board had to digest about larger strategic planning and operational issues...

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By Nadia Owusu, Senior Associate for Knowledge and Organizational Development, Living Cities

“I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids-and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me.”- Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man

Last summer, I read with interest a slew of articles critiquing the philanthropic sector and calling for large-scale change.

 

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In an effort to help EPIP members gain value from the experience of professionals in the field, EPIP is starting a new interview series. Blog readers will be able to learn valuable lessons from leaders in the field.

The first interview in this series is with Laura Tomasko. Laura, a D.C. EPIP member, is a network developer at the Council on Foundations. As a network developer, she spends her time exploring the landscape of social good finance. This includes helping COF members learn about current trends and opportunities within the field...

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This post first appeared on the Foundation Center’s GrantCraft blog. GrantCraft, a service of the Foundation Center, taps the practical wisdom of funders to develop free resources for the philanthropy sector. New to the field? This one’s for you. Folks who are new to the field often request a glossary of terms just to make sure they know the basics. Our sister site GrantSpace (geared more towards nonprofits, while GrantCraft speaks more directly to funders) has shared the below list that defines the most commonly used terms in Foundation Center materials. 501(c)(3) The section of the tax code that defines nonprofit, charitable, tax-exempt organizations. 501(c)(3) organizations are further defined as public charities, private operating foundations, and private non-operating foundations. See also: operating foundation; private foundation; public charity. Annual report A voluntary report issued by a foundation or corporation that provides financial data and descriptions of its grantmaking activities. Annual reports vary in format from simple typewritten documents listing the year’s grants to detailed publications that provide substantial information about the grantmaker’s grantmaking programs. Assets The amount of capital or principal — money, stocks, bonds, real estate, or other resources — controlled by a foundation or corporate giving program. Generally, assets are invested and the resulting income is used to make grants. Beneficiary In philanthropic terms, the donee or grantee receiving funds from a foundation or corporate giving program is the beneficiary, although society may benefit as well. Capital support Funds provided for endowment purposes, buildings, construction, or equipment. Challenge grant A grant that is paid only if the donee organization is able to raise additional funds from other sources. Challenge grants […] Read more

March 26, 2014

EPIP Webinar: Catalyzing Change with Communications and Comedy 

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In partnership with NTEN, EPIP members may take advantage of member rates on this NTEN webinar. Discount codes for all partner offers can be found on Member Connect under Member Resources. If you or anyone in your organization has a laptop, we want to encourage you to leave your desk! Go on. Get out. Increase efficiency. Decrease costs. Get things done. Thanks to wireless technology, your staff can do more, communicate more, and be more efficient simply by leaving their desks. This webinar will explore the many facets of your organization including communication, fundraising, programs, community outreach, and staffing/volunteerism, and will challenge your thinking on ways to leverage wireless technology in each area. Learn More DATE Tuesday, Apr 22, 2014 11:00am US/Pacific 2:00pm US/Eastern Read more

JAG Unity Summit Register by April 15th and Save!  Member – Early Bird: $475 Non-Member – Early Bird:  $550 After April 15th:  Member – Regular Registration: $625 Non-Member – Regular Registration: $700 Register now online at:  https://www.greenmoonsolutions.com/jag2014/ Who is JAG? JAG consists of seven identity-based JAG partner organizations – Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP), Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE), Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP), Funders for LGBTQ Issues, Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP), Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP), and Women’s Funding Network. We represent a national network of more than 2,500 members and more than 20,000 philanthropic, nonprofit, and corporate professionals of all ages: AAPI, Black, Latino, Native, women, men, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities. To learn more, visit:  www.jointaffinitygroups.org Read more

March 12, 2014

EPIP Webinar: A Chat with EPIP’s Newest Executive Coach, Pratichi Shah 

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By Rachael Young, Program Officer, Mertz Gilmore Foundation and Steering Committee Member, EPIP-NY

Crowdfunding platforms raised an estimated $5.1 billion worldwide in 2013, nearly twice the total for 2012. Although most of this booming investment is in private ventures, mission-driven crowdfunding platforms are also emerging on the leading edge of technology, philanthropy, and social entrepreneurship. 

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