LISTEN, LEARN, LEAD: Grantmaker Practices that Support Nonprofit Results
This report on Phase 1 of GEO's Change Agent Project delves deeper into what is neccessary to instill change in grantmaking practices to ensure nonprofit success. Profiles of individuals and their foundations that are exemplars are also included.
Mapping the Field of Funder NetworksIn 2003, GEO received funding from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation to conduct research that would map the landscape of funder networks. GEO partnered with the Council on Foundations, the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers and Funders Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities to build upon existing research and create a broad picture of networks in philanthropy. The research consisted of a survey of 325 funder networks, including affinity groups, regional associations, collaborative funds and less formal networks. Results include a series of reports, maps of funder networks in the U.S., and a searchable online database.
Attitudes and Practices Concerning Effective Philanthropy GEO's Research and Development Task Force and The David and Lucile Packard Foundation worked in collaboration with The Urban Institute on the first ever national assessment of philanthropic practice and effectiveness. This study includes a national survey of foundations, interviews with foundation staff and leaders, and case studies. The study identifies how foundation staff and leaders assess and use many practices considered to yield greater effectiveness in philanthropy and uncover new practices that may be of value to the field. This publication was awarded the Independent Sector's Virginia Hodgkinson Research Prize in September 2006.
Beyond Compliance: The Trustee Viewpoint on Effective Foundation Governance
GEO partnered with the Center for Effective Philanthropy and BoardSource to release this study on governance which shows that foundation trustees see board effectiveness as related to utilization of board members’ capabilities and skills and board involvement in key areas, such as strategy development and assessment. The report describes the steps these boards have taken to implement governance reforms on the basis of recent scrutiny and discusses how trustees’ definitions of effective governance go well beyond compliance with minimum standards.
Learn about current outside research projects.
GEO Policy for Encouraging and/or Endorsing Research
Grantmakers for Effective Organizations pursues its mission to advance and expand organizational effectiveness practices in and by the philanthropic community through two related and complementary goals to:
- promote and advocate for the use of philanthropic resources to advance nonprofit organizational effectiveness; and
- accelerate the development, dissemination, and application of knowledge about nonprofit and philanthropic organizational effectiveness.
GEO values inclusivity, collaboration, open-mindedness, and experimentation. GEO is also committed to working from a strength-based perspective. GEO encourages applied research related to both nonprofit and funder effectiveness in three ways:
- sponsoring and/or funding a limited number of high profile and potentially high impact studies in line with our emerging research agenda;
- advising on and endorsing research projects of others where there is a fit between the proposed project and GEOs own research agenda; and/or
- assisting in publicizing research projects to the GEO membership where the proposed project is related to nonprofit and/or funder effectiveness, the methodology is sound, and the results are likely to contribute to the dialogue on effectiveness topics in the field.
Researchers interested in GEO’s assistance, endorsement, or sponsorship may contact Jillaine Smith, program manager, at 202.898.1843 or jillaine@geofunders.org.