Events and Connections
GEO events and peer learning programs offer opportunities to connect with values-aligned grantmakers to build connections, learn and explore common challenges and solutions.
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What We Offer
Resources
GEO produces a wide range of resources and tools to support grantmakers in their work to transform philanthropic culture and practices.
Perspectives Blog
Our Perspectives blog keeps members up-to-date on the latest news and stories about how philanthropy is supporting thriving nonprofits and communities.
Join the GEO Community
The GEO community supports members, grantmaking organizations, infrastructure groups and academic programs in finding connections, resources and inspiration as we work to transform philanthropy and center racial equity in your organizations and beyond. Join us!
What We Care About
Capacity Building
Philanthropy’s greatest contribution to achieving racial equity and an inclusive society is to invest in nonprofit and community leadership and capacity, driving equity-centered change.
Change Leadership
The first step in transforming philanthropy is building and fostering supportive and inclusive organizational environments, which empowers people to lead change both individually and collectively.
Collaboration
Transforming philanthropy requires an unrelenting focus on community-centered collaboration. We build relationships, learn in partnership and resist individualism.
Community-Driven Philanthropy
We strive to build positive and impactful relationships among philanthropy and nonprofits and communities. Community-driven philanthropy is about building trust, centering community voices and experiences, and shifting power to those that historically have been ignored and othered.
Culture
Grantmakers who are effectively working in service of nonprofits and communities create and sustain organizational cultures founded on several core elements, including a commitment to racial equity.
Flexible, Reliable Funding
Flexible, reliable funding—such as general operating support, multiyear grants, and funds that cover indirect costs—is a necessary expression of trust in nonprofits and communities to shape the futures they seek.
Learning & Evaluation
By focusing on learning for improvement, grantmakers can use evaluation and insights to better understand current impact and identify opportunities for improvement.
Systems Change
Systems change grantmaking addresses the complexity of interconnected issues affecting communities. While systems change often focuses on structures, policies and processes, it can also be shifting resources, values, power, mindsets and infrastructure.
Upcoming Events
Working Through Common Concerns to Sharing Power with Community Members
A conversation to explore concerns and possible solutions with peers. Many funders…
- Community Call
Decision '24 Post-Election Briefing: Debrief + Sector Outlook
After the elections, understanding the outcomes and their impact on the philanthropic…
- Community Call
Exploring an Anti-Framework to Shift Philanthropic Culture
An encore to a popular GEO 2024 National Conference session exploring how…
Change Leaders Community Quarterly Call
Quarterly virtual call for current and former Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellows. Current…
- Peer Communities
Strategic Learners Network 2024 Q4 Call
Quarterly call for members of GEO’s Strategic Learners Network. A typical call…
- Peer Communities
Equitable Operations Peer Community Call
Connect with your peers who are looking to operationalize equity within their…
- Remote Learning Series
- Webinar
Participatory Learning and Decision-Making: Taking A Whole Foundation Approach to Sharing Power
Increasingly, foundations are interested in working with those with lived expertise to…
- Workshop
2025 Member Orientation
Join our next member orientation to learn about community benefits and discover…
- Member Orientation
2025 Member Orientation
Join our next member orientation to learn about community benefits and discover…
- Member Orientation
2025 Learning Conference
Save the Date for GEO’s 2025 Learning Conference, hosted in partnership with…
- Conferences
2025 Member Orientation
Join our next member orientation to learn about community benefits and discover…
- Member Orientation
2025 Member Orientation
Join our next member orientation to learn about community benefits and discover…
- Member Orientation
2026 National Conference
Save the Date for GEO’s 2026 National Conference, from June 1 –…
- Conferences
2027 Learning Conference
Save the Date for GEO’s 2027 Learning Conference, from May 25-26, 2027…
- Conferences
Featured Resources
Reevaluating Practice: Reimagining Philanthropy
This report is a final offering to philanthropy from the Hazen Foundation…
- Partner Resources
Arkansas Enterpise Capital Grant Fund Fact Sheet
Financial capital provides the fuel for all enterprises, regardless of tax status.…
- Partner Resources
A Change Management & Deep Equity Primer: The What, Why, How & Nuance
This publication from Movement Tapestries offers insights and guidance for organizations navigating…
- Publication
Annual Report 2021
In this report, we are excited to share examples that illustrate some…
- Annual Report
Centering Equity through Flexible, Reliable Funding
With this guide, GEO seeks to reassert the value of flexible, reliable…
- Publication
A Guide for Trustees Reimagining Capacity Building: Navigating Culture, Systems & Power
Strengthening nonprofit organizations is not just a nice-to-have, but an essential part…
- Guide
Executive Summary: Reimagining Capacity Building: Navigating Culture, Systems & Power
With racial equity becoming more and more central to the work of…
- Executive Summary
Annual Report 2018-2020
Across the philanthropic sector, the last several years have been a clear…
- Annual Report
Reimagining Capacity Building: Navigating Culture, Systems & Power
This publication builds on the principles outlined in Strengthening Nonprofit Capacity and…
- Publication
Shifting the Evaluation Paradigm: The Equitable Evaluation Framework™
This publication provides an overview of the impetus for the Equitable Evaluation…
- Publication
Learning in Philanthropy: A Guidebook
When grantmakers focus on learning for improvement, we use evaluation and learning…
- Guide
Engaging Boards and Trustees in Strategic Learning Toolkit Brief
The brief introduces the "Engaging Boards and Trustees in Strategic Learning: Toolkit"…
- Publication
Engaging Boards and Trustees in Strategic Learning: A Toolkit
The fields of strategic learning and evaluation have also grown and shifted…
- Publication
Executive Summary: Engaging Boards and Trustees in Strategic Learning
The Executive Summary introduces the "Engaging Boards and Trustees in Strategic Learning:…
- Executive Summary
GEO’s Resources on Equity
In your first year of GEO membership, to help you stay informed…
- Publication
Get on the Balcony: How Grantmakers Can Ignite Change
This publication seeks to offer some helpful approaches for jump-starting a change…
- Publication
GEO’s Resources on Capacity Building and Leadership Development
In your first year of GEO membership, to help you stay informed…
- Case Study
- Publication
- Related Materials
Culture Resource Guide: Tend
Creating a productive foundation culture — one that accelerates impact and supports…
- Guide
Conversation Starter: How CEO & Senior Leader Relationships Shape Culture
The relationship between the CEO and her right hand person (or people)…
- Publication
Facilitation Guide: Aligning Behaviors and Values
This exercise is designed to surface the areas in which an organization’s…
- Guide
Conversation Starter: Understanding Incentives
When certain aspects of the “old” culture seem intractable, even though new…
- Guide
Worksheet: Culture Mascot
Create a clear picture of the culture that your organization aspires to…
- Guide
Worksheet: Anthropologists Game
Get past what your organization says it values to uncover the hard-to-see,…
- Guide
Conversation Starter: Disrupting Culture
Making culture more visible often begins the process of changing it. Once…
- Publication
Conversation Starter: Translating Values into Practice
Values gain meaning and immediacy when they have a direct connection to…
- Publication
Conversation Starter: Seeing and Understanding Culture
This conversation starter will explore how foundation leaders have made organizational culture…
- Guide
Worksheet: Culture Tightrope
Your organization’s values are often balanced by an opposite value. One way…
- Guide
Creating Culture Together at the GHR Foundation
As they contemplated a period of significant growth in the foundation’s assets…
- Partner Resources
Culture Resource Guide: Acknowledgments
This list of people helped to make GEO's Culture Resource Guide possible.
- Guide
Worksheet: Our Culture Story
Get clarity around the specific behaviors, actions and outcomes you are currently…
- Guide
Organizational Culture: Articles and Readings
This list compiles articles, reports and other readings on each phase of…
- Partner Resources
Culture Resource Guide: Shift
Shifting culture doesn’t simply mean developing a fresh values statement or identifying…
- Guide
Using Key Moments to Shape Culture: The Helen Macpherson Smith Trust
With the retirement of their long-time CEO and a milestone distribution to…
- Guide
Culture Resource Guide: Assess
Once we have gained a good understanding of the culture of our…
- Guide
Worksheet: Culture Lily Pond Activity
Culture is the collective behaviors and underlying assumptions of an organization. How…
- Guide
Culture Resource Guide: Overview
After more than 15 years promoting grantmaker practices that support nonprofit results,…
- Guide
Culture Resource Guide: Understand
A productive internal culture aligned with a foundation’s mission and goals is…
- Guide
2018 National Conference Discussion Guide: Funding for Justice and Change
To achieve our vision for individuals and communities, grantmakers must work to…
- Event Materials
2018 National Conference Discussion Guide: The GEO Community at 20
Over the last 20 years, the GEO community has worked to transform…
- Event Materials
- Guide
2018 National Conference Discussion Guide: Automating Austerity
Virginia Eubanks, professor at the University at Albany, SUNY and author of…
- Event Materials
2018 National Conference Discussion Guide: Creating Space for Systems Change
Raj Jayadev of Silicon Valley De-Bug shared how De-Bug has been transforming…
- Event Materials
2018 National Conference Discussion Guide: Inclusive Grantmaking Requires Breaking Norms
Christina Canales Gorczynski highlighted the Simmons Foundation's work to address the power…
- Event Materials
2018 National Conference Discussion Guide: Stories as Catalysts for Widespread Change
American culture and narratives are rooted in a collective ambivalence about how…
- Event Materials
2018 National Conference Discussion Guide: The Implications of Implicit Bias
Focusing on equity necessitates reflection on ourselves and reckoning with the impact…
- Event Materials
- Guide
2018 National Conference Discussion Guide: Centering Philanthropic Change in Community
Organizations seeking to support authentic change on complex, multi-layered issues often find…
- Event Materials
- Guide
2018 National Conference Discussion Guide: Using Restorative Justice to Transform Racialized Harm in the U.S.
Fania Davis highlighted efforts bubbling up across the nation and shared strategies…
- Event Materials
General Operating Support: A Guide for Trustees
There is overwhelming evidence that general operating support grants can have significant…
- Publication
GEO's Resources on Learning and Evaluation
In your first year of GEO membership, to help you stay informed…
- Related Materials
Smarter Grantmaking in Action: John T. Vucurevich Foundation
Collaborations for Change is a strategy used by the John T. Vucurevich…
- Case Study
GEO's Resources on Culture and Change Management
In your first year of GEO membership, to help you stay informed…
- Guide
Leading Change Conference 2017 Discussion Guide: Home Team Meetups
Leading change requires us to be bold, yet transformation can be intense…
- Event Materials
- Guide
Leading Change Conference 2017 Discussion Guide: Finding the Power to Drive Transformational Change
Hear individual grantmakers in different organizational roles share inspiring stories of how…
- Guide
Leading Change Conference 2017 Discussion Guide: Grantmakers’ Role in Supporting Systems Change
For grantmakers who see themselves as champions of progress and change, the…
- Guide
Making Meaningful Change
GEO frequently hears that grantmakers, no matter their role, want to make…
- Publication
Smarter Grantmaking in Action: Social Venture Partners Arizona
Increasing nonprofit capacity to deliver positive social impact through multiyear, general operating…
- Case Study
Is Grantmaking Getting Smarter?
Through our research over the past 20 years, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations…
- Publication
Member Call: How Can We Be In This Together? Highlights and Resources
Highlights, Key Takeaways and Resources from the October 16, 2017, Member Call:…
- Event Materials
Smarter Grantmaking in Action: The Florida Bar Foundation
By confronting gaps between its mission and its way of doing business,…
- Case Study
Smarter Grantmaking in Action: GAR Foundation
How GAR Foundation is narrowing its focus to have a deeper impact…
- Case Study
Trustees as Partners in Learning and Evaluation
This piece is written to help foundation trustees navigate their own role…
- Publication
Smarter Grantmaking in Action: Vancouver Foundation
How Vancouver Foundation made progress by getting out of the way and…
- Case Study
The Learning Conference 2017 Discussion Guide: Culture in Action
Recognizing the need for adopting and maintaining a learning culture in our…
- Event Materials
- Guide
The Learning Conference 2017 Discussion Guide: Visualizing Data for Your Audience
Jon Schwabish’s Short Talk at GEO’s Learning Conference 2017 offered ways to…
- Event Materials
- Guide
The Learning Conference 2017 Discussion Guide: Listening to Communities for Transformational Change
At GEO’s Learning Conference 2017, Rami Nashashibi, the executive director of the…
- Event Materials
- Guide
The Learning Conference 2017 Discussion Guide: Disrupting a City's Culture Using Evidence-Based Optimism
As the managing director of Chicago Beyond, a philanthropic venture investing in…
- Event Materials
The Learning Conference 2017 Discussion Guide: Who Do You Think We Are?
At GEO’s Learning Conference 2017, Trabian Shorters of the BMe Community discussed…
- Event Materials
- Guide
The Learning Conference 2017 Discussion Guide: Escaping the Echo Chamber
Jessamyn Shams-Lau, the executive director of the Peery Foundation, gave a Short…
- Event Materials
- Guide
The Learning Conference 2017 Discussion Guide: Learning and Equity Plenary
Grantmakers committed to equity know that it must be incorporated into every…
- Event Materials
- Guide
Smarter Grantmaking in Action: Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City
How listening to the needs of its community inspired a foundation to…
- Case Study
Exploring Microcultures and Why They Matter
This is a publication about microcultures in philanthropy — small groups of…
- Publication
Smarter Grantmaking in Action: Native Arts and Cultures Foundation
How empowering community members through capacity building and collaboration strengthens engagement to…
- Case Study
Smarter Grantmaking in Action: GHR Foundation
How co-designing with grantees and partners from Day 1 can lead to…
- Case Study
GEOAsks: Janée Woods, William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund
In this GEOAsks, Janée Woods, Director of Organizational Culture at WCGMF, talks…
- Case Study
The Annie E. Casey Foundation Grantmaking with a Racial Equity Lens
Embracing Equity: 7 Steps to Advance and Embed Race Equity and Inclusion…
- Partner Resources
Year in Review 2016
In 2016, we prioritized finding new ways to build connections with each…
- Case Study
Change Incubator Story — What Are Some Whys and Hows of Grantee Inclusion?
We are interested in expanding beyond the idea of inclusion, which still…
- Case Study
How Can We Prepare for Collaboration?
In recent years there has been an increased call for more collaboration…
- Publication
Discussion Guide: Strengthening Nonprofit Capacity
Strengthening Nonprofit Capacity: A Discussion Guide for Starting Internal and External Conversations
- Guide
GEOASKS: Sarah Cotton Nelson and Ann Marie Warrick, Communities Foundation of Texas
In this GEOAsks, Communities Foundation of Texas shares how it shaped its…
- Case Study
Member Story: Social Venture Partners Seattle
Member Story: Social Venture Partners Seattle
- Case Study
Shaping Culture Through Key Moments
Every organization experiences moments when it has opportunities to tend its culture…
- Publication
What Does It Take to Learn Together Well?
When we learn with others, we are not simply conducting final program…
- Playbook
Collaboration Profile: Iowa West Foundation
Shifting from responsive grantmaking to strategic investments requires new skill sets, a…
- Case Study
Collaboration Profile: Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation takes an intentional approach to supporting…
- Case Study
Collaboration Profile: Kaiser Permanente
Capturing and documenting how and when to partner with others so staff…
- Partner Resources
Collaboration Profile: Woods Fund Chicago
Woods Fund Chicago, a member of the Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance, demonstrates…
- Partner Resources
Collaboration Profile: United Way of Washtenaw County
United Way of Washtenaw County believed nonprofits could achieve greater impact with…
- Case Study
Collaboration Profile: Sand Hill Foundation
Sand Hill Foundation’s adaptability helped sustain a long-term funder–nonprofit collaborative even as…
- Case Study
Collaboration Profile: The Philadelphia Foundation
Supporting nonprofit collaboration by building funder collaborations.
- Case Study
GEOASKS: Michael Roberts, First Nations Development Institute
Investing in grantee capacity effectively requires more than just writing a check…
- Case Study
Strengthening Nonprofit Capacity
By supporting organizations to strengthen their leadership and improve the ability of…
- Publication
Member Story: The Missouri Foundation for Health
Member Story: The Missouri Foundation for Health
- Case Study
GEOAsks: Tawanna Black, Northside Funders Group
In this GEOAsks, we interviewed Tawanna Black, Executive Director of the Northside…
- Case Study
Member Story: The Fannie E. Rippel Foundation
Member Story: The Fannie E. Rippel Foundation
- Case Study
Change Incubator Story — What Grantee Inclusion Means to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation feels it…
- Case Study
GEOAsks: Danielle Breslin, The Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation
In this GEOAsks, we interviewed Danielle Breslin, vice president of the Blue…
- Case Study
2016 National Conference Participant Roster
2016 National Conference Participant Roster
- Event Materials
Member Story: Dallas Women's Foundation
How Dallas Women’s Foundation’s commitment to empathy has shaped its approach to…
- Case Study
Member Story: United Way of Greenville County
Member Story: United Way of Greenville County
- Case Study
Systems Grantmaking Resource Guide
Philanthropy is ever on a quest to increase effectiveness. Over the last…
- Guide
Change Incubator Story — How I Lost My Job
My name is Brad Cameron, and I’m a program associate at the…
- Case Study
Member Story: Greater Houston Community Foundation
Member Story: Greater Houston Community Foundation
- Case Study
Building Collaboration From the Inside Out
Looking inward and ensuring that an organization has the right elements in…
- Publication
Collaboration Profile: Dallas Women's Foundation
Participating in the North Texas Asset Funders Network provided an opportunity for…
- Case Study
Discussion Starter: Our Culture
The discussion starter can be used to delve into questions that are…
- Publication
The Collaboration Conference 2015 Participant Roster
The Collaboration Conference 2015 Participant Roster
- Event Materials
The Source Codes of Foundation Culture
Philanthropy evolves slowly, despite (or maybe because of) very few external constraints…
- Publication
How Do We Determine the Right Role to Play in Collaboration?
Collaborations — groups of grantmakers, nonprofits and other stakeholders aligning around a…
- Publication
Collaboration Profile: Missouri Foundation for Health
Using facilitation skills and developmental evaluation tools to build a more collaborative…
- Case Study
Collaboration Profile: Greater Houston Community Foundation
Responding to donor interest in achieving greater impact through collaboration.
- Case Study
GEOAsks: Madeleine Frey, Health Care Georgia Foundation
In this issue of GEOAsks we talk to Madeleine Frey, director of…
- Case Study
How Can We Help Our Grantees Strengthen Their Capacity for Evaluation?
There is widespread and growing recognition in the nonprofit sector about the…
- Publication
What Does It Take to Spend Down Successfully?
Increasing numbers of grantmakers are opting for a spend-down strategy — meaning…
- Playbook
Where Can We Go to Dig Deeper on Stakeholder Engagement?
This document contains resources and websites that can assist grantmakers as we…
- Playbook
2015 Learning Conference Resources: Data Viz Checklist (Stephanie Evergreen)
2015 Learning Conference Resources: Data Viz Checklist (Stephanie Evergreen)
- Event Materials
2015 Learning Conference Rsources: Chart Chooser 2.0 (Stephanie Evergreen)
2015 Learning Conference Rsources: Chart Chooser 2.0 (Stephanie Evergreen)
- Event Materials
Learning Together Profile: Skillman Foundation
Learning Together Profile: Skillman Foundation
- Case Study
Learning Together Profile: Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Learning Together Profile: Grand Rapids Community Foundation
- Case Study
Learning Together Profile: Stuart Foundation
Learning Together Profile: Stuart Foundation
- Case Study
Learning Together Profile: Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Learning Together Profile: Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
- Case Study
Learning Together Profile: Deaconess Foundation
Learning Together Profile: Deaconess Foundation
- Case Study
Learning Together: Actionable Approaches for Grantmakers
Grantees and other stakeholders are critical partners in the achievement of grantmakers’…
- Partner Resources
Discussion Guide: Learning Together
Learning Together: A Discussion Guide for Funders and Partners
- Guide
Learning Together Profile: The Cleveland Foundation
Learning Together Profile: The Cleveland Foundation
- Case Study
Resource List: Learning Together
Learning Together: Actionable Approaches for Grantmakers
- Case Study
- Partner Resources
The Learning Conference 2015 Participant Roster
The Learning Conference 2015 Participant Roster
- Event Materials
Member Story: Pennsylvania Humanities Council
Member Story: Pennsylvania Humanities Council
- Case Study
Who is Having Success with Learning? Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations
Grantmaker redesigns their grant workflow to improve efficiency and effectiveness for program…
- Playbook
GEOAsks: Adam Simon, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation
In this GEOAsks interview, Adam Simon, director of leadership initiatives at the…
- Case Study
Leveraging Social Sector Leadership
What do social sector leaders need to help them succeed and, just…
- Publication
Member Story: Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation
Member Story: Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation
- Case Study
Discussion Guide: Stakeholder Engagement
To Engagement and Beyond: A discussion guide for grantmakers
- Guide
What Are Different Ways to Engage Stakeholders?
A host of specific practices and activities can help grantmakers bring the…
- Publication
What Financial Challenges Do Nonprofits Face?
Financial struggles are a reality for many nonprofits, even those with excellent…
- Publication
GEOAsks: Becky Pastner, St. David's Foundation
In this issue of IMPACT we hear from Becky Pastner, a program…
- Case Study
Member Story: The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
Member Story: The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
- Case Study
GEOAsks: Kathleen Holmes, Missouri Foundation for Health
In this issue, we talk to Kathleen Holmes, director of the Infant…
- Case Study
Is Grantmaking Getting Smarter?
Grantmakers recognize the value of supporting effective, well-led organizations - strong organizations…
- Publication
GEO Field Survey 2014: Major Trends in Grantmakers' Attitudes and Practices
GEO Field Survey 2014: Major Trends in Grantmakers' Attitudes and Practices
- White Paper
GEOAsks: Dr. Gail Christopher, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
In this GEOAsks interview, we talk to Dr. Gail Christopher, vice president…
- Case Study
GEOAsks: Elizabeth Christopherson, Rita Allen Foundation
In this issue of GEOAsks we talk to Elizabeth Christopherson, president and…
- Case Study
Member Story: Wells Fargo Regional Foundation
Member Story: Wells Fargo Regional Foundation
- Case Study
Remote Learning Fall 2014 Own Work Examples and Worksheet
Remote Learning Fall 2014 Own Work Examples and Worksheet
- Guide
Member Story: Southwest Florida Community Foundation
Member Story: Southwest Florida Community Foundation
- Case Study
GEOAsks: Anne Sherman, The Social Impact Exchange
n this issue of GEOAsks we talk to Anne Sherman, vice president…
- Case Study
Who Is Supporting Nonprofit Financial Sustainability? Pierce Family Foundation
Chicago foundation provides multiyear operating grants to core grantees, plus a range…
- Case Study
What Makes a Successful Learning Community?
Learning communities are powerful vehicles for both individuals and communities to amass…
- Publication
What do Nonprofits Need to Make Leadership Development a Priority?
A nonprofit organization’s resiliency and capacity to navigate change successfully depends largely…
- Playbook
What is Collective Leadership and How Can Grantmakers Support It?
With growing recognition of the complexity of the issues the nonprofit sector…
- Playbook
What Mindset is Needed to Support Collaboration?
Throughout history, social change has been possible only through the contributions and…
- Publication
What Are the Key Things We Need to Know About Organizational Assessments?
Many grantmakers use organizational assessments as a first step in capacity-building support…
- Playbook
Where Can We Go to Dig Deeper on Nonprofit Capacity Building?
This document contains resources and websites that can assist grantmakers in exploring,…
- Playbook
Where Can We Go to Dig Deeper on Leadership Development?
This document contains resources and websites that can assist grantmakers seeking more…
- Partner Resources
Where Can We Go to Dig Deeper on Nonprofit Financial Sustainability?
This document contains resources and websites that can assist grantmakers who are…
- Partner Resources
Where Can We Go to Dig Deeper on Collaboration?
This document contains resources and websites that can assist grantmakers in exploring…
- Partner Resources
How Will We Know If Our Capacity-Building Support is Working?
One of the biggest barriers to supporting capacity building is knowing how…
- Playbook
How Do We Select the Right Evaluation Approach for the Job?
The most difficult part of evaluation can be to know where to…
- Playbook
What is a Learning Organization?
Learning in philanthropy can happen in any number of ways — from…
- Playbook
Where Can We Go to Dig Deeper on Learning and Evaluation?
This document contains resources and websites that can assist grantmakers as we…
- Playbook
How Do We Know If Our Stakeholder Engagement is Working?
Effective stakeholder engagement starts and ends with respect — respect for the…
- Playbook
How Do We Know If a Grantee is a Good Candidate for General Operating Support?
The primary purpose of providing general operating support is to give grantees…
- Playbook
Evaluating Community Change: A Framework for Grantmakers
Philanthropy works to improve conditions in communities so that life is better…
- Publication
Evaluating Community Change: A Framework for Grantmakers (text version)
Philanthropy works to improve conditions in communities so that life is better…
- Publication
Member Story: The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation
Member Story: The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation
- Case Study
GEOAsks: Vini Bhansali, IDEX
In this issue of GEOAsks we talk to Rajasvini Bhansali, executive director…
- Case Study
How Can We Evaluate the Impact of Our General Operating Support Grants?
Grantmakers increasingly are turning to general operating support to ensure that nonprofits…
- Playbook
What Does Effective Due Diligence Look Like?
Due diligence is a process that helps grantmakers get to know grantseekers.…
- Publication
What is Empathy and What Are the Benefits?
Empathy is one of the main reasons individual and institutional philanthropy exist.…
- Publication
How Do We Build and Maintain Authentic Relationships?
While we may not be able to totally remove the inherent power…
- Publication
Which Stakeholders Should We Involve in Our Decisions and How?
Taking time early in the grantmaking process to map out the stakeholders…
- Publication
How Do We Know if Our Network is Effective?
Networks of nonprofits, funders and other partners have the potential to build…
- Publication
What Capacities do Nonprofits Need in Order to Collaborate?
Collective action is an effective way for nonprofits to increase their impact,…
- Publication
What is General Operating Support and Why is it Important?
How can grantmakers expect nonprofits to deliver on their missions when many…
- Playbook
Member Story: Blue Shield of California Foundation
Member Story: Blue Shield of California Foundation
- Case Study
Who is Successfully Building Nonprofit Capacity? Social Venture Partners Seattle
SVP Seattle engages volunteer and paid consultants to help “investees” make the…
- Playbook
Who is Successfully Building Nonprofit Capacity? Lumpkin Family Foundation
Illinois grantmaker embraces capacity building as a priority and supports a new…
- Case Study
Who is Engaging Stakeholders Well? Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation
Arkansas grantmaker supports nonprofit networks to promote field wide learning.
- Playbook
Who is Supporting Nonprofit Financial Sustainability? Venture Philanthropy Partners
Washington, D.C. grantmaker combines large, multiyear investments in youth-serving organizations with consulting…
- Playbook
Who is Successfully Building Nonprofit Capacity? Weingart Foundation
Southern California grantmaker makes the switch to core support for majority of…
- Playbook
Who is Having Success with Learning? Mile High United Way
Denver-area United Way embraces need to strengthen the capacity of organizations and…
- Playbook
- Publication
Who is Supporting Nonprofit Financial Sustainability? Hawaii Community Foundation
New unrestricted support program yields unexpected benefits for other grantmaking.
- Case Study
Who is Engaging Stakeholders Well? Orton Family Foundation
Vermont foundation adopts high-engagement approach to supporting cities and towns to design…
- Case Study
- Playbook
Who is Engaging Stakeholders Well? William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund
Local liaisons help Connecticut grantmaker stay connected to communities involved in statewide…
- Case Study
Who is Supporting Nonprofit Financial Sustainability? St. David's Foundation
Growing health foundation embraces multiyear funding and streamlined application and reporting in…
- Case Study
Who is Having Success with Learning? The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Grantmaker builds on longtime focus on evaluation by making organizational learning a…
- Case Study
Who is Engaging Stakeholders Well? The Gifford Foundation
Foundation embraces community engagement, mobilizes residents and grantees to help make mini-grant…
- Case Study
Who is Building Nonprofit Capacity? Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
Place-based funder invests in range of organizational effectiveness programs, including deep, cohort-based…
- Case Study
Who is Building Leadership Well? Frieda C. Fox Family Foundation
Foundation joins with other grantmakers to unite and support the next generation…
- Case Study
Who is Working Well Together? Marguerite Casey Foundation
Seattle-based grantmaker builds regional networks of organizations working to engage low-income families…
- Case Study
- Playbook
Who is Successfully Building Nonprofit Capacity? The Fieldstone Foundation
Grantmaker works with partners to strengthen leadership for the social sector in…
- Case Study
Who is Building Leadership Well? The Durfee Foundation
Los Angeles grantmaker supports local nonprofit leaders through sabbaticals, fellowships, mentorships and…
- Case Study
Who is Working Well Together? Bush Foundation
Foundation launches new initiative to support and encourage collaborative approaches to community…
- Case Study
Who is Working Well Together? Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation
Regional funder in the South adopts network-focused approach to grantmaking.
- Case Study
Who is Successfully Building Nonprofit Capacity? Community Foundation of South Jersey
Community foundation partners with other funders to bolster nonprofit board and leadership…
- Case Study
Who is Working Well Together? The Patterson Foundation
Who is Working Well Together? The Patterson Foundation
- Case Study
Who Is Supporting Nonprofit Financial Sustainability? Cricket Island Foundation
Small funder seeks to maximize impact by providing eight years of general…
- Case Study
Who is Having Success with Learning? Bruner Foundation
Family foundation advances the cause of evaluative thinking among nonprofits through support…
- Case Study
GEOAsks: Arti Freeman, Ontario Trillium Foundation
In this issue of GEOAsks, we hear from Arti Freeman of Ontario…
- Case Study
Member Story: Massachusetts Cultural Council
Member Story: Massachusetts Cultural Council
- Case Study
How Can Grantmakers Facilitate Connections and Collaboration?
The urgency and complexity of the problems nonprofits and grantmakers are trying…
- Playbook
Where Should We Start in Using Evaluation as a Tool for Learning?
Many grantmakers agree that an increased focus on evaluation and learning can…
- Publication
What is Stakeholder Engagement?
Many grantmakers are recognizing that in order to ensure better results, we…
- Publication
What Roles Can Grantmakers Play in Supporting Networks?
Grantmakers of all kinds care about tangible progress on tough problems, but…
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How Can We Embrace a Learning for Improvement Mindset?
A priority for grantmakers and our grantees is to create a space…
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Who Is Working Well Together? Jim Joseph Foundation
Grantmaker focused on education for Jewish young people embraces multiyear grants, funder…
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Who Is Supporting Nonprofit Financial Sustainability? Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
Ohio grantmaker using cigarette-tax funds to invest in arts and culture makes…
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Who Is Working Well Together? DentaQuest Foundation
Aiming to build a national movement, funder focused on oral health supports…
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Who Is Supporting Nonprofit Financial Sustainability?
Who Is Supporting Nonprofit Financial Sustainability?
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How Can We Target Our Leadership Development Support?
It can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the leadership capacity needs of…
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Nonprofit leaders have complex jobs. In order to excel in their roles…
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What is Nonprofit Capacity and Why Does it Matter?
Nonprofits need certain capacities in order to deliver results. These include things…
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Nonprofits need skilled leaders, strong systems and the flexibility to continuously improve…
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Who is Having Success with Learning? Global Fund for Children
Global NGO develops tools to track grantee progress and its own performance.
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Who is Having Success with Learning? The Colorado Health Foundation
Grantmaker refines evaluation model to enhance grantee and organizational accountability, while positioning…
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How Should We Approach Capacity-Building Work?
How Should We Approach Capacity-Building Work?
- Publication
How Can We Be More Supportive of Nonprofit Financial Sustainability?
Grantmakers can take a number of steps to ensure that the support…
- Publication
What Are the Different Ways to Collaborate?
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How Can Grantmakers Support Movements?
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2014 National Conference Participant Roster
2014 National Conference Participant Roster
- Event Materials
Smarter Philanthropy for Greater Impact: Rethinking How Grantmakers Support Scale
This special supplement was created to capture the latest thinking about how…
- Publication
Member Story: Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
Member Story: Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and…
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GEOAsks: Paul Shoemaker, SVP Seattle
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Member Story: The Patterson Foundation
Florida foundation with unfettered charter focuses on how best to support partnerships…
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What Are Three Principles for Supporting Nonprofit Capacity
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Stories of Impact from the Social Innovation Fund
Stories of Impact from the Social Innovation Fund
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SWW: Supporting Movements Conference Resource: Bridgespan handout
SWW: Supporting Movements Conference Resource: Bridgespan handout
- Partner Resources
SWW: Supporting Movements Conference Resource: Aspen Planning and Evaluation Program - Presentation
SWW: Supporting Movements Conference Resource: Aspen Planning and Evaluation Program - Presentation
- Partner Resources
SWW: Supporting Movements Conference Resource: Groupaya Funder Alignment PPT
SWW: Supporting Movements Conference Resource: Groupaya Funder Alignment PPT
- Partner Resources
SWW: Supporting Movements Conference Resource: Aspen Planning and Evaluation Program - Background
SWW: Supporting Movements Conference Resource: Aspen Planning and Evaluation Program - Background
- Partner Resources
The Promise and Pitfalls of Local and National Funder Collaborations
This guide presents the benefits and challenges of partnerships between local and…
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Many Hands, More Impact: Philanthropy's Role in Supporting Movements
GEO has prepared a publication that provides a framework for understanding the…
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Supporting Movements Conference Participant Roster
Supporting Movements Conference Participant Roster
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Investing for Impact: Building the Capacity and Infrastructure of High-Performing Nonprofits
Investing for Impact: Building the Capacity and Infrastructure of High-Performing Nonprofits
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Member Story: New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
Member Story: New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
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Member Story: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation
Member Story: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation
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Executive Summary: Working Better Together
Collective action is an effective way for nonprofits to increase their impact,…
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Discussion Guide: Working Better Together
Working Better Together: Building Nonprofit Collaborative Capacity
- Guide
Resource List: Working Better Together
Collective action is an effective way for nonprofits to increase their impact,…
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Working Better Together: Building Nonprofit Collaborative Capacity
Collective action is an effective way for nonprofits to increase their impact,…
- Publication
GEOAsks: Sidney Hargro, Community Foundation of South Jersey
In this issue of GEOASKs, we talk to Sidney Hargro, executive director…
- Case Study
GEOAsks: Berta Colon and Michele Lord, Public Interest Projects
In this issue of GEOASKS we talk to Berta Colón and Michele…
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Discussion Guide: Four Essentials for Evaluation
How We Learn and How We Can Learn Better: A discussion guide…
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Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - AIDS United
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - AIDS United
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Cracking the Network Code: Four Principles for Grantmakers
We know that we need a different mindset to tackle complex, systemic…
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Executive Summary: Cracking the Network Code
As grantmakers and nonprofits are looking for ways to collaborate more effectively,…
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The Learning Conference 2013: Michael Quinn Patton Slides Part 1
The Learning Conference 2013: Michael Quinn Patton Slides Part 1
- Event Materials
The Learning Conference 2013: Michael Quinn Patton Slides Part 3
The Learning Conference 2013: Michael Quinn Patton Slides Part 3
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The Learning Conference 2013: Michael Quinn Patton Slides Part 2
The Learning Conference 2013: Michael Quinn Patton Slides Part 2
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The Learning Conference 2013 Participant Roster
The Learning Conference 2013 Participant Roster
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Smarter Relationships, Better Results Webinar Series Part 1: The Right Relationship (slides)
Smarter Relationships, Better Results Webinar Series Part 1: The Right Relationship (slides)
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Member Story: Fairfield County Community Foundation
Member Story: Fairfield County Community Foundation
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Scaling What Works: SIF Impact Story, NCB Capital Impact
Scaling What Works: SIF Impact Story, NCB Capital Impact
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Smarter Relationships, Better Results: Making the most of grantmakers' work with intermediaries
Grantmakers often work with intermediaries to extend their reach and impact. This…
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Annotated Bibliography: Smarter Relationships, Better Results
Annotated Bibliography: Smarter Relationships, Better Results
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Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - REDF
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - REDF
- Case Study
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - U.S. Soccer Foundation
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - U.S. Soccer Foundation
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Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City and the NYC Center for Economic Opportunity
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Mayor's Fund to…
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Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - NCB Capital Impact
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - NCB Capital Impact
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Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Mile High United Way
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Mile High United…
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Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - The Edna McConnell…
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Scaling What Works: SIF Impact Story, AIDS United
Scaling What Works: SIF Impact Story, AIDS United
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Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Foundation for a…
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Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Missouri Foundation for Health
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Missouri Foundation for…
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Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - LISC
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - LISC
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Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Corporation for Supportive Housing
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Corporation for Supportive…
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Scaling What Works: SIF Impact Story - United Way of Greater Cincinnati
Scaling What Works: SIF Impact Story - United Way of Greater Cincinnati
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Scaling What Works: SIF Impact Story - U.S. Soccer Foundation
Scaling What Works: SIF Impact Story - U.S. Soccer Foundation
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Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - United Way of Greater Cincinnati
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - United Way of…
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Executive Summary: Pathways to Grow Impact
Whether you are strategically working to scale up some of your successful…
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Discussion Guide: Pathways to Grow Impact
Growing Your Impact: A Discussion Guide for Grantmakers
- Guide
Member Story: Allegany Franciscan Ministries
Member Story: Allegany Franciscan Ministries
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SWW: Supporting Movements Conference Resource: Proteus Fund presentation
SWW: Supporting Movements Conference Resource: Proteus Fund presentation
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Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Venture Philanthropy Partners
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Venture Philanthropy Partners
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Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - United Way for Southeastern Michigan
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - United Way for…
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Pathways to Grow Impact: Philanthropy's Role in the Journey
Pathways to Grow Impact is for any grantmaker who wants his or…
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GEOAsks: Susan Phillips, Omidyar Network
In this issue of GEO Asks, Susan Phillips, vice president of human…
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GEOAsks: Vic De Luca, Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation
In this issue of GEOAsks, we speak to Vic De Luca, president…
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Great Power, Great Responsibility: Grantmakers' Role as Conveners
Funders are finding ways to use the power of convening to benefit…
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Building Community Capacity for Participation in Evaluation: Why It Matters and What Works
This briefing shares five principles for engaging community stakeholders in evaluation planning,…
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Nov. 2012 Member Spotlight: George Kaiser Family Foundation
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Learn and Let Learn
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GEOAsks: Alice Shobe, Building Changes
In this issue’s GEO ASKS we talk to Alice Shobe, executive director…
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Scaling What Works: Grantmakers Engaged in the Social Innovation Fund (2010-2012) as Collaborating Funders
Scaling What Works: Grantmakers Engaged in the Social Innovation Fund (2010-2012) as…
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Strategic Co-Funding: An Approach for Expanded Impact
Co-published by GEO and REDF as an update to REDF's 2008 article…
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Member Story: Mary Morton Parsons Foundation
Member Story: Mary Morton Parsons Foundation
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Unrestricted Funding Member Story: Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
Unrestricted Funding Member Story: Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
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Member Story: Edna McConnell Clark Foundation
Member Story: Edna McConnell Clark Foundation
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GEOAsks: Rebekah Levin, McCormick Foundaiton
In this issue of GEO ASKS, GEO speaks with Rebekah Levin, evaluation…
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Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - New Profit Inc.
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - New Profit Inc.
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Four Essentials for Evaluation
Evaluation is about more than ensuring that grantees are doing what they…
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Executive Summary: Four Essentials for Evaluation
This is the Executive Summary of GEO's latest publication, Four Essentials for…
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GEOAsks: Darell Hammond, KaBoom
Darell Hammond is the founder and CEO of KaBOOM!, the national nonprofit…
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Collaborative Funding for Greater Impact: A Case Study of the Cincinnati Experience, Lessons Learned from the Social Innovation Fund
Collaborative Funding for Greater Impact: A Case Study of the Cincinnati Experience,…
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Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Jobs for the Future, Inc. and the National Fund for Workforce Solutions
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Jobs for the…
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GEOAsks: Andy Goodman, The Goodman Center
In this issue’s GEO ASKS we talk to author, speaker and public…
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Networks Conference Presentation/Handout: The Strategy Landscape
Networks Conference Presentation/Handout: The Strategy Landscape
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Networks Conference Presentation/Handout: Understanding and Activating Networks: The ReAmp Case Study and Evaluation
Networks Conference Presentation/Handout: Understanding and Activating Networks: The ReAmp Case Study and…
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Networks Conference Presentation/Handout: Helping Established Organizations Develop a Network Mindset
Networks Conference Presentation/Handout: Helping Established Organizations Develop a Network Mindset
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Networks Conference Presentation/Handout: Resource Sheet for Deep Dive into Social Network Mapping & Analysis Session
Networks Conference Presentation/Handout: Resource Sheet for Deep Dive into Social Network Mapping…
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Networks Conference Presentation/Handout: Deep Dive into Social Network Mapping and Analysis
Networks Conference Presentation/Handout: Deep Dive into Social Network Mapping and Analysis
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Networks Conference Presentation/Handout: Network Weaving
Networks Conference Presentation/Handout: Network Weaving
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GEOAsks: Christine Van Bergeijk of the Hawaii Community Foundation
In this issue, GEO ASKS Christine van Bergeijk, vice president of programs…
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Catalyzing Networks for Social Change: A Funder's Guide
Networks for social change can help with building new capacity for making…
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Discussion Guide: Catalyzing Networks for Social Change
Catalyzing Networks for Social Change: A discussion guide for grantmakers
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Executive Summary: Widespread Empathy
This is an executive summary of the publication, Widespread Empathy, from GEO…
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Widespread Empathy: 5 Steps to Achieving Greater Impact in Philanthropy
Through examples from the field, the publication provides concrete steps grantmakers can…
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St. Louis County Children's Service Fund
GEO 2011 August GEONews Member Spotlight: St. Louis County Children's Service Fund
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Member Story: The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
Member Story: The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
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Member Story: The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts
Member Story: The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts
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New York State Health Foundation
The New York State Health Foundation has begun to make more strategic…
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GEOAsks: Ken Saxon, Courage to Lead
In this spring’s issue, GEO ASKS Ken Saxon, board leader, facilitator and…
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Member Story: W. Clement and Jessie V. Stone Foundation
To have a greater reach and influence in their respective communities, both…
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Engaging Stakeholders for More Effective Grantmaking Tear Sheet
Engaging Stakeholders for More Effective Grantmaking Tear Sheet
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Using Evaluation to Become an Effective Learning Organization Tear Sheet
Using Evaluation to Become an Effective Learning Organization
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GEOAsks: Paul Grogan, The Boston Foundation
This month GEO ASKS Paul Grogan, president and CEO of the Boston…
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Member Story: William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund
Member Story: William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund
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Executive Summary: Due Diligence Done Well
The executive summary for Due Diligence Done Well.
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Due Diligence Done Well: A Guide for Grantmakers
Selecting the right grantee partners is one of the most important jobs…
Question Guide for Initial Review: Due Diligence Done Well
Question Guide for Initial Review: Due Diligence Done Well
- Guide
Materials for Review Guide: Due Diligence Done Well
Due Diligence Done Well: Possible Materials for Review
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Grantmaker Examples: Due Diligence Done Well
Grantmaker Examples: Due Dilligence Done Well
- Publication
Question Guide for Due Diligence Conversations: Due Diligence Done Well
Question Guide for Due Diligence Conversations: Due Diligence Done Well
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Indicators of Organizational Effectiveness Guide: Due Diligence Done Well
Indicators of Organizational Effectiveness Guide: Due Diligence Done Well
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Member Story: Lancaster County Community Foundation
Member Story: Lancaster County Community Foundation
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GEOAsks: Peter Laugharn, Firelight Foundation
This month GEO ASKS Peter Laugharn, executive director of the Firelight Foundation…
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Do Nothing About Me Without Me: An Action Guide for Engaging Stakeholders
There is a growing movement in philanthropy — a movement founded on…
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Executive Summary: Do Nothing About Me Without Me
This is an executive summary of the publication, Do Nothing About Me…
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GEOAsks: Lesley Grady, The Community for Greater Atlanta
This month GEO ASKS talks about stakeholder engagement with Lesley Grady, senior…
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How Grantmakers Can Help Address Key Financial Challenges Facing Nonprofits
Addressing Key Financial Challenges Facing Nonprofits: Five Strategies for Grantmakers
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Leadership Case Study: The Bank of America Charitable Foundation
Leadership Case Study: The Bank of America Charitable Foundation
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Coaching and Philanthropy: An Action Guide for Grantmakers
This guide was created as a resource for grantmakers as they explore…
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Executive Summary: Coaching and Philanthropy
Online toolkit Executive Summary Coaching and Philanthropy Action Guide for Grantmakers
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Evaluation in Philanthropy: Perspectives from the Field
This publication offers a brief overview of how grantmakers are looking at…
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Executive Summary: Evaluation in Philanthropy: Perspectives from the Field
Executive Summary: Evaluation in Philanthropy: Perspectives from the Field
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GEOAsks: Janine Mason, Fieldstone Foundation
In this month’s GEO ASKS, we talk about coaching with Janine Mason,…
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GEOAsks: Mark Keane, The Atlantic Philanthropies
In this month’s GEO ASKS, we talk about evaluation with Mark Keane,…
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Stories from the Field: Evaluation in Philanthropy
Evaluation in Philanthropy: Perspectives and Stories from the Field
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Jump Associates helps “courageous leaders create new businesses and reinvent existing ones…
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On The Money
This publication highlights the financial challenges nonprofits face and the ways in…
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Executive Summary: On The Money
Despite a wave of interest in recent years in what it takes…
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Discussion Guide: On The Money
On The Money: A Discussion Guide for Grantmakers and Their Grantees
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GEOAsks: Gayle Williams, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation
The Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation supports organizations and networks in the southeastern…
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Excerpt: Knowledge Gaps
An excerpt from GEO’s upcoming publication, On the Money: The Key Financial…
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This month's GEOAsks focuses on one instrument The F.B. Heron Foundation uses…
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GEOAsks: Simon Greer, Seasons Fund for Social Transformation
This month’s GEO ASKS focuses on the Season’s Fund for Social Transformation,…
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This month’s GEO ASKS focuses on The Skillman Foundation’s Good Neighborhoods program.
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GEOAsks: Kevin L. Jenkins, Neighbor-Aid Fund
In this GEO ASKS, we pose questions to the Neighbor-AID Fund, an…
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GEO's 2008 Annual Report covers ten years of smarter grantmaking, stronger nonprofits…
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Smarter Grantmaking in Challenging Economic Times
A collection of resources and examples of GEO members showing steady leadership…
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Executive Summary: Assessing the Impact
A presentation of two approaches in assessing the impact of general operating…
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Executive Summary: Investing in Leadership Vol. 2
This volume is intended for donors, staff members and leaders of grantmaking…
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Executive Summary: Imagine Involve Implement
Real change is happening in philanthropy as pioneering grantmakers find new ways…
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Executive Summary: Investing in Leadership Vol. 1
Given the vast literature on leadership development and the challenges of translating…
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Executive Summary: Supporting Next-Generation Leadership
Finding tomorrow's nonprofit leaders requires more than beating the bushes for fresh…
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Executive Summary: General Operating Support
A study about general operating support grantmaking. The findings challenge the conventional…
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Supporting Next-Generation Leadership: Action Guide
Finding tomorrow?s nonprofit leaders requires more than beating the bushes for fresh…
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Assessing the Impact: General Operating Support Volume 2
Many grantmakers agree that general operating support can boost effectiveness and impact…
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Mapping a Strategy: Three Approaches to General Operating Support
General operating support insights, lessons and ongoing explorations from The Philadelphia Foundation,…
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What is Coaching and What are the Benefits?
Coaching is a process that supports individuals to make more conscious decisions…
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Discussion Guide: Investing in Leadership Vol.2
Discussion Guide: Investing in Leadership Vol.2
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Imagine Involve Implement: Action Guide
Real change is happening in philanthropy as pioneering grantmakers find new ways…
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The Departing: Exiting Nonprofit Leaders as a Resource for Social Change
The study presents a variety of approaches to leveraging departing executive directors…
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What is general operating support? How are grantmakers providing it? GEO's answer…
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Learning for Results
This publication explores what it means to be a "learning organization;" how…
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Listen, Learn, Lead: Grantmaker Practices that Support Nonprofit Results
GEO's Change Agent Project seeks to inspire change in grantmakers so they…
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Executive Summary: Listen, Learn, Lead
GEO's Change Agent Project seeks to inspire change in grantmakers so they…
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Investing in Leadership (Vol. 2): Inspiration and Ideas from Philanthropy's Latest Frontier
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Investing in Leadership (Vol. 1): A Grantmaker's Framework for Understanding Nonprofit Leadership Development
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Assessing Startup Organizations: A due diligence supplement for grantmakers
Assessing Startup Organizations: A due diligence supplement for grantmakers
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Capacity Building for Impact: The Future of Effectiveness for Nonprofits
Capacity Building for Impact: The Future of Effectiveness for Nonprofits
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GEO’s strategic direction mobilizes our community of members around an explicit commitment to racial equity. Our goal is to support members in operationalizing racial equity in their grantmaking to more effectively serve nonprofits and communities.
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Equity in Event Planning: Lessons Learned in Creating an Access-Centered Virtual Environment
Allison Punch-Turner and Cassie Maxwell reflect on lessons they learned in creating…
- Perspectives Piece
Is Philanthropy Ready? End of Year Reflections from GEO President & CEO, Marcus Walton
GEO President & CEO Marcus Walton reflects on the past year and…
- Perspectives Piece
Philanthropy’s Next Stage Imperative: Meaningfully Moving Foundation Assets for the Common Good
Henry A. J. Ramos explores how grantmakers can meet the moment of…
- Perspectives Piece
New GEO Publication Examines Culture, Systems and Power in Capacity Building Practices
Strengthening nonprofit organizations is not just a nice-to-have but an essential part…
- Perspectives Piece
Five Principles to Advance Equity and Justice in Philanthropic Strategy
Anand Dholakia explores five principles that help grantmakers ensure their strategies and…
- Perspectives Piece
Seeing Philanthropy in a New Light
How might philanthropy change over the next ten years? The new Monitor…
- Perspectives Piece
In Search of the Unattainable – Why Setting Impossible Goals Isn’t Always a Bad Thing for Philanthropy
Strategies set out what we’ll achieve and how; if we’re not realistic,…
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Giving While Learning: How Regrantors Enable Every Funder to Advance Racial Equity…Starting Now
In response to the converging social and public health pandemics last year,…
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Humility, Listening and Connectedness: Building Partner Relationships that Drive Equitable Practice
Maria Azuri unpacks how humility, listening and connectedness are central to building…
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Community-Centered Leadership: Values, Boundaries and Rituals
GEO program manager, Jaser Alsharhan, explains how principles of community-centered leadership can…
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Transforming Funder and Evaluator Relationships for a More Equitable and Effective Field: A Field Conversation
This summer, the Funder and Evaluator Network (FEAN) partnered with GEO to…
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Request for Proposals: Website Design and Development with Content and Customer Relationship Management System Integration
GEO is planning a major website redesign with content and customer relationship…
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Changing the Face of Philanthropy
Denise Herrera, in her former role as Senior Capacity Building Officer at…
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Addition by Subtraction: Part Two
In part two of his blog, Neel Hajra shares examples of how…
- Perspectives Piece
Addition by Subtraction: Part One
In part one of his blog, Neel Hajra reflects on adding through…
- Perspectives Piece
Great News for the GEO Community
GEO is thrilled to share we has been selected as one of…
- News Alert
Reflections on GEO’s 2021 Learning Conference
Nadege Souvenir reflects on GEO's 2021 Learning Conference, asking if philanthropy is…
- Perspectives Piece
Shifting Power through Co-Creation: Reflections from Empowerment Economics to Spark Dialogue
Jessica Santos, PhD reflects on the importance of shifting power in our…
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Shifting Evaluation and Learning to Center Equity in Philanthropic Practice
Kara Carlisle and Anita Patel, co-chairs of GEO's 2021 Learning Conference, write…
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Reinventing The Wheel No More: Actions every philanthropic professional can take to increase the impact of evaluation and learning
The Funder Evaluator Affinity Network (FEAN) shares actions grantmakers can take to…
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Investing in Resilience: Continuous Quality Improvement for Adaptation in Uncertainty
When grantmakers invest in service quality and continuous improvement practices, it builds…
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Toward More Useful Evaluations: Strategies and Examples from the Kansas Health Foundation
Nadine Long and LaShawn Glasgow unpack strategies from the Kansas Health Foundation…
- Perspectives Piece
Staff Reflections: Growing a Movement for Trans Liberation
Nicole Fernandes of Funders for LGBTQ Issues shares three takeaways on how…
- Perspectives Piece
GEO Sabbatical: Two Months of Open Space
On the blog, Kyle Rinne-Meyers reflects on his sabbatical experience and how…
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Don’t Be A Stranger: Tips for Philanthropy on Distancing vs. Building Solidarity
Isabel Sousa-Rodriguez of the Edward W. Hazen Foundation shares important insights into…
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Two Steps Forward
Suprotik Stotz-Ghosh reflects on how grantmakers can generate meaningful results in response…
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Making the Case for the Equitable Evaluation Framework™
Funders Together, GEO, PEAK, and SCG are excited to co-host and launch…
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Challenges and Strategies for Building Community-Driven Philanthropy
Jaser Alsharhan unpacks the challenges and strategies for building community-drive philanthropy from…
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The Imperative of Foundation Board Diversity
Phil Buchanan, president of the Center for Effective Philanthropy, unpacks the imperative…
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GEO Statement on the Violence at the U.S. Capitol: Threats to Democracy Demand an Emphatic Philanthropic Response
This week, American democracy came under siege in full public view leaving…
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Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellowship: Transformative Leadership in Service of Thriving Communities
Having real conversations about where we want philanthropy to go is crucial…
- Perspectives Piece
What Next? Gearing Up for the Long Fight for an Inclusive, Equitable Democracy
2020 underscores what many of us in the social change field have…
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Unmuted: What Works (and Doesn’t) When Working Together Online
Andy Goodman unpacks the challenges of working remotely, asking what works, what…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: Learning from Two Decades of Grantee Relationships
Decision-makers such as elected officials and institutional funders have historically ignored and…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: How to Discuss Merger Exploration with Grantees
In the COVID-19 world, funders may increasingly find themselves in discussions with…
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Cross-post: Rethinking Outcomes in a Crisis Context
In this critical time, and with a sense of urgency, many philanthropic…
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Philanthropy’s Racial Funding Gap is an Urgent Crisis
The demand for racial justice erupting across a nation ravaged by a…
- Perspectives Piece
New Survey: How Online Work is Impacting Us All
Andy Goodman, director and co-founder of the Goodman Center, is launching a…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: We Need to End Structural Racism and Inequities. How can Data and Evidence Help?
In this cross-post, Project Evident discusses how data and evidence can help…
- Perspectives Piece
Hope is Not a Strategy for Change
Hear from GEO CEO, Marcus Walton, as he reflects on how hope…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: To turn a corner, trust social entrepreneurs
In this cross-post Ashoka argues the case for funding social entrepreneur-led organizations…
- Perspectives Piece
Four Upstream Questions to Support Next Steps
For the last two months, grantmaking organizations have focused on triage as…
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Scaffolding and Support: How Senior Leaders Are Setting the Stage for Change
Like many other grantmakers, the CLIPF community mobilized quickly to support grantees…
- Perspectives Piece
The Obstacle is the Path
Hear from GEO CEO, Marcus Walton, as he reflects on the impact…
- Perspectives Piece
Adapting Capacity Building During COVID-19
GEO’s Capacity Building Champions, a community of GEO members who are passionate…
- Perspectives Piece
Smarter Grantmaking Practices During—and Beyond—COVID-19
As a community of grantmakers advocating for philanthropy to put nonprofits and…
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Joint Statement Calling for Increased Giving In This Time of Crisis
Unprecedented times call for unprecedented actions. The challenges that we are collectively…
- Perspectives Piece
A New Role for Funders in Field Building Toward Social Change: Moving from Driving the Car to Filling the Tank
The Bridgespan Group shares key findings from their new report that examines…
- Perspectives Piece
Trust-Based Philanthropy is Trending. What Will It Take to Sustain It?
Last week, over 200 foundations signed a pledge calling upon philanthropy to…
- Perspectives Piece
A Note from GEO CEO, Marcus Walton, on COVID-19
The global COVID-19 outbreak being felt here and across the world is…
- Perspectives Piece
See the Forest and the Trees: 11 Trends in Philanthropy for 2020
In this post from the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, Tory…
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Learning What Works: Practitioners Leading with Equity
Charles E. Carter of Project Evident shared reflections from his experience at…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: An eye towards the future: Trust-based funding
In this cross-post from the inaugural fellow at The Patterson Foundation, Hannah…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: Evaluation in the Hot Seat: Taking on Current Criticisms
At the GEO Learning Conference this year a group of 5 evaluators…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: How Grantmakers Can Better See What's Coming
In this post, which originally appeared in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Bess…
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Making Organizational Culture More Intentional to Drive Community Change
As more grantmakers are considering how they can advance change through their…
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Racial Equity and the Role of Foundations
The Consumer Health Foundation has long embedded racial equity in its programs,…
- Perspectives Piece
Five Foundations Advance Ways to End the Starvation Cycle
Five major foundations, all GEO members, have agreed to do more to…
- Perspectives Piece
Revolutionary Love — Our Secret Sauce
What if the philanthropic sector placed as much value on love and…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: Reflections on Un-Learning
The Associations Advancing Equitable Evaluation Practices (AAEEP) came together earlier this year…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: Two Years into Our Journey - Lessons in listening and humility
What started out two years ago as a simple “strategic plan refresh”…
- Perspectives Piece
My Journey to GEO
Throughout my career, I have committed myself to service. First, as a…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: How Do We Measure Success?
This is a cross-post of an article written by Scott Heimlich of…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: Are Search Firms Doing Their Best to Practice Racially-Equitable Nonprofit Searches?
This post originally appeared on Fund the People's website and discusses white…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: Candid Announces Inaugural #OpenForGood Award Winners
As part of the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations Learning Conference 2019, Candid…
- Perspectives Piece
Lessons Learned from a Multilevel Capacity-Building Approach to Center Race in Health Equity Advocacy in Colorado
The Colorado Trust recently released a learning paper on their cohort model…
- Perspectives Piece
Relationships Are Our Work: 3 Culture Building Practices to Engage Employees
To retain employees long-term, we need to create cultures where people feel…
- Perspectives Piece
Transition as an Opportunity for Transformational Change
Interim CEO J McCray shares an update on GEO's leadership transition and…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: The Audacity of Building Capacity
Healthcare Georgia Foundation supports and funds capacity building. Learn more about how…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: Engaging Boards and Trustees in Strategic Learning
"Engaging Boards and Trustees in Strategic Learning," a toolkit from FSG and…
- Perspectives Piece
Lessons from a Foundation’s Culture-Change Journey
Helios Foundation for Education shares their lessons learned from a cultural change…
- Perspectives Piece
A Farewell from Outgoing CEO Kathleen Enright
After 17 years with GEO, President and CEO Kathleen Enright is transitioning…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: Crafting Capacity-Building Support that Counts
When grantmakers consider providing capacity-building support for the first time or refining…
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Findings from GEO’s Language Survey
In 2018 and 2019, GEO is developing a publication, workshop and conference…
- Perspectives Piece
Perspective Matters
After three years of working to expand the bench of evaluators, the…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: Are Nonprofits Getting the Support They Really Need?
The Center for Effective Philanthropy conducted a study to discover what support…
- Perspectives Piece
Get on the Balcony
In September 2018, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations released "Get on the Balcony:…
- Perspectives Piece
Complex Problems Require Collaborative Solutions
After 17 successful years of inspiring and nurturing people with innovative, grassroots…
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Introducing The Sprout Fund Field Guide for Philanthropy & Civic Action
After 17 successful years of inspiring and nurturing people with innovative, grassroots…
- Perspectives Piece
Centering Our Website on Relationships, Accessibility and Transparency
The Maddox Charitable Fund's original website bespoke a transactional as opposed to…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: The Case for General Operating Support
The Claniel Foundation has shifted to providing 100 percent of its grants…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: Finding—and Using—the Right Tool for the Job
Organizational assessment tools can be used to gauge an organization’s strategic focus,…
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Strengthening Relationships Language Poll
Help GEO decide on language to use when we talk about increasing…
- Perspectives Piece
Returning Learning to the System
The more frequently members of a system communicate with each other about…
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Philanthropy's Debt to our Country's Biggest Region
The southeastern U.S. is heavy with history and layered with nuanced culture…
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Listening to Beneficiary Needs and Respecting Grantees
Philanthropy and the nonprofit sector have seen several evolutionary changes over the…
- Perspectives Piece
Strengthening the Field of Philanthropic Evaluation: A Call to Action
One year ago, Engage R+D and Equal Measure launched an exploratory dialogue…
- Perspectives Piece
To Move Forward, Look Back
The longstanding saying tells us to stop and smell the roses. But…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: Advancing Equity by Undoing Nonprofit Power Dynamics
If we want our sector to be more effective in addressing the…
- Perspectives Piece
Reflections from the 2018 National Conference
We were so excited to welcome so many thought leaders to GEO’s…
- Perspectives Piece
Systems Change and Equity Go Hand-in-Hand
Complex, systemic challenges require sophisticated, long-term strategies to address them. The same…
- Perspectives Piece
Leaning Into Discomfort: A Reflection on GEO's 2018 National Conference
In this post-2018 National Conference reflection, Ellen Solowey, program officer at Virginia…
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Is This 21st Century Philanthropy's Defining Moment?
This year, GEO welcomed back Nell Edgington, president of Social Velocity, to…
- Perspectives Piece
Social Velocity's 2018 National Conference Recap: Day 3
Welcome to the recap of Day 3 of GEO's 2018 National Conference!…
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Social Velocity's 2018 National Conference Recap: Day 2
Welcome to the recap of Day 2 of GEO's 2018 National Conference!…
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Social Velocity's 2018 National Conference Recap: Day 1
Welcome to the recap of Day 1 of GEO's 2018 National Conference!…
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Reflecting on 20 Years of Progress at GEO's 2018 National Conference
At the beginning of the year, we kicked off our first post…
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Reflections on GEO's 2018 National Conference: Matthew Henkes
As GEO's national conference approaches, our members share their hopes for our…
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Philanthropy in Troubled Times - Blogging at the 2018 GEO Conference
This year, GEO welcomes back Nell Edgington, president of Social Velocity, to…
- Perspectives Piece
Dancing with Philathro-friends: Reflections on GEO's 2018 National Conference by Amarilis Pullen
As GEO’s national conference approaches, our members share their hopes for our…
- Perspectives Piece
What Would It Take to Align Foundation Mission and Evaluation Practice?
Equitable evaluation has created a critical space for reflective practice. As evaluators…
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Knowledge Sharing to Strengthen Grantmaking
When foundations share knowledge generated through evaluation, strategy development and thought leadership,…
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A New Guide from Philanthropy's Reflective Practices
Philanthropy's Reflective Practices released a guide exploring four reflective practices. Read more…
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Reframing our Purpose to Be More Transformative for People and Families
As Root Cause began to question its purpose, it was critical that…
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Revised Reporting: Are We Fooling Ourselves?
While there is a nearly universal belief that grant reports are necessary,…
- Perspectives Piece
Rapid Response Grantmaking: Responding to Concerns About Community Wellbeing
Post-presidential election, the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund noticed the increasing amount…
- Perspectives Piece
Improving Maternal and Infant Health Through Collaboration and Engagement
bi3 provided $3.2 million to launch StartStrong, a maternal and infant health…
- Perspectives Piece
Rapid Response Grantmaking: Standing with Immigrant and Refugee Neighbors
Solidarity MN is a coalition of Minnesota foundations inspired to act by…
- Perspectives Piece
Looking Forward and Looking Back: 20 Years of Community
This year, the GEO community celebrates 20 years of making meaningful progress…
- Perspectives Piece
Rapid Response Grantmaking: From Day 1 to 100, We Made it 100 Days of US
The Sprout Fund designs grassroots grantmaking programs that tap the ingenuity of…
- Perspectives Piece
Thank You for Influencing Our Future Direction
Thank you for engaging with us throughout 2017 and sharing your wisdom…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: 5 Concrete Steps Foundations Can Take to Advance Racial Equity
In December 2017, Lori Bartczak and Starsky Wilson co-authored an op ed…
- Perspectives Piece
The Story of the Blue Line Coalition
Beginning in 2012, Nexus and the Phillips Foundation partnered to fund and…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: What Does it Take to Build Strong Relationships?
On November 21, 2017, the Center for Effective Philanthropy posted this blog…
- Perspectives Piece
Look at Social Impact Projects for What They Are: Investment
When funding social impact projects, grantmakers have historically not provided contingency funds…
- Perspectives Piece
Increase Your Impact: Invest in Nonprofit Staff
In September, Fund the People announced the release of Fund the People…
- Perspectives Piece
Cross-post: The Search
After the 2017 Unity Summit, AAPIP (Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy) invited…
- Perspectives Piece
We Are In This Together: A Letter to Philanthropy
Hear directly from 9 nonprofit leaders what you can be doing to…
- Perspectives Piece
Using Intermediaries for Social Change
On September 11, GEO hosted a member call to discuss the role…
- Perspectives Piece
A Statement of Values to Guide Philanthropic Collaboration
For the past two years, a number of the leading organizations supporting…
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Capacity building, now more than ever
At this moment, many nonprofits are facing greater fiscal uncertainty than ever…
- Perspectives Piece
Investing in Collaborative Systems Change in Turbulent Times
Philanthropic funders have a unique role to play when leading in complexity…
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From unrest to collaboration
The biggest win for us in going through these dialogues in and…
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What we know for sure
Often unprecedented circumstances seem to necessitate bigger or radically different strategies. But…
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Effective Engagement Starts and Ends with Respect
Even when we don’t mean to — and even when it runs…
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Change Incubator Lessons Learned
Here are five key lessons learned from our pilot Change Incubator program,…
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How can I bring a DEI lens to my organization?
The Race Matters Toolkit provides a comprehensive look at how race and…
- Perspectives Piece
Focus and Hope
Now is the opportunity for foundations to gain a clarity that has…
- Perspectives Piece
Grantmaking with a racial equity lens
A racial equity lens focuses on how race and ethnicity impact experiences…
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Recognize privilege and confront it to do philanthropy well
We all have blind spots. Our blind spots may cause us to…
- Perspectives Piece
What is diversity, equity and inclusion?
The D5 coalition has created a series of tools to help grantmakers…
- Perspectives Piece
Protecting Progress in the Trump Era
What will the Trump Administration mean for the nonprofit organizations who serve…
- Perspectives Piece
Privilege is a blind spot that we need to recognize and confront to do philanthropy well
We all have blind spots. They impair our judgment in meaningful ways.…
- Perspectives Piece
Putting Grantees at the Center of Philanthropy
This series, produced in partnership with Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, tells the…
- Perspectives Piece
A Watershed Moment for Philanthropy Infrastructure
For far too long, the relationships between infrastructure organizations have been fraught…
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Funders and nonprofit leaders need to get on the same side of the table…and share a beverage
Many trustees, program officers and nonprofit leaders are pretty terrible at having…
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Embracing Discomfort
We need to face the structural and systemic causes of racial disparity…
- Perspectives Piece
Community thoughts from the 2016 National Conference
A number of 2016 National Conference participants have shared their thoughts about…
- Perspectives Piece
Placing big bets with the Change Incubator
When GEO launched the Change Incubator last year, we were making three…
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A Positive Culture Only Happens With Intentionality
We know that as a field, we need to do more to…
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The CIA Made Me Do It
I recently ran across a historical document that surprisingly holds many parallels…
- Perspectives Piece
Change Incubator — What are we learning so far?
Teams from four pioneering GEO member organizations joined us in the first…
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The First Step: Understanding the Origins of Culture
More and more people in philanthropy are realizing just how critical attending…
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A Compelling Case to Make Advocacy a Part of Board Culture
Neither we nor the organizations we support can afford to leave any…
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