Perspectives

  • Perspective

    We Are In This Together: A Letter to Philanthropy

    Hear directly from 9 nonprofit leaders what you can be doing to support your grantees in the most meaningful ways.
    • October 4, 2017
  • Perspective

    Using Intermediaries for Social Change

    On September 11, GEO hosted a member call to discuss the role of intermediaries. While traditionally intermediaries have filled the gap between the concentration of resources within philanthropy and the needs or gaps of the nonprofit sector, how can intermediaries further leverage their strength to become more effective?
    • September 27, 2017
  • Perspective

    A Statement of Values to Guide Philanthropic Collaboration

    For the past two years, a number of the leading organizations supporting and facilitating nonprofit and philanthropic collaborations have been coming together to share our experiences and perspectives.
    • September 6, 2017
  • Perspective

    Capacity building, now more than ever

    At this moment, many nonprofits are facing greater fiscal uncertainty than ever before. Government funding is precarious, with budgets and priorities changing daily. However, nonprofits that have focused on capacity are faring better than most. With reserves, general operating funds, and partners with whom to collaborate, these organizations are better able to weather instability, continue providing essential services to their communities, and plan for the future.
    • August 15, 2017
  • Perspective

    Investing in Collaborative Systems Change in Turbulent Times

    Philanthropic funders have a unique role to play when leading in complexity and uncertainty. The role of funders – and others in a community working together to tackle intractable problems during turbulent times – were top of mind for attendees at the 2017 Collective Impact Convening in Boston at the end of May.
    • August 8, 2017
  • Perspective

    From unrest to collaboration

    The biggest win for us in going through these dialogues in and outside of Baltimore was that it allowed us to develop important values on how we wanted to partner with the West Baltimore community.
    • August 1, 2017
  • Perspective

    What we know for sure

    Often unprecedented circumstances seem to necessitate bigger or radically different strategies. But what I know for sure is that these keys to effective grantmaking — grantmaking that produces strong nonprofit results — endure in part because they are our strongest way forward.
    • July 26, 2017
  • Perspective

    Effective Engagement Starts and Ends with Respect

    Even when we don’t mean to — and even when it runs counter to who we want to be — we can fall into ineffective patterns of operating that exclude, rather than engage, key stakeholders.
    • May 19, 2017
  • Perspective

    Change Incubator Lessons Learned

    Here are five key lessons learned from our pilot Change Incubator program, along with examples from our participating foundations.
    • April 5, 2017
  • Perspective

    How can I bring a DEI lens to my organization?

    The Race Matters Toolkit provides a comprehensive look at how race and equity directly impact foundation officials and program staff, community members and policymakers and advocates.
    • April 5, 2017