Organizational change.

What We Care About

Organizational Change

Knowing what works and taking steps to change your work for the better is easier said than done. But real change is possible when our organizations foster innovative and supportive environments where smarter grantmaking practices can thrive.

61%

grantmakers are going through some type of change or transformation over the next two years.

These are places where everyone — from the board and CEO to staff at every level — feel empowered to play a role in the process. And change is most possible when we bring nonprofits and community partners in to help shape our work. Organizations committed to creating lasting change find ways to prepare everyone to advocate for and adopt changes to practice.

As we fully and intentionally commit ourselves to change in pursuit of smarter grantmaking, we can push philanthropy forward to give nonprofits what they need to grow stronger and achieve more. . If more of us adopt smarter grantmaking practices successfully, we will see faster progress on the complex challenges facing our communities.

The complex issues we are all trying to tackle require us to look holistically at all the interconnections, the assumptions that are driving our decisions and strategies, and how we as foundations are either helping solve or actually exacerbating the problems.

Jennifer Martin, founder and principal, Community Change Group

Helpful Tools and Resources

Stay informed of the emerging trends and promising practices from the field of philanthropy through GEO’s publications and research.

  • Publication

    A Change Management & Deep Equity Primer: The What, Why, How & Nuance

    This publication from Movement Tapestries offers insights and guidance for organizations navigating equity-embedded transformations, and the challenges that can come with embarking on such journeys.

    • Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
    • January 2023
  • Perspective

    Together, We Can Co-Create a Meaningful Set of Possibilities for 2023

    GEO's CEO and President Marcus Walton contemplates a meaningful set of possibilities for a new year, while considering the progress we have made together over the previous 24 years.

    • Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
    • November 2022
  • Perspective

    Change Leaders in Philanthropy: A Conversation with Marisa Magallenez of Albuquerque Community Foundation

    GEO’s Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellowship (CLIPF) launched in 2016 to offer an intensive, peer coaching-focused learning experience for senior leaders in philanthropy. This blog series features the perspectives and stories of several CLIPF fellows.

    • Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
    • May 2022
  • GEOList Members Only

    GEOList Summary: Monitoring and evaluation consultants for community impact strategy

    Good morning, CFU has undertaken a process to develop a community impact strategy for our endowment, issue-based funds, and initiatives. We'd appreciate recommendations for any monitoring and evaluation consultants that this group has been especially impressed with. It would be a bonus if there were any experiences with ESG metrics. Many thanks in advance!

    • Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
    • April 2022
  • GEOList Members Only

    GEOList Summary: Primary grantmaking committee questions

    Hello Everyone, We would love to gain deeper insight from this community about grantmaking committees. Here are our questions: • What is the structure of your evaluating body – do you have one core committee or multiple committees (fund, sector, or program dependent, for example)? • What steps has your organization taken to diversify committees and to incorporate participatory grantmaking? How are community members considered for your committee (application process, word-of-mouth, staff-driven, etc)? • Is your organization utilizing content experts for proposal evaluations? If so, are they part of your core decision making body or used as advisors? • Would anyone be willing to share sample committee materials, such as training documents? • Finally, how do you show appreciation to your committee in cases where they are participating on a volunteer basis?

    • Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
    • April 2022

Upcoming Events

  • Conferences

    2024 National Conference

    Save the Date for GEO's 2024 National Conference held in partnership with Southern California Grantmakers from June 3 - 5, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

    • June 2024

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