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| From the SDG Guiding Principles Purpose:
"The principles both reinforce legal requirements and reflect our aspirations toward higher ethical standards of good governance, effectiveness and the assurance of the use of public and private money for the public good." |
October 2008 | |
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Bringing Guiding Principles to Life
Ways To Use this E-Newsletter:
- Quickly scan the list of suggestions below to see if there are some practices your organization might want to consider.
- Use each Guiding Principles newsletter, or the entire list of SDG Guiding Principles (pdf), to guide a board or staff meeting about your internal practices.
We are working throughout this year to bring our newly-adopted set of Guiding Principles to life, so that they are not just words on a page but rather guidelines for action. Our objective is to provide you with a relevant and powerful framework to help you conduct your philanthropy according to the highest standards of effectiveness and accountability. One means by which we will do this is to focus on each principle in a monthly newsletter. This month, we continue with principle #6: Respect.
Click here (pdf) for the entire set of Guiding Principles. You can also click here to see the other Regional Associations of Grantmakers that have adopted Guiding Principles.
Several SDG members have let us know that they are bringing the Guiding Principles to their boards and engaging in conversation about how they apply to their organizations. Some members are considering formally adopting the principles themselves as a sign of commitment. Let us know if you are considering doing so, or if we can provide any additional resources to you as you discuss the principles. |
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SDG Guiding Principle #6: Respect
We deal respectfully and act with honesty, integrity and openness with applicants, grantees, the government and the general public, and build constructive relationships based on mutual respect, candor, confidentiality and understanding.
Philanthropy is a relational enterprise. A major contributing factor to grantee success is the quality of their relationships with funders. For funders to be effective in their roles, they must place primacy on listening to and creating open, respectful and honest relationships with grantseekers and other stakeholders. The inherent structural imbalance between grantee and grantor dictates the establishment of mitigating policies and procedures that support honest and productive relationships.
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There are different ways to implement each of the Guiding Principles depending on the nature of your grantmaking entity. For example, what works for a corporate giving program may be different than what works for a small family foundation. By adhering to the spirit of these principles in a way that applies to your specific circumstances, you demonstrate your commitment to maintaining the public trust in organized philanthropy. Here, we share some suggestions gathered from our colleagues for implementing Principle #6: Respect.
- Share with the public the grantmaking priorities of your organization and respond promptly to all requests for information.
- Send a timely denial letter to those applicants that are unsuccessful and where appropriate, indicate a willingness to discuss with the applicant why the proposal has been turned down.
- Advise grantees, applicants and the public, within a reasonable period of time, on significant changes in grantmaking priorities or procedures.
- Build relationships with grantseekers, policy makers and community leaders based on mutual respect, candor, understanding and fairness.
- Invite feedback (including that given anonymously) from current and former grantees, denied applicants, and constituents concerning the effectiveness of funding strategies and program operations.
- Consider a full range of funding strategies in order to best meet the organization's mission/goals.
- Enlist the expertise of colleagues, academics, and nonprofit leaders to participate as periodic presenters or advisors at staff retreats, board meetings, learning exchanges or through creative partnerships.
- Establish and implement an internal training process for all new staff that introduces them to the organization's operating policies. These policies should include the organization's values and expectations regarding staff communication with the public and guidelines for how all staff are expected to respond to inquiries - including how and what information should be offered, timeframe for responding to inquiries and effective follow-up to assure the inquiry was effectively satisfied. Provide periodic trainings for existing staff to review these policies.
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Upcoming SDG Programs
October 23, 2008
9:00am-5:30pm (breakfast, lunch, and reception)
Location: Joe and Vi Jacobs Center, 404 Euclid Avenue, San Diego, CA
$125 for SDG members, $175 for nonmember grantmakers
Working Group Meetings
Homelessness Working Group: October 27
Click here for more information about all of these SDG programs. All programs are free for SDG members except where indicated. To RSVP, please call (619) 744-2180 or email programs@sdgrantmakers.org.
FUNDRAISING STIPULATION:
SDG was developed so that grantmakers (staff and trustees) could talk candidly with their peers about the challenges they face. With that in mind, we wish to impress upon members and potential members that fundraising or marketing is not allowed at any of SDG's programs, meetings, or other events.
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| This online newsletter is published by San Diego Grantmakers to help SDG members meet the challenges of philanthropy today. Our mission is to connect, educate, develop, and inspire a diverse group of foundations and corporations to stimulate effective philanthropy in the San Diego region. Copies of past editions are archived here.
Contact Nancy Jamison, 619/744.2180 or nancy@sdgrantmakers.org to suggest article ideas or submit news items. | |
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