David Biemesderfer, board chair for the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers and the president & CEO of the Florida Philanthropic Network discusses the value and strength of the Forum Network and highlights our partnership with Foundation Center on The Center for Effective Philanthropy's blog.

It has also been featured on Communications Network, Communications Matters, and The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. 

The giving sector deserves credit for many things, but efficiency is not always one of them. For as long as there have been foundations investing in worthy causes, there have also been critics rightfully pointing out the duplicative, even wasteful ways with which the business of grantmaking often gets done.

Fortunately, a partnership by two philanthropic support organizations is helping demonstrate the way network thinking can improve foundation efficiency and impact through strategic collaboration. The result? Better services to support grantmakers everywhere, cost savings for the participants, and an enhanced ability for philanthropy to tell its story using credible, timely data.

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After months of close and strategic work together, two Forum Network members, Western New York Grantmakers Association and Grantmakers Forum of New York, have entered into an affiliation agreement and become the NY Funders Alliance!

With a new name and new look, NY Funders Alliance will:

• Support meaningful collaboration and knowledge sharing for funders and their grantees
• Promote effective, strategic philanthropy through thought-provoking programming
• Strengthen member organization's capacity through services and resources
• Advocate through effective communication about the value of philanthropy and the philanthropic sector to the larger community; and
• Lead and collaborate with like-minded organizations to advance public policies that promote philanthropy and a vibrant nonprofit sector

We're excited to welcome NY Funders Alliance as the newest member of the Forum Network!

New Resources

Proposal Review and Evaluation Guidelines *Updated!*

Sample proposal review and evaluation guidelines from foundations across the country.

Thanks to Deborah Werner of Connecticut Council for Philanthropy for sharing new resources from her members!

Supporting Grantee Capacity: Strengthening Effectiveness Together

In Supporting Grantee Capacity: Strengthening Effectiveness Together, GrantCraft look at how funders approach building capacity with grantees. Through examples from foundations ranging in size, mission, and geography, we explore various strategies for capacity building and the types of awareness that funders can choose to incorporate in decision making to facilitate informed, thoughtful judgments about strengthening organizations.

Board Dashboards

Sample dashboard used by Gateway Center for Giving to report on metrics to its board including member engagement, programs, and services. Have your own to share? Send to Dan Brady.

Latest News

Reconstructing Philanthropy from the Outside In

In a recent piece for Stanford Social Innovation Review, Paul Shoemaker, Executive Connector for Social Venture Partners, makes an interesting case for fundamentally changing the underlying practices of philanthropy to achieve breakthrough social change, the most important of which is to provide unrestricted funding. 

Last year the Forum launched the Grantmaker Education Programming Directory. Has your regional association submitted any of your best programming?

Submitting is easy through our web form.

If you have any questions about the directory, please feel free to contact Dan Brady.