Grantmaking Strategy & Tools

Strong grantmaking programs reflect a foundation's values, balance internal capacities with the external environment and address constituents' needs. TCC’s Ashley Blanchard and Chris Cardona discuss the five steps to creating programs with impact.

In The State of General Operating Support, NCRP notes that reported general operating support increased 34 percent in 2008-2010 compared to 2004-2006, but the share of such grants remained unchanged at 16 percent of total giving.

GEO's new national field survey of grantmaking practice (conducted by research partner TCC Group) examines the connection between listening to and learning with grantees and improving practices to achieve better results. In light of the global economic downturn, this survey also highlights some of the key shifts in grantmaking since 2008 and what they mean for supporting nonprofit resilience.

When foundations make a commitment to getting consistent feedback from their grantees that is candid and comparative, they can make substantive changes that result in different—and better—grantee experiences. Foundations that use the Grantee Perception Report (GPR) more than once are making changes that are benefiting the organizations they fund. In addition to describing the data, the report identifies four keys to driving change as a result of the GPR, based on CEP’s experience delivering results to some 200 foundations.