The Leaves — Focus, Equity, Get out of the Office & Multiyear, Flexible Grants
The core practices of Catalytic Philanthropy help create a strong base and give clear direction to your philanthropy. Developing them doesn’t happen overnight — it takes time, effort, hard conversations, and practice to build these practices into your work.
”The core practices help us recognize that the needs of the fields in which we are working should drive philanthropy. We regularly invite grantees to board meetings, fund and plan convenings, and make in-person site visits. We adjust our grantmaking to the real gaps and opportunities the experts — grantees — help us understand.”
— Catalytic Leader, Exponent Philanthropy MemberTake time to reflect on these prompts and develop these core practices:
Your foundation will benefit by focusing tightly on an issue, even with a portion of your resources, whether your focus is on a certain population, problem, opportunity, strategy, or specific community. Focusing empowers Catalytic Leaders to develop knowledge, relationships, and insight over time – to go on a journey. Ask yourself:
Equity touches on every aspect of a foundation’s work. Before trying to deepen equity efforts, first look internally. Ask yourself:
Getting out from behind your desk and into the community you serve is a key practice to inform your work. Take time to reflect on the past month and ask yourself:
When funders give multi-year, general operating support, they help sustain a nonprofit’s mission rather than specific programs or projects. Too often, funders shy away from giving these grants because they can’t “measure” the impact these grants create. Instead of looking to measure the impact of your specific grant, ask yourself:
”The core practices of Catalytic Philanthropy contribute significantly to setting the stage for a more substantial philanthropic impact. An engaged, connected, hands-on approach provides invaluable insights, builds personal relationships, and increases empathy and understanding. At the foundation, we continue the practice of spending the majority of our time outside of the office to learn from our community stakeholders and create trusting relationships with our partners.”
— Tina Kimbrough, Executive Director, The Nord Family FoundationAs you continue your catalytic journey, these core practices will guide and shape your work. Take time to routinely reflect on these practices and embrace opportunities to build them into your philanthropy.