The Catalysts — Catalytic Philanthropy Self-Assessment

The Petals

Turning Intention Into Impact

Catalytic leaders have an amazing opportunity to use their reputation, relationships, and resources to connect, collaborate, champion the work of their grantees, and advocate for systems change. These strategies help amplify impact year after year — and they’re perfectly suited to lean funders who know their communities well.

"Nongrant strategies like the catalysts are often overlooked or dismissed, yet convenings, making connections, technical assistance, and being a champion amplify the impact of the work. These are often the "hidden gems" that can lead to bold ideas and solutions. Developing an authentic, relationship-based approach is a critical part of ensuring that you maximize your impact while also continuing to learn and grow."

— Angela Hult, President, Kuni Foundation

Reflection Prompts

If your foundation isn’t using these catalysts to maximize your impact, discuss these questions with your key decision makers:

Connect

Staff and boards of lean foundations have relationships with local leaders, experts, and organizations across the public and private sectors. This unique vantage point allows you to introduce people who haven’t met, connect ideas within or across their focus areas, and convene grantees and community members. The 2026 FOMR found that 46% of foundations convene grantees — but only 6% convene beneficiaries.

What change could occur if you convened your grantees to share learning and build networks with each other?
How might you deepen your convening practice?

Collaborate

Working collaboratively in philanthropy is a powerful tool for Catalytic funders. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of foundations collaborated with other funders in the past year.

Are you working with other funders, nonprofits, or government agencies to pool resources and coordinate strategy?
Are there partners you could engage more intentionally?

Champion

One opportunity funders often overlook is the profound impact of actively championing the work of their grantee partners. But Catalytic funders don’t overlook this powerful opportunity. More than two-thirds (69%) of foundations connect grantees with other funding opportunities.

Are you actively using your influence and networks to raise the visibility of grantees’ work?
How are you championing the organizations you fund?

Advocate

Catalytic funders know there aren’t enough grant dollars to solve these problems independently. The 2026 FOMR found that 26% of foundations met with local elected officials in the past three years.

Are you working to address root causes, policy issues, or both that affect the entire system of your focus area?
Where could your voice have the most impact?

As you continue your catalytic journey, remember that many funders jump to these catalysts quickly without taking time to reflect on the leadership virtues foundational to Catalytic Philanthropy or to build key skills and core practices into their work. But when you ground these catalysts in the connections you’ve built with your grantees, you can make an outsized impact in your community.

Begin the Conversation

Ask key decision makers: Are we using all the assets at our disposal? Are we going beyond the grant check?
Identify one grantee you could champion this quarter — through an introduction, a public mention, or a connection to another funder.
Map the policy landscape of your focus area: who are the decision makers, and how could you engage them?

Deepen Your Knowledge

Read the Catalytic Philanthropy in 2026 report’s section on The Catalysts for full benchmark data.
Explore Exponent Philanthropy’s resources on advocacy, collaboration, and nongrant strategies.
Attend a program focused on amplifying impact through connection and collaboration.

From the Blog

Dec 2, 2025

The Catalysts in Action: Connecting, Collaborating, Championing, and Advocating

Catalytic Philanthropy encourages funders to build deeper relationships and leverage all their assets — not just grant dollars — to spark lasting change. This case study shows what it looks like when all four catalysts work together for systemic impact.

Read full post

Feb 12, 2026

Ghosting Grantees Isn’t a Strategy: Conscious Uncoupling for Funders

What does it actually mean to champion your grantees? A nonprofit perspective on how funders can end funding relationships with the same care and transparency they invest in building them.

Read full post

Apr 1, 2026

What If Young People Helped Shape Your Grantmaking?

Young people are engaging in philanthropy in ways that strengthen their communities and shape their own futures. For lean funders looking to deepen connections, youth philanthropy is a powerful — and often overlooked — catalyst strategy.

Read full post