All foundations have been impacted by the ups and downs of the stock market and the relief support that nonprofits urgently needed (and still need) because of CV-19. Federal law requires private foundations to spend a portion of their endowments, typically at least 5%, on charitable endeavors each year. Many of the largest private foundations keep close to that 5% floor.
“Charitable giving is increasing steadily,” reported Richard Mittenthal, President & CEO of the TCC Group, “and foundation giving, accounting for less than 20% of all charitable giving, has increased at a much greater rate than overall giving.” Mr. Mittenthal was the first of three insiders speaking at “Private Foundation Update: Trends, Challenges & Opportunities,” a forum presented by the Wilmington Trust’s Walter J. Dillingham, Jr., CFA at its Park Ave. headquarters on September 24th, attended by the LAPA Private Grants Team. On the other hand, large foundations are increasingly interested in policy, believing they can have a greater impact on
By Laurence A. Pagnoni, MPA The three dreaded words for grant officers, “do not apply–DNA.” They appear on private foundation profiles more often these days than ever before. Most annoying is that the funder seems particularly aligned with your mission. “If I could only get close to them, I would know the perfect thing to say,” you tell your CEO. What do you do? Here are five ways to get past that roadblock: Attend a funder panel. By design, such panels give you an insider view of the funder’s priorities, as well as an opportunity to meet the grant officer. These
By Laurence A. Pagnoni, MPA Black Fox Philanthropy and Candid (formerly Foundation Center, which recently combined with GuideStar to form a brand new organization) co-hosted a gathering for capacity building partners and NGOs at Opportunity Collaboration last October. Why? We had a burning question for the Funder and NGO attendees that could help clear a path to stronger alliances and greater impact: “What do you wish each other knew that would make a difference in your relationships, how you do your work in the world, and the impact you are having?” The following is paraphrased but essentially in their own words without Candid or Black
By Laurence A. Pagnoni, MPA My longtime colleague, Walter Dillingham, of Wilmington Trust, N.A., specializes in serving endowments, foundations, and healthcare organizations. Walter works closely with nonprofits to help them achieve both their investment and philanthropic objectives. Walter has authored original research on Healthcare’s use of separate foundations that I thought you’d like to read. Walter has nearly three decades of financial services industry experience. He holds an MS in Philanthropy from New York University, an MBA from Babson College, and a BA in Economics from Bates College. His contact information is noted on the study. This research report provides insights
By Laurence A. Pagnoni, MPA Year after year, you apply, but don’t hear back. You call, but no one calls you back. You are tempted to say, “How rude! “ But you are emotionally intelligent, so you tell yourself that it’s probably not about you. I am talking about that foundation funder, or donor-advised fund owner, or individual of high net worth, that you have not been able to reach, but whose funding priorities seem to align with your mission. “If I could only get close to them, I would know the perfect thing to say,” you tell to your
By Laurence A. Pagnoni, MPA A landmark one million dollars has been raised for a tiny Upper West side church, Trinity Lutheran, one of the smallest clients LAPA has ever worked with. But there’s a huge, cautionary lesson here for your grants work, allow me to explain. Trinity, a neighborhood fixture on West 100th Street and Amsterdam Avenue for more than 100 years, is a congregation of only about 200 people, located in a 40-square block neighborhood of 48,983 persons between 100th and 110th Streets, just south of Harlem. The Church prioritizes those who find themselves increasingly pushed to the
