Building a Transparency Mindset into Grant Strategies Presented by: - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Building a Transparency Mindset into Grant Strategies Presented by: Sara Beggs

What characterizes your most productive working relationships? AND How did you get there?

By noon today…  Defined transparency and its benefits  Explored the challenges  Tried on specific strategies to build greater transparency

Transparency:  free from pretense or deceit; frank  easily detected or seen through; obvious  readily understood  characterized by visibility or accessibility of information especially concerning business practices Mindset:  established set of attitudes held by someone

Center for Effective Philanthropy study states: 86% of foundation CEOs believe transparency is necessary for building strong relationships with grantees 91% of nonprofit CEOs said that foundations that are more transparent are more helpful to their organization’s ability to work effectively . 90% + of nonprofit CEOs also said they find it easier to have a good relationship with foundations that are more transparent . *Sharing What Matters: Foundation Transparency

2 keys to strong funder-grantee r elationships (86 foundations/ 20,000 grantees)  Foundation developing an understanding of grantee organizations and the context in which they work  Being transparent, which is about clarity, openness and honesty . Center for Effective Philanthropy study of 86 foundations and almost 20,000 grantees

What areas matter? Foundation Nonprofit CEOs CEOs Sharing grantmaking information 51% 68% Being clear, open, and/or honest 43% 44% Sharing financial information 38% 4% Sharing What Matters, Center for Effective Philanthropy

Pair up & Discuss!  In what environment have you seen grantees be transparent?  What makes it hard as a funder to be transparent?

The good news… Program staff were the key to transparency… even more than the foundation

What you bring to the table… Personality Emotional wellbeing How Foundation you Priorities show up Motives Experience

Clarity on the following is critical…  Your need  Your process & motivations  Your strategy  That challenges don’t = loss of funding

Clarity on our need… “I simply cannot do my work without the grantees, so I try to make that as apparent through my actions as possible.” Jamie Allison, S. H. Cowell Foundation

What is one thing you’re going to focus on in order to increase your transparency?

Questions? Sara Beggs Sara@IntentionalPhilanthropy.com 317-973-5746