Press Releases

Core operating support grants provide funding that can cover an organization’s administrative, infrastructure and overhead expenses. Most foundations prefer to fund specific projects instead of the overall costs of running and maintaining nonprofits. NCRP’s report, A Call to Action: Organizing to Increase the Effectiveness and Impact of Foundation Grantmaking, uses the grantee perspective to provide a rare look at how this traditional grantmaking practice limits the sustainability of many nonprofits and undermines the effectiveness of foundations in fulfilling their missions.

Author Rick Cohen “hopes this report will encourage more action from nonprofits that have experienced the need for flexible funding and will lead to a more effective use of the $30 billion given annually in foundation grants.”

The report features commentary from representatives of over 120 nonprofits in Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, and Washington. These representatives expressed frustration at the way project-specific funding limits their ability to handle crises, start new initiatives, maintain and improve organizational infrastructure, and pay workers’ salaries. A number of them pointed out how they’re forced to do “creative” grant writing and reporting to make ends meet.

“After listening to people who do the real in-the-trenches work for nonprofits across the country, we learned that the lack of general support funding has a serious impact on the effectiveness of foundations and nonprofits, and also on foundation-grantee relationships,” said NCRP’s new executive director, Aaron Dorfman.

Dorfman, who led grassroots organizations for the past 15 years before joining NCRP in February 2007, knows first-hand the importance of flexible funding for nonprofits. “The need for sweeping change in foundation grantmaking practices is undeniable," he said. “This report exposes that need by allowing nonprofit leaders to tell their stories in their own words."

To download A Call to Action for free or to order a hard copy, please visit our website at www.ncrp.org. To receive a media copy, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Readers are encouraged to join the conversation and share their views by visiting www.ncrp.org/blog or by sending an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Founded in 1976, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy is dedicated to helping the philanthropic community advance the traditional values of social and economic justice for all Americans. Committed to helping funders more effectively serve the most disadvantaged Americans, NCRP is a national watchdog, research and advocacy organization that promotes public accountability and accessibility among foundations, corporate grantmakers, individual donors and workplace giving programs. For more information on NCRP or to join, please visit www.ncrp.org or call (202) 387-9177.

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