Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) released today the spring edition of Responsive Philanthropy. This issue features articles on the Ford Foundation’s support for community organizing, the Kresge foundation’s new values-centered approach, and tips for foundations on engaging in strategic grantmaking. It also delves into California’s controversial diversity legislation.

“There are different ways for foundations to be deliberate and strategic in their grantmaking,” said Aaron Dorfman, NCRP’s executive director. “We’re impressed with some of the approaches we featured in this issue of our quarterly journal.”

In the lead article, Cyrus Driver, deputy director for education, sexuality, religion at the Ford Foundation, writes about Ford’s Fund for Community Organizing. He uses the initiative as an example of a collaborative effort among national and local funders in support of real change that benefits low-income communities, people of color and other marginalized groups.

In an interview with NCRP communications director Kristina Moore, Rip Rapson, president and CEO of the Kresge Foundation, discusses the new strategic priorities that guide the foundation’s programming. Under his leadership, Kresge adopted a values-based approach that gives greater priority to supporting economically disadvantaged communities, signaling a bold and sweeping change for the 84 year-old foundation’s grantmaking.

Greg and Maria Jobin-Leeds describe the approach of their respective foundations—the Schott Foundation for Public Education and Access Strategies Fund—as movement building efforts to “leverage larger, enduring systemic change” in their communities. They offer 10 best practices tips for foundations that wish to engage in effective, strategic philanthropy.

Finally, Aaron Dorfman stresses the need for better data on diversity in philanthropy. In response to the contentious bill, AB 624, pending in the California legislature, foundation leaders and groups claim that there has been already significant improvement in reaching out in a variety of ways to diverse groups.  “But no one can claim progress on this front if grantmaking institutions don’t measure and report on key diversity metrics,” writes Dorfman.
 
Free to NCRP members, Responsive Philanthropy is also available to non-members for $25 annually. To subscribe, please visit www.ncrp.org. For a complimentary media copy, contact, contact Yna Moore ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

 ###