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This post first appeared on Philanthropy News Digest on May 29, 2014.

In 2013, more than 80,000 foundations collectively awarded nearly $50 billion in grants, benefiting people and causes in nearly every corner of our nation and the world. Grantmaking institutions have an enormous amount of influence in sectors such as health and education, in fields such as community change and economic development, and in the spheres of public policy and advocacy, and more.

Recently, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy launched Philamplify, which couples evidence-based assessments by experts with an interactive website featuring commentary from people with first-hand experience in philanthropy, nonprofits, and communities. Together, they create a comprehensive picture of what’s working well and what could be working better. The impetus to build this new interactive website stems from the belief that transparency, mutual accountability, and knowledge-sharing can transform communities and maximize the impact of the country’s grantmakers by creating a safe space for all of us to provide honest, constructive feedback.

As the president and CEO of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation – an institution that values excellence and accountability in its grantmaking – I welcome the feedback Philamplify promises. Empowering our communities to thrive and enabling the dreams and possibilities of those in need through the power of philanthropy should always be a receptive, responsive, and, above all, effective process.

A just, inclusive society is one that welcomes all voices, and philanthropies should be the best ambassadors of these principles. Being heard has never been easier in the Internet age, and we are more connected than at any other time in human history. Online communication facilitates collective knowledge and experience on the practical application of charitable giving that touches so many lives in America and across the globe.

We rate our restaurants, our dry cleaners, and our shopping malls. Philamplify provides nuanced feedback in the way we steward billions of foundation dollars to serve the individuals and families that need it most and to address the most pressing problems of our times. At the same time, we suspect that grant recipients, grant seekers, and others shy away from offering their ideas for what could be done differently, lest their feedback be interpreted as criticism and not received in the constructive way it was intended.

We need to push back on this isolation bubble in philanthropy. I work in the charitable sector not because I believe I know better than the communities with which I work, but because I want to engage in a dynamic conversation with them in the hope of finding innovative, potent ways to solve pressing issues together. I subscribe to the belief that no matter what field you work in, the passion that you find in your mission is only enhanced by the feedback from those whose lives you impact – which is why the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation volunteered to participate in NCRP’s foundation assessment process. We found that this impartial, third-party evaluation of our strategies to bring economic, social, and racial justice to the lives of Arkansans was not only helpful, but also necessary to bolster accountable, open, and effective grantmaking activity.

With Philamplify, I believe we’ve taken an important step in transforming the philanthropic world into a transparent, inclusive space that celebrates the diversity of opinions from those who are our partners in improving the lives of individuals, families, and communities. When philanthropy proactively taps into the rich ideas that come from openness and mutual accountability, the possibilities are boundless. I believe that day has come.

Dr. Sherece West-Scantlebury is president and CEO of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, which works to improve the lives of Arkansans in education, economic development, and economic, racial and social justice. She also serves as board chair of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy.

We all recognize the importance of knowing whether or not what we do in our day-to-day work actually has any impact. In 2010, NCRP worked with TCC Group to conduct our first-ever organizational evaluation. It demonstrated that our work was influencing how philanthropy is practiced in our country and it also showed us how much more we needed to do. I am pleased to share with you the results of our second impact evaluation completed by TCC Group in March 2014.

Here is a copy of the executive summary of the report.

Some of the highlights include:

  • There has been a notable increase in the number of philanthropies and nonprofits using NCRP publications. In 2014, rates for grantmakers increased by 19 percentage points from a baseline of 32 percent, and among nonprofits by six percentage points from a baseline of 44 percent.
  • Funders rank NCRP’s value to the field alongside other infrastructure groups. 58 percent of nonprofits agreed or strongly agreed that NCRP has raised the level of robust debate in the sector.
  • NCRP is viewed as a constructive provocateur for the sector by a majority of philanthropies (66 percent) and nonprofits (65 percent).
  • More than half of nonprofits feel that they are part of a movement to transform philanthropy.
  • Funders are having more conversations about good grantmaking practices recommended by NCRP. Close to 50 percent of surveyed philanthropies advocate for adoption of the criterion to provide 50 percent of grant dollars for the benefit of underserved communities.

Our work is helping make philanthropy more responsive to those with the least wealth, opportunity and power. NCRP’s Philanthropy’s Promise initiative is a solid indicator of our reach; we now have over 175 signatories and that number is growing. Our publications are reaching more people in the sector and are being used by nonprofits to advocate for the kinds of funding that will help them achieve their missions. Funders, too, are using our materials to engage in discussions about how to change strategy to bolster impact.

But as we celebrate our successes, we are reminded of how much work remains to be done. Social justice work needs more funding. Some underserved communities remain a low priority for the sector writ large. As NCRP uses the findings of this evaluation to see where and how we can help improve philanthropy, we are mindful that the changes we hope for will not occur overnight. Structural disparities are long-standing and rigid. We will continue to advocate for a more responsive philanthropic sector that will transform our society to one that is more just, inclusive and equitable.

Aaron Dorfman is executive director of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP). Follow NCRP on Twitter (@ncrp).

How A Private Foundation With Student Loan Ties Became A Force In Higher Education
by Molly Hensley-Clancy
Buzzfeed Business
May 22, 2014

Lumina has a unique focus on a single goal: to see 60% of Americans hold a college degree, certificate, or other “high-quality” postsecondary credential by 2025. That focus puts Lumina ahead of larger foundations in terms of setting the higher education agenda, said Victor Kuo, a philanthropic evaluation expert at the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, which released a report this month examining the Lumina Foundation’s work.

Lumina is well-regarded among higher education experts; the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy report noted that “the foundation’s clarity around achieving an ambitious goal and its commitment to addressing systemic inequities are highly praised.”

“Lumina has done an outstanding job in terms of getting college completion rates onto the national policy agenda,” said Kuo, who wrote in his report that Lumina had “extremely savvy policy advocacy strategies.”

Read the full article.

How a Zagat-Style Website Will Make Philanthropy More Accountable

by Benjamin Soskis
The Atlantic
May 20, 2014

Perhaps part of the reason why is that such critiques have become so routine that we’ve become somewhat desensitized to them; their grooves have run so deep into the contemporary discourse on philanthropy that they seem more often to substitute for, rather than to stimulate, action.

Which makes the latest project of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), an independent watchdog of foundations, all the more promising. This month, the NCRP unveiled Philamplify, a website that the Washington Post describes as “Yelp for the philanthropy sector.” But that sells the site short. It offers not just crowdsourcing intel on philanthropy, but also expert evaluations, two types of assessments that are rarely conjoined. Philamplify features detailed, independent reports on the nation’s leading foundations produced by NCRP staff and provides a forum for the public to weigh in on those foundations’ successes and failures.

Read the full article here.

Five Reasons the Philanthropic Sector Will Benefit from Having Both CEP’s Assessment Tools and NCRP’s Philamplify
 
by Lisa Ranghelli
Alliance Magazine
May 21, 2014

NCRP invites and encourages foundations to participate in our assessment process but it is not a prerequisite for a Philamplify assessment. We want to know how our tool can be most useful for a particular foundation’s learning. We are open to adjusting the methodology and timing based on the foundation’s circumstances. If, after discussions with the foundation, we believe that our assessment may add value to what they already know, then we will proceed – even if the foundation would prefer that we not.

For Immediate Release

Partnerships and Relationship-Building Boost Philanthropy’s Effectiveness

“Responsive Philanthropy” highlights lessons from grassroots organizing, the minimum wage campaign for disabled workers and improving STEM retention among girls

Washington, D.C. (5/28/2014) – The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP)today released its spring issue of “Responsive Philanthropy,” featuring pieces by top voices in the philanthropic sector. The release closely follows the May launch of “Philamplify,” NCRP’s initiative to provide unvarnished feedback for capturegrantmakers by combining expert assessments with crowd-sourced commentary.

The need for community feedback is reflected throughout the pages of “Responsive Philanthropy.” Piece after piece demonstrates that the most effective philanthropy is characterized by strong partnerships in which all parties are valued and understood. Our writers leverage their years of experience in social justice organizing to provide valuable content for readers, drawing from action as varied as raising awareness about gender norms to influencing federal policy.

Beyond Collaboration: Bringing Strategic Thinking to Long-Term Alliance Building

In the cover story, George Goehl, executive director of National People’s Action, explores how NPA has embarked upon a strategy of deep alignment with significant results, both in its own efforts and among its affiliates. Goehl always brings his examples back to “What does this mean for philanthropy?” explaining the concrete benefits that result when grantmakers invest in deliberate relationship-building.

CPSD’s Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage for Disabled Workers

Allison Wohl describes how her coalition, the Collaboration to Promote Self-Determination, led the charge to include disabled workers in President Barack Obama’s executive order to raise the minimum wage for federal employees. CPSD was able to seize the opportunity to address a high profile objective with a short turnaround by tapping into its large network of allies, as well as relying on the support of its partner, the Ruderman Family Foundation.

It’s How, Not Whether: Issue Campaigns Can Help or Hurt

Former executive director of Maine Initiatives Charlie Bernstein dives into examples from his many years of experience as a community organizer to illustrate the potential pitfalls when national groups take issue campaigns to the local level. He reveals how national campaigns tend to overlook established relationships and skills from years of grassroots organizing to the detriment of the campaign and local groups.

A Lesson in Feminine Norms: Why Philanthropy Matters to Educational Outcomes

Riki Wilchins reflects on research from her organization, TrueChild, which demonstrates how gender norms can hurt female students’ performance in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects. Wilchins shares evidence that gender transformative philanthropy is on the verge of becoming best practice for U.S. grantmaking and offers tips for foundations that wish to begin taking into account gender norms in their strategies.

Member Spotlight: Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

This edition’s Member Spotlight showcases the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a D.C.-based think tank that advances communities of color through policy analysis, research and leadership development. Joint Center staff give advice on how foundations can best support work that advances racial equity.

These articles, along with articles from previous issues, are available for free on the “Responsive Philanthropy Article Archive.” Hard-copy subscriptions to “Responsive Philanthropy” are complimentary for NCRP members and cost $25 for non-members.

The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy in Washington, D.C., is a national watchdog, research and advocacy organization that promotes philanthropy that serves the public good, is responsive to people and communities with the least wealth and opportunity, and is held accountable to the highest standards of integrity and openness. Visit www.ncrp.org.

###

To request a media copy, please contact Alison Howard at ahoward[at]ncrp.org or call (202) 387-9177 x33.

For Immediate Release

Partnerships and Relationship-Building Boost Philanthropy’s Effectiveness

“Responsive Philanthropy” highlights lessons from grassroots organizing, the minimum wage campaign for disabled workers and improving STEM retention among girls

Washington, D.C. (5/28/2014) – The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP)today released its spring issue of “Responsive Philanthropy,” featuring pieces by top voices in the philanthropic sector. The release closely follows the May launch of “Philamplify,” NCRP’s initiative to provide unvarnished feedback for grantmakers by combining expert assessments with crowd-sourced commentary.

The need for community feedback is reflected throughout the pages of “Responsive Philanthropy.” Piece after piece demonstrates that the most effective philanthropy is characterized by strong partnerships in which all parties are valued and understood. Our writers leverage their years of experience in social justice organizing to provide valuable content for readers, drawing from action as varied as raising awareness about gender norms to influencing federal policy.

Beyond Collaboration: Bringing Strategic Thinking to Long-Term Alliance Building

In the cover story, George Goehl, executive director of National People’s Action, explores how NPA has embarked upon a strategy of deep alignment with significant results, both in its own efforts and among its affiliates. Goehl always brings his examples back to “What does this mean for philanthropy?” explaining the concrete benefits that result when grantmakers invest in deliberate relationship-building.

CPSD’s Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage for Disabled Workers

Allison Wohl describes how her coalition, the Collaboration to Promote Self-Determination, led the charge to include disabled workers in President Barack Obama’s executive order to raise the minimum wage for federal employees. CPSD was able to seize the opportunity to address a high profile objective with a short turnaround by tapping into its large network of allies, as well as relying on the support of its partner, the Ruderman Family Foundation.

It’s How, Not Whether: Issue Campaigns Can Help or Hurt

Former executive director of Maine Initiatives Charlie Bernstein dives into examples from his many years of experience as a community organizer to illustrate the potential pitfalls when national groups take issue campaigns to the local level. He reveals how national campaigns tend to overlook established relationships and skills from years of grassroots organizing to the detriment of the campaign and local groups.

A Lesson in Feminine Norms: Why Philanthropy Matters to Educational Outcomes

Riki Wilchins reflects on research from her organization, TrueChild, which demonstrates how gender norms can hurt female students’ performance in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects. Wilchins shares evidence that gender transformative philanthropy is on the verge of becoming best practice for U.S. grantmaking and offers tips for foundations that wish to begin taking into account gender norms in their strategies.

Member Spotlight: Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

This edition’s Member Spotlight showcases the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a D.C.-based think tank that advances communities of color through policy analysis, research and leadership development. Joint Center staff give advice on how foundations can best support work that advances racial equity.

These articles, along with articles from previous issues, are available for free on the “Responsive Philanthropy Article Archive.” Hard-copy subscriptions to “Responsive Philanthropy” are complimentary for NCRP members and cost $25 for non-members.

The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy in Washington, D.C., is a national watchdog, research and advocacy organization that promotes philanthropy that serves the public good, is responsive to people and communities with the least wealth and opportunity, and is held accountable to the highest standards of integrity and openness. Visit www.ncrp.org.

###

To request a media copy, please contact Alison Howard at ahoward[at]ncrp.org or call (202) 387-9177 x33.

I believe that smart philanthropy draws from many voices. Our latest initiative launched earlier this month called “Philamplify” harnesses the knowledge, wisdom and power from the collective to improve the impact of philanthropy in our communities. If you haven’t had a chance yet to visit the website and check it out, I hope you’ll do so.

As NCRP and its allies continue our efforts to help solve the tough problems our society faces, it behooves us to remember that philanthropy supporting relationship-building has the opportunity to take limited dollars further. Many of the articles in this edition of Responsive Philanthropy show how strategies like this can succeed.

Our cover story by National People’s Action executive director George Goehl, “Beyond Collaboration: Bringing Strategic Thinking to Long-Term Alliance Building,” explains how NPA’s move from a “no permanent enemies, no permanent allies” philosophy has allowed it to respond more quickly and effectively to critical issues. George recommends that grantmakers invest in nonprofits whose initiatives are as defined by relationship-building as they are clear objectives.

In “CPSD’s Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage for Disabled Workers,” Allison Hassett Wohl describes the Collaboration to Promote Self-Determination’s recent successful campaign to include disabled workers in President Obama’s executive order to raise the minimum wage for federal employees. Still, work remains to be done in this fight for equality, and Allison explains how CPSD’s partnership with the Ruderman Family Foundation will continue to be crucial.

Charlie Bernstein, former executive director of Maine Initiatives and a community organizer, illustrates how national organizations and campaigns can hurt – or help – local groups. In “It’s How, Not Whether,” he points out the long history of dropping national organizers into local groups to bolster issue campaigns – even though these campaigns don’t always benefit local communities, or even fully make use of their capabilities.

Riki Wilchins’ “A Lesson in Feminine Norms: Why Philanthropy Matters to Educational Outcomes” explains how gender norms hurt female students’ performance in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects. Riki gives tips on how foundations can take a gender transformative lens to their organizational approaches, yielding more effective results than if they ignored the influence of feminine and masculine norms.

Finally, our Member Spotlight delves into the work of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a U.S. think tank providing policy analysis and research to benefit communities of color.

We hope you’re inspired by the many different voices represented in the following pages, and find information that’s useful in your own work. We’re always interested in hearing from our readership. Send us your thoughts at readers@ncrp.org.

Aaron Dorfman is executive director of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP). Follow NCRP on Twitter (@ncrp).

For Immediate Release

Partnerships and Relationship-Building Boost Philanthropy’s Effectiveness

“Responsive Philanthropy” highlights lessons from grassroots organizing, the minimum wage campaign for disabled workers and improving STEM retention among girlsCapture

Washington, D.C. (5/28/2014) – The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) today released its spring issue of “Responsive Philanthropy,” featuring pieces by top voices in the philanthropic sector. The release closely follows the May launch of “Philamplify,” NCRP’s initiative to provide unvarnished feedback for grantmakers by combining expert assessments with crowd-sourced commentary.

The need for community feedback is reflected throughout the pages of “Responsive Philanthropy.” Piece after piece demonstrates that the most effective philanthropy is characterized by strong partnerships in which all parties are valued and understood. Our writers leverage their years of experience in social justice organizing to provide valuable content for readers, drawing from action as varied as raising awareness about gender norms to influencing federal policy.

Beyond Collaboration: Bringing Strategic Thinking to Long-Term Alliance Building

In the cover story, George Goehl, executive director of National People’s Action, explores how NPA has embarked upon a strategy of deep alignment with significant results, both in its own efforts and among its affiliates. Goehl always brings his examples back to “What does this mean for philanthropy?” explaining the concrete benefits that result when grantmakers invest in deliberate relationship-building.

CPSD’s Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage for Disabled Workers

Allison Wohl describes how her coalition, the Collaboration to Promote Self-Determination, led the charge to include disabled workers in President Barack Obama’s executive order to raise the minimum wage for federal employees. CPSD was able to seize the opportunity to address a high profile objective with a short turnaround by tapping into its large network of allies, as well as relying on the support of its partner, the Ruderman Family Foundation.

It’s How, Not Whether: Issue Campaigns Can Help or Hurt

Former executive director of Maine Initiatives Charlie Bernstein dives into examples from his many years of experience as a community organizer to illustrate the potential pitfalls when national groups take issue campaigns to the local level. He reveals how national campaigns tend to overlook established relationships and skills from years of grassroots organizing to the detriment of the campaign and local groups.

A Lesson in Feminine Norms: Why Philanthropy Matters to Educational Outcomes

Riki Wilchins reflects on research from her organization, TrueChild, which demonstrates how gender norms can hurt female students’ performance in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects. Wilchins shares evidence that gender transformative philanthropy is on the verge of becoming best practice for U.S. grantmaking and offers tips for foundations that wish to begin taking into account gender norms in their strategies.

Member Spotlight: Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

This edition’s Member Spotlight showcases the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a D.C.-based think tank that advances communities of color through policy analysis, research and leadership development. Joint Center staff give advice on how foundations can best support work that advances racial equity.

These articles, along with articles from previous issues, are available for free on the “Responsive Philanthropy Article Archive.” Hard-copy subscriptions to “Responsive Philanthropy” are complimentary for NCRP members and cost $25 for non-members.

The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy in Washington, D.C., is a national watchdog, research and advocacy organization that promotes philanthropy that serves the public good, is responsive to people and communities with the least wealth and opportunity, and is held accountable to the highest standards of integrity and openness. Visit www.ncrp.org.

###

To request a media copy, please contact Alison Howard at ahoward[at]ncrp.org or call (202) 387-9177 x33.

Perhaps part of the reason why is that such critiques have become so routine that we’ve become somewhat desensitized to them; their grooves have run so deep into the contemporary discourse on philanthropy that they seem more often to substitute for, rather than to stimulate, action.

Which makes the latest project of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), an independent watchdog of foundations, all the more promising. This month, the NCRP unveiled Philamplify, a website that the Washington Post describes as “Yelp for the philanthropy sector.” But that sells the site short. It offers not just crowdsourcing intel on philanthropy, but also expert evaluations, two types of assessments that are rarely conjoined. Philamplify features detailed, independent reports on the nation’s leading foundations produced by NCRP staff and provides a forum for the public to weigh in on those foundations’ successes and failures.

Read the full article here.

Lumina has a unique focus on a single goal: to see 60% of Americans hold a college degree, certificate, or other “high-quality” postsecondary credential by 2025. That focus puts Lumina ahead of larger foundations in terms of setting the higher education agenda, said Victor Kuo, a philanthropic evaluation expert at the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, which released a report this month examining the Lumina Foundation’s work.

Lumina is well-regarded among higher education experts; the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy report noted that “the foundation’s clarity around achieving an ambitious goal and its commitment to addressing systemic inequities are highly praised.”

“Lumina has done an outstanding job in terms of getting college completion rates onto the national policy agenda,” said Kuo, who wrote in his report that Lumina had “extremely savvy policy advocacy strategies.”

Read the full article.