Perspectives

  • Perspective

    Rapid Response Grantmaking: From Day 1 to 100, We Made it 100 Days of US

    The Sprout Fund designs grassroots grantmaking programs that tap the ingenuity of community residents and enable them to contribute to larger regional goals. Immediately following the 2016 presidential election, they knew we had to act quickly and create a new funding mechanism to enable a swift civic response. Their initiative, 100 Days of US, helped Pittsburghers set their own agenda for the first 100 days of the new presidential administration.
    • January 19, 2018
  • Perspective

    Thank You for Influencing Our Future Direction

    Thank you for engaging with us throughout 2017 and sharing your wisdom and perspectives. With your help, we were able to develop a strategic direction that will make us a stronger organization and a stronger community -- one that holds true to the values that bind us together. Our next 20 years of meaningful progress start now, and there's much to celebrate!
    • January 11, 2018
  • Perspective

    Cross-post: 5 Concrete Steps Foundations Can Take to Advance Racial Equity

    In December 2017, Lori Bartczak and Starsky Wilson co-authored an op ed for the Chronicle of Philanthropy. The article, Concrete Steps Foundations Can Take to Advance Racial Equity, emphasizes that grantmakers "seek to help create resilient communities in which everyone can thrive, but that is impossible if we tolerate inequities based on race."
    • January 5, 2018
  • Perspective

    The Story of the Blue Line Coalition

    Beginning in 2012, Nexus and the Phillips Foundation partnered to fund and convene a group of organizations that would later become the Blue Line Coalition to engage communities of color in advocating for equitable outcomes in the planning of the Bottineau Blueline light rail extension through North Minneapolis. Today, Blue Line Coalition members have seen their impact on the policies and structure of the light rail plans, and in building community capacity.
    • December 14, 2017
  • Perspective

    Cross-post: What Does it Take to Build Strong Relationships?

    On November 21, 2017, the Center for Effective Philanthropy posted this blog on building strong relationships. GEO's work on strong relationships with nonprofits is closely aligned with CEP's new publication Relationships Matter: Program Officers, Grantees, and the Keys to Success. This article explores what it takes to build strong relationships.
    • December 5, 2017
  • Perspective

    Look at Social Impact Projects for What They Are: Investment

    When funding social impact projects, grantmakers have historically not provided contingency funds to address unexpected obstacles and adapt to changing environments. Social entrepreneurs need flexible funding to be nimble and responsive. This post makes the case for thinking differently about investments in nonprofits.
    • November 30, 2017
  • Perspective

    Increase Your Impact: Invest in Nonprofit Staff

    In September, Fund the People announced the release of Fund the People Toolkit, a comprehensive guide for maximizing investing in the nonprofit workforce. The toolkit provides practical guidance, promising practices, and illustrative data on the value of talent-investing, and features six content areas: case making; how-to guides; field stories; building an inclusive workforce; discussion guides; and resources.
    • November 23, 2017
  • Perspective

    Cross-post: The Search

    After the 2017 Unity Summit, AAPIP (Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy) invited a handful of their members to write reflections about the summit. GEO's very own Wing Li was asked to share her thoughts.
    • November 2, 2017
  • Perspective

    We Are In This Together: A Letter to Philanthropy

    Hear directly from 9 nonprofit leaders what you can be doing to support your grantees in the most meaningful ways.
    • October 4, 2017
  • Perspective

    Using Intermediaries for Social Change

    On September 11, GEO hosted a member call to discuss the role of intermediaries. While traditionally intermediaries have filled the gap between the concentration of resources within philanthropy and the needs or gaps of the nonprofit sector, how can intermediaries further leverage their strength to become more effective?
    • September 27, 2017