Resources

Our company has had a volunteer time off policy for many years, whereby we allow employees to volunteer on work time. Additionally, we have a program where employees can apply for a grant to a nonprofit where they volunteer on their personal time. Volunteer time off – up to one day of paid time off (with leader approval, honor system) Volunteer grant program – minimum 25 hours; $10 per hour up to $500 We are curious about current trends and best practices. If you work for a company that offers either of these programs, please reply to let me know how this program compares to yours. Additionally, if you know of a company that offers either, please let me know the name of the company.

Hi GEO community, I'm planning a convening for partners working on the frontlines of the migration crises in Central America, Mexico, and the U.S., and looking for thoughtful ideas, both big and small, to bring some self-care and wellbeing to the space we will be creating together. What are ways you've seen some self- and collective care integrated into conferences or gatherings? Or ideas you'd love to implement but haven't had the chance? If you've been thinking about self-care/wellbeing and its importance to the success and resilience of your partners, do reach out. I'd love to have a conversation.

Hello GEO Community, We continue to see an ongoing need for transition support for our grantees at both the staff and board levels. So far, we have been handling as one-off requests but it’s been constant. What are you doing to respond in a fair and equitable manner that meets organizations and boards/staff where they are in the process? How much funding support are you offering and what types of resources or access to coaching have you provided that has worked? We’re looking to create a better process than the one we have now – and want to have some comparison data that allows us to make the case for this type of support as essential for minimizing the disruption that these transitions create for an organization. I appreciate any and all guidance this community can give. With gratitude,

Hello GEO Community, We are seeking some sense for how common it is for executive directors to also be board members – in particular at Family Foundations? If anyone would be up for sharing their experience with this and any feedback, that would be super. Thank you!

Would anyone be able to share with me their Supplier/Vendor Diversity Policy? I am looking for both foundation and nonprofit examples.

Colleagues - I am writing a brief on different models of foundation funding for policy advocacy, on any topic. I'm reaching out with a couple of questions/invitations. I know of many models (and Alliance for Justice resources), but if anyone is particularly proud of your model of funding policy advocacy, I'd love to try to include it (especially use of the specific project grant rule). Second, would anyone be interested in reviewing the draft (about 3000 words) and giving me feedback? Thanks!

I’m interested in hearing from peers how you utilize your Grants Management System (GMS) to support evaluation and learning work. Our current system at the National Endowment for Democracy is configured more for the grant and compliance side of our grantmaking and all of our evaluation and learning work is happening in “shadow” systems. We’re working with a consulting firm that’s taking us through a process, so my questions are more about how your GMS fits into your evaluation and learning work and what you like/don’t like about your current set-up. This is probably better suited to a conversation rather than an email, so please respond if you’re willing to speak with me and we can connect. Thank you in advance,

In our application process, The Retirement Research Foundation (RRF) asks applicants to describe their dissemination plan, i.e., how they will disseminate/share their findings, lessons learned, tools, and products. We typically get very general responses such as they plan to present at conferences, submit to peer review journals, put information on their website, etc. We would like to provide better direction for our applicants to encourage them to think more creatively about developing a robust, proactive dissemination plan, with specific target audiences and strategies. Do you have any language in your grant application, tips on your website that define dissemination, or do you provide any guidance or tools that help applicants develop and describe their dissemination plan that you can share with RRF?

Have you made improvements to your grantmaking, including the idea cultivation/grantee relationship management, application process, approval process, reporting requirements, or other elements you've deemed important, and are you willing to share them with us? Did you work with any consultants on the above whom you'd recommend?

The Deutsch Foundation is hiring our first Communications Director and I am looking for examples of job descriptions, and/or best practices for hiring this position.