Embracing Better Ways of Operating
A 21st Century Call for Philanthropy: Tackle the Talent Gap
In philanthropy we’ve long known that we play a unique role by addressing society’s most pressing challenges at their root. Our work is distinct from charity – focused less on meeting immediate needs and more on tackling the underlying causes. And we’re well positioned to take risks to figure out…
Jamie Merisotis
Jamie Merisotis is a globally recognized leader in philanthropy, education, human work, talent development, and public policy. He has been Lumina Foundation’s president and CEO since 2008. Merisotis is the co-founder and former president of the nonpartisan, Washington, D.C.-based Institute for…
Charitable Foundations: The Essential Guide to Giving and Compliance
My book Charitable Foundations: The Essential Guide to Giving and Compliance was published in May 2015. Since publication, a number of people have asked me what led me to write the book. The Council on Foundations has asked me to address that subject in a blog.
According to published reports there…
What is Expenditure Responsibility?
Legal Compliance Guidance
Expenditure responsibility is a five step procedure that is designed to ensure that foundation funds are used for exclusively charitable purposes.
The five basic steps that are required for completing expenditure responsibility include:
Conducting a pre-grant inquiry including a reasonable…
Expenditure Responsibility Chart for Private Foundations
Legal Compliance Guidance
This document is a tool to help you as a private foundation determine when to use expenditure responsibility for grants to public charities.
An Innovative Partnership
Ten years ago this month I waddled – enormously pregnant – into a job interview with the founder of a billion dollar healthcare tech company. “I have this crazy idea about education,” he said.
Technology, he hypothesized, could make learning more interesting for students. He saw it as a platform…
Road Trip - Philanthropy Style!
Spring Break Road Trip with my brother and sister almost 20 years ago
With Spring Break behind us, making plans for the end of the school year and summer is in full effect... and we want YOU to know about YOUTH PHILANTRHOPY ON THE ROAD! This summer and fall, we are mixing the best parts of…
The American Dream at Risk: Using the Opportunity Index to Improve Communities
Where you live shouldn’t determine how far you can go in life.
The Opportunity Index is the nation’s first tool to holistically measure opportunity in communities. Connecting multiple economic, educational, and civic factors, the Index is a powerful way for states and counties to track and advance…
Avid about AVID: Student credits success to Destino grantee
This post is part of the #CF100 Series of blog posts. The Council on Foundations is marking the 100th anniversary of the nation’s first community foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, by highlighting the roles of community foundations with this series.
See where it all began at our
Fall…
Energetic middle school students + determined school administrators + Derby Community Foundation Grant = Pure Magic!
This post is part of the #CF100 Series of blog posts. The Council on Foundations is marking the 100th anniversary of the nation’s first community foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, by highlighting the roles of community foundations with this series.
See where it all began at our
Fall…
A Lesson for the Next 100 Years
This post is part of the #CF100 Series of blog posts. The Council on Foundations is marking the 100th anniversary of the nation’s first community foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, by highlighting the roles of community foundations with this series.
See where it all began at our
Fall…
Give. Grow. Create.
This post is part of the #CF100 Series of blog posts. The Council on Foundations is marking the 100th anniversary of the nation’s first community foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, by highlighting the roles of community foundations with this series.
See where it all began at our
Fall…
It takes a lot of NURVE!
This post is part of the #CF100 Series of blog posts. The Council on Foundations is marking the 100th anniversary of the nation’s first community foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, by highlighting the roles of community foundations with this series.
See where it all began at our
Fall…
Saying Yes to a Brighter Future
“When Say Yes launched, I said ‘Yes, here we go! Yes to everything. Yes, you can go to college. Yes, you can accomplish your dreams. Yes, you can be a role model.’”
JAMES GRICE, FATHER OF A SAY YES BUFFALO STUDENT
This post is part of the #CF100 Series of blog posts. The Council on…
Aligning Social Action: In Southern Indiana, Education Matters
This post is part of the #CF100 Series of blog posts. The Council on Foundations is marking the 100th anniversary of the nation’s first community foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, by highlighting the roles of community foundations with this series.
See where it all began at our
Fall…
Learning in Lansing
High school completion program helps refugees of all ages earn their diplomas
This post is part of the #CF100 Series of blog posts. The Council on Foundations is marking the 100th anniversary of the nation’s first community foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, by highlighting the roles of…