Embracing Better Ways of Operating
Collaboration Is Key for Minnesota’s “Race to the Top”
RACE TO THE CAPITOL
The call came to West Central Initiative early in the work day on Dec. 17: Minnesota was one of nine states chosen for the Department of Education’s Race to the Top early childhood challenge grant.
We greeted the news with excitement. West Central Initiative is part of a…
How Volunteering Has Impacted Me to the CORE
by Elizabeth Douglass
July was an incredibly busy month for me this year. Not only did I marry my best friend, I also started working as a volunteer teacher for Computer Community Outreach and Education (Computer CORE), a nonprofit based in Alexandria, Va. Computer CORE is a place where low-income…
Grantmaking and Emergency Recovery: Ensuring the Show Goes On
by Sandra Macías del Villar
Emergencies are bound to happen. While there have been dramatic improvements in disaster preparedness and increased attention to mitigation, the outcomes of natural or man-made disasters are mostly unpredictable. In recent years we have seen a slew of catastrophes…
Learning How to Give Away Money
by Amanda Hsiung
As a relative newcomer to global grantmaking, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to attend the Global Grantmaking Institute this week to strengthen my understanding of the field. Attending the institute has not only provided me with useful background knowledge, however. It's…
Building Systemic Change From the Ground Up
by Stephanie De Wolfe
At this week's Global Grantmaking Institute, much of our discussion has focused on the role of communities in fostering lasting systemic change. Engaging community actors who work closely with vulnerable populations is a key factor. Focusing on community-based organizations (…
Managing Expectations, Coping With Realities
Fundamentals
by Lee Draper
Every year, scores of individuals are recruited to join the program staff of foundations. As program officers or directors, they allocate billions of dollars to the nonprofit organizations doing work in our communities and abroad.
Despite being charged with such responsibility,…