Collaboration in Grantmaking: Two Models

1
Collaboration in Grantmaking Two Models

• Power of One Conference
• The Center on Philanthropy
• Hamilton, Bermuda
• February 27-28, 2009

2
Agenda

• Introductions
• Desired Outcomes of this Workshop
• Overview of the Subject
• The Diversity Initiative
• The Capacity Building Fund
• Q A

3
Desired Workshop Outcomes

• Participants gain knowledge about two models of
  grantmaking
• - by groups of funders and
• - to networks of grantees
• Participants are motivated to continue the
  conversation among themselves, towards a goal of
  developing their own programs

4
Third Sector New England

• A leading regional nonprofit capacity-builder
• TSNE activities include
• Executive Transitions Program
• Fiscal Sponsorship
• Grant-making for inclusion/diversity and capacity
  building
• Training and Convening
• Management Consulting
• Development and operation of a 110,000 sq. ft.
  NonProfit Center

5
Some Recent Research

• Center for Effective Philanthropy (Dec. 2008)
• http//www.effectivephilanthropy.org/images/pdfs/C
  EP_More_than_Money.pdf
• To be effective, assistance beyond the grant
  requires a holistic approach and a significant
  investment
• Providing just 2 or 3 kinds of non-monetary
  assistance is ineffective
• GEO (Dec. 2008) http//geofunders.org/getting-sma
  rter.aspx
• The walk trails the talk in key areas of
  grantmaking practice
• Improving the grantor-grantee relationship is
  critical
• Human Interaction Research Institute (Backer,
  2004)
• http//www.humaninteract.org/images/finalrep137.pd
  f
• Eight Considerations for Collaborations in
  Philanthropy

6
The Diversity Initiative Model
Grants via a Pooled, Managed Fund
Fdn
Fdn
Grantee
Grantee
Grantee
TSNE
Grantee
Grantee
Grantee
Grantee
Fdn
Fdn
Grantee
TSNE role makes grants, convenes grantees, TA to
grantees, coordinates Steering Committee
7
The Diversity Initiative Overview

• Going strong for eighteen years
• Unique mission and methodology
• Five formal evaluations

8
The D.I. (continued)

• Genesis
• The Funder Collaborative
• Using an Intermediary for Re-granting
• Selected Evaluation Findings
• Accomplishments
• Drivers of Success
• Barriers
• Going Forward

9
The Capacity Building Fund Model

• Grants to Networks of Nonprofits

• At least five organizations per network
• May pre-exist or come together just for purposes
  of grant-funded work
• Quarterly meetings of each cohort

10
Capacity Building Fund Overview

• Goal maximize impact of limited grant dollars
• Now in its 4th year
• Diverse groups of grantee learning networks
• Two-phase process
• Small planning grants
• Larger, 18-mo. implementation grants
  (competitive)
• Two-level peer learning component quarterly
  convenings

11
CBF Internal Evaluation Results

• Very high grantee satisfaction with two-stage
  grant process
• Planning phase is critical to successful
  collaboration
• 18 early months too short for implementation
• Too to assess ripple effect of networked
  learning
• Some indications that its happening
• Further development of CBF will incorporate
  research on capacity-building learning networks

12
Presenters

• Jonathan Spack, Executive Director, Third Sector
  New England
• jspack_at_tsne.org
• Deborah Linnell, Director of Programs, Third
  Sector New England
• dlinnell_at_tsne.org