Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

by Chloe Heskett on May 1, 2025 at 1:53 pm

In times of political turbulence, the impulse to focus solely on immediate challenges is understandable. Yet history reminds us that democracy has always been a long-term project — one that The post The Long Arc: Philanthropy’s Role in Nurturing Multiracial Democracy appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy.

by [email protected] on May 1, 2025 at 12:00 pm

Data-driven decision-making has become central to education in India. While data provides invaluable insights, using it to shape policy is not without its risks.

by Anna Taylor on April 30, 2025 at 3:15 pm

One powerful way to regain focus in uncertain times is to support those doing work you know is important and relevant. To riff on Mr. Rogers’ famous advice: Don’t just look for the helpers; look for the helpers and help them. As funders, we support organizations advancing change and addressing urgent needs. One of the The post Building Bridges: The Power of Social Capital in Grantmaking appeared first on Exponent Philanthropy.

by Serina Gousby on April 29, 2025 at 2:05 pm

An education nonprofit uses artificial intelligence (AI) to support k-12 students individually to become stronger writers. A metropolitan county deploys AI to forecast which individuals accessing services are at risk The post The AI Wave is Here – And Too Many Funders Are Standing on the Beach appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy.

by [email protected] on April 29, 2025 at 12:00 pm

How collaboratives can accelerate government initiatives to eliminate preventable global health problems, as seen in the case of Reaching the Last Mile Fund’s impact on a neglected tropical disease and the Beginnings Fund’s aim to increase maternal-newborn survival.

by [email protected] on April 28, 2025 at 12:00 pm

How the Bama Works Fund mobilized private, public, and philanthropic capital to transform public housing

by Maggie McGoldrick on April 24, 2025 at 3:32 pm

NCFP’s Trends 2025 study showed that the majority of respondents are paying out more than five percent annually. Here, Maggie McGoldrick covers the various reasons that a funder might significantly increase their payout for a discrete period of time, including to make a big bet, account for programmatic shifts, or respond to a crisis. The IRS requires private foundations to

by Gabriela Alcalde on April 24, 2025 at 2:00 pm

Four years ago, the Sewall Foundation decided to tackle an incongruence in our practice of trust-based philanthropy: how to make multiyear grants within a structure of single-year grants budgets. The The post Trust, Transparency, and Resilience: How a Multiyear Grants Budget Benefits Grantees and Foundation Staff appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy.

by [email protected] on April 24, 2025 at 12:00 pm

In a difficult time when many nonprofits will be forced to close, nonprofit leaders and funders must act to preserve data and other intangible assets.

by [email protected] on April 23, 2025 at 1:00 pm

In the suburbs of Delhi, girls who have survived violence find inspiration in the indomitable spirit of artist-activists like Frida Kahlo and engage with self-portraiture as a means of building self-confidence.

by Alece H.M. Montez on April 22, 2025 at 6:15 pm

A Wake-Up Call for the Sector Exponent Philanthropy’s 2025 Foundation Operations and Management Report (FOMR) sheds a critical light on ongoing and troubling pay disparities in the philanthropic sector. Women in leadership roles, such as CEOs, earn 27% less than their male counterparts. What?! How?! In a field where many of us are committed to The post The Gender Pay Gap Is Getting Worse, Not Better appeared first on Exponent Philanthropy.

by Chloe Heskett on April 22, 2025 at 2:15 pm

Individualism. Competition. Risk aversion. Short-termism. Scarcity. Presumed expertise. Many of the norms by which philanthropy operates perpetuate the very narratives our sector seeks to change. In this series on the CEP The post Spending Stories: What If We Moved from Perpetuity to Purpose? appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy.

by [email protected] on April 21, 2025 at 1:00 pm

A key factor preventing impact investing from reaching its maximum potential is the absence of robust monitoring and learning processes anchored in systems change principles.

by Maggie McGoldrick on April 18, 2025 at 5:57 pm

NCFP strives to connect its members to resources, best practices, and to peer funders. Network News highlights updates from our members and partners, showcasing accomplishments, new approaches or giving areas, innovative ideas, and staff and board transitions, and more.  We encourage our members and parters to email us with news that you would like to be shared. Compton Foundation Leaves

by Peter J. Klein on April 18, 2025 at 5:00 pm

Want more insights? Join author Peter J. Klein on April 29, 2025, from 2:00–3:00 pm ET for the webinar: “Tariffs? The Markets Are in Flux. What Now?” Register here. In today’s unpredictable market and economic environment, foundations face distinctive challenges in advancing their missions amid ongoing market volatility. How can they better understand this uncertainty—especially The post Tariffs and Market Volatility: What Foundations Need to Know appeared first on Exponent Philanthropy.

by Chloe Heskett on April 17, 2025 at 2:24 pm

Individualism. Competition. Risk aversion. Short-termism. Scarcity. Presumed expertise. Many of the norms by which philanthropy operates perpetuate the very narratives our sector seeks to change. In this series on the CEP The post Positioning and Repositioning: What if What We Inherited Doesn’t Have to Be the Legacy We Leave? appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy.

by [email protected] on April 17, 2025 at 12:00 pm

A collaborative funder and fund leader discuss partnerships with local leaders, how to get funds moving where they need to go, and human-centered impact.

by Adriana Cosgriff on April 16, 2025 at 5:00 pm

We’re in a pivotal moment for civil society. Nonprofits are on the front lines of supporting communities across the United States—and philanthropy is a critical partner. As a mission-driven consulting firm working with both nonprofits and funders nationwide, we’re uniquely positioned to hear what’s working—and what’s not. What we’re hearing strongly echoes the principles of The post How Philanthropy Can Help—or Hurt—Right Now appeared first on Exponent Philanthropy.

by [email protected] on April 16, 2025 at 12:00 pm

To close the digital divide, we need a capital market that powers community broadband.

by Mena Boyadzhiev on April 15, 2025 at 2:08 pm

In uncertain times, strong relationships matter more than ever. We’d argue that it’s nearly impossible to build genuinely strong relationships with grantees if you’re not asking them about their challenges The post How Can You Know If You Don’t Ask? Nonprofits Report Primary Concerns in Recent CEP Surveys appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy.