Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

by Chloe Heskett on May 15, 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 The post Reconsidering Our Relationship to Power: What If Philanthropy’s Greatest Resource Isn’t Financial but Relational Capital? appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy.

by Chloe Heskett on May 13, 2025 at 2:17 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 The post If You Know You Know: What If Philanthropy is Mistaking Wealth for Expertise? appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy.

by Kevin Bolduc on May 8, 2025 at 2:11 pm

This is the first in a series of occasional chats among some of CEP’s staff we’ll be posting on the blog, in which they discuss the current context for philanthropy The post In Conversation: About Those 100-and-Some Days appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy.

by Brendan McCormick on May 6, 2025 at 8:30 pm

Health insurance is one of the most common benefits lean foundations offer their staff, alongside paid time off and retirement plans. According to the 2025 Foundation Operations and Management Report, 76% of foundations provide health insurance for full-time employees. One of the most frequently discussed topics in our Member Discussion Community is securing health insurance The post How Lean Foundations Give Employees Health Insurance appeared first on Exponent Philanthropy.

by Chloe Heskett on May 6, 2025 at 2:03 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 The post Leaning Into Abundance: What If Philanthropy’s Potential Wasn’t Limited by Manufactured Scarcity? appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy.

by Maggie McGoldrick on May 5, 2025 at 2:27 pm

A thriving democracy and reproductive rights are inextricably linked, argues Risa Kaufman. Here, she outlines how The Overbrook Foundation funds at this intersection and why funders who embrace the interconnected nature of today’s challenges can have greater impact. Urgent issues do not exist in silos. Rather, they are cross-cutting and interdependent, particularly in a rapidly changing landscape. Efforts to address

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 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 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 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 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

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 potential impact of tariffs—on their financial health and long-term sustainability? A Quick History Lesson For nearly 40 years, declining interest rates served as a powerful tailwind for investors, 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 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 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.

by Glenmede on April 8, 2025 at 1:45 pm

Note: Glenmede’s research and strategy teams are working continuously to review new data and market events.  We welcome conversations with Glenmede if you have questions about the impacts for your foundation.   President Trump’s tariff announcements on April 2 were broader than expected and have led to a negative global equity market reaction. Economic implications The post A Tariff and Market Analysis Update – 4/4/2025 appeared first on Exponent Philanthropy.

by Exponent Philanthropy on March 26, 2025 at 7:45 pm

Family foundations are a cornerstone of philanthropy, channeling generational wealth into impactful grantmaking and community initiatives. These foundations are often guided by the values, traditions, and priorities of a donor family, resulting in distinct governance structures, staffing patterns, and grantmaking approaches. Whether entirely family-run or including nonfamily board members, family foundations play a vital role The post Family Foundation Trends from the 2025 Operations and Management Report appeared first on Exponent Philanthropy.