NNCG Knowledge Center

Inform Your Practice. Increase Your Impact.

Welcome to NNCG's Knowledge Center -- a searchable, online database of resources for and about grantmaking, produced by highly qualified and experienced philanthropy consultants. NNCG's Knowledge Center contains a wealth of reports, case studies, infographics, issue briefs, videos and more that offer ideas, research and helpful information about almost every aspect of philanthropy. Each item was authored or published by an NNCG member. NNCG constructed the Knowledge Center in partnership with Candid -- one of the most respected and trusted sources of information in the philanthropic field.
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Pathways to Grow Impact: Philanthropy's Role in the Journey

February 14, 2013

Since 2010, through the "Scaling What Works" initiative, GEO has fostered a conversation about scale that considers a variety of ways nonprofits are creating more value for communities and how funders are supporting their work. GEO's newest publication, "Pathways to Grow Impact", shares new learning about the role grantmakers should play. The publication is the result of a collaborative project with Ashoka, Social Impact Exchange, Taproot Foundation and TCC Group that sought to answer the question: How can grantmakers best support high-performing nonprofits in their efforts to grow their impact? "Pathways to Grow Impact" is for any grantmaker who wants his or her grant dollars to have a greater effect. The publication offers a framework for understanding different approaches to scaling impact, stories from nonprofit leaders who have successfully grown their organizations' impact, and practical recommendations for grantmakers seeking more effective ways to achieve better results.

Engaging Philanthropy in the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Lessons Learned and Ways Forward

September 24, 2015

Since its inception in July 2014, the Post-2015 Partnership Platform for Philanthropy -- soon to be called the SDG Philanthropy Platform or Platform for short -- has created vital linkages between an emergent philanthropy sector from around the world, the United Nations (UN) and some governments. It is leveraging the strengths of these stakeholders to contribute to the achievement and localization of the SDGs. Several key successes can be claimed:A clear track has been created for philanthropy to engage more deeply and in a more unified manner with the UN-led SDG process through concerted advocacy, communications and awareness-raising strategies.Progress has been made towards creating a global knowledge base around philanthropy's significant role in development initiatives around the world.Credible strides have been made in developing a data repository on philanthropic giving.

Beyond Almonds and Blond Lawns: Investing in Non-Profit Organizations To Sustain Central Valley Communities Beyond the Drought

September 1, 2015

California and the San Joaquin Valley are in the midst of the worst drought in state history. Due to record low rainfall and snowpack, in January 2015 Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought State of Emergency and introduced drastic water cuts, including a 25% reduction of water use by all cities. The drought has caused significant disruption and distress in urban and rural water use, agricultural livelihoods, the larger economy, and day-to-day activities of residents across the state.The San Joaquin Valley is particularly hard-hit, with rural and low-income communities especially hurt by the drought, in the context of long-term changes in the agricultural economy, historically low economic development, poor infrastructure, and a frayed social-safety net.In spring 2015, the Fresno Regional Foundation began examining the impacts of the drought on San Joaquin Valley non-profit organizations that have been at the forefront of helping struggling individuals, families, and communities. This project focuses on community-benefit organizations (CBOs) to highlight the often hidden community-level impacts of the drought, since non-profits have not been the focus of previous studies, and because these organizations provide the critical link between philanthropic strategy and lasting social impact.The project gathered information and feedback from nonprofits through an on-line survey of San Joaquin Valley organizations, a series of stakeholder interviews, and four workshops with CBO leaders in Fresno, Merced, Visalia, and Bakersfield. The report ends with conclusions and recommendations for how foundations and other investors can best assist CBOs to improve their impact and better serve vulnerable populations in the Valley.

Fostering Commitment and Leadership for Philanthropy's Engagement in Post-2015 Development Agenda in Kenya

November 21, 2014

Our first pilot country launch in Kenya of the Post-2015 Partnership Platform for Philanthropy brought together over 80 participants from the philanthropic sector, UN system, civil society, business and government to expand the dialogue toward a more systemic approach to development challenges, exchange and deepen understanding across sectors, glean priorities for data gathering and use, and to sow the seeds for deeper collaboration on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The workshop also provided an opportunity to discuss themes such as financial inclusion and youth employment, education, and women's rights and empowerment.

Building Great Communities: Consider an Age-Friendly Community Assessment

June 12, 2014

As a funder, assessing the age-friendliness of your community can provide information that will guide future grantmaking. Also, an assessment can be a tool to engage stakeholders in efforts to make your community work better for older people. This article describes:The steps to take before beginning a community assessment processWays to assure the data collected leads to actionKey community stakeholdersFive assessment tools for funders who wish to help their community become more age-friendly

Catalytic Philanthropy In India

March 1, 2012

Catalytic Philanthropy is still in its infancy in India. Despite this, there are a surprising number of exemplary cases where Indian philanthropists are creating large-scale social change far beyond the resources invested. This report highlights these practices as well as the key issues that need to be addressed to accelerate its evolution.

Collaboration and Connection: How Foundations Partner Effectively to Address Their Community's Information Needs

February 9, 2012

Offers examples and tips for partnering with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors on community news and information projects, including finding the right partner by assessing organizational capacity, community assets, compatibility, and structure.

Knight Community Information Challenge: 2011 Evaluation Findings

February 8, 2012

Highlights, in slides, findings from an annual evaluation of the media and journalism grant program and progress in increasing community and place-based foundations' engagement with information needs and in creating more informed and engaged communities.

Channeling Change: Making Collective Impact Work

January 20, 2012

Large-scale social change requires broad cross-sector coordination, yet the social sector remains focused on the isolated intervention of individual organizations. Substantially greater progress could be made in alleviating many of our most serious and complex social problems if nonprofits, governments, businesses, and the public were brought together around a common agenda to create collective impact. Published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, Winter 2011.

Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing, and Civic Engagement in the Gulf/Midsouth Region

May 10, 2011

Analyzes the monetary benefits and policy impacts twenty advocacy and community organizing groups achieved for marginalized populations with foundation support in 2005-09 in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Makes recommendations for funders.

Grantmaking to Communities of Color in Oregon

January 18, 2011

This report, prepared by the Foundation Center at the request of Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington, examines the extent to which domestically focused grantmaking by Oregon foundations in 2008 reached Oregon's communities of color, and situates this in the context of the state's changing demographics.

The State of Funding to Address Community Information Needs Among Community Foundations

November 30, 2010

Updates the May 2010 report The State of Funding in Information and Media Among Community and Place-Based Foundations. Presents findings on trends in community foundation support for community information needs, types of projects, and barriers.

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