Donor How-To’s
The practice of philanthropy can be complicated. This series of briefs offers clear and concise discussions of such issues as anonymous giving, making pledges, naming rights, gift agreements, working with consultants, and many other topics. These briefs are designed to equip emerging donors with the knowledge they need to avoid mistakes and maximize their impact.
Many donors like capital projects, such as helping fund a new building. But these investments also have downsides that donors need to consider.
Community foundations play an important role in the world of philanthropy and can help donors navigate the challenges of giving effectively.
There are many benefits to using donor-advised funds, which is why they’ve become so popular. But there are some drawbacks, too.
In its most basic form, a donor collaborative is any group of funders working together to increase their impact. Here’s how they work.
Smart donors take some time to look into the charities they may want to fund — checking out a group’s leadership, other funders, finances, and more.
Should you set up a private foundation? Here are the pros and cons, along with what’s involved.
Family foundations can create a path to multi-generational giving. But these foundations take work and family dynamics can be complicated.
Should your donations to nonprofits come with restrictions? That’s an important question for donors to think carefully about.
If you’re making large donations, it’s important to know about charitable gift agreements — what they are and how they’re structured.
Not every donor wants to be acknowledged and there are a number of ways to stay out of the limelight — even when making major donations.
Done right, grant applications can be a way for donors to cast a wider net and identify more organizations they may want to support.
While it can be reasonable for foundations to know how their funds were used, asking for grant reports should be done carefully.
Funding intermediaries help donors give with greater confidence, especially in areas where it’s hard to identify strong nonprofits.
There’s a lot to know about what’s happening in philanthropy and how to give effectively. Funder groups help you get plugged in.
Pledges are common for major capital campaigns or long-term donors giving multi-year support.
Naming opportunities can exist at various levels, for donors interested in such recognition, and the structure of these arrangements can vary.
To be an effective philanthropist requires research, technical know-how, and a solid theory of change. Philanthropic consultants can help.
Yes, donors can back out of a pledge if they have a good reason. But it can be complicated to do so and there are a number of thorny issues that may come up.
Many donors want to see what they’re funding and nonprofits can be eager to host them. Here’s what to expect from a typical site visit.
Placing trust in nonprofits can help offset the unequal power dynamic that can be inherent in philanthropy.
Venture philanthropists embrace a set of practices aimed at helping nonprofits scale quickly and have a greater impact. Here’s what to know.