Five Mistakes to Avoid When Pursuing Strategic Grantmaking and Impact Philanthropy

Putnam Consulting Group
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Five Mistakes to Avoid When Pursuing Strategic Grantmaking and Impact Philanthropy Giving Compass

Giving Compass’ Take:

• Kris Putnam-Walkerly provides suggestions for grantmakers and foundation members of ways to avoid potential mistakes during the process and increase impact philanthropy.  

•  How can grantmakers connect with each other to share these strategies? 

• PEAK Grantmaking also released a list of grantmaking pitfalls to avoid.

The term “strategic philanthropy” is everywhere these days. That’s not surprising, since most funders are looking for ways to increase their impact philanthropy.

Being more strategic can be a complex undertaking — and like every complex undertaking, shifting toward strategic grantmaking comes with multiple pitfalls and opportunities to make mistakes. That’s okay. Mistakes can provide valuable information for ongoing learning, which is a key part of strategic grantmaking. Acknowledging and acting on them only serves to make your efforts stronger.

That said, there are some common pitfalls that any foundation can avoid with a little forethought:

  • Not asking “why”. There is a tendency when discussing new ideas for philanthropy to rush headlong into strategies and tactics without carefully thinking through the why behind the strategy.
  • Putting all your eggs in one basket. Throwing caution to the wind and engaging full bore in a new strategy may be tempting for some, but when it comes to long-term effectiveness and impact, a slower, more intentional shift will bring greater clarity for your team and greater support from your community.
  • Not communicating. The beginning of an exploration into strategic grantmaking is the time to step up communication and transparency.
  • Being too prescriptive. There is a difference between identifying an issue and identifying a solution.
  • Believing you can’t make a difference. If you don’t believe it, no one else will either. When it comes to strategic grantmaking, there’s no such thing as too small, too conservative, or too restricted in scope to make a difference.

Read the full article about impact philanthropy by Kris Putnam-Walkerly at Putnam Consulting Group.

Since you are interested in Impact Philanthropy, have you read these selections from Giving Compass related to impact giving and Impact Philanthropy?

  • This article is deemed a must-read by one or more of our expert collaborators.
    Click here for more.
    Low Income, Minority Schools Are Losing Resources

    Congress should provide incentives to states to change school funding formulas that often shortchange districts serving the most low-income and minority students, according to a report released Thursday by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. As poverty becomes increasingly concentrated, the report notes, education funding disparities often leave schools ill-equipped to provide students an adequate education. The report, Commission Chair Catherine Lhamon said, is “distressingly topical” as public outrage mounts in Baltimore, where schools closed last week after 60 buildings reported heating problems “after years of insufficient funding.” Before the closures, students were attending classes wearing coats, gloves, and hats. On average, school districts in the U.S. spend roughly $11,000 per pupil each year, with an overwhelming majority of that money derived from local tax dollars, a figure that fluctuates based on wealth. As a result, the report notes, the country’s poorest districts receive an average of $1,200 less per pupil than their wealthiest counterparts. Similarly, districts with the most students of color receive about $2,000 less per pupil than the whitest schools. Although the federal government provides only a fraction of schools’ total education dollars, the report called on Congress to take “bold action” to ensure local and state governments provide resources equitably. Read the full article about low income, minority schools by Mark Keierlbeber at The 74.

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