It’s not as easy as many think....

It should never be about just giving money away.  The need will always outweigh the resources.  Therefore, finding the “bright bulb” and good idea in a mass of many -- that is, knowing how and what to invest in to make a difference -- is challenging work.  And though the areas that foundations invest in are dictated by donor intent, there are many other aspects to be decided.  As a result, many foundations routinely struggle these key strategic questions:

1. •    Do we fund best practices or innovation?
   

2. •    Do we fund start-up or mature nonprofits?
   

3. •    Do we make fewer, bigger grants or spread the resources more broadly?
   

4. •    What is our “value add” beyond grant dollars and how can we leverage that?
   

5. •    What does success look like for us?
   

6. •    How do we support nonprofit capacity building effectively?
   

7. •    Are we organizationally structured and staffed properly to do the work?
   

8. •    Do we want to assert a brand? And if so, what is it?
   

9. •    How much “credit” do we want for our work or do we let our grantees take “center stage?”
   

Though all foundations or grant makers struggle with these key issues broadly, different types of foundations have unique additional challenges.  With direct experience working in and with all types of foundations -- from private foundations to community foundations and corporate philanthropies -- Loflin Consulting Solutions can help you align your strategic mission and grant making model with donor intent and aspirations behind your social investments.