FPLG COVID-19 RESPONSE
FOUNDATIONS GRANTS
FOUNDATION GRANTS
[UPDATE: May 26, 2020]
Now, over two months into the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, many foundations appear to be stepping up to the plate to increase their grant-making and to relax reporting and compliance rules.
This temporary change may herald a more permanent reevaluation of foundation grant practices to reflect a movement that was beginning to gain steam pre-pandemic: that is, “participatory grantmaking.”
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[April 3, 2020]
For some time, certain philanthropy thought leaders have advocated for significant changes in how the nation’s foundations structure and operate their grant programs.
As the enormity of the pandemic calamity about to sweep our nation became evident, a coalition of major foundations emerged ready to, at least temporarily, ease up grant restrictions and procedures. So far, over 500 foundations have signed a pledge to “stop conducting business as usual with their grantees.”
Among the most significant of the eight promises is “eliminating restrictions on current grants, including turning project-based grants to unrestricted support, accelerating payment schedules, and not holding grantees liable for missed deadlines or canceled events.
This is welcome news for current recipients but also may be a harbinger of future – more permanent – changes to a “trust-based philanthropy.
The public-health and economic crises posed by the coronavirus present grant makers with an urgent opportunity to loosen and eliminate restrictions on current grants — to help grantees who are serving communities on the front lines of this pandemic. And while flexible funding is coming into view as an effective tool during a time of emergency, committing to it now can help build powerful trust between foundations and grantees for the long term.
— Kathy Reich, Ford Foundation (4/30/20)
In times of crisis, trust and collaboration are essential. We urge the philanthropic community to consider how a trust-based approach can be a particularly effective way to support nonprofit partners in concrete, meaningful ways.
— Shaadi Salehy, Trust-Based Philanthropy Project (3/17/20)
REFERENCES & RESOURCES
- Foundation Requests for Proposals for Covid-19 Relief (May 13- May 18) (May 19, 2020) M.J. Priest, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
- Wealthy Donors to Congress: Make Us Give More to Charity (May 13, 2020) Alex Daniels, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
- Foundation Requests for Proposals for Covid-19 Relief (MAY 12, 2020) M.J. Priest, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
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The pro-grantee revolution: day two (May 12, 2020) Matthew Gerken, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
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Small Foundations Shifting Funding Due To COVID (May 11, 2020) The Nonprofit Times
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3 Guiding Principles for Grant Makers Seeking a Covid-19 Playbook (May 8, 2020) Caryl M. Stern, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
- Half of Small Grant Makers Are Giving More (May 7, 2020) Alex Daniels, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
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Giving Cash to the Neediest Becomes Newly Popular With Wealthy Donors and Foundation (April 23, 2020) Alex Daniels, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
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Nearly 700 Foundations Join Pledge to Ease Grant Restrictions (April 22, 2020) Alex Daniels, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
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Essential Questions for Foundation Boards in a Time of Crisis (April 21, 2020) Anne Wallestad, BoardSource
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Foundations, knock it off with the philanthropic Sophie’s Choices and increase your payout (April 19, 2020) Vu Le
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Why Grantmakers Need to Break Their Restriction Habit—Permanently (April 17, 2020) Claire Knowlton, The Nonprofit Quarterly
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Wallace Global Fund Pledges to Spend 20 Percent of Assets in 2020 (April 15, 2020) Candid, Philanthropy News Digest
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Fulfilling Philanthropy’s COVID-19 Pledge: Listening in a Time of Crisis (April 9, 2020) Valerie Threlfall, Melinda Tuan & Fay Twersky, Center for Effective Philanthropy
- Another Foundation Doubles its Grants Budget, Another Call for Philanthropy to Step Up (April 2, 2020) Ruth McCambridge, The Nonprofit Quarterly
- Some Good News: Funders are Stepping Up (March 26, 2020) Linda J. Rosenthal, J.D., For Purpose Law Group Blog
- What Nonprofits Need and How Foundations Should Respond (March 24, 2020) Ben Gose, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
- Philanthropy’s “Call to Action” (March 24, 2020) William A. Schambra, The Giving Review
- A ‘New New Normal’ for Foundation Giving: 3 Acts That Will Make a Difference (March 20, 2020) Antony Bugg-Levine, Nonprofit Finance Fund
- Top Foundations Unite to Give Charities More Freedom Over Grants (March 19, 2020) Alex Daniels, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
- Now Is the Time for Philanthropy to Give More, Not Less (March 19, 2020) Aaron Dorfman, NCRP, and Ellen Dorsey, Wallace Global Fund
- A Call to Action: Philanthropy’s Commitment During COVID-19 (March 2020) Council on Foundations
- Philanthropy Has a Duty to Respond Quickly to the COVID-19 Outbreak. Here’s How We Can Do It (March 18, 2020) Lori Bezahler, Inside Philanthropy
- Philanthropy Needs To Trust Nonprofits Now More Than Ever (March 17, 2020) Shaadi Salehi, Trust-Based Philanthropy Project
- Funders Must Step Up – Right Now! (March 16, 2020) Linda J. Rosenthal, J.D., For Purpose Law Group Blog
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