Answers to Some FAQs About Program Related Investments (PRIs)

As an alternative to grants, some foundations use a lending instrument known as the program-related investment (PRI). Here is some basic information about the kinds of activities that they support.

A Game of Give and Take

With more and more cities around the country vying for sports franchises, professional teams have become major beneficiaries of corporate welfare -- extracting lucrative subsidies, huge tax breaks, and other financial concessions from the communities in which they play. What are they giving back to those communities in the form of corporate philanthropy?

Athletes, Agents, and Image

For superstar athletes, charitable foundations are about more than good works. They're also good business. Steve Tappan explains why so many athletes are starting foundations-and why their agents insist on it.

Charity for Profit

In some big cities, the quickest way to make friends in high places is to make sizable contributions to elite institutions. Mark Dowie looks at the practice of "power philanthropy," and shows how it threatens the beneficiaries of more traditional grantmaking.

Endowment vs. "Empowerment"

In an interview with National Public Radio's Bob Edwards, historian Peter Dobkin Hall looks at Ted Turner's billion-dollar pledge to the UN and compares it to the philanthropic gifts of earlier tycoons like Carnegie, Rockefeller, and Ford.

Enlightened Investment or Excessive Intrusion?

Venture philanthropy is a hot topic in philanthropic circles. Is it the future of grantmaking or a passing fad? Is it born of genuine commitment to social change or the arrogance of wealthy young elites? Neil Carlson of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy examines the phenomenon and proposes a plan for improvement.

Finding Local Funding: State Foundation Directories

Learning about major foundations is relatively easy these days. Publications like the Foundation Directory are readily accessible, and most national grantmakers have Web sites that explain their giving interests and application policies. But where do you go to find out about the tens of thousands of less visible funders that support locally-based projects and organizations? In many localities there are specialized directories that provide this information. Some are produced by regional associations of grantmakers, some by state attorneys general, and some by for-profit consulting firms or publishers. They come in all shapes and sizes, and they vary widely in quality, utility, and price. Here's a guide to available guides, plus a few pointers on what to look for-and what to avoid.

Foundation Staffing: Facts, Figures… Meaning?

The Foundation Center recently released a detailed report on the staffing patterns of grantmaking foundations. It provides lots of statistical data, but what does any of it mean for grantseekers?

Grantmaker Affinity Groups

The Council on Foundations now recognizes 37 separate affinity groups, voluntary associations of grantmakers interested in specific issues and population groups. Some of these affinity groups operate as informal networks, some function as technical assistance providers for other funders, and a few work as active advocates for a particular cause. Most affinity groups confine their services to grantmakers, but they all have the potential to provide helpful information and expert guidance to grantseekers. How well are they realizing that potential?

Jabberwocky Junkies

Why are RFPs, grant proposals, and other forms of communication among philanthropic organizations littered with jargon? Tony Proscio takes a wry look at our addiction to buzzwords, dissects a few trendy examples, and suggests some ways to kick the habit.

Making Waves

No one has exerted a more profound influence on the shape of international philanthropy than billionaire financier George Soros. Soon his vast network of activist foundations will be operating in 40 countries. Will recent turmoil in world financial markets dampen the pace of his bold initiatives?

Moving Right

Right-wing pundits routinely complain about the left-leaning bias of major foundations, but a new report from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy argues that conservative funders have been much more effective than their progressive counterparts in shaping public policy and achieving ideological ends.

One Program Officer's Candid Tips for Grantseekers

As a program officer with the Kellogg Foundation, Dr. Joel Orosz dispensed frank advice along with grants. Speaking to a gathering of Grantsmanship Center alumni, he provided an insider's perspective on how foundations operate-and how grantseekers should approach them.

RAGS- Linking Local Funders

They go by the humble acronym RAG (the one in Washington, D.C. goes by the doubly humble "WashRAG"), but regional associations of grantmakers can be a valuable resource for local nonprofits. About half the RAGs have developed their own version of a common application form, which allows grantseekers to use a single format when writing proposals to multiple funders. Many hold "Meet the Donor" forums or publish directories that describe their members' grantmaking policies and priorities. Here's the lowdown on which RAGs do--or don't-- offer these services.

Responding to a Funder's Advice

Your agency submits a grant proposal to a longtime funder and the program officer responds with high praise. There's just one hitch-she also wants you to redefine your mission. What's a board to do? Three experts offer their own advice.

Show Us the Money

If you're looking for a grant from one of the many foundations named for athletes, chances are you're looking in vain. Most athletes' foundations support specific causes, but don't make grants.

Social Venture Partners

Started by a civic-minded group of techie millionaires in Seattle, SVP combines charity with collegiality-and has spawned a host of similar associations in other high-tech corridors around the country. Carilu Pozorski looks at the origins and practices of the Seattle group. She also shows how their pursuit of good works resembles that of more traditional service clubs.

Standardizing Foundation Grant Applications

There are 24 regional associations of grantmakers in the U.S., and half of them have already adopted a standardized application format. That may be good news for grantseekers looking for ways to save time and cut paperwork. But a format is only as good as the proposals it produces. Do standardized application forms really promote effective program planning? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each of the various formats?

Struggling to Succeed

With the collapse of communism, tens of thousands of non-governmental organizations have sprung up in Central and Eastern Europe. Despite support from Western donors, this emerging nonprofit sector faces an uphill battle in gaining the confidence of a skeptical citizenry.

The Charitable Gift Fund Phenomenon

No organization can insulate itself completely from employment-related risks. But written policies and a carefully drafted manual can go a long way toward minimizing those risks. Here's what goes into producing such a manual--along with a list of dos and don'ts for job assessment.

When Grantmakers Come Calling

Grantees often view site visits with dread, but the vast majority of grantmakers have fairly benevolent motives for wanting to observe your work. Based on interviews with several experienced program officers, Joel Hoekstra offers eight pointers on preparing for site visits.