Establishing Strategic Grantmaking Priorities
By A. Scott DuPree and David Winder with Cristina Parnetti, Chandni Prasad and Shari Turitz | August 2000 | View Full Text | Email Link

Abstract

This is a chapter from the Foundation Building Sourcebook: A Practitioners Guide Based on Experience in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The chapter addresses the issue of establishing strategic priorities for grantmaking programs. It looks at how foundations have selected issues and geographic focus in order to achieve impact. It also explores the issue of how foundations adjust their programs in response to new needs and opportunities.

Examples
- Leveraging New Innovative Approaches: Children and Youth Foundation of the Philippines
- Rethinking Grantmaking Priorities: Equal Opportunity Foundation (South Africa)
- Broadening Priorities in Response to New Opportunities and Resources: Foundation for Higher Education (Colombia)

Summary Points
- Needs assessment can assist foundations in determining grantmaking priorities.
- Foundations need to establish a clear program focus by theme and/or geography.
- Program priorities may change in response to new opportunities and resources.
- Program focus may change in reaction to macro-political transformation.

Funding for the Sourcebook was provided by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, with additional support from Aga Khan Foundation Canada, the Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium, Avina, Inc., the Ford Foundation and the Open Society Institute.

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Foundation-Building & Philanthropic Practices | Grantmaking | Organizational Development & Learning | Foundation-Building & Philanthropy Tools & Sample Documents | Foundation & Philanthropy Case Studies | Africa (Sub-Saharan) | South Africa | Americas | Colombia | The Philippines | Southeast Asia