Hosted by Grantmakers Forum of New York
April 27-28, 2011
Syracuse, NY
Sponsored by
Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust
The Dorothy and Marshall M. Reisman Foundation
Marie C. and Joseph C. Wilson Foundation
With additional assistance for this event from the Central New York Community Foundation and Wegmans Food Markets
Essential Skills and Strategies for Grantmakers (ESS) is a comprehensive, nationally developed, curriculum which will provide upstate New York grantmakers with the skills and tools to be more effective in their work, and increase their impact for the nonprofit organizations that benefit our communities.
The curriculum consists of seven modules, designed by grantmakers and piloted through the Council on Foundations and the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers.
Click
the title below to view the learning objectives of the module.
1. Being Grounded in Philanthropy
2. Navigating Legal and Ethical Issues
3. Making Sound Funding Recommendations
4. Communicating Funding Recommendations and Decisions
5. Managing Your Grant Portfolio
6. Maximizing Grant Impact
7. Strategies for Professional Excellence and Personal Satisfaction
Being Grounded in Philanthropy
Understand:
• The role of philanthropy in society
• Key events in the development of philanthropy
• The infrastructure that supports grantmakers• Current issues and debates about philanthropy
Be able to:
• Function with an awareness of the macro context in which you are working
• Benefit from the collective experiences and knowledge in the field of philanthropy
Navigating Legal and Ethical Issues
Understand:
• Six basic rules all grantmakers must live by
• Ethical issues common to grantmakers
• Strategies for managing ethical challenges
Be able to:
• Conduct grantmaking that is within customary due diligence requirements
• Recognize and manage ethical challenges
Making Sound Funding Recommendations
Understand:
• Typical steps and best practices used in the proposal review process
• Issues to consider in arriving at a funding recommendation
Be able to:
• Gather applicant information• Assess the viability of the applicant and proposed project
• Make defensible funding decisions
Communicating Funding Recommendations and Decisions
Understand:
• Perspectives foundation leaders and trustees bring to funding decisions
• Typical steps and best practices in the funding recommendation process
• Issues and strategies for delivering funding decisions to applicants• Responsibilities and best practices in foundation communications
Be able to:
• Craft and deliver compelling funding recommendations
• Craft and deliver final funding decisions to grantseekers in an effective and respectful manner• Communicate as a responsible member of the philanthropic community and your organization
Managing Your Grant Portfolio
Understand:
• Standard expectations and requirements of grants management
• Typical issues and effective practices in grants management
Be able to:
• Monitor grants
• Anticipate and oversee grant implementation problems
• Support grantee success
• Learn from grant experiences
Maximizing Grant Impact
Understand:
• Common strategies outside the grantmaking framework for achieving greater good
• Key strengths and constraints of each strategy• When and how strategies can be employed
Be able to:
• Consider the use of complementary strategies to enhance the probability of success and the positive impact of individual grants, your portfolio, and your mission
Strategies for Professional Excellence and Personal Satisfaction
Understand:
• Skills and strategies for harmonizing personal well-being and professional excellence as a grantmaker
• Inherent tensions in the role of the grantmaker• Issues and changes in the field
• Opportunities and resources for continuous learning, development, and enjoyment as a grantmaker
Be able to:
• Reflect on your situation, skills, and strategies for professional effectiveness, and personal satisfaction• Manage inherent tensions of the grantmaker role
• Stay well-informed on emerging knowledge and practices of, and resources in, the field
• Be an engaged, content, and effective practitioner long-term