Center for Effective Philanthropy

"We actually have a profound opportunity: To advance true shared listening models where funders partner with and resource their grantees to carry out some of the tasks related to listening, yet learn together from community feedback." NEW on the CEP blog, Valerie Threlfall of Listen4Good shares her key insights from CEP's "Voices That Matter" report, revealing critical gaps in how foundations approach nonprofit feedback - and what can be done about it. Read her insights here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eWwVBsEG #funders #listening #feedback #nonprofits #community #philanthropy

We have only a few slots left in this program (begins this Fall) for foundation CEOs focused on effective leadership. With a mix of peer-to-peer learning and guest speakers and both in person and virtual components, this program will help leaders hone their skills -- and find community -- in a very challenging time. Let me know if you're interested. https://lnkd.in/eE4NAFKG

▶️ Watch Now: Navigating Complexity and Challenge Right Now: Nonprofits' Needs and Funder Responses If you weren't able to join us for last week's conversation on nonprofit needs and funder responses in this uniquely challenging environment, find it now on CEP's YouTube channel. This is a must-listen conversation featuring deep insight into the nonprofit experience right now from Gregg C. of UTEC as well as insight on funder responses and considerations from Melinda Tuan of Fund for Shared Insight, Shelly Prichard of Wichita Foundation, and Candice Jones of Public Welfare Foundation. CEP's Elisha Smith Arrillaga, Ph.D. shares insight from CEP's recent research, and Phil Buchanan guides the conversation. Watch it now 👉 https://lnkd.in/e5SnS3ey

➕ 1 - join us this fall in Los Angeles, philanthropy leaders! Find out more here 👉 https://cep2025.org/ #gather #conference #philanthropy #leaders

"[P]eople's perceptions of their own listening behaviors may not always align with reality." NEW on the CEP blog, Melinda Tuan and Rick Moyers of Fund for Shared Insight discuss the findings of CEP's new report on funder and nonprofit listening practices, the cost for philanthropy when funders overestimate their ability to listen or their understanding of those they seek to serve, and the opportunity ahead. Read it here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eSUpyJCj #funders #listening #feedback #research #community #philanthropy

How well do funders understand the communities they seek to serve, according to their nonprofit partners? 📉 71 percent of foundation leaders believe their funding priorities are “very well aligned” with community needs, but survey data from nonprofit leaders reflects a different reality. In the chart below, nonprofit leaders report on how they perceive their funders' understandings of the communities they serve - in 2013, and now. Read more about this perception gap in CEP's new report, "Voices That Matter" 👉 https://lnkd.in/eQxMv-wm #research #perception #gap #funders #philanthropy #nonprofits #listening #feedback #community #socialimpact

Happening now: Greg Croteau, CEO of UTEC shares the impact on his organization of federal funding cuts, and Elisha Smith Arrillaga, Ph.D. shares data from CEP's State of Nonprofits report on how nonprofits are faring right now. Soon, panelists Melinda Tuan of Fund for Shared Insight, Shelly Prichard of Wichita Foundation, and Candice Jones of Public Welfare Foundation join us for a discussion moderated by Phil Buchanan. Join us live, or look for a recording that will be sent to all registrants after the event 👉 https://lnkd.in/ekK9RF5s #discussion #inconversation #research #stateofnonprofits #funding #philanthropy

🎯 "Understanding current practices around feedback collection has never been more critical for organizations that are serious about maximizing their impact." NEW on the blog, CEP's Seara Grundhoefer explores findings from CEP's recent research reports, revealing a key disconnect between foundations' self-perception and nonprofits' reality when it comes to understanding community needs. Read more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dhn-ryvb #philanthropy #nonprofits #communityengagement #foundations #listening #impact #feedback

📢 NEW CEP RESEARCH 📢 "Voices That Matter" examines how both nonprofits and foundations listen to and understand the communities they support, and reveals a significant disconnect between how foundations view their understanding of community needs and how nonprofits perceive that understanding. 📍 71% of foundation leaders believe their funding priorities are "very well aligned' with community needs. 📉 But less than a quarter of a nonprofit leaders report that most or all of their funders have funding priorities that reflect a deep understanding of those they seek to benefit. The gap between funders and nonprofits extends to support for the work of listening to community, too. 📍 92% of foundation leaders cite their nonprofit partners' expertise as most useful for shaping their work. 📉 Only 40% of foundations provide any assistance to their funded nonprofits specifically for feedback collection. And nonprofits cite "lack of capacity" as the top challenge when it comes to collecting community feedback. Read more in CEP's latest report 👉 https://lnkd.in/eQxMv-wm #listening #feedback #understanding #communityvoice #funders #nonprofits #research #report #insight #philanthropy

🔀 NEW on the CEP blog, EPIM (European Philanthropic Initiative for Migration) shares insight into "a bold step not without risk": the years-long process of reimagining its core structure, grantmaking, and leadership model, in pursuit of a truly collaborative approach that would serve the needs of an evolving and complex migration ecosystem in Europe. The collaborative offers up lessons learned and insights into their model in a thoughtful reflection from Raphaela Schweiger of Robert Bosch Stiftung, and EPIM co-directors Sophie Ngo-Diep (she/her) and Hrishabh Sandilya. Read their story here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eeBsRkx4   #philanthropy #funders #impact #collaboration #collaborativefunds #migration #immigration #europe #charitablegiving