A Call to Action

Organizing to Increase the Effectiveness and Impact of Foundation Grantmaking

Rick Cohen

2007, 24 pages. National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, 2001 S Street NW, Suite 620, Washington, D.C. 20009, 202-387-9177, www.ncrp.org

Download pdf: www.ncrp.org

This report, by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, urges foundations to provide non-profits with more support for core operations. Historically, many foundations have preferred to fund specific projects rather than administrative, infrastructure, and overhead expenses. The report features commentary from over 120 nonprofits from all over the U.S., who are frustrated with the limitations that are created by project-specific funding and the difficulty it creates for them when dealing with crises, starting new initiatives, maintaining and improving organizational infrastructure, and paying salaries. It calls for foundations to allocate 50 per-cent of their grants and 50 percent of their grant dollars for flexible operating support grants, and outlines the positive outcomes that result from such operating grants to nonprofits.