Erica V. Ekwurzel, CFRE, MPAffAdvocacy In Motion

Caroline Newman Phillips, MPAffAustin Public Education Foundation

Texas Education Foundation Network Conference

April 10, 2015

Understanding the Foundation Landscape◦ Statistics on Family & Private Grantmakers

Utilizing the Donor Cycle to secure funding!◦ Identification: Finding grantmakers◦ Cultivation: Building relationships with funders◦ Solicitation: How the process works◦ Stewardship: Sustaining strong relationships

Types of Funding Organizations◦ Corporate giving programs◦ Community foundations◦ Grantmaking public charities◦ Private foundations

Family Independent Corporate

In 2012, there were 86,192 active, grantmaking foundations in the U.S.

~90% had endowments of less than $10 million with $88 billion in total endowments.

Most of these are family foundations.

Private foundations are required to make grants of at least 5% of their average assets annually.

Education is consistently the top priority of all types of foundations.

Source: Foundation Center

Source: Giving USA Foundation – GIVING USA 2014

Small Foundations (90%--under $10M)

Large Foundations (10%--over $10M)

Staff Few or no staff Multi-level staff

Public profile Keep a low profile Publicize, share data, and advocate

Geographic scope

Tend to fund locally More expansive; local/ national/ international

Grant size 4-5-figure, one-year 5-6-figure, multi-year

Motivation Storytelling Statistics

Metrics Informal Reporting Formal Evaluation

Cultivation Best to approach through personal relationships!

Source: CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education

Network locally Online resources:

◦ Foundation Center: www.foundationcenter.org

◦ Guidestar: www.guidestar.org

◦ Urban Institute: http://nccs.urban.org/statistics

◦ FC Cooperating Collections: http://foundationcenter.org/collections/cctx.html 20+ Cooperating Collections around Texas Electronic & Print Resources such as:

The Foundation Directory Online Professional Philanthropy In/Sight

National Center for Charitable Statistics Search by Texas County View Board Members See Past Grants (by IRS Form 990s)

Download 2013 version at: http://commit2dallas.org/giving-profile/

Download 2014 version at: http://centraltexasedfunders.org/giving-profile/

Private Foundation Website Grant guidelines & funding priorities Current & past grantees Grant process & timeline Annual reports Staff & board biographies General information/FAQ

In a survey of family foundations by Foundation Source, 58% said it is very important that:

“Someone I know and respect is closely involved or has asked me to support the

project.”

Site visits “Friendraising” events Maximize your board relationships Leverage your current funder base Storytelling and/or Statistics = Success Collaborating closely with foundation staff Transparency and trust-building

1-Step & “Texas 2-Step” Brief Amount requested Specific purpose of funds Why it is needed Who it will help & how many What you hope to accomplish

Full Proposal Many foundations have their own application. Most small foundations do not want a long

proposal. Be direct and honest. Be accountable to project goals and budget

needs. Cut the jargon talk. State how your work differs from other similar

organizations/programs.

Don’t Expect Quick Results Often part-time philanthropists Small or no staff 3 or 4 funding cycles annually

Don’t Let a Rejection Discourage You

•Rejection is part of the process of finding funding.

•Listen to the rationale for the decline and incorporate into future decision-making.

•Reasons for rejection may have nothing to do with the quality of your program or proposal:- Funding priorities may have changed

- Reached annual quota for funding

- Timing/ Windows of opportunity

• If a mission match, contact them again as appropriate.

Immediate: Thank-you & IRS letters; public recognition where appropriate

Short-term: Engaged funder in Foundation’s activities; keep Foundation top of mind, like offering program tours, e-newsletter, press release; and keep apprised of program evaluations

Long-term: Serve as a direct liaison to ISD & priorities; create Ambassadors for your programs

Thank You!

Erica V. Ekwurzel Caroline Newman Phillipserica@civicaim.com caroline.newman@austinisd.org CivicAIM www.supportaustined.org