Funders of all types have begun to ask, “What assets do I have that can help me make an impact?" This has led to the recognition that another currency at their disposal is influence—the ability to change the course of events in a desired direction. Funders can exert powerful influence as conveners, who bring together potential partners and stakeholders; as brokers, who act as community leaders and leverage additional resources; as capacity builders, who provide management and technical assistance; and as connectors, who create important new relationships for their grantees.
There are innumerable instances of foundations using more than their money to help grantees and communities, as described below. Nevertheless, few funders think about these nonmonetary assets in a systemic way.
In 2001, the Surdna Foundation, The Atlantic Philanthropies, and a handful of other investors made a concerted effort to help two high-visibility grantees, VolunteerMatch and Philanthropic Research, Inc. (GuideStar), to leverage and coordinate additional support from other funders. The foundations helped the nonprofits to develop a business and investment case, provided matching grants, and brought their peers to the table to help attract and organize over $10 million in long-term investment
Recognizing that grantees need more than money to reach organizational development goals, the North Carolina-based Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation hosts an annual Organizational Development Gathering to allow its grantees to build skills, share learning, network, and create strategic alliances. Grantees help to plan each convening to ensure that the goals, expert and peer resources, and culture meet their needs. The Babcock Foundation has also supported an even more extensive, multi-year “Learning Institute" to enable a set of its grantees to step back, reflect, and become more intentional about grassroots leadership development in the South.
The Creative Capital Foundation, which provides grants to innovative artists, recognized that its support is most effective when it goes beyond simple project financing. In addition to project grants, Creative Capital also helps funded artists to build a community of peers and connect with each other; to improve their marketing, career planning, and other skills so they are better able to manage their careers; and to help promote and publicize their work.
Philanthropically minded businesses and corporate funders have another choice. They can go beyond donations to mobilize the wide range of resources and expertise at their disposal, including the skills, technical knowledge, and energy of their employees, to address social issues. By seeing the full spectrum of assets they have available, funders of all types can combine their money with these other resources to achieve their philanthropic goals more effectively. Funders like Cisco Systems Corporate Philanthropy and The Hitachi Foundation not only provide financial grants, but also encourage increased volunteerism, community engagement, and employee giving within their larger corporate organizations.
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