Grantmaking Trends for 2021
Eight philanthropy experts were invited by grants management software company Submittable to share their insights on grantmaking trends to expect in 2021. I am honored to be one of them! Below Iâve re-posted the trends I foresee. Be sure to read the full blog post to learn what Edgar Villanueva, Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, Aaron Dorfman, Yolanda Coentro, Sam Caplan, Jen Bokoff and Adam Liebling] suggest you do (or avoid) this year.
This whole notion of getting back to where we were doesnât exist. Disruption and volatility are the status quo.
According to Putnam-Walkerly, the events of 2020 increased the speed of giving, while improving the ease of giving (and applying for) grants.
5 Ways To Make Your Giving Transformational From:
If you want your philanthropy to help change the world, you might need to change how your funding is structured. In addition to disrupting longstanding power dynamics between grantor and grantee, the way you structure your funding should align with the type of impact you wish to see.
For example, if you want to achieve long-term results, provide long-term support. If you seek to strengthen the organizations that are solving problems, provide funding that builds their infrastructure, capacity, and talent. If you expect the organizations you fund to achieve specific outcomes, ensure that they have adequate resources. If you recognize your grantees must be nimble and adapt to rapidly changing conditions, off
This free download will help you create a powerful giving plan in radically uncertain times.
So many funders I talk to lately are feeling overwhelmed (and exhausted) because conditions keep changing and itâs hard to plan for an unknown future. But while the future is uncertain, we donât have to be. You canât afford to âwait and see.â With these practical how-tos, you can pivot with purpose!
About Kris Putnam-Walkerly
Kris Putnam-Walkerly, MSW is a global philanthropy advisor and president of Putnam Consulting Group, Inc. For more than 20 years, top global philanthropies have requested Kris Putnam-Walkerly s help to transform their giving and catapult their impact. Widely considered to be one of the most sought-after philanthropic advisors, Kris has helped over 80 foundations and philanthropists strategically allocate and assess over half a billion dollars in grants and gifts.
Harnessing Joy as a Catalyst for Philanthropic Change From:
Three simple questions to begin a joyful process to amplify your impact.
Over the last 10 months, the world has been watching and experiencing how systemic racism and injustice magnifies personal hardship and undermines recovery. At the same time, more and more people wonder how they can change the relentless reality of inequities and oppression, of division and mud-slinging â to create a better world for everyone.
While we all have a role to play, those of us working in philanthropy find ourselves in a unique position. How can we, as funders, help to initiate, expand, and improve philanthropic giving to help tackle these challenges, as we ask the overwhelming question, âWhat can I do?â
Top Three Behaviors To Bounce Forward From Crises From:
How to effectively navigate change and shockproof your organization.
With COVID-19, weâve entered a new era for civil society. Nothing is as it was, and no two nonprofit situations are the same. While some organizations have dramatically increased revenue and are hiring, others are shuttering programs and furloughing staff. But regardless of your circumstances, the world needs you more than ever. Beyond surviving, what are three leading behaviors you can adopt right now that are helping organizations emerge from this crisis stronger than ever?
1. Clarify your strategy and then implement it.