Business Commons^™

How To Encourage Sustainable Change: A Reflection On How Philanthropy Can Partner With Grantees To Build Organizational Capacity, Allison Dymnicki, Alex Hooker, Rebecca Goldberg

The Foundation Review

In 2014, the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation embarked on the National Character Initiative to support organizations seeking to advance character development among youth. The initiative sought to promote lasting change by focusing on building grantee capacity that was based largely on grantee priorities.

This article highlights key findings from an evaluation of the foundation’s approach to the initiative by elevating the perspectives of grantees, foundation staff, and field experts who served as consultants. It discusses supports the foundation provided to grantees and three key transformational elements in capacity building: proactive and responsive technical assistance, a culture of learning, and …

(In)Equality Through Unrestricted Grantmaking: Examining Trust And Power In The Collaboration Between The Dutch Charity Lotteries And Their Grantees, Olivier Hunnik, Arjen De Wit, Pamala Wiepking

The Foundation Review

Since 1989, the Dutch Charity Lotteries have provided multiyear unrestricted funding, a type of grantmaking that is fairly unique for the Netherlands, to a wide range of nonprofits at home and abroad. This article shares insights into how unrestricted grantmaking influences the relationship between funders and grantees, specifically highlighting how staff at a sample of grantee organizations experience collaboration with this large social enterprise. It discusses hidden and invisible power dynamics that exist in the relationship, even when there are few formal restrictions on grantees’ spending.

Grantee representatives interviewed for this study stated that openness and honesty in communication with …

Artisanal Collaborations And The Preservation Of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Susan G. Goodwin

School of Professional and Continuing Studies Nonprofit Studies Capstone Projects

This study is a qualitative comparative case study of two craft collaborations, utilizing inductive research and interviews. A key member of each group was interviewed via Zoom, the transcripts analyzed and distilled into themes comparing the balance between cultural preservation and economic empowerment. By examining the roles within these collaborations, three key elements of a successful artisanal collaboration were determined to be a long-term commitment, predictable funding, and community leadership. This model could be adapted to the many smaller groups promoting traditional handcraft as a method of empowerment and cultural preservation.

Sasah Experiential Learning Opportunities: Western Heads East And The Iconoclast Collective, Jade Rozal

SASAH 4th Year Capstone and Other Projects: Publications

The first part of this report discusses my time as a remote intern during Summer 2020 for the Tanzanian organization, MikonoYetu. MikonoYetu is an NGO that seeks to promote the empowerment and economic independence of young girls, and my team and I were tasked were creating and designing their live website. This internship was supervised by Western Heads East, who also tasked my team with reviewing and suggesting changes for their current website. While completing this remote internship during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic brought many challenges, my team and I were able to fulfill our deliverables and learn …