New Grantmakers Institute: Essential Skills & Strategies

• Program Description
• Learning Modules
• Faculty
• Resources for 2012 Participants

Program Description

The learning curve for new grantmakers is a considerable obstacle on the path to effective grantmaking. Even grantmakers with a few years experience may still be unclear on the legal aspects of grantmaking or how to spot the red flags in grantee financial statements. If you're new to philanthropy, or interested in sharpening your abilities, NCG's New Grantmakers Institute: Essential Skills & Strategies helps build your framework for best practices for ethical and effective grantmaking.

In this two-day highly interactive workshop participants have the opportunity to engage with their peers around opportunities and challenges of grantmaking work: identifying key factors in making funding decisions, and understanding expectations and core tensions of their role as foundation staff. In addition to developing a network of peers, participants will have a rare opportunity to hear directly from philanthropic leaders and become familiar with resources available to support their continued professional development. The curriculum is a innovative, national standard created through a partnership between the Council of Foundations and the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers. Sessions are designed to be interactive and discussion-oriented to provide attendees with expertise needed to thrive in philanthropy. Participants will receive a comprehensive set of curriculum materials and additional learning resources at the completion of the Institute.

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Learning Modules

The two-day workshop covered

• Being Grounded in Philanthropy
• Navigating Legal and Ethical Issues
• Reading Financial Statements
• Making Sound Funding Decisions
• Communicating Funding Recommendations and Decisions
• Managing the Grant Portfolio
• Maximizing the Impact of Grants
• Effective Practices in Grantmaking: #funderTech
• Managing Personal and Professional Challenges

For new grantmakers it is essential to hit the ground running by equipping themselves with the tools and best practices for making sound funding recommendations. The New Grantmakers Institute is a cost-effective, local option that develops important skills, helps build lasting peer relationships, and it's fun!

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Faculty

The 2012 Institute was facilitated by Jara Dean-Coffey, Principle and Founder, jdcPartnerships and taught by local philanthropic professionals and leaders:

• Judy Belk, Senior Vice President
  Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
• Rosemary E. Fei, Principal
  Adler & Colvin | A Law Corporation
• David Greco, Vice President, Western Region
  Nonprofit Finance Fund
• Lin Ishihara, Senior Program Officer
  W. Clement & Jessie V. Stone
• Diane Parnes, Trustee
  Silicon Valley Venture Partners (SV2)
• Jeff Perlstein, Director of Strategic Engagement
  ZeroDivide
• Tiffany Price, Director of Assistance & Advising
  Mitchell Kapor Foundation
• Jennifer Ratay, Program Officer
  The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
• Ted Russell, Senior Program Officer
  The James Irvine Foundation
• Colburn S. Wilbur, Trustee
  The David and Lucile Packard Foundation

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Resources for 2012 Participants

2012 NGI attendees can log in on the top left of this page to display the complete list of resources below, including links to learning modules and participant roster.

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