High value grantmaking & initiatives
Giving smart. Getting results.
We help clients develop and implement high-impact grants, impact investments, and signature initiatives.
how we help on high value grantmaking & initiatives
Grants and impact investments
We help clients identify and structure high quality grants and impact investments. We also help them build and manage mutually reinforcing portfolios of grants and/or impact investments that collectively have greater impact.
grantmaking
impact investing
We identify and vet the best possible grantees based on results, sustainability, diverse and inclusive leadership, and community engagement. We develop and assess proposals, craft grant agreements and manage grantee partnerships.
We map out impact investing strategies and identify, vet, structure, and manage impact investments such as public and private equity, loans and debt vehicles, guarantees, and Environment, Social, and Governance funds.
Grantee success
We contribute to the success of the organizations our clients invest in by advising them on key issues, supporting their efforts to build capacity, and connecting them with community leaders, funders, partners, and other resources.
GRANTs management
We manage grant and impact investment files to ensure accurate records are kept, terms are met, outcomes are achieved, and funds are disbursed and used appropriately.
Signature Initiatives
We help clients design, launch, and lead initiatives and grant programs meant to drive systemic or large-scale change on a specific issue, population, or community. Signature initiatives might include:
New Entity Creation
We work on behalf of funders to establish and operationalize new nonprofits, institutes, centers, or other entities that fill gaps and address funder goals.
Targeted Funds
We establish funds that align donors to achieve specific goals. We involve funders as active partners, set up operating and decision-making guidelines, coordinate the investment process, and track progress.
Collaboratives
We network our clients with other funders and social sector leaders, and we design and facilitate collaboratives and collective impact efforts in which cross-sector and community leaders work together to address systemic issues.
Advocacy and Movement Building
We plan and launch campaigns that engage the community, draw upon expert research, map power and influence, and coordinate public and private partners to create changes to key social and environmental policies and practices.
Evaluation and performance improvement
We develop systems to track and assess the progress and results of philanthropic investments and initiatives to identify key learnings, make adjustments to improve results, and understand how clients are contributing to impact at multiple levels.
OUR TRACK RECORD in high value grantmaking & initiatives
Sponsored a funder collaborative to share knowledge and best practices on economic development in Mississippi
Crafted a portfolio of grants to improve student success at community colleges that funded new vocational training facilities, student support services, data integration, and alignment between colleges and their school district partners
Developed signature initiatives to advance health equity, build arts sector capacity, reduce HIV/AIDS and diabetes, respond to natural disasters, close achievement gaps for students of color, and strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems
Structured dozens of impact investments including a $200 million revolving loan fund for school facilities, a micro-lending program for women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs of color, and an affordable housing fund for rural communities
Launched and helped lead major collective impact efforts focused on diabetes, college success, sustainable seafood, workforce development, juvenile justice, and other major issue areas.