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Transparency (Grantmaking)+context
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Transparency (Grantmaking)+background
Being transparent helps a private foundation fulfill its obligation to be accountable to the public, and can also help improve its effectiveness. When foundations make information about them open and freely available, it can help them do their jobs better by clarifying the objectives they are seeking, informing potential grantees of priority interests, and making the general public aware of their accomplishments. - GOSW and Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers Amy Sample Ward
Transparency (Grantmaking)+definitions
Transparency is the opposite of privacy; an activity or organization is transparent if all information about it is open and freely available.
Transparency (Grantmaking)+where to start
Transparency (Grantmaking)+best practices
Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers
Communicating With the Public (PDF)
Association of Small Foundations
This book excerpt offers practical guidance on developing a foundation annual report and outlines other basic ways for foundations to communicate with the public (reprinted from “Management,” Council on Foundations).
www.foundationinabox.org/guide/administration/communicating_with_the/file
Communicating With the Public: Tips for Getting Started (PDF)
Council on Foundations
Some basic ideas for foundations to consider for communicating with the public about their work.
www.cof.org/files/Documents/Education_Collaborations/Communicating_with_the_Public_-_Getting_Started.pdf
Communicating Missions to the Public
Council on Foundations
A brief case study of the Self Family Foundation’s experience in using its annual report and the Internet to maintain constant and clear communication with the public.
www.cof.org/Content/General/Display.cfm?contentid=483
Three Key Components to Foundation Communication
Council on Foundations
This article describes three basic components to successful foundation communications: strong planning, clear expectations and adequate investment.
www.foundationnews.org/CME/article.cfm?ID=910
The Strategic Communications Planning Process: When, Where, and How
Board Source
An overview of the basic steps in developing a communications plan.
www.boardsource.org/Welcome.asp?ID=1
Foundation Communications: The Grantee Perspective (PDF)
Center for Effective Philanthropy
This report reveals the key components of effective foundation communications with grantees.
www.effectivephilanthropy.org/images/pdfs/CEP_Foundation_Communications.pdf
Six How-To Tips for Annual Report Writing
Council on Foundations
A list of basic tips for creating a foundation annual report.
www.foundationnews.org/CME/article.cfm?ID=2303
Free Foundation Websites
The Foundation Center
To help foundations gain an Internet presence, The Foundation Center creates and hosts free websites for grantmakers.
www.fdncenter.org/grantmaker/folders.html
Websites of Private Foundations
The Foundation Center
To get a sense of what other foundations communicate and disclose on their websites, this site offers links to the websites of many private foundations around the country.
www.fdncenter.org/funders/grantmaker/gws_priv/priv.html
The Foundation Center Directory & Other Communications Assistance for Grantmakers
A summary of different ways The Foundation Center can help foundations communicate about their programs and activities, including how to update information in the Center’s popular directory of U.S. foundations.
www.fdncenter.org/for_grantmakers/spreadword.html
Regional Grantmaker Directories
This website page lists the major regional directories of grantmakers published by regional associations of grantmakers and other organizations.
www.fdncenter.org/learn/topical/sl_dir.html
Updating Your GuideStar Profile
Association of Small Foundations
Some basic guidance on how a foundation can update its free GuideStar profile to help communicate about itself to key constituents — and demonstrate transparency.
www.smallfoundations.org/programs/updating_your_guidestar
Megan Wentworth
Transparency (Grantmaking)+issues
Transparency: One Size Does Not Fit All
February 09, 2010 (Bradford Smith is president of the Foundation Center. In his previous post, he introduced the center's Glasspockets initiative and made the case for why foundations need to be more transparent.)
http://pndblog.typepad.com/pndblog/2010/02/transparency-one-size-does-not-fit-all.html
Transparency (Grantmaking)+standards in field
Glasspockets Initiative
The Foundation Center recently launched Glasspockets, a free Web portal designed to encourage greater transparency in the world of philanthropy.
Center for Effective Philanthropy: The mission of the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) is to provide data and create insight so philanthropic funders can better define, assess, and improve their effectiveness and impact.
Communications Network: Formed nearly 20 years ago as a volunteer group, the Network today operates as a stand-alone 501(c)(3), dedicated to helping advance, promote, and encourage the adoption of effective communications practices in philanthropy.
Global Philanthropy Forum: The Global Philanthropy Forum aims to build a community of donors and social investors committed to international causes, and to inform, enable and enhance the strategic nature of their giving and social investing.
Grantmakers for Effective Organizations: Understanding that grantmakers are successful only to the extent that their grantees achieve meaningful results, GEO promotes strategies and practices that contribute to grantee success.
One World Trust: The One World Trust is an independent think tank that conducts research, develops recommendations and advocates for reform to make policy and decision-making processes in global governance more accountable to the people they affect now and in the future, and to ensure that international laws are strengthened and applied equally to all.
