Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO)

GEO 2010 National Conference Highlights

For complete session information, including presentations and other resources you may have missed, click here to search.

GEO Launches Scaling What Works Initiative

President and CEO Kathleen P. Enright announced the Scaling What Works initiative at the GEO conference. Scaling What Works is a $4 million, three-year GEO project supported by an independent coalition of 21 grantmakers, in which GEO will serve as an ongoing convener, liaison and information broker between the field of philanthropy and the public agencies involved with the Social Innovation Fund, with the hope of building effective partnerships between philanthropy and the public sector that can speed the pace at which community solutions scale. + more

What Works in Philanthropy?

GEO’s newest video highlights a diversity of perspectives in the philanthropic community about funding and evaluating “what works.” The video debuted during the closing plenary session at GEO’s National Conference in Pittsburgh on April 14, 2010.

Interview with KQV News

Listen to GEO President and CEO Kathleen P. Enright’s interview with PJ Maloney on KQV News Radio in Pittsburgh Friday, April 9 just before kicking off GEO’s 2010 national conference. Kathleen discusses the challenges and smart practices for grantmaking in a difficult economy. Click here to listen.

Faces and Voices of GEO, Pittsburgh 2010

At the conference, GEO staff and special guest videographers captured attendees thoughts, reactions, observations and feedback — via a half-dozen Flip cameras — about the sessions, special events and overall experience in Pittsburgh. Take a look:

Najmah Thomas, of The Cameron Foundation, shares what she takes away most from her attendance at GEO conferences.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation's Shiree Teng shares her experience as a GEO member and conference attendee. See as she discusses the opening plenary by Dev Patnaik and how GEO has made a difference in her life as a consultant.

The Stupski Foundation's Nelson Gonzalez talks about his session, "Program Design Collaboratives for Social Breakthroughs," which focused on the many facets of program design methods for grantmakers.

Scaling in a tough economy is important to Molly Martin of Lumina Foundation for Education. The session discussion about "Scaling What Works" helped put her role into perspective.

Karen McLeod shares how GEO's focus on learning and development processes are the core lessons she'll take back to ASB Community Trust New Zealand.

Rahn Dorsey of The Barr Foundation discusses his first experience at a GEO conference, especially the evaluation techniques GEO encourages, and how they will improve his work.

Paul Brest, president of The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, discusses effective grantmaker-grantee relationships at the GEO 2010 conference Tuesday, April 13 in Pittsburgh.

Participants enjoyed themselves at Pittsburgh's August Wilson Center for African American Culture, April 12, 2010, by learning to line dance!

Kirk Utzinger, president of The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, shares his views about Grantmakers for Effective Organizations during a conference break-out session, April 12, 2010.

Mailee Walker, Executive Director of the Claneil Foundation, and Dan Wilson, Manager of Policy, Research and Evaluation for the Ontario Trillium Foundation, discuss volunteering Sunday, April 11 at a community garden project with GTECH Strategies while attending GEO 2010 national conference in Pittsburgh.

Who Was There

Respondents to our post-conference survey report that reconnecting with colleagues is one of their favorite things about the GEO conference. See the full list of attendees. +more

Quick Facts about GEO

GEO Membership

GEO has 350+ members; 91% are grantmaking institutions and 9% are philanthropy-supporting membership organizations
Members by asset size:

Under $10 million: 27%
$11 - $99 million: 40%
$100 - $249 million: 13%
$250 – $749 million: 11%
Above $750 million: 9%

Together GEO members hold more than $150 billion in grantmaking assets.
Membership by geographic region:

Mid-Atlantic: 94 members (27%)
Pacific: 86 members (25%)
Midwest: 63 members (18%)
Southeast: 34 members (10%)
New England: 30 members (9%)
GEO also has 21 international members (6%)

GEO members represent all types of foundations, including: private, family, community, health conversion, corporate and operating.