Events and Connections
GEO events and peer learning programs offer opportunities to connect with values-aligned grantmakers to build connections, learn and explore common challenges and solutions.
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GEO events and peer learning programs offer opportunities to connect with values-aligned grantmakers to build connections, learn and explore common challenges and solutions.
GEO produces a wide range of resources and tools to support grantmakers in their work to transform philanthropic culture and practices.
Our Perspectives blog keeps members up-to-date on the latest news and stories about how philanthropy is supporting thriving nonprofits and communities.
The GEO community supports members, grantmaking organizations, infrastructure groups and academic programs in finding connections, resources and inspiration as we work to transform philanthropy and center racial equity in your organizations and beyond. Join us!
Quarterly virtual call for current and former Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellows. Current…
Quarterly call for members of GEO’s Strategic Learners Network. A typical call…
Connect with your peers who are looking to operationalize equity within their…
Increasingly, foundations are interested in working with those with lived expertise to…
Join our next member orientation to learn about community benefits and discover…
Join our next member orientation to learn about community benefits and discover…
Save the Date for GEO’s 2025 Learning Conference, hosted in partnership with…
Join our next member orientation to learn about community benefits and discover…
Join our next member orientation to learn about community benefits and discover…
Save the Date for GEO’s 2026 National Conference, from June 1 –…
Save the Date for GEO’s 2027 Learning Conference, from May 25-26, 2027…
This report is a final offering to philanthropy from the Hazen Foundation…
Financial capital provides the fuel for all enterprises, regardless of tax status.…
This publication from Movement Tapestries offers insights and guidance for organizations navigating…
In this report, we are excited to share examples that illustrate some…
With this guide, GEO seeks to reassert the value of flexible, reliable…
Strengthening nonprofit organizations is not just a nice-to-have, but an essential part…
With racial equity becoming more and more central to the work of…
Across the philanthropic sector, the last several years have been a clear…
This publication builds on the principles outlined in Strengthening Nonprofit Capacity and…
This publication provides an overview of the impetus for the Equitable Evaluation…
When grantmakers focus on learning for improvement, we use evaluation and learning…
The brief introduces the "Engaging Boards and Trustees in Strategic Learning: Toolkit"…
The fields of strategic learning and evaluation have also grown and shifted…
The Executive Summary introduces the "Engaging Boards and Trustees in Strategic Learning:…
In your first year of GEO membership, to help you stay informed…
This publication seeks to offer some helpful approaches for jump-starting a change…
In your first year of GEO membership, to help you stay informed…
Creating a productive foundation culture — one that accelerates impact and supports…
The relationship between the CEO and her right hand person (or people)…
This exercise is designed to surface the areas in which an organization’s…
When certain aspects of the “old” culture seem intractable, even though new…
Create a clear picture of the culture that your organization aspires to…
Get past what your organization says it values to uncover the hard-to-see,…
Making culture more visible often begins the process of changing it. Once…
Values gain meaning and immediacy when they have a direct connection to…
This conversation starter will explore how foundation leaders have made organizational culture…
Your organization’s values are often balanced by an opposite value. One way…
As they contemplated a period of significant growth in the foundation’s assets…
This list of people helped to make GEO's Culture Resource Guide possible.
Get clarity around the specific behaviors, actions and outcomes you are currently…
This list compiles articles, reports and other readings on each phase of…
Shifting culture doesn’t simply mean developing a fresh values statement or identifying…
With the retirement of their long-time CEO and a milestone distribution to…
Once we have gained a good understanding of the culture of our…
Culture is the collective behaviors and underlying assumptions of an organization. How…
After more than 15 years promoting grantmaker practices that support nonprofit results,…
A productive internal culture aligned with a foundation’s mission and goals is…
To achieve our vision for individuals and communities, grantmakers must work to…
Over the last 20 years, the GEO community has worked to transform…
Virginia Eubanks, professor at the University at Albany, SUNY and author of…
Raj Jayadev of Silicon Valley De-Bug shared how De-Bug has been transforming…
Christina Canales Gorczynski highlighted the Simmons Foundation's work to address the power…
American culture and narratives are rooted in a collective ambivalence about how…
Focusing on equity necessitates reflection on ourselves and reckoning with the impact…
Organizations seeking to support authentic change on complex, multi-layered issues often find…
Fania Davis highlighted efforts bubbling up across the nation and shared strategies…
There is overwhelming evidence that general operating support grants can have significant…
In your first year of GEO membership, to help you stay informed…
Collaborations for Change is a strategy used by the John T. Vucurevich…
In your first year of GEO membership, to help you stay informed…
Leading change requires us to be bold, yet transformation can be intense…
Hear individual grantmakers in different organizational roles share inspiring stories of how…
For grantmakers who see themselves as champions of progress and change, the…
GEO frequently hears that grantmakers, no matter their role, want to make…
Increasing nonprofit capacity to deliver positive social impact through multiyear, general operating…
Through our research over the past 20 years, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations…
Highlights, Key Takeaways and Resources from the October 16, 2017, Member Call:…
By confronting gaps between its mission and its way of doing business,…
How GAR Foundation is narrowing its focus to have a deeper impact…
This piece is written to help foundation trustees navigate their own role…
How Vancouver Foundation made progress by getting out of the way and…
Recognizing the need for adopting and maintaining a learning culture in our…
Jon Schwabish’s Short Talk at GEO’s Learning Conference 2017 offered ways to…
At GEO’s Learning Conference 2017, Rami Nashashibi, the executive director of the…
As the managing director of Chicago Beyond, a philanthropic venture investing in…
At GEO’s Learning Conference 2017, Trabian Shorters of the BMe Community discussed…
Jessamyn Shams-Lau, the executive director of the Peery Foundation, gave a Short…
Grantmakers committed to equity know that it must be incorporated into every…
How listening to the needs of its community inspired a foundation to…
This is a publication about microcultures in philanthropy — small groups of…
How empowering community members through capacity building and collaboration strengthens engagement to…
How co-designing with grantees and partners from Day 1 can lead to…
In this GEOAsks, Janée Woods, Director of Organizational Culture at WCGMF, talks…
Embracing Equity: 7 Steps to Advance and Embed Race Equity and Inclusion…
In 2016, we prioritized finding new ways to build connections with each…
We are interested in expanding beyond the idea of inclusion, which still…
In recent years there has been an increased call for more collaboration…
Strengthening Nonprofit Capacity: A Discussion Guide for Starting Internal and External Conversations
In this GEOAsks, Communities Foundation of Texas shares how it shaped its…
Member Story: Social Venture Partners Seattle
Every organization experiences moments when it has opportunities to tend its culture…
When we learn with others, we are not simply conducting final program…
Shifting from responsive grantmaking to strategic investments requires new skill sets, a…
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation takes an intentional approach to supporting…
Capturing and documenting how and when to partner with others so staff…
Woods Fund Chicago, a member of the Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance, demonstrates…
United Way of Washtenaw County believed nonprofits could achieve greater impact with…
Sand Hill Foundation’s adaptability helped sustain a long-term funder–nonprofit collaborative even as…
Supporting nonprofit collaboration by building funder collaborations.
Investing in grantee capacity effectively requires more than just writing a check…
By supporting organizations to strengthen their leadership and improve the ability of…
Member Story: The Missouri Foundation for Health
In this GEOAsks, we interviewed Tawanna Black, Executive Director of the Northside…
Member Story: The Fannie E. Rippel Foundation
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation feels it…
In this GEOAsks, we interviewed Danielle Breslin, vice president of the Blue…
2016 National Conference Participant Roster
How Dallas Women’s Foundation’s commitment to empathy has shaped its approach to…
Member Story: United Way of Greenville County
Philanthropy is ever on a quest to increase effectiveness. Over the last…
My name is Brad Cameron, and I’m a program associate at the…
Member Story: Greater Houston Community Foundation
Looking inward and ensuring that an organization has the right elements in…
Participating in the North Texas Asset Funders Network provided an opportunity for…
The discussion starter can be used to delve into questions that are…
The Collaboration Conference 2015 Participant Roster
Philanthropy evolves slowly, despite (or maybe because of) very few external constraints…
Collaborations — groups of grantmakers, nonprofits and other stakeholders aligning around a…
Using facilitation skills and developmental evaluation tools to build a more collaborative…
Responding to donor interest in achieving greater impact through collaboration.
In this issue of GEOAsks we talk to Madeleine Frey, director of…
There is widespread and growing recognition in the nonprofit sector about the…
Increasing numbers of grantmakers are opting for a spend-down strategy — meaning…
This document contains resources and websites that can assist grantmakers as we…
2015 Learning Conference Resources: Data Viz Checklist (Stephanie Evergreen)
2015 Learning Conference Rsources: Chart Chooser 2.0 (Stephanie Evergreen)
Learning Together Profile: Skillman Foundation
Learning Together Profile: Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Learning Together Profile: Stuart Foundation
Learning Together Profile: Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Learning Together Profile: Deaconess Foundation
Grantees and other stakeholders are critical partners in the achievement of grantmakers’…
Learning Together: A Discussion Guide for Funders and Partners
Learning Together Profile: The Cleveland Foundation
Learning Together: Actionable Approaches for Grantmakers
The Learning Conference 2015 Participant Roster
Member Story: Pennsylvania Humanities Council
Grantmaker redesigns their grant workflow to improve efficiency and effectiveness for program…
In this GEOAsks interview, Adam Simon, director of leadership initiatives at the…
What do social sector leaders need to help them succeed and, just…
Member Story: Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation
To Engagement and Beyond: A discussion guide for grantmakers
A host of specific practices and activities can help grantmakers bring the…
Financial struggles are a reality for many nonprofits, even those with excellent…
In this issue of IMPACT we hear from Becky Pastner, a program…
Member Story: The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
In this issue, we talk to Kathleen Holmes, director of the Infant…
Grantmakers recognize the value of supporting effective, well-led organizations - strong organizations…
GEO Field Survey 2014: Major Trends in Grantmakers' Attitudes and Practices
In this GEOAsks interview, we talk to Dr. Gail Christopher, vice president…
In this issue of GEOAsks we talk to Elizabeth Christopherson, president and…
Member Story: Wells Fargo Regional Foundation
Remote Learning Fall 2014 Own Work Examples and Worksheet
Member Story: Southwest Florida Community Foundation
n this issue of GEOAsks we talk to Anne Sherman, vice president…
Chicago foundation provides multiyear operating grants to core grantees, plus a range…
Learning communities are powerful vehicles for both individuals and communities to amass…
A nonprofit organization’s resiliency and capacity to navigate change successfully depends largely…
With growing recognition of the complexity of the issues the nonprofit sector…
Throughout history, social change has been possible only through the contributions and…
Many grantmakers use organizational assessments as a first step in capacity-building support…
This document contains resources and websites that can assist grantmakers in exploring,…
This document contains resources and websites that can assist grantmakers seeking more…
This document contains resources and websites that can assist grantmakers who are…
This document contains resources and websites that can assist grantmakers in exploring…
One of the biggest barriers to supporting capacity building is knowing how…
The most difficult part of evaluation can be to know where to…
Learning in philanthropy can happen in any number of ways — from…
This document contains resources and websites that can assist grantmakers as we…
Effective stakeholder engagement starts and ends with respect — respect for the…
The primary purpose of providing general operating support is to give grantees…
Philanthropy works to improve conditions in communities so that life is better…
Philanthropy works to improve conditions in communities so that life is better…
Member Story: The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation
In this issue of GEOAsks we talk to Rajasvini Bhansali, executive director…
Grantmakers increasingly are turning to general operating support to ensure that nonprofits…
Due diligence is a process that helps grantmakers get to know grantseekers.…
Empathy is one of the main reasons individual and institutional philanthropy exist.…
While we may not be able to totally remove the inherent power…
Taking time early in the grantmaking process to map out the stakeholders…
Networks of nonprofits, funders and other partners have the potential to build…
Collective action is an effective way for nonprofits to increase their impact,…
How can grantmakers expect nonprofits to deliver on their missions when many…
Member Story: Blue Shield of California Foundation
SVP Seattle engages volunteer and paid consultants to help “investees” make the…
Illinois grantmaker embraces capacity building as a priority and supports a new…
Arkansas grantmaker supports nonprofit networks to promote field wide learning.
Washington, D.C. grantmaker combines large, multiyear investments in youth-serving organizations with consulting…
Southern California grantmaker makes the switch to core support for majority of…
Denver-area United Way embraces need to strengthen the capacity of organizations and…
New unrestricted support program yields unexpected benefits for other grantmaking.
Vermont foundation adopts high-engagement approach to supporting cities and towns to design…
Local liaisons help Connecticut grantmaker stay connected to communities involved in statewide…
Growing health foundation embraces multiyear funding and streamlined application and reporting in…
Grantmaker builds on longtime focus on evaluation by making organizational learning a…
Foundation embraces community engagement, mobilizes residents and grantees to help make mini-grant…
Place-based funder invests in range of organizational effectiveness programs, including deep, cohort-based…
Foundation joins with other grantmakers to unite and support the next generation…
Seattle-based grantmaker builds regional networks of organizations working to engage low-income families…
Grantmaker works with partners to strengthen leadership for the social sector in…
Los Angeles grantmaker supports local nonprofit leaders through sabbaticals, fellowships, mentorships and…
Foundation launches new initiative to support and encourage collaborative approaches to community…
Regional funder in the South adopts network-focused approach to grantmaking.
Community foundation partners with other funders to bolster nonprofit board and leadership…
Who is Working Well Together? The Patterson Foundation
Small funder seeks to maximize impact by providing eight years of general…
Family foundation advances the cause of evaluative thinking among nonprofits through support…
In this issue of GEOAsks, we hear from Arti Freeman of Ontario…
Member Story: Massachusetts Cultural Council
The urgency and complexity of the problems nonprofits and grantmakers are trying…
Many grantmakers agree that an increased focus on evaluation and learning can…
Many grantmakers are recognizing that in order to ensure better results, we…
Grantmakers of all kinds care about tangible progress on tough problems, but…
A priority for grantmakers and our grantees is to create a space…
Grantmaker focused on education for Jewish young people embraces multiyear grants, funder…
Ohio grantmaker using cigarette-tax funds to invest in arts and culture makes…
Aiming to build a national movement, funder focused on oral health supports…
Who Is Supporting Nonprofit Financial Sustainability?
It can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the leadership capacity needs of…
Nonprofit leaders have complex jobs. In order to excel in their roles…
Nonprofits need certain capacities in order to deliver results. These include things…
Nonprofits need skilled leaders, strong systems and the flexibility to continuously improve…
Global NGO develops tools to track grantee progress and its own performance.
Grantmaker refines evaluation model to enhance grantee and organizational accountability, while positioning…
How Should We Approach Capacity-Building Work?
Grantmakers can take a number of steps to ensure that the support…
In the nonprofit sector there are various forms of collaboration, ranging in…
Today, many grantmakers recognize the role of social movements in advancing opportunity,…
2014 National Conference Participant Roster
This special supplement was created to capture the latest thinking about how…
Member Story: Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and…
In this month’s GEO ASKS, we speak with Paul Shoemaker, executive connector…
Florida foundation with unfettered charter focuses on how best to support partnerships…
There is not one “right way” to provide capacity-building support because each…
Stories of Impact from the Social Innovation Fund
SWW: Supporting Movements Conference Resource: Bridgespan handout
SWW: Supporting Movements Conference Resource: Aspen Planning and Evaluation Program - Presentation
SWW: Supporting Movements Conference Resource: Groupaya Funder Alignment PPT
SWW: Supporting Movements Conference Resource: Aspen Planning and Evaluation Program - Background
This guide presents the benefits and challenges of partnerships between local and…
GEO has prepared a publication that provides a framework for understanding the…
Supporting Movements Conference Participant Roster
Investing for Impact: Building the Capacity and Infrastructure of High-Performing Nonprofits
Member Story: New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
Member Story: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation
Collective action is an effective way for nonprofits to increase their impact,…
Working Better Together: Building Nonprofit Collaborative Capacity
Collective action is an effective way for nonprofits to increase their impact,…
Collective action is an effective way for nonprofits to increase their impact,…
In this issue of GEOASKs, we talk to Sidney Hargro, executive director…
In this issue of GEOASKS we talk to Berta Colón and Michele…
How We Learn and How We Can Learn Better: A discussion guide…
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - AIDS United
We know that we need a different mindset to tackle complex, systemic…
As grantmakers and nonprofits are looking for ways to collaborate more effectively,…
The Learning Conference 2013: Michael Quinn Patton Slides Part 1
The Learning Conference 2013: Michael Quinn Patton Slides Part 3
The Learning Conference 2013: Michael Quinn Patton Slides Part 2
The Learning Conference 2013 Participant Roster
Smarter Relationships, Better Results Webinar Series Part 1: The Right Relationship (slides)
Member Story: Fairfield County Community Foundation
Scaling What Works: SIF Impact Story, NCB Capital Impact
Grantmakers often work with intermediaries to extend their reach and impact. This…
Annotated Bibliography: Smarter Relationships, Better Results
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - REDF
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - U.S. Soccer Foundation
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Mayor's Fund to…
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - NCB Capital Impact
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Mile High United…
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - The Edna McConnell…
Scaling What Works: SIF Impact Story, AIDS United
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Foundation for a…
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Missouri Foundation for…
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - LISC
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Corporation for Supportive…
Scaling What Works: SIF Impact Story - United Way of Greater Cincinnati
Scaling What Works: SIF Impact Story - U.S. Soccer Foundation
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - United Way of…
Whether you are strategically working to scale up some of your successful…
Growing Your Impact: A Discussion Guide for Grantmakers
Member Story: Allegany Franciscan Ministries
SWW: Supporting Movements Conference Resource: Proteus Fund presentation
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Venture Philanthropy Partners
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - United Way for…
Pathways to Grow Impact is for any grantmaker who wants his or…
In this issue of GEO Asks, Susan Phillips, vice president of human…
In this issue of GEOAsks, we speak to Vic De Luca, president…
Funders are finding ways to use the power of convening to benefit…
This briefing shares five principles for engaging community stakeholders in evaluation planning,…
Nov. 2012 Member Spotlight: George Kaiser Family Foundation
This publication explores how learning communities can be powerful tools in creating…
In this issue’s GEO ASKS we talk to Alice Shobe, executive director…
Scaling What Works: Grantmakers Engaged in the Social Innovation Fund (2010-2012) as…
Co-published by GEO and REDF as an update to REDF's 2008 article…
Member Story: Mary Morton Parsons Foundation
Unrestricted Funding Member Story: Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
Member Story: Edna McConnell Clark Foundation
In this issue of GEO ASKS, GEO speaks with Rebekah Levin, evaluation…
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - New Profit Inc.
Evaluation is about more than ensuring that grantees are doing what they…
This is the Executive Summary of GEO's latest publication, Four Essentials for…
Darell Hammond is the founder and CEO of KaBOOM!, the national nonprofit…
Collaborative Funding for Greater Impact: A Case Study of the Cincinnati Experience,…
Scaling What Works: Social Innovation Fund intermediary profile - Jobs for the…
In this issue’s GEO ASKS we talk to author, speaker and public…
Networks Conference Presentation/Handout: The Strategy Landscape
Networks Conference Presentation/Handout: Understanding and Activating Networks: The ReAmp Case Study and…
Networks Conference Presentation/Handout: Helping Established Organizations Develop a Network Mindset
Networks Conference Presentation/Handout: Resource Sheet for Deep Dive into Social Network Mapping…
Networks Conference Presentation/Handout: Deep Dive into Social Network Mapping and Analysis
Networks Conference Presentation/Handout: Network Weaving
In this issue, GEO ASKS Christine van Bergeijk, vice president of programs…
Networks for social change can help with building new capacity for making…
Catalyzing Networks for Social Change: A discussion guide for grantmakers
This is an executive summary of the publication, Widespread Empathy, from GEO…
Through examples from the field, the publication provides concrete steps grantmakers can…
GEO 2011 August GEONews Member Spotlight: St. Louis County Children's Service Fund
Member Story: The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
Member Story: The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts
The New York State Health Foundation has begun to make more strategic…
In this spring’s issue, GEO ASKS Ken Saxon, board leader, facilitator and…
To have a greater reach and influence in their respective communities, both…
Engaging Stakeholders for More Effective Grantmaking Tear Sheet
Using Evaluation to Become an Effective Learning Organization
This month GEO ASKS Paul Grogan, president and CEO of the Boston…
Member Story: William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund
The executive summary for Due Diligence Done Well.
Selecting the right grantee partners is one of the most important jobs…
Question Guide for Initial Review: Due Diligence Done Well
Due Diligence Done Well: Possible Materials for Review
Grantmaker Examples: Due Dilligence Done Well
Question Guide for Due Diligence Conversations: Due Diligence Done Well
Indicators of Organizational Effectiveness Guide: Due Diligence Done Well
Member Story: Lancaster County Community Foundation
This month GEO ASKS Peter Laugharn, executive director of the Firelight Foundation…
There is a growing movement in philanthropy — a movement founded on…
This is an executive summary of the publication, Do Nothing About Me…
This month GEO ASKS talks about stakeholder engagement with Lesley Grady, senior…
Addressing Key Financial Challenges Facing Nonprofits: Five Strategies for Grantmakers
Leadership Case Study: The Bank of America Charitable Foundation
This guide was created as a resource for grantmakers as they explore…
Online toolkit Executive Summary Coaching and Philanthropy Action Guide for Grantmakers
This publication offers a brief overview of how grantmakers are looking at…
Executive Summary: Evaluation in Philanthropy: Perspectives from the Field
In this month’s GEO ASKS, we talk about coaching with Janine Mason,…
In this month’s GEO ASKS, we talk about evaluation with Mark Keane,…
Evaluation in Philanthropy: Perspectives and Stories from the Field
Jump Associates helps “courageous leaders create new businesses and reinvent existing ones…
This publication highlights the financial challenges nonprofits face and the ways in…
Despite a wave of interest in recent years in what it takes…
On The Money: A Discussion Guide for Grantmakers and Their Grantees
The Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation supports organizations and networks in the southeastern…
An excerpt from GEO’s upcoming publication, On the Money: The Key Financial…
This month's GEOAsks focuses on one instrument The F.B. Heron Foundation uses…
This month’s GEO ASKS focuses on the Season’s Fund for Social Transformation,…
This month’s GEO ASKS focuses on The Skillman Foundation’s Good Neighborhoods program.
In this GEO ASKS, we pose questions to the Neighbor-AID Fund, an…
GEO's 2008 Annual Report covers ten years of smarter grantmaking, stronger nonprofits…
A collection of resources and examples of GEO members showing steady leadership…
A presentation of two approaches in assessing the impact of general operating…
This volume is intended for donors, staff members and leaders of grantmaking…
Real change is happening in philanthropy as pioneering grantmakers find new ways…
Given the vast literature on leadership development and the challenges of translating…
Finding tomorrow's nonprofit leaders requires more than beating the bushes for fresh…
A study about general operating support grantmaking. The findings challenge the conventional…
Finding tomorrow?s nonprofit leaders requires more than beating the bushes for fresh…
Many grantmakers agree that general operating support can boost effectiveness and impact…
General operating support insights, lessons and ongoing explorations from The Philadelphia Foundation,…
Coaching is a process that supports individuals to make more conscious decisions…
Discussion Guide: Investing in Leadership Vol.2
Real change is happening in philanthropy as pioneering grantmakers find new ways…
The study presents a variety of approaches to leveraging departing executive directors…
What is general operating support? How are grantmakers providing it? GEO's answer…
This publication explores what it means to be a "learning organization;" how…
GEO's Change Agent Project seeks to inspire change in grantmakers so they…
GEO's Change Agent Project seeks to inspire change in grantmakers so they…
This publication explores a sampling of the leadership development practices being utilized…
Given the vast literature on leadership development and the challenges of translating…
Assessing Startup Organizations: A due diligence supplement for grantmakers
This publication is the result of a five-year national study on strategic…
Capacity Building for Impact: The Future of Effectiveness for Nonprofits
Meet our 500+ members who share insights and learnings to move philanthropy forward.
All membersGEO’s strategic direction mobilizes our community of members around an explicit commitment to racial equity. Our goal is to support members in operationalizing racial equity in their grantmaking to more effectively serve nonprofits and communities.
For many organizations within the philanthropic space, the traditional funding process may…
"Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service…
In philanthropy, transformational change does not happen in a vacuum. There’s inherent…
In the ever-evolving landscape of technological advancement, Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands out…
Reflections from the 2024 GEO Conference
How can the lessons from COVID guide us in forging a future…
“Reevaluating Practice: Reimagining Philanthropy” captures recommendations of our grantees. They have taught…
Funders have an opportunity to significantly invest in and advocate for one…
Share GEO’s ways of being with the broader GEO community to highlight…
GEO is thrilled to be sharing our new strategic direction as we…
An exciting evolution is happening among community foundations in the United States.
We’re writing today with an important update regarding GEO’s 2024 National Conferences…
At a recent webinar hosted by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, Jennifer Chheang…
The following is adapted from a guide for funders on investing in…
GEO and Candid are partnering to bring you this conversation with two…
Kresge Strategic Learning and Evaluation Officer Arturo Garcia moderated a session at…
CLIPF is a supportive community where grantmakers can identify best practices and…
GEO created the Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellowship (CLIPF) to provide senior…
Over the last 25 years, the GEO community has led the field…
How can philanthropy and civil society build the future world we want…
Philanthropy is beginning to understand that in order to get different results,…
Over the past 25 years, contributors to the GEO community have remained…
GEO's CEO and President Marcus Walton contemplates a meaningful set of possibilities…
GEO is seeking session proposals for our 2023 Learning Conference: Courageous Unlearning,…
Leaders on the front lines need continued investment to continue the long-term…
GEO's Allison Beck and Allison Punch-Turner share insights and lessons learned on…
Dr. Albertina Lopez explores why community matters in philanthropy and explains how…
The unpredictability of the future and overt inequities unmasked during the past…
GEO’s new publication, Centering Equity through Flexible, Reliable Funding provides grantmakers with…
GEO’s Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellowship (CLIPF) launched in 2016 to offer…
A broad ecosystem of nonprofits, coalitions and leaders of color are working…
Felisa Gonzales of The Colorado Trust, Laura Patterson of Metropolitan State University…
Here at GEO, we envision and are co-creating a community of courageous…
GEO’s Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellowship (CLIPF) launched in 2016 to offer…
Today’s changing world requires an overhaul in how we think of readiness.…
We are excited to welcome Kristina Wertz to the team as GEO’s…
GEO’s Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellowship (CLIPF) launched in 2016 to offer…
For the last couple of years, Covid-19 has made social separation a…
As a spend down foundation, how the Stupski Foundation shows up is…
Language is powerful. Using clear and direct language to describe the populations…
In this second, follow-up piece of Humility, Listening and Connectedness: Building Partner…
Rebekah Gowler and Jaser Alsharhan explain that a crucial part of doing…
Allison Punch-Turner and Cassie Maxwell reflect on lessons they learned in creating…
GEO President & CEO Marcus Walton reflects on the past year and…
Henry A. J. Ramos explores how grantmakers can meet the moment of…
Strengthening nonprofit organizations is not just a nice-to-have but an essential part…
Anand Dholakia explores five principles that help grantmakers ensure their strategies and…
How might philanthropy change over the next ten years? The new Monitor…
Strategies set out what we’ll achieve and how; if we’re not realistic,…
In response to the converging social and public health pandemics last year,…
Maria Azuri unpacks how humility, listening and connectedness are central to building…
GEO program manager, Jaser Alsharhan, explains how principles of community-centered leadership can…
This summer, the Funder and Evaluator Network (FEAN) partnered with GEO to…
GEO is planning a major website redesign with content and customer relationship…
Denise Herrera, in her former role as Senior Capacity Building Officer at…
In part two of his blog, Neel Hajra shares examples of how…
In part one of his blog, Neel Hajra reflects on adding through…
GEO is thrilled to share we has been selected as one of…
Nadege Souvenir reflects on GEO's 2021 Learning Conference, asking if philanthropy is…
Jessica Santos, PhD reflects on the importance of shifting power in our…
Kara Carlisle and Anita Patel, co-chairs of GEO's 2021 Learning Conference, write…
The Funder Evaluator Affinity Network (FEAN) shares actions grantmakers can take to…
When grantmakers invest in service quality and continuous improvement practices, it builds…
Nadine Long and LaShawn Glasgow unpack strategies from the Kansas Health Foundation…
Nicole Fernandes of Funders for LGBTQ Issues shares three takeaways on how…
On the blog, Kyle Rinne-Meyers reflects on his sabbatical experience and how…
Isabel Sousa-Rodriguez of the Edward W. Hazen Foundation shares important insights into…
Suprotik Stotz-Ghosh reflects on how grantmakers can generate meaningful results in response…
Funders Together, GEO, PEAK, and SCG are excited to co-host and launch…
Jaser Alsharhan unpacks the challenges and strategies for building community-drive philanthropy from…
Phil Buchanan, president of the Center for Effective Philanthropy, unpacks the imperative…
This week, American democracy came under siege in full public view leaving…
Having real conversations about where we want philanthropy to go is crucial…
2020 underscores what many of us in the social change field have…
Andy Goodman unpacks the challenges of working remotely, asking what works, what…
Decision-makers such as elected officials and institutional funders have historically ignored and…
In the COVID-19 world, funders may increasingly find themselves in discussions with…
In this critical time, and with a sense of urgency, many philanthropic…
The demand for racial justice erupting across a nation ravaged by a…
Andy Goodman, director and co-founder of the Goodman Center, is launching a…
In this cross-post, Project Evident discusses how data and evidence can help…
Hear from GEO CEO, Marcus Walton, as he reflects on how hope…
In this cross-post Ashoka argues the case for funding social entrepreneur-led organizations…
For the last two months, grantmaking organizations have focused on triage as…
Like many other grantmakers, the CLIPF community mobilized quickly to support grantees…
Hear from GEO CEO, Marcus Walton, as he reflects on the impact…
GEO’s Capacity Building Champions, a community of GEO members who are passionate…
As a community of grantmakers advocating for philanthropy to put nonprofits and…
Unprecedented times call for unprecedented actions. The challenges that we are collectively…
The Bridgespan Group shares key findings from their new report that examines…
Last week, over 200 foundations signed a pledge calling upon philanthropy to…
The global COVID-19 outbreak being felt here and across the world is…
In this post from the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, Tory…
Charles E. Carter of Project Evident shared reflections from his experience at…
In this cross-post from the inaugural fellow at The Patterson Foundation, Hannah…
At the GEO Learning Conference this year a group of 5 evaluators…
In this post, which originally appeared in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Bess…
As more grantmakers are considering how they can advance change through their…
The Consumer Health Foundation has long embedded racial equity in its programs,…
Five major foundations, all GEO members, have agreed to do more to…
What if the philanthropic sector placed as much value on love and…
The Associations Advancing Equitable Evaluation Practices (AAEEP) came together earlier this year…
What started out two years ago as a simple “strategic plan refresh”…
Throughout my career, I have committed myself to service. First, as a…
This is a cross-post of an article written by Scott Heimlich of…
This post originally appeared on Fund the People's website and discusses white…
As part of the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations Learning Conference 2019, Candid…
The Colorado Trust recently released a learning paper on their cohort model…
To retain employees long-term, we need to create cultures where people feel…
Interim CEO J McCray shares an update on GEO's leadership transition and…
Healthcare Georgia Foundation supports and funds capacity building. Learn more about how…
"Engaging Boards and Trustees in Strategic Learning," a toolkit from FSG and…
Helios Foundation for Education shares their lessons learned from a cultural change…
After 17 years with GEO, President and CEO Kathleen Enright is transitioning…
When grantmakers consider providing capacity-building support for the first time or refining…
In 2018 and 2019, GEO is developing a publication, workshop and conference…
After three years of working to expand the bench of evaluators, the…
The Center for Effective Philanthropy conducted a study to discover what support…
In September 2018, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations released "Get on the Balcony:…
After 17 successful years of inspiring and nurturing people with innovative, grassroots…
After 17 successful years of inspiring and nurturing people with innovative, grassroots…
The Maddox Charitable Fund's original website bespoke a transactional as opposed to…
The Claniel Foundation has shifted to providing 100 percent of its grants…
Organizational assessment tools can be used to gauge an organization’s strategic focus,…
Help GEO decide on language to use when we talk about increasing…
The more frequently members of a system communicate with each other about…
The southeastern U.S. is heavy with history and layered with nuanced culture…
Philanthropy and the nonprofit sector have seen several evolutionary changes over the…
One year ago, Engage R+D and Equal Measure launched an exploratory dialogue…
The longstanding saying tells us to stop and smell the roses. But…
If we want our sector to be more effective in addressing the…
We were so excited to welcome so many thought leaders to GEO’s…
Complex, systemic challenges require sophisticated, long-term strategies to address them. The same…
In this post-2018 National Conference reflection, Ellen Solowey, program officer at Virginia…
This year, GEO welcomed back Nell Edgington, president of Social Velocity, to…
Welcome to the recap of Day 3 of GEO's 2018 National Conference!…
Welcome to the recap of Day 2 of GEO's 2018 National Conference!…
Welcome to the recap of Day 1 of GEO's 2018 National Conference!…
At the beginning of the year, we kicked off our first post…
As GEO's national conference approaches, our members share their hopes for our…
This year, GEO welcomes back Nell Edgington, president of Social Velocity, to…
As GEO’s national conference approaches, our members share their hopes for our…
Equitable evaluation has created a critical space for reflective practice. As evaluators…
When foundations share knowledge generated through evaluation, strategy development and thought leadership,…
Philanthropy's Reflective Practices released a guide exploring four reflective practices. Read more…
As Root Cause began to question its purpose, it was critical that…
While there is a nearly universal belief that grant reports are necessary,…
Post-presidential election, the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund noticed the increasing amount…
bi3 provided $3.2 million to launch StartStrong, a maternal and infant health…
Solidarity MN is a coalition of Minnesota foundations inspired to act by…
This year, the GEO community celebrates 20 years of making meaningful progress…
The Sprout Fund designs grassroots grantmaking programs that tap the ingenuity of…
Thank you for engaging with us throughout 2017 and sharing your wisdom…
In December 2017, Lori Bartczak and Starsky Wilson co-authored an op ed…
Beginning in 2012, Nexus and the Phillips Foundation partnered to fund and…
On November 21, 2017, the Center for Effective Philanthropy posted this blog…
When funding social impact projects, grantmakers have historically not provided contingency funds…
In September, Fund the People announced the release of Fund the People…
After the 2017 Unity Summit, AAPIP (Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy) invited…
Hear directly from 9 nonprofit leaders what you can be doing to…
On September 11, GEO hosted a member call to discuss the role…
For the past two years, a number of the leading organizations supporting…
At this moment, many nonprofits are facing greater fiscal uncertainty than ever…
Philanthropic funders have a unique role to play when leading in complexity…
The biggest win for us in going through these dialogues in and…
Often unprecedented circumstances seem to necessitate bigger or radically different strategies. But…
Even when we don’t mean to — and even when it runs…
Here are five key lessons learned from our pilot Change Incubator program,…
The Race Matters Toolkit provides a comprehensive look at how race and…
Now is the opportunity for foundations to gain a clarity that has…
A racial equity lens focuses on how race and ethnicity impact experiences…
We all have blind spots. Our blind spots may cause us to…
The D5 coalition has created a series of tools to help grantmakers…
What will the Trump Administration mean for the nonprofit organizations who serve…
We all have blind spots. They impair our judgment in meaningful ways.…
This series, produced in partnership with Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, tells the…
For far too long, the relationships between infrastructure organizations have been fraught…
Many trustees, program officers and nonprofit leaders are pretty terrible at having…
We need to face the structural and systemic causes of racial disparity…
A number of 2016 National Conference participants have shared their thoughts about…
When GEO launched the Change Incubator last year, we were making three…
We know that as a field, we need to do more to…
I recently ran across a historical document that surprisingly holds many parallels…
Teams from four pioneering GEO member organizations joined us in the first…
More and more people in philanthropy are realizing just how critical attending…
Neither we nor the organizations we support can afford to leave any…