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Examples shared enriched the content invaluably.Participant, Winston-Salem Foundation

About

University Coursework for Experienced Grantmakers

Grounded in both practice and research, The Grantmaking School presents the first university-based, practitioner-led curriculum for program officers aimed at advancing grantmaking as a field. The Grantmaking School:

  • Focuses on experienced, practicing grantmakers
  • Offers tangible credentials through certification
  • Partners with organizations that serve the field


Philosophy

Curriculum of The Grantmaking School is designed to help experienced grantmaking practitioners increase the social impact of their grants, improve the effectiveness of the grantmaking field, and achieve greater success in their own careers.

This advanced professional education for grantmakers brings together three crucial elements in effective grantmaking practice:

  • navigating the institutional environment
  • understanding interpersonal dynamics
  • integrating all tools and techniques


    • Grantmaking Practice Triangle

    Core Beliefs of The Grantmaking School

    1. The greater the skill and proficiency of grantmakers, the more effective the results of their work.
    2. More effective grantmaking leads to more profound social change.
    3. More effective grantmaking can be learned. Since the first “modern” private foundation was established in 1867, a body of identifiable and teachable techniques for the sound operation of foundations has evolved, along with proven methods of executive education for teaching these techniques.
    4. Effective grantmaking requires:
    • Respectful listening to the ideas of those outside the foundation.
    • A clear communication of the foundation’s interests and priorities.
    • A fair and open process of proposal consideration.
    • Timely and candid feedback to those whose proposals are declined.
    • Due diligence to assure the charitable purpose and capabilities of applicants for funding.
    • Active assistance to select funded projects to help them reach their full potential.
    • Development of a mutually beneficial partnership with grantees.
    • Demonstration of results and successful impact through practical evaluation of funded projects.
    • Effective communication with constituencies that can multiply the impact of funded projects. These constituent groups may include other nonprofit organizations, other funding sources, and policymakers on the state, local, and national levels.
    • A commitment to raising the level of quality practice in the field by sharing lessons learned and supporting efforts to improve performance in the field.
    • A thorough understanding of the institutional context within which the program officer works – the policies, history, and “unwritten rules” of the foundation.
    • The management of knowledge to improve the art of grantmaking – including learning lessons through evaluation, reflection on their meaning, and deliberately capturing important information – all to improve future practice.