In our work with private foundations, NPA designs and develops new grant programs, with a special interest in programs that involve community foundations as partners. Private foundations often seek out community foundations because of their local knowledge and credibility.  NPA Principal, Mark Neithercut, has 20 years of experience working with community foundations as a volunteer, senior executive, and consultant.  See Working with Community Foundations and New Program Development.

Did you know?

• When it comes to measuring a foundation's success, leadership and strategy are more important than money.
• For many donors, a donor advised fund or a supporting organization can be a better vehicle than a foundation to achieve their charitable goals.
• Due to a decline in assets, many foundations face serious issues about their strategy and resource allocation.
• Small foundations often benefit from establishing a sunset date.

At NPA, we find that our private foundation clients are often facing the following issues or challenges:

• Are you a small foundation with excessive administrative and legal requirements? See Alternatives to Foundations.
• Are you or your staff overwhelmed by paperwork? Do you want to continue to make grantmaking decisions, but would be happy to have someone else handle the day-to-day administration? See Foundation Management.
• Are you concerned that your internal processing systems are inefficient and that you may not be keeping the required documentation for legal and financial accountability? See Systems Audit.
• Are you a new CEO with little or no grantmaking experience? See Executive Coaching.
• Do you feel that your foundation has achieved little tangible results with its past grantmaking? See Strategic Framework.
• Do you feel that your foundation is focused more on maintaining its existence than on creating positive change? See Sunset Dates and Strategic Framework.
• Are you considering a new area of grantmaking, but you worry that you will not have an impact? See New Program Development, Confidential Inquiry and Strategic Framework.
• Are you interested in working with one or more community foundations on a grantmaking project? See Working with Community Foundations.
• Do you want to develop a new area of grantmaking, but are unsure what is being done elsewhere in philanthropy? See New Program Development.