BOOSTING EFFECTIVENESS

Executive Coaching

Many new CEOs and board members assume their foundation positions with little background in philanthropy.  They may have significant management and leadership experience, but lack an understanding of the systems and best practices of grantmaking.  In recent years, Neithercut Philanthropy Advisors has developed a specialty in working with new executives and board members who lack grantmaking experience.  Coaching assignments are tailored to meet your needs, and typically involve regularly scheduled meetings or phone calls.  In addition, NPA staff is available at all times by phone when sudden issues arise.

The coaching relationship enables a new CEO or board member to learn about the operations of a foundation and to grow into their new positions.  The coaching process is entirely private and confidential.   

References are available from present executive coaching clients.

<top of page>

Foundation Management

Neithercut Philanthropy Advisors is experienced in managing all aspects of foundation operations.  NPA can take on the full responsibility of managing a foundation, or simply handle a small part of its operations, such as responding to inquiries or reviewing final reports.  NPA also has significant experience working with foundation boards and can provide administrative and staff support as needed.

Charitable individuals can utilize NPA as their personal charitable advisor and manager.  Some individuals find comfort in referring all inquiries to a third party.  In these relationships, NPA fends off unwanted inquiries, investigates promising opportunities, and negotiates major gifts to ensure the long-term success of the individual's gifts.

<top of page>

New Program Development

New Economy InitiativeNeithercut Philanthropy Advisors has extensive experience in researching the feasibility of new grantmaking programs and designing new programs to ensure efficient use of resources.  Neithercut Philanthropy Advisors designed and managed the implementation of the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan, a $100 million eight-year effort by 10 local and national foundations, as well as the $30 million 10-year Grow Healthy Kansas program launched in July 2009.

Neithercut Philanthropy Advisors has also worked with Michigan Future (in partnership with
The Kresge Foundation and the Skillman Foundation) to develop a business plan for a new intermediary organization that will launch a dozen new high-performing high schools in southeast Michigan.

Additional new program development work has been conducted for the Colorado Health Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, and the Telluride Community Foundation.

<top of page>

Pursuit of Excellence

National Neithercut Philanthropy Advisors is one of only 20 firms in the nation that has completed the training necessary to lead a family foundation through the National Center for Family Philanthropy's Pursuit of Excellence process.  At this time, NPA is the only firm in the Great Lakes region (Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana) to have completed this training.

The Pursuit of Excellence (POE) is a new assessment process for family foundations.  Developed by the National Center for Family Philanthropy, POE is the first assessment tool developed specifically for family foundations.  POE was developed over the last five years in a rigorous testing process with dozens of family foundations.  In addition, the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) conducted the first national, in-depth survey of family foundations that allows the results of each POE assessment to be compared to the norms of the field as a whole.

POE enables a family foundation to understand its strengths and weaknesses in a thorough review of all operational areas, including legacy, vision, mission, governance, family involvement, board functions, grantmaking, fiscal oversight and foundation management.  The assessment tool provides a view of how a foundation currently operates, as well as its aspirations.

For additional information call NPA or see:

<top of page>

Strategic Framework

Foundations and charitable individuals typically provide support for programs and this often leads them to focus their attention on activities.  As a result, foundations often lose sight of desired outcomes and end up measuring activities instead.

Neithercut Philanthropy Advisors has extensive experience in building strategic frameworks to help foundations focus first on desired outcomes and then develop strategies and tactics to achieve these outcomes.

Measuring outcomes and establishing metrics is a trend in organized philanthropy, but in many cases foundations (and charitable individuals) focus on what they want to fund before they consider what they want to achieve.  Neithercut Philanthropy Advisors offers a simple test: “Can you describe what success looks like, and how you would measure it?” That is, what are the final outcomes you hope to achieve?  Until the answers to these questions are known, NPA advises its clients to avoid the distracting question of “What types of activities shall we fund?”

NIE Grantmaking GuidelinesNPA can share examples of strategic frameworks, such as the one developed for the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan that is published in its grantmaking guidelines booklet (pdf).   (See pages 1-5). 

<top of page>

Systems Audit

Although thousands of new foundations are launched each year, there are no standard management procedures utilized by the industry. This is especially true of foundations where the donor or donor’s family is actively involved in the management of foundation operations. The interests of the family are paramount in these foundations, and thus the process systems are typically designed to meet their unique interests and needs.

Despite the lack of standards, best practices in the industry have established many benchmarks that any set of systems should meet:

  • Prompt acknowledgement of applications submitted
  • Prompt action on applications submitted
  • Prompt notice of grant actions
  • Accurate record keeping regarding each grantee’s public charity status
  • Permanent documentation of the review and approval process for each grant
  • Prompt payment of grants
  • Accurate tracking and fulfillment of grant and payment conditions
  • Timely submission of final reports for all grants
  • Proper closing and filing/archiving of grant files
  • Accurate recordkeeping required for financial and IRS audits
  • Required recordkeeping by the various federal anti-terrorism acts

Neithercut Philanthropy Advisors has extensive experience in developing, managing, and assessing a foundation’s grantmaking systems, including:

  • Identifing gaps or weaknesses in existing systems.
  • Ensuring that foundation staff members understand the purpose and quality standards for each process or system.
  • Helping the foundation staff and board gain confidence that the procedures in place, with the appropriate improvements (if any), provide the necessary accountability, accuracy and timeliness.

NPA is presently conducting a grantmaking systems audit for the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation.  

<top of page>