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Wise Giving Wednesday: Funding Infrastructure Organizations
Last week, I joined 21 other organizational leaders in signing a
letter
that was sent to 1400 foundations. You may be aware of it. The aim of the
letter was simple: we want foundations to invest 1% of their grant budgets
in organizations that work to improve the performance of the non-profit
sector. These organizations in part make up what is commonly referred to as
the non-profit infrastructure.
They support effective management, collection of data, measure performance,
educate boards, enable efficient and professional fundraising, and in our
case, educate charities and donors about what is required for
trustworthiness. These organizations are vital to the success of non-profit
work but are often neglected by funders when it comes to supporting their
financial needs. Funders make an assumption that this work will somehow
continue at a high level without their support.
The sector needs more foundations to fund non-profit infrastructure. The
challenge is that many foundations have set up funding guidelines that
preclude them from supporting infrastructure organizations. We hope that
where this is the case, that foundation executives and board members will
consider amending those guidelines to enable them to support the important
services non-profit infrastructure organizations deliver.
If you are a charity and have a chance to speak with a foundation leader,
mention the letter to them and ask them to consider setting aside funds for
infrastructure. If you are a grant maker, I hope this will stimulate a
dialogue in your foundation that leads to greater support for these
organizations.
On a separate note, as part of our Building Trust Video Series we are
pleased to provide a video featuring Scott Jackson, President & CEO of
Global Impact (a
BBB Accredited Charity) which works with approximately 450 public and private sector workplace
giving campaigns to generate funding for more than 120 international
charities. Global Impact also serves as administrator for the Combined
Federal Campaign-Overseas
We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for
donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs
to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities
include:
Finally, remember to let us know by going to https://www.give.org/ask-us-about-a-charity1/ if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on
the list and we will do our best to produce one.
H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
