HOW DO WE IDENTIFY AND EVALUATE NONPROFIT PARTNERS?
CASE STUDY
The Mark Foster Foundation
Foundations typically encounter many obstacles in evaluating their current nonprofit partners-and in identifying potential new grantees. Should you continue making grants to the same organization year after year? How well are your partners using your grants? How can you get an independent, objective evaluation of your grantees? Which current or potential groups could best help you fulfill your mission or programmatic aspirations?
THE MARK FOSTER FOUNDATION:
Philanthropist Mark Foster did not want his collection of over 150 original works of art by Georges Rouault and Marc Chagall to collect dust in the back closet of an art gallery. He envisioned his collection of critically acclaimed art inspiring a meaningful examination of the cultural, moral, and spiritual foundations of Western civilization on America's college campuses. "I had a great interest in trying to help re-establish a trend of putting Western civilization, the great works of the Greek, Roman, and Judeo-Christian traditions, at the center of the curriculum."
American Philanthropic worked with the Mark Foster Foundation to identify, evaluate, and develop relationships with collegiate partners throughout the country to host the foundation's "Fine Arts in the Academy" exhibit and related programs.
In the fall of 2010, the Baylor University community premiered "Fine Arts in the Academy," featuring two critically acclaimed cycles: Chagall's The Bible and Rouault's Miserere. The show at the university's Mayborn Museum brought together students, faculty, and the public for viewings, special courses in the school's Honors College, public lectures, an academic conference, and a performance special by the Baylor Symphony.
RELATED SERVICES:
- Strategic goal-setting.
- Identification of potential funding partners.
- Giving portfolio and grantee evaluations.
- Research and assessment of current nonprofit partners.
- Analysis and improvement of giving impact.
