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· Questions Being Asked of Charities
Philanthropy is the commitment of private resources to the public good. Whether it is through voluntary gifts to charity or through the creation of tax revenues, each of us is contributing to the communities in which we live.
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Today there is an increased awareness among people that they can control the distribution of their taxes through planning. This understanding combined with an increased desire to make a difference is leading to a renaissance of creative, constructive philanthropic initiatives that are positively shaping, the future of our communities.
Many of our individual and corporate clients have begun to ask us how they can plan their philanthropic contributions more strategically? While many of our non-profit clients have asked us how they can better connect and deepen their relationships with the donor community. This dual client increase in philanthropic initiatives has led to the creation of SFI's Philanthropic Services Group. Our goals are:
- To provide tools, services, and information resources that will enhance the philanthropic planning and practice of high net worth families, their advisors and the non-profit community.
- To educate donors, advisors, and charities regarding innovative, entrepreneurial, and effective philanthropic practices and the potential of strategic philanthropic planning to maximize the impact of their social capital resources in the charitable sector.
- To promote the betterment of philanthropic endeavors through the ongoing development of innovative philanthropic strategies.
- To help our clients to identify and realize their philanthropic values.
- To develop and implement appropriate strategies for realizing specified philanthropic goals.
What our donor clients are asking of us when working to establishing
their chosen project?
- What is the optimal structure for your project?
- What investment instruments ought to be utilized to make the dream a reality?
- How does one determine the funding requirements to allow this program to be successful?
- How does one ensure that the program is not over or under funded?
- How does one ensure that the goals and objectives of the plan are achieved?
Questions being asked of Charities
Quality of Leadership And Management
- Do competent and visionary individuals lead the organization? How much leadership depth is there? What would happen if the founder or current executive departed?
- Is there an active board of trustees that understands the mission and purpose of the organization?
- Does the organization have membership, volunteers or other unpaid constituencies who participate?
- Is there a strategic plan with goals that are shared by board and staff?
Track Record
- Is there a solid and documented record of achievement?
- What is the organization's reputation within its field?
- How do its "consumers" (clients or target population) rate its programs and services?
- Does the organization have a high degree of community support and participation?
- If the organization is new, what is the track record of its founders?
Financial Strength And Stability
- Are accounting and financial record keeping systems in place?
- Has there been financial stability over time?
- Is the funding base diverse and stable?
- Does the organization have strong fund development capacity? Does it employ ethical practices in fundraising? How much does it spend on fund raising?
- Is there a cash reserve?
Urgency or Need
- How urgently is the problem or issue addressed, by the proposed, grant?
- How did the organization identify this
- How does their assessment of the need compare with the analysis of others who know the field or community?
- Who will be served by the program, and how might they benefit?
Efficiency - Cost Effectiveness
- What is the cost per unit of service?
- How does it compare to similar pro-grams?
- What would the social costs be of not offering this program?
Potential Impact
- Does the proposed program represent a new model or approach?
- Will it affect large numbers of people?
- Does it have the potential to be a model that is replicable elsewhere?
- Will it sustain or significantly strengthen a critical community resource?
- Does it have the potential to influence public policy?
- Does it have the potential to develop new concepts and contribute significantly to learning in this field?
Degree of Risk
- Are the presented plans well-conceived and likely to work out as proposed?
- Is this a tested idea or approach?
- Do outside forces have the potential to hinder implementation of this program?
Strategy Leverage
- Will our support encourage other donors to give?
- Will it build public support or credibility for this approach?
Potential For Institutionalization And Self-Sufficiency
- Will our support significantly strengthen this program and organization?
- If successful, is this program likely to be replicated elsewhere?
- Is this program likely to affect how other institutions provide services?
- Are there other potential future funding sources for this effort?
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