Listening to Stakeholders: Focus on Nonprofit User Experience

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As traditional grantmaking practices are being up-ended with the global pandemic and renewed energy around racial, social, and economic justice, what’s taking tech so long to catch up? Philanthropy, Tech & Equity is a four-part series from PEAK, Technology Association of Grantmakers, GrantAdvisor, and Grantbook that illuminates how philanthropy can leverage technology to drive equitable grantmaking practices and build a social justice movement, step by step. We guarantee to satisfy secret (and not-so-secret) accidental techies, data nerds, and tech futurists alike as we take you on a learning journey around philanthropy, technology, and equity. The first key principle of social justice work: Start with community. We kicked off this series by hearing from the primary beneficiaries of philanthropy tech--nonprofits. GrantAdvisor, an anonymous tool where nonprofits can leave feedback for their funders, has been tracking what they really think about your online systems, and it’s not all awesome. Our speakers have some lived experience to share. You'll also hear from a grantmaker who listened, and did something about it! Original air date: October 13, 2020

As traditional grantmaking practices are being up-ended with the global pandemic and renewed energy around racial, social, and economic justice, what’s taking tech so long to catch up? Philanthropy, Tech & Equity is a four-part series from PEAK, Technology Association of Grantmakers, GrantAdvisor, and Grantbook that illuminates how philanthropy can leverage technology to drive equitable grantmaking practices and build a social justice movement, step by step. We guarantee to satisfy secret (and not-so-secret) accidental techies, data nerds, and tech futurists alike as we take you on a learning journey around philanthropy, technology, and equity.

The first key principle of social justice work: Start with community. We kicked off this series by hearing from the primary beneficiaries of philanthropy tech--nonprofits. GrantAdvisor, an anonymous tool where nonprofits can leave feedback for their funders, has been tracking what they really think about your online systems, and it’s not all awesome. Our speakers have some lived experience to share. You'll also hear from a grantmaker who listened, and did something about it!

Original air date: October 13, 2020

Kari Aanestad

Co-Director

GrantAdvisor

Rhonda McGee

Information Systems Manager

Kalamazoo Community Foundation

James Law

Director, Innovation & Business Development

Grantbook

Satonya Fair (Moderator)

President & CEO

PEAK Grantmaking

Satonya Fair joined PEAK Grantmaking as the organization’s first President and CEO in August 2020.

As President and CEO, Satonya works closely with the Board and staff to articulate and implement a vision for the future of PEAK, ensuring a values-driven approach in which equity, diversity, inclusion, awareness of power dynamics in the craft of philanthropy, and a commitment to learning, sharing, and evolving, are integrated and operationalized in the organizational strategy. She is dedicated to engaging PEAK membership and building the organizational value proposition, while also cultivating strong partnerships with philanthropy-serving organizations and the broader philanthropic sector as an ambassador, thought leader, and collaborator. During her tenure, she hopes to strengthen internal infrastructure, grow and diversity PEAK’s funding base, and support an inspired and dynamic staff team while fostering inclusivity, shared values, and high performance.

Satonya brings 25+ years of experience working in nonprofit and philanthropic roles. Prior to joining PEAK, she served as Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer at The Executive Leadership Council where she developed and launched a philanthropic engagement strategy and funding pillars for the organization. Previously, she was Director of Grants Management at The Annie E. Casey Foundation where she oversaw grant operations, and served in management roles at Citi, supporting community relations and foundation giving.

Satonya earned her JD from the University of Cincinnati and her bachelor’s degree in psychology and political science from Miami University (Ohio). She is a graduate of the Career Pathways executive leadership program at the Council on Foundations (Cohort 3) and is a certified Prosci Change Management practitioner.

She is an active volunteer, including former board service with PEAK Grantmaking, the Technology Association of Grantmakers and Maryland Philanthropy Network. She enjoys family and friend time, traveling abroad, tennis, a great British detective show, baking, and her love language is organization.

Grants Management Professional Competency Model

Cross-Cutting Competencies

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in grantmaking practices.
Technology Management: Apply technology solutions to grantmaking to support grantmaker applicant, and grantee success.

Lifecycle of a Grant Competencies

Planning and Pre-Grant: Apply the grantmaker values, mission, and goals to ensure alignment of application process and guidelines.

Principles for Peak Grantmaking

Narrow the Power Gap - Use practices and policies to help narrow the power gap between grantmakers and grantseekers, and value equally the resources each brings to their partnerships and use practices and policies to help narrow the power gap.

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The Evolving Role of Grants Management

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The role and function of grants management continues to evolve in organizations across the philanthropic sector, especially in response to current events. As a grants management professional, you are performing new roles, broadening your responsibilities, and expanding your impact throughout your organization. This time of rapid change requires you to develop new skills, communicate differently, and look ahead to the future. Speakers discuss the evolution of the grants management model, the current state of grantmaking operations in your organization, and how you can reach the next level of effectiveness.

The role and function of grants management continues to evolve in organizations across the philanthropic sector, especially in response to current events. As a grants management professional, you are performing new roles, broadening your responsibilities, and expanding your impact throughout your organization. This time of rapid change requires you to develop new skills, communicate differently, and look ahead to the future.

Speakers discuss the evolution of the grants management model, the current state of grantmaking operations in your organization, and how you can reach the next level of effectiveness.

Learn how to

audit your individual role and current stage in the grants management evolution model;
create strategies to advance your organization to the next stage in the evolution model;
develop professional development plans for your career growth; and
promote the benefits of change to your organization’s leadership.

The workshop was a joint program of PEAK Mideast and Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania (GWP).

Original air date: October 7, 2020

Sara Sanders

Membership Director

PEAK Grantmaking

As PEAK Grantmaking’s membership director, Sara leads the organization’s efforts to build and grow our network of over 350 Organizations Members and our community of more than 4,000 grants management professionals, all with the goal of improving how grants get made throughout the philanthropic sector.

Sara brings 10+ years of association experience in volunteer management, membership recruitment and retention, stakeholder engagement, and relationship building. For more than 2 of those years, she worked as PEAK Grantmaking’s regional chapter manager, during which time she collaborated with volunteer regional chapter officers to dramatically increase engagement and build volunteers as leaders.

Sara started her career at the Department of Defense, training military voting assistance officers to help service members vote and ensuring ballots were sent on time to oversees citizens. She has also worked at the League of Women Voters and the School Nutrition Association.

Sara earned a bachelor’s degree in history and criminal justice from The George Washington University. She loves spending time with her family, is an avid sports fan and museum enthusiast, enjoys hobbies like ice skating and knitting, and can’t wait for her next travel adventure.

Altinay Cortes

Chapter Manager

PEAK Grantmaking

As PEAK Grantmaking’s chapter manager, Altinay supports grants management professionals within PEAK’s 14 regional chapters. A trained social worker, Altinay considers herself to be a connector of people to ideas, tools, opportunities, and resources. She is passionate about fostering strong networks and communities that promote positively changing society. Throughout her career, Altinay has worked in multiple philanthropic, higher education, and social services positions serving diverse communities, especially racial and ethnic minorities and/or individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Prior to joining PEAK Grantmaking, Altinay was a consultant at Equal Measure, a philanthropic services organization. Altinay served as a core team member on the evaluation capacity-building plan for the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, and the National Public Education Support Fund’s Partnership for the Future of Learning. She also served as a member of the Coordination Hub team for the National Science Foundation’s INCLUDES initiative and Equal Measure’s evaluation of the California Endowment’s Sons & Brothers initiative. Additionally, Altinay worked with the Pew Charitable Trusts on an initiative to improve college access and success for Hispanic immigrants.

Altinay earned her Master of Social Work from Fordham University and B.A. in Social Work from Rutgers University.

Altinay is an avid traveler and enjoys exploring in the U.S. and abroad. She’s also a natural organizer: Ask her about ways to organize any space! Whether in the office or at home, Altinay believes there is a place for every item. She has a deep admiration for efficient use of space and time.

Dolores Estrada

Chief Operating Officer

PEAK Grantmaking

As COO of PEAK Grantmaking, Dolores manages day-to-day operations – ensuring that our members and funders receive timely responses to inquiries and that staff have the resources they need to work successfully on behalf of members. Dolores also oversees the efforts of PEAK’s Membership and Communications teams, as they engage more grants management professionals in improving grantmaking practices. In addition, she lends her expertise to the development, implementation, and assessment of the association’s strategic plans.

Prior to joining PEAK Grantmaking, Dolores was director of grant operations at The California Endowment, where she was responsible for oversight of the administrative functions and policies of the foundation’s online grant-making, program planning, strategic planning, assessment, and operations. Dolores managed the Endowment’s collection of grantee diversity data and represented the foundation as a subject matter expert on philanthropic best practices at conferences. In addition, Dolores has extensive experience managing information systems and tax compliance.

A resident of Los Angeles, Dolores was the recipient of the 2009 Emerging Leader Award from the Joint Affinity Group, and she serves on the board of the Southern California Leadership Network. Dolores earned a master’s degree in Liberal Studies, with an emphasis on International Relations, from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree in History from California State University.

Grants Management Professional Competency Model

Cross-Cutting Competencies

Knowledge Management: Capture and apply knowledge to promote learning and improvement.
Process and Change Management: Plan and monitor processes efficiently and effectively and manage change as needed to contribute to grantmaker's strategic goals and grantee's success.
Staff and Volunteer Development: Build the capacity of staff and volunteers to be successful in their grantmaking role.

Principles for Peak Grantmaking

Tie Practices to Values - Link grantmaking practices with grantmaker values, integrating values throughout every aspect of grantmaking, to walk the talk and propel the mission.

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Driving Collaboration: Bridging the Gap Between Grantmakers and Grantseekers

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In today’s everchanging world, grantmakers, applicants, and grantees need to collaborate to serve the communities that need resources the most. As many funders are re-evaluating how they operate to adapt to the changing environment, what does that mean for how they partner with grantees? And, what challenges facing grantseekers that could be mitigated by funders? Watch this candid conversation with a funder and a grant writer as they share their perspectives on how we can collaborate better throughout the grantmaking cycle. Sponsored by Salesforce.org. Original air date: September 23, 2020

In today’s everchanging world, grantmakers, applicants, and grantees need to collaborate to serve the communities that need resources the most. As many funders are re-evaluating how they operate to adapt to the changing environment, what does that mean for how they partner with grantees? And, what challenges facing grantseekers that could be mitigated by funders?

Watch this candid conversation with a funder and a grant writer as they share their perspectives on how we can collaborate better throughout the grantmaking cycle.

Sponsored by Salesforce.org.

Original air date: September 23, 2020

Ursula Stewart (Moderator)

Grantmaking Industry Advisor

Salesforce.org

Ursula joined the Salesforce.org team in January 2020 in the role of grant making impact advocate, through which she provides strategic analysis of grantmaking processes and systems data management and helps grantmakers align their grants management system to their organization’s strategic practices and policies. She has more than 30 years in the grantmaking community in the roles of grants management and system administrator. She has keynoted and presented at numerous philanthropic and technology conferences and events. During her ten-yeartenure at the New York State Health Foundation, Ursula was recognized for leading the innovative use of the foundation’s grants management system. Ursula is a co-author of “Best Practices in Grants Management,” a guide to administering a grantmaking program.

Dr. Beverly A. Browning

CEO and Senior Consultant

Bev Browning, LLC

Barbara Scace

Director of Grants Management

William Penn Foundation

Grants Management Professional Competency Model

Cross-Cutting Competencies

Communications: Listen to others and communicate effectively.
Process and Change Management: Plan and monitor processes efficiently and effectively and manage change as needed to contribute to grantmaker's strategic goals and grantee's success.
Technology Management: Apply technology solutions to grantmaking to support grantmaker applicant, and grantee success.

Lifecycle of a Grant Competencies

Planning and Pre-Grant: Apply the grantmaker values, mission, and goals to ensure alignment of application process and guidelines.
Planning and Pre-Grant: Design and implement the review process to support an informed grant decision.

Principles for Peak Grantmaking

Narrow the Power Gap - Use practices and policies to help narrow the power gap between grantmakers and grantseekers, and value equally the resources each brings to their partnerships and use practices and policies to help narrow the power gap.

LEARN MORE >>

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- Non-member - Free!
- Individual Member - Free!
- Organization Member - Free!
- Consultant (Sole) - Free!
- Consultant (Firm) - Free!
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Breaking the Nonprofit Starvation Cycle

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With organizations like Charity Navigator using an overhead ratio as a key factor in their ratings, nonprofits are often afraid to invest in technology because donors expect low overhead. This results in nonprofits skimping on vital systems, which fuels donors’ skewed beliefs while stressing staff and potentially leading to poor grant decisions and tracking. This has only become more apparent during the pandemic, forcing grantmakers to pivot, reassess, and sometimes totally change processes without the tools for them to do so efficiently. Thankfully, this is becoming a visible issue that is starting to be challenged. Learn how technology is an imperative tool for today’s grantmakers that are aiming to be effective and equitable, and the new analysis research that could allow organizations to show the real value of an investment. Original air date: September 16, 2020

With organizations like Charity Navigator using an overhead ratio as a key factor in their ratings, nonprofits are often afraid to invest in technology because donors expect low overhead. This results in nonprofits skimping on vital systems, which fuels donors’ skewed beliefs while stressing staff and potentially leading to poor grant decisions and tracking.

This has only become more apparent during the pandemic, forcing grantmakers to pivot, reassess, and sometimes totally change processes without the tools for them to do so efficiently.

Thankfully, this is becoming a visible issue that is starting to be challenged. Learn how technology is an imperative tool for today’s grantmakers that are aiming to be effective and equitable, and the new analysis research that could allow organizations to show the real value of an investment.

Sponsored by WizeHive.

Original air date: September 16, 2020

Melissa Greiner

Director of Marketing

WizeHive

Grants Management Professional Competency Model

Cross-Cutting Competencies

Technology Management: Apply technology solutions to grantmaking to support grantmaker applicant, and grantee success.

Principles for Peak Grantmaking

Narrow the Power Gap - Use practices and policies to help narrow the power gap between grantmakers and grantseekers, and value equally the resources each brings to their partnerships and use practices and policies to help narrow the power gap.

LEARN MORE >>

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From Reviewer to Co-Designer: Collaborating with Applicants to Strengthen Proposals

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Traditionally, grantmaking is a closed, sometimes obscure, process that often creates frustration for both grantseekers and foundation staff. Two years ago, the Health Foundation of South Florida completely revamped their grantmaking approach by, among other changes, introducing the concept of “proposal co-design.” This presentation uncovers the proposal co-design approach – what it means from a process and change management perspective, as well as its impact on programs funded, and the organization’s efforts to tie values to practices. Original air date: September 16, 2020

Traditionally, grantmaking is a closed, sometimes obscure, process that often creates frustration for both grantseekers and foundation staff. Two years ago, the Health Foundation of South Florida completely revamped their grantmaking approach by, among other changes, introducing the concept of “proposal co-design.”

This presentation uncovers the proposal co-design approach – what it means from a process and change management perspective, as well as its impact on programs funded, and the organization’s efforts to tie values to practices.

Original air date: September 16, 2020

Fernanda Kuchkarian

Director of Programs

Health Foundation of South Florida

Grants Management Professional Competency Model

Cross-Cutting Competencies

Communications: Listen to others and communicate effectively.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in grantmaking practices.
Process and Change Management: Plan and monitor processes efficiently and effectively and manage change as needed to contribute to grantmaker's strategic goals and grantee's success.

Lifecycle of a Grant Competencies

Planning and Pre-Grant: Apply the grantmaker values, mission, and goals to ensure alignment of application process and guidelines.
Planning and Pre-Grant: Design and implement the review process to support an informed grant decision.

Principles for Peak Grantmaking

Steward Responsively - Manage all entrusted resources—people, finances, reputation, time—with care to balance stewardship with an agile approach to risk.

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- Individual Member - $25
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How Your GMS Can Support Rapid Shifts in Funding and the Need to Report the Data | PEAK Northern California

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PEAK members share how their grants management systems are supporting rapid shifts in funding priorities in response to COVID-19 and racial inequity. Then, Candid’s C. Davis Parchment and Nicole Giles from Northern California Grantmakers share best practices on reporting the data. Original air date: August 19, 2020

PEAK members share how their grants management systems are supporting rapid shifts in funding priorities in response to COVID-19 and racial inequity. Then, Candid’s C. Davis Parchment and Nicole Giles from Northern California Grantmakers share best practices on reporting the data.

Original air date: August 19, 2020

Davis Parchment

Director of Partnerships - West

Candid

Nicole Giles

Strategic Initiatives Associate

Northern California Grantmakers

Grants Management Professional Competency Model

Cross-Cutting Competencies

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in grantmaking practices.
Strategic Management: Promote organizational mission and goals and inspire colleagues to achieve them.
Technology Management: Apply technology solutions to grantmaking to support grantmaker applicant, and grantee success.

Lifecycle of a Grant Competencies

Post-Grant: Review grantmaking to determine success in meeting goals and objectives.

Principles for Peak Grantmaking

Learn, Share, Evolve - Contribute to building sector-wide knowledge and seek wisdom from others pursuing change and impact.

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- Organization Member - Free!
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Drive Equity: Promoting Justice and Inclusion in the Grantmaking Process

Contains 3 Component(s)

PEAK President and CEO Satonya Fair provides an introduction to our third Principle for Peak Grantmaking: Drive Equity. Speakers explore why this work is important, our learning strategy for members, and a suite of newly available resources — including two case stories and a set of in-depth how-to guides. Original air date: September 2, 2020

PEAK President and CEO Satonya Fair provides an introduction to our third Principle for Peak Grantmaking: Drive Equity.

Speakers explore why this work is important, our learning strategy for members, and a suite of newly available resources — including two case stories and a set of in-depth how-to guides.

Topics covered include reducing bias in every step of the grantmaking process, and using demographic data to drive change toward more equitable grantmaking outcomes.

Original air date: September 2, 2020