Program Officers Content

At a February Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington luncheon, I presented a session on how philanthropy can support nonprofit mergers and collaborations. Because MMT has received recent inquiries about mergers, I thought it might be helpful to explain MMT’s philosophy toward this topic. How does MMT approach nonprofit mergers and collaborations?

Last fiscal year, MMT offered PRI (Program Related Investments) Information Exchanges in Portland and Salem. Hacienda CDC organized Portland’s program. Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency helped with Salem’s event.

It's time to report on our grantees' work during the first year of our Community Food Systems Special Focus Program, reflecting on accomplishments so far and how we're working to make future efforts more informed and effective.

Most nonprofits see foundations as only a source of grants. But MMT has another important, but lesser known, tool for helping organizations with a charitable purpose: Program-Related Investments (PRIs).

With almost a year under my belt as a program officer, I thought it was about time to share a few thoughts on my experience thus far. Sitting on the other side of the fundraising table for so many years, foundations had always seemed a little mysterious and slightly scary to approach. Now that I work for one, I figure it's my responsibility to help folks peek behind the curtain and understand them a bit better.

Foundation program officers are asked many questions about certified independent financial audits by organizations preparing a grant proposal. In fact, it's a topic that generates a lot of anxiety

Having been responsible for submitting many grant proposals in my pre-MMT life, I know how it feels to try to figure out what foundations mean when they issue messages about what they are looking for in grant proposals. May I never lose that perspective. :)