Looking for a Big Lift
Topics: Responsive Grants | Program Officers
Before even cracking a page, I was pretty sure I knew the answer to the question posed in the title of the new report, The Public Funding Crisis: Can Philanthropy Shoulder the Burden? Nevertheless, I thought it might contain some nuggets of wisdom. Turns out, it did–
Tales from the double-wide: reflections of a new program officer
Topics: Program Officers
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.
Getting at the Roots
Wait til you hear what my colleague Sally Yee and I got to do this summer and fall! Right in the
middle of peak harvest season, we got to explore and visit some truly
enterprising and engaging efforts to build strong community food systems
in Oregon. As part of our jobs!
EYEWTK* about Independent Financial Audits
Topics: Responsive Grants | Program Officers
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
PRIs – A Growing Alternative Philanthropic Tool
Topics: PRI | Program Officers
Created by Congress in the Tax Act of 1969, a PRI (program-related investment) is a type of mission-related or social investment that foundations make to achieve their philanthropic goals. PRIs can take many forms – deposits, equity investments, guarantees and loans, to name to few. At MMT, most PRIs have been loans.
What We Mean by Innovation
Topics: Responsive Grants | Program Officers
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. :)
MMT Studying Community Food Systems
Topics: RFP | Program Officers
As the Great Recession has hit Oregon so hard and lingered so long, our trustees have been increasingly concerned with its effects on low-income and rural Oregonians. They've been particularly worried about rising food insecurity and hunger. While MMT has consistently supported Oregon's statewide food bank network, we wanted to explore more systemic responses that would help:
What do you think of the new IRS Form 990?
Topics: Program Officers
The Internal Revenue Service has unveiled draft instructions for its updated Form 990
that will be used by nonprofit organizations beginning in tax year
2008. The differences between the existing and new form are significant
and include changes in format, organization, and additional disclosure.
MMT Program Officer Paul Reich weighs in and wants to know what you think:
