Signals of Readiness: How Funders Can Vet AI in the Social Sector
The SMS service that connects hungry neighbors with nearby food pantries? It runs on AI. The nonprofit fighting cancer by…
4 Essential Member Engagement Metrics to Watch This Year
As a leader at an association or other membership-based organization, you know that engaging your members is critical for long-term…
The Myths of Philanthropy | The Center for Effective Philanthropy
Individualism. Competition. Risk aversion. Short-termism. Scarcity. Presumed expertise. Many of the norms by which philanthropy operates perpetuate the very narratives…
How to Leverage the Power of Positive Donor Communications
Imagine you receive two fundraising letters. One uses fearmongering and guilt-tripping tactics, telling you that unless you donate today, the…
A Mixed Bag for Nonprofits and Philanthropy
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law what’s been informally dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill”—a sweeping tax…
Embracing the Complexity of Social Change: Moving From Transactional to Transformative Funding Partnerships
Imagine a world where philanthropy embraces social change in all its complexity — where genuine change is made through transformational…
IRS Signals Churches Can Endorse Candidates During Services
In a joint filing with the plaintiffs, the IRS stated that communications from a house of worship to its congregation,…
Getting Proximate: Effecting Change by Centering Community Voice
Earlier this year, the Aspen Forum for Community Solutions team held its annual retreat in Montgomery, Alabama, visiting the Equal…
The Challenge and Opportunity for Funder and Nonprofit Listening Right Now
I find it hard to believe, but I’ve been working in the feedback field for more than 18 years. During…
Funders: Are We Really Listening? An Opportunity for Reflection and Change
A newly released report from the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP), “Voices That Matter,” finds that nearly all foundation respondents…