Philanthropy Resources &
Other Useful Nonprofit Resources

Tools from Capital Philanthropy as well as materials, reports, and research from other organizations serving and supporting smart, thoughtful and high-impact philanthropy. These are also tools that can help organizations with strengthening their own management practices. Check back for regular updates and new resources.

Strategic Plan Components

A summary of the key elements in a Strategic Plan. This is suitable for organizations of all sizes and structures.

Giving Conversation Guide

A downloadable resource to help families and couples as they make giving decisions at year-end. Designed as a "placemat," it can be a helpful tool to use at the holiday meal table!

A Framework for Giving

A downloadable resource from the recent blog post "Thoughtful Giving." This Framework for Giving can be used by donors as well as funders who want to take some steps to think through their giving practices.

Change Up Your Questions Webinar

Presentation Slide Deck from "Change Up Your Questions - Exploring the questions you ask grantees and how you ask them" Presented as part of Blackbaud Grantmaking's Thought Leader webinar series. To see an on-demand recording of the Feb 2024 webinar click on this link.

Change Up Your Questions - FREE RESOURCE

A free resource for funders who want to ensure that their values and vision are reflected in their application process and materials. Take a look at your application using this quick guide. Click here to download the application review tool.

You can also download a more comprehensive workbook to help you explore other elements of your philanthropy. Click here for that document.

10 Unconventional "Ice Breaker" Questions to Ask a Nonprofit When You First Meet

An easy-to-download version of the 10 "Ice Breaker" questions from the November 2, 2023 blog post. Click here to download a copy.

Philanthropy Service Organizations

National Center for Family Philanthropy

Center for Effective Philanthropy

Trust-Based Philanthropy Project

Grantmakers for Effective Organizations

Exponent Philanthropy

Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy

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Virginia Funders Network

Sample Comprehensive Grantee Survey

This is a sample set of questions that foundations can ask their grantees. This particular survey is fairly comprehensive in scope. This survey can also be followed up by personal one-on-one interviews with selected CEOs of grantee partners to dig deeper into any themes that emerge from the survey.

Click here for a sample of a shorter survey that can be used with grantees.

National Center for Family Philanthropy - CEO Observations from 2022 National Forum