Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund (www.apcfund.org), it’s time for an urgent update to your grantmaking and application processes—and while you’re at it, a power analysis might be in order. Not supporting general operations or administrative overhead, excluding publicly funded organizations, and requiring applicants to submit online and ALSO print seven (7!) copies for delivery? That’s not just unrealistic, it’s wasteful and outdated. 🖨 And let’s not even start on the power dynamics at play here. We know you may have legal requirements, but continuing the Foundation “in perpetuity” raises serious questions about why it’s more important for the foundation to continue than for the issue it’s addressing to be eliminated. Philanthropy should never be about self-preservation but about moving funding to the communities that need it most. Join us in the 21st century…. It’s nice here. Why do funded programs need to wait three (3!) years to reapply? And those rejected need to wait until “the second calendar year following a denial.” Further, general operating costs and overhead are fundamental and should be supported by all funders; refusing to do so isn’t just poor practice, it’s downright harmful. And for crying out loud, enough with the printing! Why the extra work? Do you hate trees? 😞🌳😞 You already required an online submission. Read it online, or, if you must, print it yourself. Are you not at all fine with #CrappyFundingPractices? We’re listening! 📢 https://lnkd.in/eMaXk6ZS
Leslie Rovetti
1mo
I'm curious -- do you ever receive feedback from funders who get called out? Do they ever explain why their practices are the way they are? Do you ever hear that they've changed?
Jennifer K.
1mo
Bethany Kendall it'd be great if you could explain the reasons for the application process and funding considerations. Not funding, general operations, or administrative costs significantly limits your grantee's capacity to do their work. What if all the scientists and researchers, whom Amelia admired, weren't paid because grants, like yours, restricted funds?
Rachel Medina
1mo
I mean- I agree with the printing (literally - why?!) and in perpetuity being weird, but the fund says it's for capital projects and purchases, so it kind of makes sense why they wouldn't fund overhead and admin costs. When we were seeking funding for our building purchase, funds that just did capital grants were so important to seeing that vision come though. (Ducks for cover)
David Burgess
1mo
Who do they think is paying for those 7 copies if they're not prepared to fund overheads?
That is pretty crappy. I keep hoping against hope that you will one day run out of these stories. I guess that’s still a long way off. Sigh 😔 🙄
Brad Nahill
1mo
Just wow, that's stunning
What say you, Bethany Kendall?
Shout it from the rooftops!
Bravo Ellen!
Principal at Grants & More
1moAs a long-time grants consultant working in Massachusetts where APCF funds, I have complaints about APCF, though not for not funding gen-ops. They fund capital projects only in Massachusetts as their website says. Fair enough. I've been successful with APCF with some clients and not others. Here's what's really going on: They like well-funded orgs with wealthy fundraising boards, but not smaller orgs - you know, ones that really need money. They only fund "winners", the ones already well-funded (probably with donors with inherited wealth based on the slave trade). And you're dinged by being honest about your fundraising capacity. One client was in the midst of two capital needs. The board was tapped out for one and we gave them the amount the board gave overall. We were honest. Didn't get the grant. APCS won't even CONSIDER your capital project request if you don't already have half to two-thirds of the capital project/campaign raised. This has been their MO for 25 years, as long as I've been working in this region. I also have a big issue with the freaking paper - printed copies that must be RECEIVED BY - the same deadline as the online application. Why bother with an online application, APCF, if you require paper copies?