Private Foundations
Private Foundation Services
GCF offers grantmaking and strategy support to Private Foundations. In addition to managing the day-to-day operations of your foundation, we leverage our role as a community convener and funder to provide the most current information on our community’s needs and opportunities to optimize your family’s philanthropic giving.
Examples of our services include:
Board Meeting Coordination & Support
- Prepare board meeting agenda and schedules; send board meeting books prior to meeting
- Act as recording secretary; prepare the minutes of the meeting
- Board training
- New board member orientation
Grant Management & Administration
- Screening LOIs; advance to full proposals
- Prepare grant summaries for board analysis and recommendation
- Process award and declination letters; process grant payments
- Maintain a ledger of all grant awards; track grants for reporting purposes
- Field foundation funding inquiries; coach grant seekers
Recordkeeping & Reporting
- Secure management of records
- Report on historical grants, activity and proposed giving
- Follow up on end-of-grant reports and present follow-up reports
Strategy Design & Focus
- Measurement and evaluation of grant results
- Representation on community collaboratives, task forces, etc.
- Facilitate strategic planning sessions with foundation board
- Determine mission, vision, focus, grant guidelines and funding strategies
- Identify key areas of impact and ways to increase impact
- Research current trends in key areas of interest and historical grant patterns
- Convene dialogues on important community issues
- Collaborate with other donors interested in same key focus areas
- Board and/or organizational succession planning
- Family philanthropy facilitation
- Philanthropic learning opportunities
Accounting & Tax Preparation
- Ensure stewardship of funds
- Manage day-to-day financial operations
- Interface with existing providers, such as accountants and investment professionals to:
- prepare financial reports and legal notices
- manage and file tax return (990-PF)
- coordinate annual audit
Communication & Marketing
- Create and distribute press releases
- Website content/pitch stories to media
- Sponsorships/advertising coordination