Reflections on Evaluating our Grants

Presents observations and experiences from TCWF's first twelve years of grantmaking. Includes specific case studies and shares some lessons learned as it applies to the field of evaluation for philanthropy. Part of TCWF's Reflections series

Experienced Grantmakers at Work: When Creativity Comes Into Play - Discussion Guide

This discussion guide is designed to help you think through the concepts presented in Ruth Brousseau's paper, Grantmakers at Work: When Creativity Comes Into Play, and consider how they may be useful to you in improving your everyday work in philanthropy. The guide is divided into sections representing the "foundations of creativity" identified in the paper. It includes questions and activities designed to help you reflect upon your experience as a grantmaker and how you approach your work, and suggests steps you can take to enhance your skills and enjoyment of the work

Reflections on the Connections Between Work and Health

Describes approaches that TCWF is using to improve health through employment-related strategies, and identifies some of the challenges the foundation has experienced in the cross-disciplinary endeavor. Part of TCWF's Reflections series

Experienced Grantmakers at Work: When Creativity Comes Into Play - Executive Summary

This paper explores how experienced grantmakers develop their craft—how they learn, deepen their skills, and become effective and creative grantmakers. The basic skills of grantmaking—how to review proposals, analyze the effectiveness of organizations, read financial statements, and structure evaluations—are reasonably well documented and taught in a variety of venues and formats. Far less is known about how the basic skills of grantmaking coalesce into a craft, how grantmakers develop the capacity to do high-quality, effective grantmaking and to make a contribution to their substantive fields and to the field of philanthropy

Experienced Grantmakers at Work: When Creativity Comes Into Play

Based on interviews with recipients of the Council on Foundations' Scrivner Award, examines the skills and qualities that can nurture innovative grantmaking. Part of the series "Practice Matters: The Improving Philanthropy Project"