Welcome to the MCF Online Resource Library

Get philanthropy insights, learn best practices and research documents that help you further your impact. Begin your search by typing a keyword in the "Search" bar below, or search by "Resource Type" by selecting the section(s) in the right-hand panel. Next, scroll to the bottom of the page to view search results. Have a resource to add? Email us at info@mcf.org.
 

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Financial Due Diligence: Assessing Risk for Your Next Program Related Investment

Published: 
May 2021
View a video of an educational workshop (recorded May 3, 2021) on the ins and outs of financial due diligence. This video takes away the mystery of conducting due diligence. Aspects of the session describe due diligence of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs); and the principles of due diligence can be applied more broadly, as well. Presenters and facilitators: Paige Chapel, President & CEO, Aeris Susan Hammel, Impact Investing Executive in Residence, Minnesota Council on Foundations Eric Muschler, Program Officer, McKnight Foundation Jeff Ochs, President & CEO, Venn...
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Impact Investing

Shifting the Evaluation Paradigm: The Equitable Evaluation Framework

Published: 
April 2021
The Equitable Evaluation Initiative (EEI) believes that evaluation has the ability to contribute to equity and that it must embrace definitions of rigor and validity that reflect the complexity of the work in which many are engaged. We are imagining what might be possible if evaluation were conceptualized, implemented and utilized in a manner in which equity is core and validity reflects 21st-century contexts and identities. The Equitable Evaluation Framework™ (EEF) is co-crafted and co-led by partners in philanthropy, evaluation and nonprofits, and it facilitates ways to engage institutions...

2020 State of Philanthropy Tech: A Survey of Foundations in North America

Published: 
October 2020
In August 2020, the Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG) conducted a survey to better understand the technology environment, practices, and perceptions of TAG members and their peers throughout North America. This year’s survey builds on past surveys, which explored IT tools; management; security; diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); integration between IT and program teams; and how many IT staff/consultants are typically employed at foundations. TAG has also added questions about COVID-19 and how emerging societal challenges are affecting how foundations are supporting grantees and...
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Communications

Talent Justice Toolkit

The resources in the Talent Justice Toolkit can be used by nonprofits and funders to increase their investments in talent justice at all stages of the nonprofit career lifecycle. This toolkit presents easy-to-use resources to help nonprofits and funders take action to advance talent justice. The tools can be used by both nonprofits and funders to increase their investments in talent justice at all stages of the nonprofit career lifecycle. The toolkit outlines specific strategies for investing in talent and advancing workforce equity to help nonprofit organizations and funders do the following...
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Human Resources

Getting to the Heart of Community: Creating a Culturally Responsive Evaluation Framework

Published: 
February 2020
Evaluation is about documenting a legacy that perpetuates generations from now and the intent of this report is to present a process for communities or organizations wanting to design an evaluation framework that prioritizes their own values and objectives. The steps within this report are not intended to fit all communities or organizations, but to illustrate how one community did it (and are still doing it). Ultimately, this is both a celebration of how the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project reclaims evaluation methodologies and a specific case to share knowledge. The third part of this report...
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Evaluation

Mastering Foundation Law: The Council on Foundations Compendium of Legal Resources

The Council on Foundations's Compendium of Legal Resources is a comprehensive guide to foundation law for the non-lawyer. It is easy to use, self-directed, and regularly updated. The Council developed the Compendium in direct response to requests from our members to publish new legal desktop guides. Rather than update old materials that could quickly turn into unusable books on a shelf whenever the law was changed, the Council created a series of chapters covering various legal topics that can be acccessed electronically.
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Finance and Legal

Embracing Complexity: Towards a Shared Understanding of Funding Systems Change

Published: 
January 2020
As we stand on the threshold of an epochal decade, we are confronted with an urgent need to find, fund, and support transformative solutions at a far greater pace than ever. To that end, Ashoka and McKinsey invited additional partners to join their annual collaboration to co-create a shared perspective: Catalyst 2030, Co-Impact, Echoing Green, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, the Skoll Foundation, and SYSTEMIQ. Together, we seek to reflect on the sector’s insights to the question: how do we get better at funding and supporting systems change? This report is the product of a...
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Best Practice

The Role of Philanthropy in Systems Change

Published: 
December 2017
This paper was created to spark conversation and ideation for foundations interested in exploring investments in “systems change.” It offers a scan of the work of systems change within the philanthropic field, as well as a focus on policy advocacy – a key systems change strategy. It also provides an overview of approaches grantmakers are using, along with some examples of systems change investments at work, to help foster ongoing conversation among Foundation board and staff.
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Best Practice

Environmental Justice: Exploring the Intersection of Environment and Equity

Published: 
March 2021
Whether or not you’re an environmental funder, striving toward equity requires an understanding of environmental racism and environmental justice. Join your colleagues for an exploration of the intersection between environmental, cultural and economic justice. Sam Grant, Executive Director of MN350, will set the stage for thoughtful discussions about the intertwining nature of environmental issues and equity. Breakout rooms hosted by foundations actively exploring this intersection will give participants an opportunity to connect and identify action steps to support movement towards a more...
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Learning Series

Systems Change: A Crucial Part of the Ecosystem

Published: 
March 2021
Minnesota is in the top philanthropic states, yet we continue to have some of the largest gaps in health, education, housing and jobs for BIPOC communities. This panel discussion will highlight organizations that will speak to how philanthropy can make a greater difference in communities at the local, state and global level when investments are made in systems change efforts. By attending this session, attendees will learn how systems change efforts have helped protect the environment, address inequity and strengthen developing communities. You’ll also learn about the importance of supporting...
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Learning Series

Learning Series Keynote: Sustaining a Robust Civil Society

Take a step back from politics to take a deeper look at democracy and civic engagement. How does philanthropy support healthy civil discourse and promote civic engagement in our communities and public institutions? How can philanthropy work toward a Minnesota where everyone is counted, heard, represented and valued in public life and public decisions? Speakers: Duchesne Drew, President, Minnesota Public Radio Alberto Ibargüen, President and CEO, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Recorded March 12, 2021
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Learning Series

A New Era for Philanthropy

This year’s global crises unearthed a new chapter in the long-running national history of social disparities, inequities in health and racial injustice. These issues galvanized a movement to confront our divides and reshape our future. This movement accelerated commitments to address inequalities to deliver lasting change. But what will this really mean? How can we act so this chapter of change doesn’t fall to rhetoric? This moment compels us to be bold and do more than communicate a call to action. It requires us to act with intention and attention. It requires courage, momentum and...
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Learning Series

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