2017 Foundation Operations and Management Survey

1. INTRODUCTION

Dear Fellow Member,

Thank you for participating in the survey that informs our annual benchmarking report. The forthcoming report will represent 20 years of members helping members by sharing information and data. As a member myself, I know firsthand how useful the report is. Its strength is the large number of members who give their time to complete this survey.

I hope you’ll join me in completing the survey by June 30.

For the first time, we are asking questions regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are doing this to learn more about you, the members we serve, as well as to establish a baseline assessment of diversity among small-staffed foundations. We also have been asked to report, in aggregate, part of this information to some of our funders. Please answer these questions as completely as possible. We also are asking new questions on advocacy, transparency, use of donor advised funds, technology, and youth and the next generation. These will also help us better understand you as we develop new programs and materials. Your participation really does matter, and I ask you to please complete this survey in a timely manner. Your contribution will ultimately help you, your fellow members, and the philanthropic community.

Your privacy is important to us, so please know that responses are completely confidential. The information you share is only reported in aggregate; individual responses are never reported or shared in any way.

With best wishes,
Henry Berman, CEO

To complete this survey, please have on hand:
1. Your investment rate of return and asset allocation from your most recent fiscal year
2. Amounts paid to consultants in the most recent fiscal year
3. If you file a 990-PF, your most recent tax return (if your 2016 return will be available before June 30, you may begin the survey now and provide that information later)
4. Staff salary and benefits information (if your foundation has staff)

NOTE: If you entered the survey through your customized e-mail link and you cannot complete it during a single session, you can just close the window to exit the survey. The program will take you back to where you left off when you go back and click on the link you received in the e-mail.

If you entered the survey through the Exponent Philanthropy website (not the customized e-mail link), we recommend that you have the information in hand that you will need (or complete the survey on paper first), and allow time to complete the survey at one sitting. If you close the survey before you submit it on the last page, your responses will not be saved.

To download a copy of the survey that you can print out, click here.

Please submit your completed survey by June 30.

Questions? Contact Ruth at 202-580-6560 or survey@exponentphilanthropy.org

We thank our survey underwriter, U.S. Trust, and our other Sustaining Partners.

6% of survey complete.