Stepping back to see yourself as a grantmaker ...

Project on Civic Reflection
Learn how to get a good conversation going among donors, volunteers, foundation staff, and boards about values and how they influence our grantmaking. The project offers a collection of short provocative readings and facilitation tools.

Foundation Work May be Hazardous to Your Mental Health
Roy W. Menninger, MD
This article was adapted from a speech given at the annual conference of the Council of Foundations held in Philadelphia, May 1981. We include it because it's thoughtful about the role of a grant maker. Frank and funny.
[PDF - 9 pages]

Moral Values and Private Philanthropy
Michael Hooker, former Chancellor of the University of North Carolina
Useful reflections on grantee-grantor relations. Franklin Thomas, former President of the Ford Foundation, recommended this article for orientation to new program officers starting in 1990, and we have used it ever since.
[PDF - 9 pages]