WHO WE FUND

Believing that the leaders who are an integral part of a community are in the best position to identify, understand and address its needs, challenges, and strengths, the Foundation prefers to support directservice, community-based organizations and enterprises. Organizations should have a track record that documents the effects and impact of the wealth-creation strategies described above.

The Foundation recognizes that the particular challenges faced by people with disabilities can inhibit the pursuit of asset accumulation and wealth creation. People with disabilities are much less likely, for example, to own a home or business. The Foundation will give priority to organizations that actively incorporate people with disabilities as beneficiaries of the wealthcreation strategies on which the Foundation is focused.

The Foundation also funds entities that provide financial or technical assistance to organizations implementing wealth-creation strategies with preference given to those that help community-based organizations to design and implement systems that track results and improve impact. The Foundation will also consider support for a modest number of research and policy efforts that complement the direct-service efforts funded by the Foundation

The Foundation will give priority to organizations that:

• Advance the mission of helping people and communities to help themselves, helping people to improve their lives through strategies consistent with the Foundation’s core wealth-creation strategies;
• Are committed to accountability, including improving and demonstrating the tangible and lasting impact of its efforts;
• Regularly set objectives that advance its mission and demonstrate progress in achieving them;
• Have program and management resources in place to advance the objectives, and demonstrate consistent high performance in terms of actual outputs, outcomes and impact.
• Have staff and board leadership that reflect the communities served, and regularly assess performance results with the organization’s governance board, using this process to advance organizational development;
• Demonstrate fiscal integrity, including the performance of annual independent audits, and have funding from other private funders or investors; and
• Demonstrate leadership in its field or in its market area.

ASSESSING IMPACT
The Foundation regards an organization’s ability to improve and demonstrate its impact on the lives of low-income people and communities to be of paramount interest, and to be a reflection of that organization’s sound management and accountability.

To be considered for support, applicants must have a clear commitment to and track record of using data to improve programs and impact. In addition, the Foundation supports peer networks, trade associations, and technical assistance providers that help practitioners working in the Foundation’s core areas to improve approaches and methods for assessing impact.