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Eight Questions to Help Clients Evaluate NonprofitsEight Questions to Help Clients Evaluate Nonprofits

Some things to consider before making donations.

Page Snow, Chief Philanthropic and Marketing Officer

August 23, 2018

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According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, there are currently over 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the United States.

With so many to choose from, how do your clients determine which ones to support? Whether they’re evaluating a proposal or simply want to know which organization will make the best use of their donation, getting answers to the following questions can help them make an informed decision. 

Although your clients may want to obtain additional information before committing their funds, and some donations (such as multi-year commitments or significant gifts) might even merit an in-person visit, reviewing a nonprofit’s website is an excellent first step, providing a better sense of both the organization and its programs.

Although getting the answers your clients need to make informed decisions is the ultimate goal, many people find the fact-finding process itself rewarding. By learning more about how nonprofit organizations approach their work, fund their efforts and measure their results, your clients gain valuable experience. With time, they’ll acquire the skills to determine when their donation isn’t just a gift, but an investment in progress.

As you and your clients browse, here are some questions to keep in mind:

About the Author

Page Snow

Chief Philanthropic and Marketing Officer, Foundation Source

Page Snow, chief philanthropic and marketing officer, is responsible for the firm’s marketing, raising awareness of Foundation Source’s services and expertise with individuals, financial advisors, attorneys, and the philanthropic sector. She is also responsible for developing and providing industry-leading education and strategic resources to clients through the company’s network of philanthropic professionals. Named one of the “50 Most Influential Women in Private Wealth” by Private Asset Management magazine and frequently quoted in both the popular and philanthropic press, Ms. Snow provides guidance on all aspects of the giving enterprise: mission, governance, family engagement, board development, and continuity planning.

Prior to joining Foundation Source, Ms. Snow spent over 10 years with The Pew Charitable Trusts, one of the nation’s top 10 foundations. As the Trust’s Chief Officer of Institutional Planning, she helped to design, evaluate, and remodel key operations of the foundation in support of the Trusts’ model of results-based grantmaking. Subsequently, she worked with senior management at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on the creation of their evaluation department. She has expertise in strategic planning, program design, and the evaluation of multimillion-dollar grant investments.

Ms. Snow has served on advisory committees for several prestigious philanthropic organizations, including the Center for Effective Philanthropy, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the White Oak Cultural Policy Conference, the Center for Arts and Cultural Policy Studies, the Arts Organization Stabilization Initiative, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Ms. Snow is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and the University of Pennsylvania.

She can be reached at [email protected] or 203-319-3710.