Candid insights

What exactly is a theory of change? That’s a question I get a lot in my work with nonprofits. The short answer: It’s just what it sounds like. It’s an organization’s theory about how things are going to change as…

Human-centered design is on the rise within the social sector. Governments, nonprofits, and social enterprises are increasingly generating products, systems, and processes that put the people primarily affected by a problem at the center of their design process. Called “design…

Hi everyone, this week is Valentine’s Day, arguably the most annoying and stressed-filled day ever. I like it as much as I like infinity scarves. But at least we have #NonprofitPickupLines on Twitter. Go make that trend again. “Hey there, is your…

Reprinted from the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy. A Tale of Two Cities Cleveland’s Greater University Circle neighborhood has long been considered the city’s premiere cultural, medical, and educational district. Home to powerhouse institutions like Case Western Reserve University,…

In case you missed it, February 1 marked the first anniversary of Candid’s creation. Last week, members of our executive team shared their thoughts on the past year. Today, staff members in different program areas, of varying tenures, and located…

For those of us who work with private foundations, grant writer has become a bit of a misnomer. Outside of some select circumstances, robust proposals can be rarities. Your initial introduction to funders is likely to take the form of…

Imagine going on a first date with someone you think you’re really interested in. I know the rules have changed a lot since I’ve been in the game, but I bet some things have stayed the same. Even if you’re…

As part of an ongoing effort to improve service for the tax-exempt community, the Internal Revenue Service has revised Form 1023 to allow electronic filing for the first time starting later this month. To help charities apply for Section 501(c)(3)…

Last Saturday, February 1, marked a big day for Candid: the one-year anniversary of our creation. After some last-minute delays, that afternoon Foundation Center president Brad Smith and GuideStar president and CEO Jacob Harold signed the documents that combined the…

Candid staff will—literally—be all over the map during the next three months. If you're attending any of these events, please say hello to get some face time with Candid colleague(s) who are  there. Before getting into the details, we encourage…

Ten years ago, you rarely found references to foundation transparency. Most mentions at the time focused on its importance for grantees or governments. But the world was changing to one in which everyone expected to be able to find all…

The importance of volunteers in 2020 can not be overstated. The value of a volunteer hour has risen over 7 percent in just the last five years and is now at $25.23. If you ask most nonprofits, however, they would…