Candid insights

The big picture of the social sector, backed by data and expertise

A ‘Just and Resilient Recovery’ framework for international donors and financial institutions

Even as some of the most severe COVID-19 outbreaks subside, the pandemic continues to spread around the world, with 11.5 million cases confirmed and more than five hundred thousand deaths as we write. Roughly two-thirds of all new confirmed cases…

By Shuprotim Bhaumik and Ignacio Montojo

July 9, 2020

Meeting the moment: more and better funding for human rights

When we launched our research to map the human rights funding landscape in 2010, we wanted to both increase funding for the human rights field and help funders spend it more effectively. As the COVID-19 pandemic and sweeping protests against…

By Rachel Thomas (she/her)

July 9, 2020

Digital storytelling to inspire and attract funders in a time of crisis

The budget cuts resulting from the global economic downturn of 2009 forced nonprofits onto digital platforms to more efficiently and cost-effectively connect with their stakeholders, but that stakeholder engagement remained primarily on a personal—not a virtual—level. Fast forward to the…

By Elizabeth (Liz) Ngonzi (she/her)

July 8, 2020

How racial equity supports better grantmaking practices

As the philanthropic sector aims to build trust, strengthen relationships, and address the systemic power imbalances in our society, trusting nonprofits and the people they serve is crucial.

By Brendan McCormick and Afia Amobeaa-Sakyi

July 8, 2020

COVID-19’s impact on faith-based giving

Places of worship often serve as centers for community, a role that has expanded for many during the Coronavirus pandemic as churches provide food, clothing, and other forms of support for their members and communities. Yet as many places of…

By Amelia Becker (she/her)

July 2, 2020

Leading in solidarity to reshape the nonprofit ecosystem

We are five women of color leading five organizations deeply embedded in the nonprofit ecosystem of Detroit and southeast Michigan. We have five missions, five work styles, and five voices. With mutual intentions and hearts, we have decided to work…

By Allandra Bulger, Madhavi Reddy, Shamyle Dobbs, and Yodit Mesfin Johnson

July 1, 2020

Barely keeping our doors open: How COVID-19 has affected my small, Black-woman-led nonprofit

There is a common adage among the Black community that “when White folks catch a cold, Black folks get pneumonia.” Various versions have been stated by many Black leaders, but the meaning remains the same: the various inequities that result…

By Tokiwa T. Smith

July 1, 2020

Fundraising: What U.S. laws apply?

We’re republishing some of the most popular posts from the GuideStar Blog, a Candid Blog predecessor. The author has updated this post: Fundraising: What U.S. laws apply? Fundraising for nonprofit organizations has been likened to driving across the country with…

By Elizabeth Schmidt (she/her)

June 30, 2020

Nonprofits advancing racial equity

Amid the current uprisings around Black Lives Matter, anti-racism, and ending police violence, many are turning to Candid tools to inform their giving and to get data to support racial equity in the social sector. Candid’s research team took this…

By Grace Sato (she/her) and Sarina Dayal (she/they)

June 29, 2020

Research shows nonprofit transparency matters

We’re republishing some of the most popular posts from the GuideStar Blog, a Candid Blog predecessor, here in the Candid Blog, including: Research shows nonprofit transparency matters. Academic research supports what we at GuideStar (and now Candid) have long believed:…

By Jacob Harold (he/him)

June 24, 2020

There *is* a better way to practice philanthropy

"There *is* a better way to practice philanthropy" was originally published as part of MacArthur’s Perspectives on 100&Change blog series about the competition. I repent. After many years working at the Inter-American, Ford, and Oak Foundations, I now realize that the way…

By Bradford K. Smith (he/him)

June 23, 2020

Seven website content tips for grantseekers and grantmakers

Whether your organization is applying for grants or offering them, creating compelling content for your website is an essential part of showcasing your credibility, offering transparency, and demonstrating impact. Learn how to uplevel your grant writing and grantmaking efforts by…

By Katy Teson (she/her)

June 22, 2020