What’s new at Candid (March 2020)

From the work we do at Candid, I’ve gained a better appreciation for how connected and small the world really is. At our trainings, there are always attendees who are shocked and delighted to see a friendly face that they knew in a different context. In our research, we learn about connections between various funders and organizations that you don’t read about in the headlines but which make total sense. And at conferences, it is energizing to see how solutions implemented in one place are being productively copied in others. Like many of you, I’ve been following with interest news coverage on the global spread of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and was glad that my colleague Andrew shared some insights about philanthropy’s response. As you reflect on the effect a pandemic can have on your communities, your gatherings, and your staff, we’re committed to getting you the information you need to do good. And, without further ado, here is what’s new at Candid:

Highlights

• We published four blog posts in honor of Candid’s first anniversary last month: “Inside Candid’s first year: the executive team,” “Inside Candid’s first year: staff musings,” “Inside Candid’s first year: defining our values,” and “Celebrating Candid’s first year with our social media followers.” Stay tuned for our first-ever annual report, coming soon.
• On February 18, we published a new GrantCraft case study as part of the Investing in Native Communities portal. It captures the Calgary Foundation’s journey to shift the organization’s culture from within in order to facilitate deep change and partnerships with Indigenous communities in Calgary.
• In partnership with East Africa Philanthropy Network, we launched Philanthropy in East Africa on February 19. This in-depth website illuminates the philanthropic community in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. It features research, the latest available funding data, insights, history, and other resources; centralizes information and helps users connect to the philanthropic community in East Africa; highlights future trends, strategies, and initiatives; and provides avenues for people and organizations to work together on the causes in East Africa that matter to them most.
• Candid staff visited Training Funding Information Network (FIN) partners in Lorain, Ohio, and Macon, Georgia, last month. Training FINs are certified to provide access to Candid funding data and deliver skill-building workshops to nonprofits on our behalf. To date, 18 FIN partners have qualified as Training FINs. Find a FIN near you, or learn how your organization can become a network partner.
• We’ve added data on more than 85,000 Canadian foundations and nonprofits, plus information on their FY 2017 and 2018 grantmaking, to Foundation Maps. This data will soon be available in Foundation Directory Online (FDO).
• As part of ongoing enhancements to FDO, we’ve improved our search by organization functionality. It’s easier now. Hope you like it!

Find more about our projects.

Thought leadership

• Grace Sato, Sarina Dayal, and Supriya Kumar contributed a guest post to Alliance, “Filling the data and knowledge gap: How philanthropy can better partner with Indigenous communities.” The post draws on data and knowledge they gained while creating and maintaining the Investing in Native Communities website in partnership with Native Americans in Philanthropy.
• Reina Mukai authored Foundation Grants to Arts and Culture, 2017 in Grantmakers in the Arts 2020 winter reader. This annual research highlights trends in arts and culture funding by top foundations. Check out a webinar that shares key findings and insights from the research.

Follow us on Twitter to hear the latest when it happens.

Candid in the news

• Steve Dubb, “Big Green Is No Longer Quite So White,” Nonprofit Quarterly, Feb. 7, 2020.
• Philip Rojc, “Perfectly Legal: Eight Ways Charitable Cash is Shaping the 2020 Election,” Inside Philanthropy, Feb. 7, 2020.
• Alexander Burns and Nicholas Kulish, “Bloomberg’s Billions: How the Candidate Built an Empire of Influence,” New York Times, Feb. 15, 2020.
• “15 People Shaping Grantmaking in 2020,” Submittable, Feb. 24, 2020.
• Lee-Lee Prina, “Funders’ Support For Water And Sanitation Efforts,” Health Affairs, Feb. 2020.
• Paul D’Alessandro, “Nonprofit Compensation and the Bogus Bogeyman Distorting Reality,” Nonprofit Pro, Mar. 2, 2020.
• Dan Parks, “Coronavirus Giving Tops $1 Billion Worldwide,” Chronicle of Philanthropy, Mar. 5, 2020.

Visit our press page for more news coverage of Candid.