I think it’s great that EAIF is not funding constrained.
Here’s a random idea I had recently if anyone is interested and has the time:
An org that organizes a common application for nonprofits applying to foundations. There is enormous economic inefficiency and inequality in matching PF grants to grantees. PF application processes are extremely opaque and burdensome. Attempts to make common applications have largely been unsuccessful, I believe mostly because they tend to be for a specific geographic region. Instead, I think it would be interesting to create different common applications by cause area. A key part of the common application could be incorporating outcome reporting specific to each cause area, which I believe would cause PF to make more impact-focused grants, making EAs happy.
Orgs or “proto-orgs” in their early stages are often in a catch-22. They don’t have the time or expertise (because they don’t have full time staff) to develop a strong grantwriting or other fundraising operations, which could be enabled by startup funds. An org that was familiar with the funding landscape, could familiarize itself with new orgs, and help it secure startup funds could help resolve the catch-22 that orgs find themselves at step 0.
Excellent idea. This would also incentivize writing an application that is generally convincing instead of trying to hack the preferences of the specific fund
I think it’s great that EAIF is not funding constrained.
Here’s a random idea I had recently if anyone is interested and has the time:
An org that organizes a common application for nonprofits applying to foundations. There is enormous economic inefficiency and inequality in matching PF grants to grantees. PF application processes are extremely opaque and burdensome. Attempts to make common applications have largely been unsuccessful, I believe mostly because they tend to be for a specific geographic region. Instead, I think it would be interesting to create different common applications by cause area. A key part of the common application could be incorporating outcome reporting specific to each cause area, which I believe would cause PF to make more impact-focused grants, making EAs happy.
I think this is an excellent idea.
Orgs or “proto-orgs” in their early stages are often in a catch-22. They don’t have the time or expertise (because they don’t have full time staff) to develop a strong grantwriting or other fundraising operations, which could be enabled by startup funds. An org that was familiar with the funding landscape, could familiarize itself with new orgs, and help it secure startup funds could help resolve the catch-22 that orgs find themselves at step 0.
Excellent idea. This would also incentivize writing an application that is generally convincing instead of trying to hack the preferences of the specific fund