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PHILANTHROPY NEWS DIGEST  • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Grantmaking Basics: A Field Guide for Funders, by Barbara D. Kibbe, Fred Setterberg and Colburn S. Wilbur. Washington, DC: Council on Foundations, 1999. 121 pp. In the introduction to Grantmaking Basics: A Field Guide for Funders, the authors state that the book is meant "to serve as a tool for individuals substantially responsible for the decisions and operations of a charitable foundation or corporate giving program.... It is for the people working in these foundations as well as new program staff at larger foundations — passionate about their work but frequently overburdened and isolated — that this book was written." The first in a projected series of six self-study guides from the Council on Foundations, Grantmaking Basics provides program staff at foundations with a wealth of information. Among other important topics, it addresses the lack of training and preparation experienced by many new program staff and shows more seasoned staff how to work effectively with both nonprofit representatives and foundation boards. The book, which works especially well as a quick lookup guide, focuses on such topics as the day-to-day responsibilities and duties of program staff, reviewing grant proposals, conducting site visits and interviews, communicating with and making recommendations to the board, and professional development. One of the book's strong points (and there are many) is the numerous sidebars, templates, sample forms, and examples scattered throughout. Not sure how to navigate IRS Form 990? Turn to page 58, where you'll find a page-by-page overview. Want to know how to recommend a project to your board? Turn to page 95 where, you'll find (in the appendix to Chapter 5) a grant recommendations summary template. How about a quick reference guide to successful interviews? You can find that on page 87. A savvy grantseeker will quickly realize the value of such information, as it clearly demonstrates what funders themselves are looking for in their grantees. Grantseekers will also find a list of common proposal problems and examples of questions that might be asked during a site visit or interview. So, while a must read for grantmakers, Grantmaking Basics also is a worthwhile investment for for grantseekers who want that extra "edge" in their pursuit of funding dollars. Barbara D. Kibbe is Director, Organizational Effectiveness Program and Director, Program Officer Training and Development at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Fred Setterberg is the co-author of two previous books about the nonprofit sector: Succeeding with Consultants (written with Barbara Kibbe and published by the Foundation Center), and Beyond Profit: The Complete Guide to Managing the Nonprofit Organization (Harper and Row). Colburn S. Wilbur is a trustee and former president and CEO of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. For additional citations to literature on this topic, consult the Literature of the Nonprofit Sector Online using the subject heading "Foundations-management."
—Kief Schladweiler
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