History and Evolution of PFF Giving Areas

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2022

We made 32 grants amounting to $635,500 in our giving areas.

2021

We officially revised our grantmaking strategy and revised our giving areas to Racial Justice and Environmental & Economic Justice. The first grants in these giving areas will be made in the fall of 2021.

2020

We made Racial Equity and COVID-19 Rapid Relief grants to organizations working at the frontlines of the COVID-19 response and the Racial Justice Movement.

2019

Added Resistance Movement Building.

2009

Defined two key giving areas: Green Pathways Out of Poverty and Youth Organizing & Leadership Development.

1999-2009

Grantmaking in the areas of community economic development & workforce policy; money & influence in politics; state & local fiscal analysis; strengthening youth & families; and sustainable & livable communities.

Trust-based Philanthropy at the Penney Family Fund

  1. Give multi-year, unrestricted funding as a norm - in addition to rapid response grantmaking as needed

  2. Do the homework—by making it our Trustees’ and staffs’ responsibility to research and learn about grantee partners

  3. Simplify and streamline paperwork—by removing grant proposal templates and requirements

  4. Be transparent and responsive—by sharing results of our board meetings and decision-making process with grantee partners

  5. Solicit and act on feedback—by creating a safe space for feedback, acting on it, and sharing a feedback loop with our grantee partners.

  6. Offer support beyond the check—by being responsive to other needs we hear from grantee partners.

    These six principles are inspired by and adapted from the six principles of Trust-based Philanthopy

Grant Types & Methodology

 

Purpose

 

Process

Partnership Grants

Allows PFF to invest deeply in existing partners doing highly aligned work; Multi-year funding for organizations PFF already knows

Staff conducts ongoing research and utilizes check ins with existing grantee partners to inform the Board on progress.

Learning & Relationship Building Grants

Allows PFF to test waters with new potential partners in each of the new giving areas; learn from new organizations working in the new giving areas; and give smaller amounts to nascent organizations. Opportunity to transition to Partnership Grants.

Staff and board will recommend organizations that align with giving areas and meet requirements and present them at November 2021 board meeting; Organizations will be invited to submit an application they have used for a different funder and come present to the board about their work.

Rapid Response Grants

Allows PFF to continue to be responsive to the needs of organizations during challenging and unexpected times. (pandemics, mass protests, etc.)

The Board will assemble a subcommittee to do research and notify organizations of grants. No formal reporting requirements necessary.

Discretionary Grants

Allows PFF board members who are new to the board or transitioning from the board to support organizations that may fall outside of the scope of our mission and giving areas.

All new board members receive a small discretionary grant to distribute during their first year sitting on the baord.