Foundation Initiative Design and Feasibility Studies

Developing components of a strategy for a joint venture

Much of IHR's work has been for foundations interested in pursuing program initiatives. The work has included feasibility studies, designing and recommending program options and reviewing proposed initiatives with stakeholders to assure the program meets their needs. IHR was retained by the PGE Foundation to assist in developing the details of a road map to drive the future direction for the Community 101 youth philanthropy program. IHR had originally brought the parties together when it assisted the PGE Foundation in identifying a partner to manage the program going forward. IHR recommended OCF as the ideal partner.

Now, the parties were collaborating to change the structure of the program to make it a joint venture between the two foundations. They reached out to IHR to help make the collaboration a smooth one. IHR conducted research and interviews with key decision makers at both foundations, developed a budget for the program, created a business plan with three-year projections, and drafted the memorandum of understanding for the partnership. IHR was brought back in to assist in developing an extension of the MOU after the initial three year term of the agreement.

Benchmarking/Best Practices

Technical Assistance Best Practices

IHR Consulting is frequently called upon to help clients determine how their practices in various areas of focus compare to peer groups. Meyer Memorial Trust retained IHR to help determine where the Trust's technical assistance programs stood compared to a group of peers throughout the U.S. IHR took the following actions:

IHR designed a best practices survey regarding technical assistance programs.
IHR created a peer group of national organizations similar to Meyer Memorial Trust to be surveyed.
IHR conducted interviews with key executives within the peer group.
IHR performed additional research, including reviewing documents and searching the web, to support the interviews.

Upon completion of the survey, IHR analyzed the results of the survey and prepared a clear, concise report designed to help the Trust understood exactly where it stood in relation to others in the peer group and what actions might be taken to change its policies and practices with respect to technical assistance programs to make them more effective.

Philanthropy Strategy, Focus, Policy, Structure and Process

Research to support policy development

The Ford Family Foundation retained IHR Consulting to provide research regarding the child protection policies of those receiving support from the foundation. The Foundation wanted to know if grantees working with children a) had child protection policies in place and b) whether those policies represented best practices in the nonprofit sector. The Foundation also wanted IHR's assistance in developing its own policies going forward that grantees would be required to meet in order to receive support. The Foundation asked IHR to conduct a national survey of nonprofit organizations' child protection policies to get a "big picture" view of the issue.

IHR performed the research and reported its findings back to the Foundation. The Foundation has used IHR's research to create policies of its own with respect to child safety policies in place by grantees and prospective grantees. In addition, the Foundation is now able to assess the efficacy of the policies adopted by grantees or potential grantees, and can offer advice to those seeking support about how to create such policies so that the children in their organizations are protected by best practices policies.

Determining the direction of a corporate philanthropy program

Northwest Natural has been an important community partner in Oregon for over 150 years. Through financial contributions, volunteer hours and in-kind support NWN has contributed to hundreds of worthy causes and important Oregon non-profits. NWN asked IHR to review their giving practices, philanthropy policies and procedures and analyze the pros and cons of forming an endowed corporate foundation as a mechanism to structure their giving.

IHR benchmarked NWN philanthropy to other peer companies, conducted national research on foundation best practices and met with several executives to discuss options. The final deliverable was a report containing key findings, conclusions, comprehensive delineation of pros and cons of forming a foundation and recommendations regarding the best structure for NWN to manage their significant annual contributions to the community.

Grant Reviews

Assisting foundations by reviewing grant applications

IHR has conducted over two dozen grant reviews for the Meyer Memorial Trust and the Ford Family Foundation. These reviews include analysis of the application, due diligence regarding the request, site visit and research into the applicant's project , finances and position in the community. IHR prepares a report consistent with the foundation's guidelines and procedures and includes conclusion and recommendations for staff and board decision.

Executive Interviews/Analyses

Executive interviews reveal thoughts on education reform

The highly respected opinion research firm DHM Research retained IHR as part of a larger project to gather input on education reform in the state of Washington. Following identification of interviewees by the client, IHR assisted in testing and revising the questionnaire and conducting interviews with these executives. IHR prepared an analysis based upon the interviews and submitted a clear, concise report to the client outlining the common themes that emerged from the interviews.