Giving Compass' Take:

• Here are insights on how to empower donors, board members, family members, or staff to make curiosity a driving point for innovating and learning. 

• How can individual donors utilize inquiry to make an impact? 

• Read more on why curiosity matters in grantmaking. 

As funders seek to leverage their resources for impact and change, many ignore a powerful asset right under their gaze. This hidden asset is the donor, board member, family member, or staff person who possesses curiosity—the drive to venture out into the community or field to listen, talk with people, and learn.

From interviews with over a hundred small-staffed funders around the country, I have learned that these inquisitive people are the ones who discover insights that take their foundation or philanthropy in a new direction, to a new level of impact. They are the ones who, by talking with people from diverse walks of life, convening grantees and community agencies, attending public meetings, or going to conferences, find out something that changes the game for their philanthropy.

These individuals take the initiative to reach out and talk with board and staff of nonprofit organizations, other foundations in their region or field, beneficiaries of social services, university researchers, business leaders, government officials, social workers, journalists, teachers, parents, students, volunteers.

Many foundations and donors fail to take advantage of their power to develop knowledge and insight. They leave untapped their unique perspective to look across organizations, their freedom to inquire and circulate widely, their access to people with knowledge.

Empower your board members, staff, family—and yourself! Here is how.

  • Trust in the value and power of knowledge 
  • Take the long view 
  • Share knowledge and insights gained
  • Make time for inquiry by streamlining your application and reporting processes
  • Nurture the spark of curiosity

Read the full article about culture and innovation by Andy Carroll at Exponent Philanthropy.