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Tools & Resources for 7 Actionable Principles

The curated TOOLS AND RESOURCES that follow are offered as a sampling as we launch this site in April 2021. We encourage you to pick and choose what you need based on your area of focus, acknowledging that new resources become available daily. If you have a resource you value, please share it so we can continue to build this community of practice, and we will provide opportunities to share new learnings and evolved thinking as part of our ongoing learning exchanges.

Frameworks for nonprofit health, effectiveness, and impact

Tools & Resources

Hover cursor over images to see descriptions of each item

Download Full Bibliography

Browse tools and resources below or filter results by principle and/or type (note every principle may not have every type).

Fundamentals for Nonprofits
Tool
Fundamentals for Nonprofits
from Nonprofit Finance Fund
An Exploration of Nonprofit Budgeting
Tool
An Exploration of Nonprofit Budgeting
from Nonprofit Finance Fund
Full Cost
Tool
Full Cost
from Nonprofit Finance Fund
Strong Nonprofits Toolkit Budgeting
Tool
StrongNonprofits Toolkit: Budgeting
from the Wallace Foundation
True Program Costs
Tool
True Program Costs: Program Budget and Allocation Template and Resource
from Propel Nonprofits
Time to Reboot Grantmaking
Tool
Time to Reboot Grantmaking
from SSIR
Transforming Nonprofit Business Models
Tool
Transforming Nonprofit Business Models
from Propel Nonprofits
Pay What It Takes to Get Results
Resource
Pay What It Takes to Get Results
an initiative of Bridgespan
(Mis)Understanding Overhead
Resource
(Mis)Understanding Overhead
from National Council of Nonprofits
Nonprofit AF
Resource
How the Focus on Overhead Disenfranchises Communities of Color and Fans the Flames of Injustice
from Nonprofit AF
Imagine If Apple Had to Run Like a Nonprofit
Resource
Imagine If Apple Had to Run Like a Nonprofit
from Nonprofit AF
How Individuals Can Help with the Overhead Myth
Resource
How Individuals Can Help with the Overhead Myth Smackdown
from Medium
Is Diversification of Revenue Good for Nonprofit Financial Health
Resource
Is Diversification of Revenue Good for Nonprofit Financial Health?
from Nonprofit Quarterly
If We Want Our Funding to Change the World
Video
If We Want our Funding to Change the World… Real Talk About Real Costs
from Forefront
Full Cost Project
More for Funders
Full Cost Project: Key Messages for Funders
from Nonprofit Finance Fund and Philanthropy CA
Financial Self Assessment Worksheet
Tool
Financial Self-Assessment Worksheet: Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses
from Nonprofit Finance Fund
StrongNonprofits Toolkit Resources to Strengthen Your Nonprofit Financial Management
Tool
StrongNonprofits Toolkit: Resources to Strengthen Your Nonprofit Financial Management
from the Wallace Foundation
The Performance Practice: Module 4-Finances
Tool
The Performance Practice: Module 4-Finances
from Leap of Reason Ambassadors Community
True Program Costs
Tool
Operating Reserves with Nonprofit Policy Examples
from Propel Nonprofits
Operating Reserves with Nonprofit Policy Examples
Tool
Operating Reserves for Nonprofits
from National Council of Nonprofits
Top Indicators of Financial Health
Resource
Top Indicators of Financial Health
from Nonprofit Finance Fund
Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice
Resource
Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice
from Independent Sector
Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice
Resource
Annual Budget, Financial Performance, and Investments (Principle #22)
from Independent Sector
Best Practices for Nonprofit Boards
Video
Best Practices for Nonprofit Boards
from Nonprofit Finance Fund
The Secret Sauce of Great Funder/Nonprofit Relationships
Tool
The Secret Sauce of Great Funder/Nonprofit Relationships
from National Council of Nonprofits
Better Funder/Nonprofit Communication
Tool
Better Funder/Nonprofit Communication
from Nonprofit Finance Fund and Philanthropy CA
Building a Culture of Philanthropy in Your Organization
Resource
Building a Culture of Philanthropy in Your Organization
from Nonprofit Quarterly
Truly Shifting Philanthropy
Resource
Truly Shifting Philanthropy's Power Dynamics Requires New Structures for Giving
from Inside Philanthropy
How to Show Up in a Trust-Based Way
Resource
How to Show Up in a Trust-Based Way
from the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project
Community-Centric Fundraising
Resource
Community-Centric Fundraising
Unicorns Unite: How Nonprofits and Foundations Can Build EPIC Partnerships
Resource
Unicorns Unite: How Nonprofits and Foundations Can Build EPIC Partnerships
reviewed in Philanthropy News Digest
Trust-Based Philanthropy Resources
More for Funders
Trust-Based Philanthropy Resources
from the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project
Strategies for Narrowing the Power Gap in Philanthropy
More for Funders
Strategies for Narrowing the Power Gap in Philanthropy
from PEAK Grantmaking
PEAK Grantmaking
More for Funders
PEAK Grantmaking
Step-by-Step Guide to Achieving Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
Tool
Step-by-Step Guide to Achieving Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
from TSNE MissionWorks
How to Integrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into Everyday Operations
Tool
How to Integrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into Everyday Operations
from Bridgespan
Awake to Woke to Work: Building a Race Equity Culture
Tool
Awake to Woke to Work: Building a Race Equity Culture
from Equity in the Center
Racial Equity Tools
Tool
Racial Equity Tools
Advancing Race Equity Leadership Development Framework
Tool
Advancing Race Equity Leadership Development Framework
from ProInspire
Crises as a Catalyst: A Call for Race Equity and Inclusive Leadership
Tool
Crises as a Catalyst: A Call for Race Equity and Inclusive Leadership
from ProInspire
Race Equity and Inclusion Action Guide: 7 Steps to Advance and Embed Race Equity and Inclusion Within Your Organization
Tool
Race Equity and Inclusion Action Guide: 7 Steps to Advance and Embed Race Equity and Inclusion Within Your Organization
from the Annie E. Casey Foundation
Groundwater Approach
Resource
Groundwater Approach
from Racial Equity Institute
Leading Courageous Conversations on Race Equity
Resource
Leading Courageous Conversations on Race Equity
from Nonprofit New York
Restructure Your Organization to Actually Advance Racial Justice
Resource
Restructure Your Organization to Actually Advance Racial Justice
from Harvard Business Review
https://nonprofitaf.com/2016/08/flossing-and-the-dental-hygiene-paradigm-of-race-discourse/
Resource
Hey, You Got a Little Racism Stuck in Your Teeth
from Nonprofit AF
Are You Awake, Woke, or Doing the Work?
Video
Are You Awake, Woke, or Doing the Work?
video from Diversity City LLC
The Problem with Color-Blind Philanthropy
More for Funders
The Problem with Color-Blind Philanthropy
from Harvard Business Review
Power Moves: Your Essential Philanthropy Assessment Guide for Equity and Justice
More for Funders
Power Moves: Your Essential Philanthropy Assessment Guide for Equity and Justice
from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
Grantmaking with a Racial Justice Lens (An Introduction and A Practical Guide)
More for Funders
Grantmaking with a Racial Justice Lens (An Introduction and A Practical Guide)
from the Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity
Resources on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion – Where Do I Start?
More for Funders
Resources on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion – Where Do I Start?
from Change Philanthropy
Unity 4 Equity
More for Funders
#Unite4Equity, a Change Philanthropy engagement platform
Building on a Better Foundation: A Toolkit for Creating an Inclusive Grantmaking Organization
More for Funders
Building on a Better Foundation: A Toolkit for Creating an Inclusive Grantmaking Organization
from the D5 Coalition
Justice Funders
More for Funders
Justice Funders
Board Roles and Responsibilities
Tool
Board Roles and Responsibilities
from National Council of Nonprofits
Board Responsibilities and Structures FAQs
Tool
Board Responsibilities and Structures FAQs
from BoardSource
Fund the People Toolkit
Tool
Fund the People Toolkit
from Fund the People
Talent Justice Toolkit
Tool
Talent Justice Toolkit
from Fund the People
Leadership Development library
Resource
Leadership Development library
from Bridgespan
The Performance Practice: Module 1-Leadership
Resource
The Performance Practice: Module 1-Leadership
from Leap of Reason Ambassadors Community
Module 2-Management
Resource
The Performance Practice: Module 2-Management
from Leap of Reason Ambassadors Community
Facilitating an Engaged Board
Resource
Facilitating an Engaged Board
from BoardSource
The Default Nonprofit Board Model is Archaic and Toxic; Let’s Try Some New Models
Resource
The Default Nonprofit Board Model is Archaic and Toxic; Let’s Try Some New Models
from Nonprofit AF
Foundations that Invest in Nonprofit Leadership: Count Them on Your Hands
More for Funders
Foundations that Invest in Nonprofit Leadership: Count Them on Your Hands
from Fund the People
CoLab and Action to Impact: A Coalition-Building Roadmap
Tool
CoLab and Action to Impact: A Coalition-Building Roadmap
from CNE
Is Your Nonprofit Built for Sustained Innovation?, from SSIR
Resource
Is Your Nonprofit Built for Sustained Innovation?
from SSIR
Better Philanthropy through Systems Change
Resource
Better Philanthropy through Systems Change
from SSIR
Anchor Collaboratives
Resource
The Anchor Mission Playbook
from The Democracy Collaborative
Bolder Advocacy
Resource
Bolder Advocacy, a program of Alliance for Justice
Economic Mobility in Charlottesville systems approach video
Video
Economic Mobility in Charlottesville systems approach video
from Network2Work@ PVCC
Equitable Grantmaking podcast
More for Funders
Equitable Grantmaking podcast
from Dr. Shena Ashley, Urban Institute’s Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy
Balancing Purpose, Payout, and Performance: A Strategy Guide
More for Funders
Balancing Purpose, Payout, and Performance: A Strategy Guide
from Council on Foundations
Building Capacity for Sustained Collaboration
More for Funders
Building Capacity for Sustained Collaboration
from SSIR
How Community Philanthropy Shifts Power: What Donors Can Do to Help Make that Happen
More for Funders
How Community Philanthropy Shifts Power: What Donors Can Do to Help Make that Happen
from GrantCraft
Funder Collaboratives: Why and How Funders Work Together
More for Funders
Funder Collaboratives: Why and How Funders Work Together
from GrantCraft
Collaborate for Greater Impact
More for Funders
Collaborate for Greater Impact
from Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
Navigating Risk in Impact-Focused Philanthropy
More for Funders
Navigating Risk in Impact-Focused Philanthropy
from SSIR
Risk, Trust, and Impact: Connecting the Dots
More for Funders
Risk, Trust, and Impact: Connecting the Dots
from SSIR
Measuring Nonprofit Social Impact
Tool
Measuring Nonprofit Social Impact
from Donorbox
How to Use Matrix Maps to Identify Organizational Impact
Tool
How to Use Matrix Maps to Identify Organizational Impact
from Donorbox
The Sustainability Mindset: Using the Matrix Map to Make Strategic Decisions
Tool
The Sustainability Mindset: Using the Matrix Map to Make Strategic Decisions
from Nonprofit Sustainability
Getting Started with Data-Driven Decision Making: A Workbook
Tool
Getting Started with Data-Driven Decision Making: A Workbook
from NTEN
Listen4Good’s core questions
Tool
Listen4Good Resources
Listen4Good
Reimagining Strategy in the Context of the COVID-19 Crisis: A Triage Tool
Tool
Reimagining Strategy in the Context of the COVID-19 Crisis: A Triage Tool
from Center for Community Investment
Principles for Advancing Equitable Data Practice
Resource
Principles for Advancing Equitable Data Practice
from Urban Institute
Frameworks Institute
Resource
Frameworks Institute
The Performance Practice: Module 3-Programs
Resource
The Performance Practice: Module 3-Programs
from Leap of Reason Ambassadors Community
The Performance Practice: Module 3-Programs
Resource
The Performance Practice: Module 6-Monitoring
from Leap of Reason Ambassadors Community
The Performance Practice: Module 3-Programs
Resource
The Performance Practice: Module 7-Evaluation
from Leap of Reason Ambassadors Community
The Nonprofit Impact Manifesto, from Prosper Strategies
Resource
The Nonprofit Impact Manifesto
from Prosper Strategies
Insight, Impact, and Equity: Collecting Demographic Data
More for Funders
Insight, Impact, and Equity: Collecting Demographic Data
from PEAK Grantmaking
Center for Effective Philanthropy
More for Funders
Center for Effective Philanthropy
Exponent Philanthropy
More for Funders
Exponent Philanthropy
A member led community of lean funders
Grantee and Applicant Perception Survey
More for Funders
Grantee and applicant perception survey
from Exponent Philanthropy
Investing in Data Capacity for Community Change
More for Funders
Investing in Data Capacity for Community Change
from Urban Institute
Full Cost
Tool
Full Cost
from Nonprofit Finance Fund
More for Funders
Donors of Color Are Not ‘New’ or ‘Emerging.’ We’ve Been Giving All Along.
from Chronicle of Philanthropy
More for Funders
Beating Racism Demands Different Philanthropy: Lessons From A Black Woman Millionaire
from Giving Compass
Resource
Building Equity into Nonprofit Finance
More for Funders
Reimagining Philanthropy Series
from the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society
Tool
Equity Audit
from Beloved Community
How to Integrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into Everyday Operations
Tool
A Framework for Considering Your Organization’s Equity Journey
from Bridgespan
Nonprofit AF
More for Funders
Funders: Here’s a Tool to Make Your Grantmaking More Equitable
from NonprofitAF
More for Funders
Gospel of Giving
by Tyrone McKinley Freeman
More for Funders
Decolonizing Wealth Project
More for Funders
Resource Generation
Resource
The Four Principles of Purpose-Driven Board Leadership
from SSIR
Tool
Digital Impact Toolkit
from the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society
More for Funders
Effective Philanthropy Learning Initiative
from the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society
Resource
Reimagine Your Nonprofit to Survive the Crisis
from Harvard Business Review
More for Funders
Strategic Philanthropy Gets a Wake-Up Call
from Nonprofit Quarterly
Resource
Racism Defined
from Dismantling Racism Works (dRworks)
More for Funders
How “Movement Capture” Shaped the Fight for Civil Rights
from Vox
Nonprofit AF
Resource
The Real Reasons Many Organizations are Still Unable to Diversify their Board, Staff, Fundraising Committees, etc.
from Nonprofit AF
Nonprofit AF
Resource
12 Ways All Lives Matter Manifests in Nonprofit and Philanthropy
from Nonprofit AF
Building a Culture of Philanthropy in Your Organization
Resource
Race + Power Weekly
from Nonprofit Quarterly
More for Funders
Report Calls for Shift to More Equitable Evaluation Practices
from Philanthropy News Digest
Nonprofit AF
Resource
Funder Relations
from Nonprofit AF
Nonprofit AF
Resource
Race, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
from Nonprofit AF
Nonprofit AF
Resource
Board Relations
from Nonprofit AF
Nonprofit AF
Resource
Community Engagement
from Nonprofit AF
Resource
Trust the People
from SSIR
Resource
Anti-Racism Daily
from Reclamation Ventures
Tool
Community Tool Box
from Center for Community Health and Development
Tool
Nonprofits Integrating Community Engagement Guide
from Building Movement Project
Resource
Building Community from the Inside Out: A Series of 5% Shifts
from Building Movement Project
Resource
The Board's Role in Advocacy
from Stand for Your Mission
Resource
Everyday Advocacy
from National Council of Nonprofits
How to Integrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into Everyday Operations
Tool
How to Map Your Programs to Your Strategy
from The Bridgespan Group
More for Funders
The Equitable Evaluation Framework™
from Equitable Evaluation Initiative
More for Funders
Move The Money: Practices and Values for Funding Social Movements
from Building Movement Project
Building a Culture of Philanthropy in Your Organization
Resource
The Hidden Cost of DEI Work–And What to Do about It
from Nonprofit Quarterly
Tool
The Management Center's Tools
from The Management Center
Resource
How Listening to Constituents Can Lead to Systems Change
from SSIR
Principles for Advancing Equitable Data Practice
Resource
Nine Ways to Strengthen Program Evaluations by Centering Community Voice
from Urban Institute
More for Funders
What's Next for Philanthropy in the 2020s
from Deloitte
Better Philanthropy through Systems Change
More for Funders
Understanding the Risks of Nonparticipation in Philanthropy
from SSIR
Nonprofit AF
Resource
What Does it Look Like to Radically Reinvent Leadership?
from Nonprofit AF
Collective Impact
Resource
Finding the Right Board Members for your Nonprofit
from National Council of Nonprofits
Building a Culture of Philanthropy in Your Organization
Video
Shaun Leonardo on Shared Leadership
from Nonprofit Quarterly
Tool
Where is Your Organization in the Nonprofit Lifecycle?
from Social TrendSpotter
Logos
Tool
Racial Equity Tool Template
Racial Equity Here, et al
Outline of the race equity pulse check
Tool
Race Equity Pulse Check
Equity in the Center
Portland Means Progress logo
Tool
Racial Equity Readiness Assessment
Portland Means Progress
Race Forward logo
Resource
Intro to Race Equity
Race Forward, et al
W. K Kellogg Foundation logo
Resource
The Business Case for Racial Equity
The W. K. Kellogg Foundation
Fakequity logo
Resource
How to Hire a Racial Equity Consultant
Fakequity
Community Wealth Partners logo
More for Funders
Making Capacity Building More Equitable
Community Wealth Partners
Community-Centric Fundraising logo
Tool
How You Can Start Applying CCF's 10 Principles Today
Community-Centric Fundraising
Logos
More for Funders
Beyond Philanthropy: The Role of the Donor
Community-Centric Fundraising and Beyond Philanthropy Podcast
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors logo
More for Funders
Philanthropy’s New Tool for Action and Impact: Operating Archetypes
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
SSRI logo
Resource
Beyond 'X Number Served'
SSRI
Chronicle of Philanthropy logo
Resource
The Nonprofit Hiring Crisis
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Urban Institute logo
Tool
Guide to Data Chats: Convening Community Conversations About Data
Urban Institute
National Council of Nonprofits logo
Resource
Financial Management
National Council of Nonprofits
Resource
What Nonprofits are Saying About Trust-Based Philanthropy
Trust-Based Philanthropy Project
Better Philanthropy through Systems Change
More for Funders
The Future of Family Philanthropy
SSIR
More for Funders
Racial Equity in Lean Foundations
Exponent Philanthropy
Tool
Black Women Thriving
Every Level Leadership
How to Integrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into Everyday Operations
Tool
Executive Team Effectiveness Toolkit
Bridgespan
Resource
We Must Prioritize Nonprofit Leaders’ Rest and Healing
Nonprofit AF
Resource
Nonprofit Financial Commons Resources
Nonprofit Financial Commons
Resource
A Change Management and Deep Equity Primer, from Movement Tapestries and Grantmakers for Effective Organization
GeoFunders
Community-Centric Fundraising logo
Resource
Collaborations are a Two-Way Street. Full Stop.
Community-Centric Fundraising
Tool
Nonprofit Leadership Development Toolkit
Bridgespan Group
Tool
How to Embed Inclusion and Equity in Your Goals with SMARTIE Goal Worksheet
The Management Center
More for Funders
Grantmaking Operations with a Trust-Based Lens
Trust-Based Philanthropy Project
Tool
Exploring How to Use the New Racial Equity Toolkit
Collective Impact Forum
Tool
Black Nonprofit Fundraising Guide
Candid
Resource
Black Freedom Collective Learning Community Resources
Black Freedom Collective Learning Community
Video
Introduction to Project Budgets
Candid
Tool
Equitable Budgeting for Nonprofits
Nonprofit Finance Fund
Board Responsibilities and Structures FAQs
Resource
Board Chair and Chief Executive Responsibilities
BoardSource
Resource
Equity in Financial Management Self-Assessment
BDO
Resource
Five Ways to Address Equity in the Finance Function
BDO
Video
What is Trust-Based Philanthropy
Trust-Based Philanthropy Project
Community Wealth Partners logo
Tool
Sharing Power with Communities Field Guide
Community Wealth Partners
Resource
How to Conduct Racial Equity Audits
Nonprofit Quarterly
Resource
Free Nonprofit Resources
Nonprofit Learning Lab

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Acknowledgments

CFA Institute

Holly Hatcher,
Hatcher Consulting LLC

Karen Klick,
Klick Consulting LLC

The 12 community members, including 4 DEI practitioners, that reviewed various iterations of the principles

CNE