Expectations

If a community foundation has expectations about its grantees, about the organizations to which it gives money/makes grants, would it not be reasonable that the foundation itself meet those same expectations? And what expectations then do we have for ourselves as foundation trustees? How high do we set the bar? Recently, I learned of grantmakers who were requiring that their grantees (a) meet regularly; and, (b) fulfill quorum requuirements at least three out of four times a year.

I had two reactions to hearing about this: (1) that the governance bar was certainly set pretty low; and (2) wondered what the grantmakers' governance standards were for themselves.

Above: At one of its monthly meetings, the board of the Community Foundation of the New River Valley, does small group work to practice and deepen its understanding of enrollment and the trustees' part in development.