Unrestricted Operating Support

The Case for Unrestricted Operating Support: Key Findings from Grantee Partner Case Profiles, 2019

The Weingart Foundation’s core grantmaking strategy is to provide unrestricted funding to organizations advancing racial, social and economic equity. We consistently hear from nonprofits that unrestricted support is vital to achieving their missions. In order to deepen our understanding of the impact of our Unrestricted Operating Support, in 2017 and 2018 we worked with our evaluation partner, Harder+Company Community Research, to develop a series of case profiles that detail the work of four grantee partners: R.E.D.F., Central American Resource Center (C.A..R.E.C.E.N.), Step Up on Second (Step Up), and Center for the Pacific Asian Family (C.P.A.F.). The case profiles are small-scale qualitative assessments of the accomplishments and challenges of grantees. They also provide us with important insights into how Unrestricted Operating Support can strengthen organizational capacity and effectiveness. [Read the summary report & case studies]

Unrestricted Core Support: Strengthening the Capacity of our Nonprofit Sector, 2012

In January 2009, Weingart Foundation amended its grant guidelines to offer unrestricted core support. This decision followed a significant amount of study, presentations by nonprofit representatives, and discussions among our board and staff regarding the role unrestricted funding can play in building nonprofit capacity and sustainability. This report highlights the Foundation’s commitment to providing unrestricted core funding. [Read the report]

Leading with Core Support, 2012

An Assessment of Weingart Foundation’s Core Support Grantmaking

Weingart Foundation made its first core support grants in February 2009. With a significant number of core support grants now closed, it is possible for the first time to assess grantees’ experiences and achievements with core support. This evaluation focuses on 57 early core support grants, looking at the application process, the perceived value of core support grants, their impact, and the future need for core support funding. [Read the report]