PRODUCTS + SERVICES
At Erdle Consulting Group (ECG), we believe that true philanthropic impact starts with a plan—and evolves into a lifelong practice. The Philanthropy Practice is our signature approach that sets us apart and delivers lasting value to donors, foundations, and their advisors.
What IS THE PHILANTHROPY PRACTICE? Your Roadmap from Giving to Impact
While many consultants engage with clients by offering a range of services, ECG leverages The Philanthropy Practice to reset the playing field by administering an in-depth point-in-time assessment of your values, talents, operations, grantmaking, impact and needs, and develops a plan with recommendations for strengthening your philanthropic practice. The plan includes suggested priority growth and implementation areas.
Working together with our expert partners, and your team, we set up your way to give, how to give, where you give and who you involve - teeing you up for purpose and impact.
Why does this matter? Stepping back from the choices available to you, or what you think needs to be done is usually influenced by bias whether it is family legacy, holding on to tradition or history, business style, and sometimes by limitations of what is out there and possible in the philanthropic ecosystem.
Philanthropy, fundraising and giving is most successful - and equally most rewarding and beneficial - when we take a step back and find ways to focus, be more thoughtful, and look to others around us that have adapted their approach. And, most importantly, the success of our work is co-dependent on the relationship we build with nonprofit organizations.
Getting Started: Philanthropic Point-in-time Assessment
ECG’s point-in-time assessment consists of an unbiased review of four (4) key areas of philanthropic practice. Whether you are a seasoned foundation or donor, taking time to assess your practices or your “stage in life” and getting input from all stakeholders to your philanthropy matters. ECG is an unaffiliated neutral broker who can step back from fundraising or other pressures and help you evaluate your roadblocks or take logical action steps that bring joy and impact back to your giving.
We get input on the following key areas that inform your plan:
- Philanthropic Identity, Values Alignment & Generational Structures and Goals
- Operational Structure & Excellence, Governance Strategies & Decision-Making Frameworks
- Strategic Grantmaking
- Impact Goals & Measurement
Reflection: Philanthropic Plan +Recommendations
From the assessment, we develop a personalized plan with recommendations for areas of growth that can be prioritized by meeting with your staff, team, family, board, or advisors. ECG builds action steps for you to implement - either on your own, with ECG, our trusted consultants, community foundation, or your wealth advisory team. We bring clarity to where you are and where you want to go. This plan can be co-created with your advisory team to ensure synergy across wealth planning platforms and goals.
Tracking Your Success: Philanthropy Best Practices (“PBP”) Dashboard
We evaluate your practices with those of top performing similar foundations and philanthropies, giving you an idea of tools and models for advancing your philanthropy. We develop a Plan Dashboard that highlights your practice and how you might progress your practices.
Implementation of Recommended Growth Areas & Priority Goals
Reviewing your plan, we co-identify priority areas for action. You can choose to implement these initiatives with ECG’s ongoing support, independently, or with access to our trusted network of expert consultants.
Examples of action steps can or have included:
- Recommendations of philanthropic vehicles or mechanisms, such as working with community foundations, starting and setting up foundations, navigating family engagement and structures.
- Focused grant making, mission building.
- Outsourcing of administrative tasks.
- Strategic Frameworks and Planning for grantmaking and governance based on your values and industry best practices. 1,3, or 5 year plans.
- Board Assessments and Workshops.
- Knowledge Building on issues, topics, and due diligence and relationship building with non-profit organizations.
- Impact Goals and Measurement around giving focus areas.
Curated Learning Paths
Once priorities are established, we can bring you up to speed with the knowledge you need to ask the right questions, give independently or take the next right step as your giving evolves.
Advanced Philanthropic Practice
Customized Solutions for clients and their advisors including community engagement, long-term implementation or support, or administrative management.
The Philanthropy Practice by Erdle Consulting Group provides an expert, unbiased guide to take you quickly from giving to impact offering a unique value add for you, your board, your family, and your wealth management team.
Allison's involvement in the community enables her to keep abreast of community needs and those of us who are working to meet them. Her efforts to connect like-minded people and organizations and emerging opportunities is very impactful. She has done a great job of connecting with the community.
- Washington Forrest Foundation Grant Partners