TRANSFORMING PHILANTHROPY INTO A LIFELONG PRACTICE
Evolving the way you give is a learning journey that never ends. You can trust Erdle Consulting Group to partner with you every step of the way.
We support individual donors, families, foundations and their advisors to provide complete philanthropy products and guidance to help build unique plans, advance clients’ philanthropic knowledge and build philanthropic strategies, always drawing on current and evolving practices from leading foundations, philanthropic advisory research, nonprofits and communities.
PHILANTHROPY PLAN PACKAGES
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PHILANTHROPIC CLARITY PLAN (I)
Develop an outcome-focused engagement plan to focus your philanthropy efforts on maximum impact.
Best for: Individuals, couples, or families giving modestly to fewer than 10 organizations annually, that are ready for a clear, actionable roadmap.
What's Included:
- Individual discovery interview(s) using our four-domain assessment framework
- Written Philanthropic Assessment benchmarking current giving practices against best practices
- A Strategic Giving Roadmap: values-aligned priorities, giving-structure recommendation (DAF, foundation, direct, or hybrid), and a 1–3-year framework
- Final working session to review and finalize the roadmap together
Typical Timeline: 3–6 months
Results: You give with clarity and conviction instead of guesswork guided by a plan that turns good intentions into real impact.
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STRATEGY + IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (II)
Design a detailed plan that includes action steps for more complex philanthropy models.
Best for: Families and foundations with broader giving or assets, multiple decision-makers, or next-generation stakeholders who need the plan translated into concrete next steps.
What's Included:
Everything in Tier I, Plus
- Facilitated Family Session with the full stakeholder group — values mapping and consensus-building
- Nonprofit due diligence and vetting for priority organizations
- Governance and entity-structuring guidance where a foundation or DAF change is on the table (where applicable)
- A written action plan with sequenced timeline, roles, and grantmaking decision criteria
- Initial coordination touchpoint with the client's estate, tax, or investment advisor or team
Typical Timeline: 6–9 months
Results: Your family and your advisors move forward as one team — aligned on priorities, roles, and next steps — so your giving becomes a deliberate expression of your values and the foundation of your legacy.
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PARTNERSHIP + IMPLEMENTATION (III)
Ongoing, long-term partner to execute giving plans and handle the details so philanthropy doesn’t become your full-time job.
Best for: Family foundations and multi-generational families with broader giving or assets who want an ongoing partner running the plan alongside them, not just a document to execute alone.
What's Included:
Everything in the Strategy and Implementation Plan package, plus
- Ongoing retainer with regular monthly or quarterly check-ins
- Full advisor coordination — tax accountant, estate attorney, investment manager, family office — as a standing part of the relationship
- Next-generation engagement and philanthropic education as a recurring practice
- Annual grantmaking strategy, due diligence, and impact measurement/reporting
- Board or family meeting facilitation as needed
- Community and ecosystem convening — community foundations, peer funders, issue-area network
Typical Timeline: 12+ months
Results: Philanthropy runs like a well-managed institution instead of a second job. You stay focused on vision, impact, and legacy; we partner with you on the ongoing coordination, due diligence, and reporting that keep it running well.
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
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 + Services
Customized Solutions for clients and their advisors including:
- Strategic Planning
- Administrative Support + Management
- Community Engagement
- Board Retreats
- Family Philanthropic Planning + Communications
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 advisory 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