Distinct Competencies

Peter Konrad helps foundations develop their philanthropic focus and become more effective in their charitable activities. He does not believe it is his role to determine the foundation’s specific direction but rather to facilitate the process which brings focus to a foundation’s philanthropy. He can also be very helpful in the implementation of the foundation’s mission by using his years of management and financial experience. Peter is often used as quasi-staff for a foundation without staff or as a non-voting board member who brings professional foundation perspective and hands-on experience to the board room.



The following are specific examples of ways he has assisted foundations or families in their philanthropy:


Develop Donor and Foundation Focus by:
Conducting strategic planning retreats enabling foundations and families to focus on core values, to develop useful and meaningful mission statements and to delineate foundation goals and objectives.

Helping families develop their charitable instincts in order to become focused philanthropists who cause positive change in their communities.

Assisting founders of family foundation prepare a donor’s “letter of intent” to assist future generations of foundation trustees.

Facilitating a process by which foundation trustees consider the donor’s intent and develop a “foundation personality” consistent with that original intent.
Reviewing a foundation’s governance and management structure and making recommendations to the board to improve focus and efficiency.

Assisting a board of trustees to explore an area of potential interest by arranging meetings with key individuals and organizations, providing current background reading, researching the issue and reporting to the board.


Assist in Family Intergenerational Issues by:
Providing professional oversight to family members’ personal charitable contributions to assure compliance with tax laws and the family’s charitable intent.
Mentoring a family foundation’s next generation of trustees in the art and science of philanthropy.

Providing third party guidance to family foundations as leadership passes from one generation to another.

Administering a foundation’s trustee-directed grant program to avoid difficult interfamily dynamics and assure tax law compliance.

Assisting foundations as they consider, develop and implement a plan of trustee succession.


Create Efficient Operations by:
Conducting audits of a foundation’s administrative policies and procedures and making recommendations to its board.

Rewriting grant guidelines to significantly reduce grant requests outside the foundation’s area of interest.
Assisting an operating foundation to develop and implement a five-year business plan for growth and expansion.

Developing directed and matching charitable contribution plans for foundation trustees.

Writing a foundation’s annual report to inform the public of the foundation’s mission, activities and grant guidelines.


Make Effective Grants by:
Assisting a foundation pursue its mission by developing focused grant-making programs.

Developing proactive grant-making initiatives that thoughtfully consider the existing environment and cause focused change.

Helping foundation trustees develop grant making programs that mirror the foundation’s investment discipline in their focus on return and outcomes.
Working on behalf of a foundation with nonprofit organizations supportive of the foundation’s mission, to improve the governance or administrative capacity of the nonprofit.

Developing a grantee satisfaction survey for a foundation using Internet technology.

Negotiating gifts to major charitable institutions on behalf of family members.

Implementing grantee outcome evaluation to assist the foundation in evaluating the results of its grants and developing the capacity of the grantee.

Developing grant-making initiatives to proactively solicit grant proposals from organizations in a focused area of concern to the foundation.


Provide Financial Stability and Performance by:
Developing investment policies for foundation boards of trustees.

Implementing a system of financial controls and reporting that inform the board of the foundation’s financial position and the results of its activities.
Assisting foundations in the practical implications of private foundation tax law.

Conducting a search process for foundations in hiring an investment consultant.

Reviewing foundation investment policies and asset allocation. 


 


 

Peter A. Konrad, Ed. D
Philanthropic Advisor

2965 Akron Court
     Denver, Colorado 80238      

Phone:
(303) 993-5385

Fax:
(303) 894-9088

Email:
pkonrad@konradconsulting.com