We recognize that every client is driven by unique interests and passions. Ignite offers a range of services so you can select precisely what you need to achieve your vision.
Strategic Development of Giving Goals
We help you identify or confirm your giving focus and goals and put an operational framework around your strategy. Services are customized to respond to your unique situation. Planning services include:
- Alignment of giving goals with personal values
- Analysis of current giving strategies
- Creation of mission, vision and values statements to guide decision making
- Board development and training
- Succession planning
Management and Grantmaking Services
Once your strategy is set, we organize and manage your grantmaking activities, and support your giving decisions. Good grantmaking includes an understanding of issues and the community in which you’re working. We bring best practices and collective intelligence to the table. You choose how involved you want us to be, including services such as:
- Due diligence on nonprofit organizations and their IRS standing
- Development of grant guidelines and procedures
- Program research and analysis
- Program design for new initiatives
- Management of requests for proposals (RFPs)
- Proposal reviews and analysis
- Monitoring grant agreements for compliance
- Grant evaluations, including site visits
- Measurement and impact studies
- Suggesting effective organizations to give to based on your mission and vision.
Administrative Services
An important part of achieving success is smooth and capable administration. Operating a foundation, charitable trust or nonprofit organization requires technical knowledge of IRS rules and regulations. Some clients do this work themselves, but others seek to outsource these needs. At Ignite, our staff serves as the “office” for your philanthropy and provides services such as:
- Organizing board meetings, including working with the chair to set the agenda
- Tracking proposals and grants (current and past grants)
- Database management
- Inquiries and correspondence with grantees
- Regulatory compliance, including the IRS 5% spending requirement
- Serving as your business address and office
- Maintaining files and records
- Preparing grant information for tax filings
- Preparing minutes and annual reports
- Managing print and web-based communications.
Collaboration/Coordination with Your Advisors
With your permission, we coordinate with your other professional advisors, including your accountant, attorney, trust officer and financial advisor. In some cases, we coordinate with your local community foundation. For nonprofit clients, we coordinate or contract with outside marketing and fundraising specialists to support your volunteers and boards of directors.
