EmergingResearch and evidenceFree

When Shift Happens: Navigating Toward a Framework for Responsible Philanthropic Exits

A journal article that sets out a framework for responsible exits when a foundation stops funding a field or grantee. Learning leaders from the Skillman Foundation, the California Health Care Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts drew on literature, focus groups, interviews with foundation staff and nonprofit leaders, and their own experience. The result is 7 core elements meant to keep a field resilient after funding ends.

Why it is in the libraryA current seven-element framework for leaving a field or grantee well, built from focus groups and interviews with foundation staff and nonprofit leaders.

Open the resource →

Keywords

How to cite

Laila Bell, Stephanie Teleki, Jaime Vazquez (2025). When Shift Happens: Navigating Toward a Framework for Responsible Philanthropic Exits. The Foundation Review (Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, Grand Valley State University). https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/tfr/vol17/iss3/11/

Related in the library

  • 13.3C177

    The Effective Exit: Managing the End of a Funding Relationship

    A practical guide for grantmakers on ending a funding relationship well. 6 sections cover why exits are normal, communicating clearly with grantees, strengthening grantees' organisational capacity, helping them find new funding, getting the most from the final grant, and exits that are not routine. It includes exit strategies from 4 grantmakers and a sample Healthy Nonprofit Checklist from the New York Foundation.

    Start hereClassicKey manual or guideFree

Suggestion box

Something to fix or add here?

Know a better resource on this subject, found a broken link, or spotted a mistake in this record? Tell us.

About C178 When Shift Happens: Navigating Toward a Framework for Responsible Philanthropic Exits

A person reads every message. A title, a link or a few words is enough.

What is it about?
Why is it useful, or what needs fixing? A title or a link alone is fine too.