A Foodie in Development: A Cobb Salad of Foundation and Corporate Research
Dear Diary,
One of my favorite salads, so filling and hearty, is a cobb salad. It is a salad I would highly recommend as a main dish, not a side. A cobb salad is generally comprised of chopped leafy greens, diced tomatoes, crisp bacon (you can always withhold the bacon), fried chicken breast (optional), hard-boiled eggs, avocado (delicious), crumbled blue cheese, topped with a vinaigrette or ranch dressing. With such a combination of ingredients, there is a lightening round of explosive colors, smells, and flavors – an unexpected but welcoming experience.
The stirring feeling of trying a rather loaded and large bowl of cobb salad is comparable to corporate and foundation research which stands firmly on its own, significantly designed with intent, and never as an afterthought. This is research, heavy, simple, and through the combination of ingredients (company/foundation mission; company/foundation background (financials included); largest and most recent giving; and Alignment) it ends incredibly satisfying as a product that responds to its environment and the needs of frontline fundraisers. The secret and obviousness of a cobb salad and corporate and foundation research is the ingredients or the architectural framework. Ask yourself, what is truly needed? But in the simplest fashion.
Ingredients in this salad align in textures that balance and complement one another. It is surprising, but I ask you to truly think about it. And, when thinking about research, decisions on how to conclude on capacity should be made starting at alignment, then recent and largest gifts, and then the rest. If you begin at commonality between your organization and the prospectus organization, it releases you from getting stuck on the complexities of trying to understand the ins and outs of the business; and that a company/foundation may record billions on their balance sheet, and only dedicate six-figures to charity annually.
Follow me through the first bite as we analyze a fictional company. Your fork pokes through some romaine lettuce, avocado and tomato chunks, and blue cheese, you guide the stacked ingredients into your mouth. Chewing ensues. Your laptop is also open to a profile on IVJ Incorporated. Mission: IVJ Incorporated is a global company that produces carpets. IVJ has a charitable arm, IVJ Works, it annually supports organizations focused on housing and housing insecurities, and economic development. IVJ reported $10 billion in revenue in 2021. Largest and Most Recent Gifts: All gifts are made through IVJ’s philanthropic vehicle, IVJ Works, which gave $20 million across 5 nonprofits, in New York and Chicago, in 2021. In January 2022, IVJ Works donated $5 million to help an organization build several new shelters in San Francisco, and $8 million to another organization, amongst other 6-and-7-figure gifts to similar projects and organizations. Alignment: IVJ Works is focused on housing insecurities, social building projects focused on housing the unhoused population in major cities, and economic development. IVJ would be interested in learning about our impact method and housing initiatives thus far. Philanthropic capacity: IVJ (through IVJ Works) has the estimated philanthropic capacity to pledge $5 million to $10 million. This estimation is based on aligned focus areas, and gifts to similar/peer organizations.
Was this not a wonderful first bite? Proceed to dig in further, and shut your laptop. All of the ingredients that you need are right there.
Enjoy your thoughtful meal (recipe source: Delish – Cobb Salad)!
Until next time, October 15th!
