Candid
For A Project To Develop A Common Data Standard With The International Aid Transparency Initiative
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Amount$250,000
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Program
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Date Awarded12/1/2010
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Term18 Months
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Type of SupportProject
Overview
The Foundation Center will develop a common data standard with the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) to address the critical need for an information system that bridges both international and sector boundaries to present a clear and comprehensive understanding of donor aid flows. To achieve this goal, the Foundation Center will compare its existing reporting standard to the IATI's reporting standard to map over 50 data fields and 300 subfields and to identify commonalities. A survey of 25 of the top international grantmaking foundations will yield insights to help navigate barriers to securing additional participation from US foundations. The Foundation Center’s standard will be revised to capture an expanded range of data fields and to foster greater alignment with the IATI standard, while an automated reporting channel to IATI users will be promoted though the Foundation Center’s existing eGrant reporting system. The common data standard will make it easier to determine where funds are going and how they are being spent. By increasing the transparency of aid flows from foundations, resources can be allocated and used more strategically to achieve the intended development outcomes.
About the Grantee
Grantee Website
foundationcenter.org
Address
32 Old Slip, 24th Floor, New York, NY, 10005, United States
Grants to this Grantee
for general operating support
Candid is a leading information source about philanthropy for nonprofits and funders globally. Candid maintains large, searchable repositories including the Foundation Directory Online, the most comprehensive database on U.S. grantmakers and grants; IssueLab, a collection of over 28,000 articles and reports; and GuideStar, a searchable database of 1.5 million nonprofits. Candid operates research, education, and training programs and offers a multitude of resources online as well, all to advance knowledge of philanthropy. Millions visit Candid’s websites, receive its daily Philanthropy News Digest emails, and are served by its more than 400 learning center hubs globally. This grant provides general support as part of the Knowledge for Better Philanthropy strategy.
for support of the Foundation Funding for U.S. Democracy website and database
In 2013, the Hewlett Foundation, alongside seven other foundation funding partners, partnered with the Foundation Center, now part of Candid, to develop an online, interactive data visualization tool to map “who is funding whom to do what” in the field of U.S. democracy. The tool is intended to provide a clearer picture of what issue areas and organizations other foundations are supporting, thereby helping to improve philanthropic investment and coordination in this growing field. The beta version was launched in June 2014. This grant will support ongoing maintenance, upgrades, and updates of the tool through 2023.
for support of a project to map foundation funding aimed at improving democracy in the United States
The Hewlett Foundation is considering developing a set of strategies to help address the growing dysfunction in the U.S. political system. As we begin to explore possible strategies, we would like to understand what other foundations are funding in this area. We also expect, based on conversations with peers, that this area of philanthropic investment could be greatly improved by a clearer picture of what issue areas and organizations other foundations are supporting.
After a lengthy RFP process including submissions from CIRCLE, Bridgespan, and FSG, Hewlett selected Foundation Center as the optimal partner to help map democracy funding flows. Foundation Center will work with the Hewlett Foundation and in collaboration with its seven funding partners—the Omidyar Network’s Democracy Fund, the MacArthur Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation, Open Society Fund, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Rita Allen Foundation, and the JPB Foundation. The Center will create a data visualization tool to reflect relevant grants data, supported by a taxonomy that will serve as the Center’s primary democracy-related taxonomy moving forward.
