“Tipping Point is the most informed, supportive, and engaged funder we have.”
Tipping Point’s strategic approach partners with Bay Area nonprofit organizations that provide life-changing services in housing, early childhood, education, and employment. Our goal is to build trusted relationships with grantees to support their work and help them unlock their full potential so more residents can get on a path out of poverty.
In June 2023, we engaged the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) to help us evaluate and improve Tipping Point’s effectiveness as a funder and strategic partner. CEP conducted a confidential survey of our grantees, garnering a response rate of 84%, which is significantly higher than the industry average and our last grantee survey in 2020. CEP’s Grantee Perception Report provides insights directly from grantees on Tipping Point’s grantmaking processes, organizational impact, and funder-grantee relationship.
Results from our grantees put us at or near the top of a comparison group of more than 300 foundations across the country. One survey respondent stated, “Tipping Point is the most informed, supportive, and engaged funder we have.”
2023 Key Findings
Driving Impact. Grantees placed Tipping Point in the 95th percentile of the comparison group for funding priorities that reflect a deep understanding of the needs of the people and communities that grantees serve. Grantees also rated Tipping Point as a top funder for impact on the field.
One respondent reported, “It is clear that [Tipping Point] has an influence on our surrounding communities by funding valuable initiatives that support people in need and lift up those who do not have equitable opportunities.”
Trust-based relationships. We are honored to see the trust we put in our grantees reflected back to us, with Tipping Point ranking in the 96th percentile for staff responsiveness, 94th percentile for respectful interactions, and 90th percentile for exhibiting trust in grantee staff. In addition to rating especially high among funders, these ratings were an improvement from our 2020 survey results.
One survey participant reported that Tipping Point “communicate[s] as thought partners, and they have empathy for the work that we do. It is fair to state that there are areas of our organization that would not have developed as well as they have without Tipping Point’s input. We are extremely grateful for their partnership.”
Capacity-building support + unrestricted, long-term funding. Ninety-seven percent of Tipping Point grantees reported receiving support outside of monetary grants–otherwise known as capacity-building support–with nearly three-quarters of grantees selecting ‘connecting grantees with capacity-building opportunities’ as Tipping Point’s most important role in the future for their organizations.
One survey respondent touted our staff expertise, stating, “Tipping Point’s capacity-building support has been exemplary. We consider them a true partner in meeting our organizational development needs and have a high level of trust in TPC’s capacity-building staff’s expertise and vision.”
Grantees also report Tipping Point’s median grant size as higher than typical, with the average Tipping Point grant at $300,000 and the typical grant at $110,000. Eighty-four percent of Tipping Point’s grantees report receiving unrestricted funding (vs. 22 percent of grantees for the typical funder).
Diversity, equity, and inclusion. Tipping Point’s ratings were higher than typical for all four measures in the survey related to commitment to and communications about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Respondents highlighted Tipping Point’s transparency about what DEI means for our shared work, commitment to DEI objectives, and combating racism. Grantees also expressed a desire to “continue to prioritize and advocate for POC executives,” which is in line with Tipping Point’s investment strategy to provide custom support through a fellowship model for organizations led by leaders of color.
Rigorous due diligence. While some grantees commented that the reporting and data submission process can be a significant time commitment, grantees’ ratings for all aspects of the reporting process have trended up since 2020, particularly for relevance and helpfulness (now above the 70th percentile among all funders). Some grantees made positive comments about the reporting process being “(v)ery helpful in outlining grant deliverables, particularly in developing short-term and long-term goals, outputs, activities, and outcomes.”
Continuing Our Momentum
The survey results affirm that Tipping Point’s commitment to bolstering strong, trusting relationships with grantees delivers strong impact. From our multi-pronged investment approach to customized grantee support, we will continue to maintain a hands-on approach to our relationship with our grantees . Our rigorous due diligence process ensures we are vetting every investment we make to support the most promising solutions and best-in-class organizations. We will also continue to deepen our work with current and prospective grantees, promoting transparency, joint accountability, and intentionality.
Our grantees identified areas of growth, as well, such as the need to provide more insight into Tipping Point’s broader efforts and strategic goals. While we aim to provide a variety of optional learning and community-building engagements throughout the year, grantees also suggested offering more clear expectations about their participation.
The findings also showcase Tipping Point’s position as a leader and innovator in the philanthropic field, and provides an opening for us to share what we have learned and how we have grown in the past decade. Our new stream of work into systems change offers such an opportunity to share our approach, with one grantee reporting, “I have shared Tipping Point’s rubric for understanding systems change with other funders in the hope they’ll pivot to Tipping Point’s approach.”
