We strive to be transparent and share information about our work, processes, and operations and what we are learning in an accessible and timely manner while respecting privacy and confidentiality needs.
As a private trust for the public good, we believe that information about our grantmaking, evaluation activities, and our operations, should be publicly available in a timely and understandable fashion. We hope this openness informs the work of others, encourages communication that provides new perspectives, enriches public debate, and fosters a better understanding of the Foundation and the issues that are our current priorities. At the same time, we seek to protect relationships of trust with applicants, grantees, and employees, and to preserve zones of confidentiality for planning and deliberations. We balance our desire to make information about our work open and available with the right of privacy and confidentiality.
How and What We Share
We seek to share a wide variety of information about our work, what we are learning, and our processes through multiple means, including our website, social media, press releases and periodic reports, as well as regulatory filings and public statements. The information we make available includes the following:
Grantmaking, Impact Investments, and Evaluation
- Information describing how we work
- Grantmaking guidelines
- Approach to funding research
- Information describing the strategies for Big Bets and Enduring Commitments
- Evaluation findings and accompanying staff reflections
- Key statistics including total grants, impact investments, final budgeted amounts by program, total program administrative expenses, etc.
- Searchable database of grants and impact investments, including award amount and purpose
- Summaries of and links to grantee products including grant-supported research studies, consistent with the Foundation's intellectual property policies
- Stories highlighting the work and impact of our grantees and recipients of impact investments
- Annual essay and other communications from our President
- Annual reflections from our program directors
- Grantee survey conducted by the Center for Effective Philanthropy (2017)
Operations
- Audited financial statements
- Grantmaking budgets and annual spending over time
- 990PF tax return
- Investment approach and results, and how we source investment managers
- Biographies of our leadership and listing of staff
- Data on the diversity of our Board and staff
- Foundation policies affecting third parties
