28 survey respondents
Location: 501 Silverside Rd Ste 123, Wilmington, 19809 DE
EIN: 20-6881642
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11 hours
Median
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2017 Deadlines:
Types of Grants Awarded:
Geographic Focus:
For Fiscal Year
Total Assets:
Total Grants:
Change in Assets FY :
Amount of Grants to Minnesota Nonprofits:
Largest Grant:
Smallest Grant:
Average Grant:
Reviewer 335 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
It is best of meet with the program office before submitting a proposal. The Foundation is very open to meeting and learning about new work. The program officer was very clear about the process and gave great guidance. The grant turned around pretty quickly given most foundations and was for almost all that we asked for.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Risk taker, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
Montana
Current or former grantee
Funded for lesser amount
2017
Good
Very accessible and gave great guidance. Very helpful.
Good
I think Kendeda is very successful because they spend time getting to know the grantees and the region. They seem to understand what is possible and realistic.
Keep it up. Be open to new ways to accomplish conservation goals. Invest at least some of the funds in supporting the launching of new ideas. While lots of foundations say they support innovation. Few really do. Most are just like banks, risk adverse. They want to you to prove a new concept before investing in it. That makes it quite hard to try something new. We need new approaches as well as tried and true
They are very open and will tell you the truth.
The Foundation has at least one experienced program officers (I haven't met any others) who knows his areas of responsibilities, knows the nonprofit community, knows the on-the-ground situation. He has been there himself so understands what it is like from a grantees point of view. He knows how much we need accurate feedback and is quite approachable and responsive. He gave me great guidance about what the Foundation is interested in and where and how our work meshed with the Foundation's interest. So many Foundations are hard to reach, cagey in their answers about "fit". This just wastes everyone's time. Not so with Kendeda. I can't tell you how refreshing this is.
8
Reviewer 818 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
It's an invitation only application so I'd recommend getting to know a program advisor.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Risk taker, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
Montana
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
Kendeda Fund is one of my favorite foundations to work with. The fund advisor for Montana is always willing to answer questions, talk deeper about strategy, and have honest conversations about what we need as an organization to be successful.
Good
Kendeda Fund is responsive to our needs. As an organization led by young people, internal leadership development and capacity building can have a huge impact on our ability to accomplish our mission and vision but also something that can be more challenging to resource. Kendeda is supportive not only in helping us achieve our programmatic goals but also supporting us in becoming a stronger, more sustainable organization.
8
Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
Be prepared to be completely honest and forthright, and to receive honest and insightful feedback from them.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Risk taker, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
Massachusetts
Current or former grantee
Funded for lesser amount
2017
Good
Our program officer is extremely accessible and always ready to give her time.
Good
None.
The Kendeda Fund has been as much of a partner as a funder, and their advice has been as important as their funding.
40
Reviewer 648 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
It is important to know the responsible program officer, portfolio and geography of interest within Kendeda.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Risk taker, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
District of Columbia
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
Good
Keep it up.
They have authentic, meaningful relationships with their grantees. Unlike other foundations they are into "social engineering" in their ivy towers and then forcing grantees into their Theory of Change. They also have a real understanding of the nonprofit sector and what's needed to help them succeed. Finally, (I know this is more than one thing), they are great brokers/facilitators on behalf of their grantees -- connecting us to their broader networks of grantees and funders.
5
Reviewer 212 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2015
Kendeda champions their organizations. A community member that you want on your side.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, Responsive
Washington
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2015
Good
Good
They support community-driven solutions through both their funding portfolio and through their commitment to action.
30
Grant Applicant - applied in 2016
• Being forthright about the complexities of the work and the challenges to achieving goals is key and working with The Kendeda Fund as a thought partner to work through challenges is also important.
• Also having a few touch points (meetings and calls) throughout the process to understand expectations for the grant in terms of programming and amount of funding was also important.
• Thinking bigger picture and to a possible ‘end game’ is something that needs to be fleshed out, even if it will change as the work progresses. Have a few ideas in mind for various levels of funding and think through how to sustain the work.
Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
New York
Current or former grantee
Funded for lesser amount
2016
Good
• We frequently have calls and meetings with the funder and feel they are deeply invested in understanding the many complexities of the work and answering any questions we may have while we’ve applied for grants or collaborated on projects.
• This funder has also partnered with us on many advocacy and development events to help our organization – beyond the project they are funding – as they are deeply invested in our organization.
• They also travel to the region where they fund on a regular basis.
• Sometimes we worry about reaching out to the funder too often and we have worked on keeping the flow of information to the funder from many points in our organization as streamlined as possible to avoid inundating the funder.
Good
• We cannot speak to this beyond the funding we have received and the portfolio we partner with the funder on.
• In this portfolio, (women and girl’s rights’) the funder is flexible and open to understanding challenges to the issues they aim to address. They are keen and yet respectful while addressing the real complexity of the context and social change agenda they are supporting on women and g. When it comes to women and girl’s rights, this funder is not interested in superficially counting those who have attended the programs their funding has created, but they are interested in understanding the actual results and impact of the program in terms of positive change.
• This is hard to measure in a way that deals with the complexity of these issues – which this funder understands and appreciates and works to educate other funders about the nuances and politics of measurement, while also holding grantees accountable to having impact.
• In their women and girls’ rights portfolio, this funder is working with several organizations that offer different strengths and approaches to bringing about change, from grass rooted focused change, to advocacy, research, capacity building and coalition building. This well-rounded approach ensures more sustainable impact.
• The funder has also let us be flexible which helps us quickly address gaps in our programming and strategy
• When thinking through challenges like spending down funds, assisting grantees in thinking through this problem even before their own thoughts have been heard, with an eye toward balancing desires and realities and recognizing that the future is often hard to see when it comes to human rights funding.
• Open, flexible, positive, supportive and a true partnership
• Being a flexible partner in trying to achieve our shared goals • Supporting our organization beyond the dollars they have given to us by being a champion for us in donor and advocacy spaces • Being responsible when it comes to spending down funds and long-term projects and end dates. • Being open to our point of view and to feedback
25
Reviewer 837 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
They believe in large scale change and are willing to fund work that will not pay off in the immediate term. They are incredibly supportive funders once you are a grantee, and even before that want everyone to succeed. They are also very approachable! They are also willing to do multi-year grants which is incredibly helpful
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Risk taker, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
District of Columbia
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
Good
It would be great for grantees to meet by webinar twice a year or so so that we could learn from each other. Or, if that is not possible, it would help to share information once a year on who is receiving funding and contact information.
It's a small foundation in terms of staff size, so have reasonable expectations about response time.
This funder tries to make it as easy as possible for grantees.
20
Reviewer 673 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2015
Kendeda appears to work via its network of philanthropists and other leaders. They're visionary and don't have many of the standard hoops to jump through and seem to truly care about the progress of their grantees versus the risk protection of themselves, i.e. they're advocates not antagonists.
Positive leader in the field, Risk taker, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
Massachusetts
Current or former grantee
Funded for greater amount
2015
Good
They're a small group of advisors that are very accessible, humble and responsive.
Good
It appears they're on track.
Continue to take a tailored approach to your grant making and don't fall in line with other funders various reporting requirements - rather get close to the organization's leaders.
Make visionary investments in organizations that have the potential to be transformative (their grant was to our organization).
10 to 15 hours
Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
Kendeda is a rare organization, one that stays with you once they believe in your theory of change. My advice would be total honesty and even vulnerability about the strengths and weaknesses of your programs. Their program officer is seasoned, well-informed, and highly intuitive, so she will see through you either way!
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Risk taker, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
California
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
They are busy, as are all funders, but always accessible when needed.
Good
I would like it if they could visit us in action. I don't know if that's possible for all of their grantees, but it would be so great if they could see the faces of those who are indirectly touched by their funding.
Kendeda takes big bets on the things that can lead to systemic change. They aren't as preoccupied with metrics as other funders, which is such a relief for organizations like ours that are trying to shift an entire paradigm. They have vision.
20
Reviewer 647 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
The Kendeda Fund wants to really understand its grantees before inviting a proposal.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Culturally sensitive, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues
Oregon
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
Good
Understand and develop relationships with its grantees.
20
