Industry
Nonprofit, Philanthropy & Foundations
Our Role
- Strategic Planning Facilitation for Trustees & Staff
- Stakeholder Interviews & Grantmaking Landscape Analysis
- Founder Legacy & Document Synthesis
- Strategic Framework Development
- Grantmaking Criteria Design & Priority Setting
- Implementation & Communication Advisory
Situation
A large private foundation with a strong legacy in the arts, Jewish life, and health-related causes sought to refine its Science and Medicine grantmaking portfolio. While the foundation had made impactful investments over time, decision-making lacked a cohesive strategic framework—resulting in fragmented efforts and limited institutional learning. Foundation leadership wanted to align future giving with the founder’s values while sharpening focus, enhancing regional impact, and improving consistency in grant decisions.
Solution
The Hill Group partnered with board and staff to build a custom, values-driven grantmaking strategy:
- Facilitated internal planning sessions to align leadership around strategic intent
- Conducted stakeholder interviews and environmental scans of the funding landscape
- Synthesized founder legacy documents and past grantmaking history
- Identified impact areas and developed a values-based decision-making rubric
- Created a flexible strategic framework allowing for both targeted investment and innovation
- Advised on implementation, fund allocation, and communication strategy
Results
- Defined a clear strategic framework for Science and Medicine grantmaking
- Developed consistent decision-making criteria aligned with founder principles
- Identified priority themes such as aging, behavioral health, and health equity
- Integrated interdisciplinary and high-potential projects into the portfolio
- Reserved space for experimentation and responsive grantmaking
- Increased clarity and cohesion across board, staff, and grant applicants
Behind the Scenes
This engagement brought focus and flexibility together. The Hill Group helped transform values and intent into a living strategy—giving the foundation the tools to be both disciplined and adaptive. The result is a grantmaking approach that honors legacy, fosters innovation, and amplifies impact across the health ecosystem.