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Take a Tour of the Benchmarking Tool

See how you can select a peer group using over 60 different criteria and view reports on data in several important content areas.

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CF Insights Members The Field
Services Expert Guidance and Analysis Checked
Peer Learning and Connections Checked
Technical Assistance
with Tools		 Checked
Consulting and Project Support Checked Checked
Tools Benchmarking and Custom Reports Checked with Annotation
Dashboard for Board Presentations Checked
Activity-Based Costing Analysis Model Checked Checked
Economic Scenario Planning Model Checked Checked
Interactive Strategy Model Checked Checked
Knowledge Member Research Briefs Checked
Trend Analysis and Rankings Checked Checked
Reports on Key Issues and Ideas Checked Checked

* Columbus Survey Participants have on-demand access to a select subset of
benchmarking reports

Data Collected by CF Insights

All data collected by CF Insights is available to members as criteria with which to build peer groups and as the basis for over 60 on-demand reports.

Foundation Basics:

  • Fiscal Year End Date
  • Year Foundation Created
  • Staffing by Function
  • Strategic Operating Priorities
  • Affiliations with Other Foundations
  • Software Type Used
  • Engagement in the Following Areas:
    • Community Leadership
    • Fiscal Sponsorship/Fundraising
    • Fundraising for Operations
    • Nonprofit Resource Center
    • Services to Private Foundations
    • Special Initiatives

Geographic:

  • Urban vs. Rural
  • Population of Area Served
  • Geographic Area Served
  • State
  • Region

Assets and Funds:

  • Total Assets
  • Total Assets by Product Type
  • Total Number of Foundation Funds
  • Total Number of DAFs
  • Total Number of Funds Held at SOs
  • Total Number of SOs
  • Operating Endowment and Reserves

 

Expenses:

  • Total Operating Expenses
  • Special Initiative Operations Expenses
  • Operating Expenses as Percent of Assets

Contributions:

  • Total Foundation Contributions - $ and #
  • Total Contributions to DAFs - $ and #
  • Total Contributions to SOs - $ and #

Grants:

  • Total Foundation Grants - $ and #
  • Total Grants from DAFs - $ and #
  • Total Grants from SOs - $ and #

Activity-Based Costing Results:

  • Contributions/Subsidies by Product - $
  • Total Cost by Product - $
  • Total Cost by Activity Type - $

Administrative Fee Schedules:

CF Insights collects the following fee information by specific product and fund type.

  • Total Fees
  • Minimum Fees
  • Minimum Fund Balance

Investment Data from the COF Investment Survey:

The Council on Foundations provides CF Insights with the results of their annual and quarterly investment surveys.

  • Annualized Returns
  • Overall Allocation
  • Equity Allocation
  • Fixed Income Allocation
  • Alternate Allocation

Contact info@cfinsights.org for more information.

Consulting and Project Support

CF Insights offers project support to help analyze key strategic or operating model questions, inform decisions, and improve performance. 

What are the economics of our business model?

  • Conduct Activity Based Costing Analysis (“Cost Revenue Analysis”) to determine the true cost structure of products and services.  Results are used to make decisions that better align financial resources with mission-driven priorities.

What changes should we make to particular products and services?

  • Analyze products like Donor-Advised Funds, providing data on current economics, growth patterns, and the implications of possible policy changes.

What is our growth potential?

  • Assess the development potential of individual community foundations, including analysis of the local market and comparison to similar markets nationwide.

What new community and donor needs should we be supporting? 

  • Conduct market research with key community foundation constituents to identify changing dynamics in the marketplace, determine what constituents value most, and test possible changes in policy or strategy.
Contact CF Insights to inquire about consulting engagements and project support, including ways to partner with FSG.   

“Our biggest learning from the Cost Revenue Analysis [Activity-Based Costing analysis] is that we’ve got as one of our major goals to create a sustainable business model… Having this data to think this through is really helpful.”

Jean Adams, Vice President, Finance and Administration
Minneapolis Foundation

500 Boylston Street, Suite 600, Boston, MA 02116 | 617.357.4000 | info@cfinsights.org

Created by Community Foundations // Propelled by FSG