Private Foundation Administrative Support

Board Development

A highly-functioning board of directors is important to the health of your foundation.  ALPS Foundation Services provides board development training on board roles and responsibilities, leadership evaluations, policies and by-laws, committee structure, action-packed agendas, and more.

Strategic Planning

What is the long-term vision of your foundation?  If you can't spell it out quickly, you may be lacking a strategic plan.  A strategic plan is important in vesting the board of directors with a sense of mission and purpose, and is an excellent measuring stick of organizational progress.  The challenge is getting to an agreed upon strategic plan, given the differing opinions of board members, staff, volunteers, and donors. ALPS Foundation Services can guide you through the process.

Retreat and Meeting Facilitation

ALPS Foundation Services facilitates board retreats and meetings for private foundations.  Our experience has shown it is often more effective for a third party to guide certain discussions and meetings.  We aim to achieve results efficiently, while creating an open forum for the views of all parties involved.

Board and Committee Support

We support board and committees with meeting agendas, materials, notes, facilitation, and meeting set-up services.

Staffing

ALPS Foundation Services can staff a private foundation or a particular activity in its entirety. For foundations without full-time staff, ALPS Foundation Services can field all public requests for information, and those inquiries will be handled in a timely manner.  If your staff is stretched thin at particular times of the year, or during a particular activity, ALPS Foundation Services can step in to complete the tasks or activity.

go to top of page »

 
 

Private Foundation Financial Services

Foundations are primarily mission-based organizations, but the business side requires a great deal of time and thought.  ALPS Foundation Services can manage the details of your Foundation's finances, including complete bookkeeping and accounting services, compliance with Form 990 requirements, corporate filings, an other required informational reporting.

go to top of page »

 
 

Private Foundation Grantmaking

As grant cycle deadlines approach, charitable foundations become inundated with calls and mail.  It takes time -- a lot of time --to accept applications, screen eligibility, prepare proposal summaries, respond to applicant inquiries, and draft award and denial letters. 

ALPS Foundation Services provides day-to-day grant maintenance for your grantmaking program.  We offer the following services, and more:

  • Timely response to public requests for foundation guidelines and application materials
  • Reviewing grant applications for completeness
  • Screening grant applicants for eligibility
  • Preparation of proposal summaries
  • Ensuring, if necessary, the leadership capability and financial soundness of new applicant organizations
  • Preparing award and denial letters
  • Preparing grant checks for disbursement
  • Tracking grantmaking activities
  • Scheduling and coordinating trustee meetings
  • Tracking grantee compliance and accomplishments, providing timely updates to trustees
  • Coordinating site visits of trustees to grant recipients

The above tasks take time and effort. For small foundations with few or no staff, it can be overwhelming.  ALPS Foundation Services is a cost-efficient alternative that will pay long-term dividends in the efficiency of your private foundation, without the need to seek additional staff. Services provided by ALPS Foundation Services are performed in strict accordance with guidelines set forth by the foundation's board of trustees

go to top of page »

 

Testimonials

Jeffrey Alderman, Executive Director, Kansas Bar Association and Kansas Bar Foundation

June 28, 2010

ALPS Foundation Services was instrumental in helping our Bar Association and Foundation achieve our fundraising goals...

 

Elizabeth M. Lynch, Executive Director, Massachusetts Bar Foundation

June 28, 2010

Chris Newbold of ALPS Foundation Services actively worked with our staff, board, and constituents with a competence and effectiveness that helped ensure we were able to develop a plan ...to meet our mission over the long term...

 

Don MacIntyre, President, Montana Justice Foundation

June 28, 2010

MJF is light years ahead in our mission because of the wisdom of our board to take the path less traveled and partner with ALPS Foundation Services...

 

Laura Millin, Executive Director, The Missoula Art Museum (MAM)

June 28, 2010

MAM is entirely satisfied with the many managerial services it receives from ALPS...

 

George Kochman, Executive Director, WorkSafeMT

June 28, 2010

ALPS Foundation Services' skilled facilitation and training allowed our diverse group to come to a common vision for WorkSafeMT...

 

see more testimonials »

 

Current News

Montana Nonprofit Director Survey Summary

July 12, 2010

ALPS Foundation Services has preliminarily analyzed the survey conducted in April on the current state of nonprofit executive directors in Montana. The research generated many interesting results. Take a look at our preliminary findings here.

We are now in the process of conducting further investigations by thoroughly interviewing executive directors. If you are interested in having a more integral part in the research, click here.

ALPS Foundation Services Team
 

Montana Nonprofit Director Survey Update

April 27, 2010

The Montana Nonprofit Director Survey has closed and is now being analyzed. Thank you to all who provided your critical feedback. Check back at the end of June to see the results!

ALPS Foundation Services Team
 

Montana Nonprofit Director Survey

April 12, 2010

ALPS Foundation Services and UM Communication students are conducting a first-of-its kind survey of Montana Nonprofit Directors in the areas of governance, support, communication, employee satisfaction, and resources. The final report will highlight common problems face by nonprofits in rural and urban Montana, enabling nonprofits to build their organizational plan with real knowledge of issues faced by member organizations on a day-to-day basis. Click through for a link to the survey and further information.

ALPS Foundation Services Team
 

NCBF-ALPS Foundation Services Award

March 31, 2010

The NCBF-ALPS Foundation Services Award for Innovations in Fundraising has been established to honor excellence in state and local bar foundation fundraising. Click through to find out more.

ALPS Foundation Services Team
 

The Complete Guide to Bar Foundations

January 19, 2010

ALPS Foundation Services wrote the authoritative resource manual for bar foundation leaders nationwide:"The Complete Guide to Bar Foundations," written by ALPS Vice President and Foundation Services consultant Chris Newbold. Click through to find out more.

ALPS Foundation Services Team
 

see more current news »