Grantmaking Advisement

Our Clients

Caruso Consulting Corporation works with private and family foundations to bring strategic focus and structure to their charitable giving efforts.  Our goal is to enable  clients to maximize the impact of their philanthropy and to garner visibility for their contributions, if they so desire.

Our Approach

The firm’s founder and president, Karen Caruso, worked for more than eight years as a consultant to the Oneida Nation Foundation, and previously was the Director of Foundation Relations at New York University.  Through her 23 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Ms. Caruso enables clients to achieve clarity about their purpose and to focus on the outcomes of their philanthropy.

Our Services

Mission Statement Development
Working with a client to create a mission statement that reflects their values, interests and priorities.

Giving Guidelines Establishment
Developing guidelines for contributions that articulate and advance the mission, and ultimately streamline the grantmaking process.

Strategic Planning
Formulating a strategic plan to implement a client’s goals and priorities, and lay out the long-range and short-term objectives and activities for achieving them.

Board Meeting Facilitation
Collaborating with a client to develop a realistic and proactive agenda, and attending the board meeting to guide the discussion and decision-making process.

General Administration
Establishing policies and procedures to provide a framework for the grantmaking process, including proposal review, grant awards and reporting requirements, and training administrative staff members.  Also working to establish an online presence.

Program Evaluation
Reviewing and analyzing programs to ensure that goals and expectations are being met and to measure impact.

Click here for downloadable marketing piece and client case study of Oneida Nation Foundation.