In January 2019, Pierce Family Foundation joined forces with Cuore e Mani Foundation (CeM) in a multi-year partnership to support grantmaking and align the “back office” operations of the two foundations. Like the Pierce Family Foundation, CeM focuses in large part on Chicago-area nonprofits dedicated to addressing housing, homelessness and basic human needs.
“Given the mutual interests of the two foundations, as well as our interest in collaboration,” said CeM trustee Pete Vilim, “we began talking [in 2018] about the ways in which pooling our efforts might benefit both foundations, and serve our grantees. So many funders talk about the importance of nonprofit mergers and strategic alliances. We believe they can be equally powerful for funders.”
In the most significant aspect of the collaboration, the Pierce Family Foundation staff supported CeM as grantmaking advisors. CeM grantees were also eligible to take part in PFF’s free workshops. Grantees common to both foundations benefitted from use of a common application, reporting, and review process. The two foundations remained separate legal entities.
Cuore e Mani Foundation is continuing operations after PFF’s sunsetting. Cuore e Mani is an invitation-only foundation and does not accept unsolicited proposals.
