Creating and running a foundation is easy provided you have the right help.  Our goal is to help you get the maximum enjoyment and fulfillment from being a philanthropist. 

Our Qualifications

Cheryle N. Yallen, President of CNY Enterprises, is an international consultant, bringing over twenty-five years of social service experience to the field.  As a foundation and nonprofit professional, Yallen brings her expertise and extensive networks to help make your foundation management rewarding and worry free.   

Yallen is currently the Executive Director of a private foundation, responsible for all aspects of its organizational management.  She joined the foundation at is inception, drafted the start-up documents, including bylaws and other legal documents.  Yallen was responsible for developing and implementing its grantmaking policies and guidelines, and drafting the grant application and procedures for decision-making.

Yallen works to bring the best of philanthropy to your foundation.

Getting Started

The time and effort required of trustees, officers, and staff to run a private foundation can be overwhelming, and may detract from the foundation’s charitable mission. CNY Enterprises offers a variety of management services to ensure the efficient and effective operation of your foundation.  When the burdens of grants management, meeting coordination, and record keeping fall to a volunteer board of trustees, trustees become increasingly overwhelmed and often lose.  CNY can help you do the following:

Planning and Focus

• Facilitate strategic planning sessions with foundation board, including mission, vision and focus

• Develop grant guidelines and funding strategies

• Identify key areas of impact and ways to increase impact

• Research current trends in key areas of interest and historical grant patterns

Grant Management

• Develop and implement grant-making process

• Solicit, accept and review grant applications

• Process grant related correspondence, including denial and award letters

• Follow up on reports from grant recipients

• Arrange and conduct site visits to nonprofits

• Establish measures of effectiveness

• Collaborate with other donors interested in the same key focus areas

Accounting

• Manage day-to-day financial operations

• Interface with existing providers such as accountants and investment professionals

• Prepare financial reports

• Administer grant disbursements

Recordkeeping and Reporting

• Maintain foundation files, including grant records

• Report on grants activity and giving history

• Maintain grant and donor databases

Board Preparation

• Set the board meeting schedule, agenda and location

• Prepare the board book and meeting minutes

• Prepare grant summaries and recommendations

• Develop policies and procedures for decision-making

Event Planning

• Arrange event to present grant checks and honor grantees

• Develop fundraising and marketing events

• Plan educational conferences and workshops to highlight key focus areas

• Schedule and plan foundation’s annual meeting

Our services increase the effectiveness and ease the administrative responsibility of running a private or family foundation.  You can purchase individual services or hire CNY to operate the entire foundation.

Individual Services

CNY Enterprises can perform specific services as the need arises.  We can work as a member of an existing team or perform the entire service.  Fees are set for individual services and are negotiable based on the foundation’s assets. 

Complete Foundation Operations

CNY Enterprises can manage all aspects of your foundation -- from your offices or ours.  This solution enables you to focus on your philanthropic interests while leaving all of the administrative work to us.  Fees for this service can be set on a monthly, quarterly or annually basis.

Email cny@nonprofitstrategies.com to schedule a meeting to explore which services will work best for you.