1. Have a Vision of what you want to accomplish.  Identify what you're trying to accomplish. Do you wish to provide charity, practice strategic philanthropy or both?
2. Understand the problem. For more information, visit the Resources Page.
3. Determine the Needed Change: And then consider how it can be done and what change theory matches your values. Find where you're comfortable on the continuum of strategies.
4. Learn What Works: Embrace learnings from both inside and outside your organization.  Talk to public funders, peers, and service providers - even people who are homeless or who were previously homeless and no longer are.
5. Be Strategic: Craft grantmaking and non-grantmaking strategies that work for you, your grantees, the issue. Fund proven strategies.
6. Advocate for Good Policy: Find the tipping points for system change. Talk to elected and government officials and ask them what they think you should do – and what their role is in ending homelessness.
7. Collaborate: Seek out partners to inform your giving and leverage your investments.  Join your community's 10-year plan effort.
8. Evaluate: Track progress and change your strategies as needed.
9. Communicate: Share what you learn. Talk to peers, attend Philanthropy Northwest events, post your findings.  Communicate with people inside and outside your organization: public funders, peers, service providers and members of affected communities.
10. Commit for the long term:  Gantmakers always ask how they can be most effective.  A simple framework can assist you to determine if you are.

JC8720-001/Alex Dellow/courtesy of Getty Images

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Identify your funding strategy. 
Here are some questions that will help you determine your point of entry into funding homelessness.  The size of your staff, your ultimate goal, your board’s openness to collaboration and the areas you fund will all play a role in your decisions.  You can be as strategic in working to end homelessness with $5,000 as with $500,000.

Q: What is your timeline? Do you want to make an investment in immediate or long-term solutions?
Q: Which point of entry suits your grantmaking? Do you want to fund prevention initiatives, supportive services, data collection and evaluation, or affordable housing?
Q: Who do you want to help? Families, individuals, or both?
Q: Do you want to make an individual or a collaborative investment?
Q: Do you want to use non-grantmaking tools such as convening, collaborating, sharing lessons learned and offering loans?
Q: Do you want to fund a particular project or program, or provide mission-driven general operating funding?
Q: Does your community have a 10-Year Plan? If not, do you want to help frame a 10-Year Plan in your area?
Q: Are your potential grantees planning for outcomes and practicing proven strategies such as housing first, supportive housing, prevention tactics or advocating for the homeless?

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Seek Out Partners
To find out who else is working to end homelessness in your area, contact your region’s:

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