Philanthropy can take on pressing challenges that other actors in society cannot, or will not. Given the unique opportunity to deploy tax-advantaged dollars for good, individual and institutional givers alike have an imperative to maximize their effectiveness, and therefore, their impact. But what does effectiveness mean, and what does it look like? How do you know if you’re effective?

CEP’s definition of philanthropic effectiveness details four mutually reinforcing elements that are essential across all funders — no matter their goals and strategies or the issues and communities that they seek to support.