The Power of Letting Go
New research explores when top-down control works best in international development work, and when organizations should let employees in the field navigate challenges by using their own judgment.
Features - Articles
New and in-depth explorations of solutions to social, environmental, or organizational problems (more)
Elevating Community Authority in Collective Impact
To achieve greater equity, we must yield to the decision-making authority of the communities we seek to help.
The Science of What Makes People Care
Five principles based in social science that will help organizations connect their work to what people care most about.
Mastering System Change
Organizations are increasingly turning to system change to tackle big social problems. But systems are complex, and mastering the process requires observation, patience, and reflection. To begin, here are two
approaches to pursuing system change.
Worldly Strategy for the Global Climate
Progress in dealing with the problem of climate change will require that the institutions of government, business, and community work not in isolation from each other, let alone at cross-purposes, but by reinforcing each other’s efforts through consolidation.
Time to Scale Psycho-Behavioral Segmentation in Global Development
Most global development programs still segment people by demographics when trying to change their behavior. We must learn from the private sector and segment people based on the reasons behind their actions. Open access to this article is made possible by The Surgo Foundation.
The Rise of Philanthropy LLCs
The for-profit LLC is poised to become the preferred vehicle for the nation’s elite philanthropists. Will the public gain from added investment in social good, or lose from ceding even more power to the wealthy?
The Ethics of Designing Digital Infrastructure
Nonprofits must make careful choices about their digital infrastructure to ensure that it aligns with their mission.
Ten Reasons Not to Measure Impact—and What to Do Instead
Impact evaluations are an important tool for learning about effective solutions to social problems, but they are a good investment only in the right circumstances.
When Philanthropy Meets Advocacy
Increasing numbers of Americans want charitable organizations to step into the public policy arena and lead the causes they care about. Open access to this article is made possible by Civitas Public Affairs Group.