Foundations
The Case for Foundations to Do More in Times of Crisis
Spending more today will mean having less for the future, but the current crisis is unprecedented and the financial trade-off is very modest.
Foundations - Most Popular
New and innovative ideas for leaders of foundations (more)
Foundation Payout Policy in Economic Crises
There is no one right answer to the question whether to pay out more during a financial crisis, which depends on balancing the needs of present and future beneficiaries and so varies depending on a funders’ goals and objectives. This is the keystone article for the Up for Debate series on foundations' payouts during big crises. Visit the series page for responses to this essay.
IN-DEPTH SERIES
Up for Debate: Should Foundations Increase Their Payouts During Big Crises?
The onset of COVID-19 has amplified discussions about philanthropic spending during an economic downturn, with some observers saying that a big crisis like the pandemic should compel funders to not just maintain their outlays, but to disburse more. Should they?
Outcomes-Based Contracts in a Time of Crisis
Have outcomes-based contracts allowed more flexibility and adaptability in responding to the COVID-19? Lessons learned on building more resilient strategies to tackle social problems.
SSIR’s 2020 Social Innovation Reading List
Highlights of this year’s book reviews and excerpts on topics including nonprofit management, the future of capitalism, technology trends in social movements, and the rich history of Black philanthropy.
How Foundations Fail Diverse Fund Managers and How to Fix It
Foundations and impact investors need to face the ways they are complicit in perpetuating inequality through their capital allocations, and upend five structural investment barriers to better serve women and people of color.
Hyperlocal Giving to Black-Led Nonprofits Cannot Simply Be a Trend
Not only do Black-led nonprofits need lasting and long-term support, but philanthropy needs to wrestle with its past failures to invest in the very communities we claim to be working for.
The Myth of Perpetuity in Foundation Strategy
As philanthropic boards debate digging deep to address pandemic-related crises, a study of articles of incorporation of the top 50 foundations surfaces pathways to big bets regardless of founding intent or degree of post-recession recovery.
Building a Trust-Based Philanthropy to Shift Power Back to Communities
To realize the deep systemic change that America is demanding, philanthropy must reorganize to build and demonstrate a trust-based culture, invest in community leadership capacity-building, and open up decision-making and information-sharing structures.
sponsored
A New Era for Corporate Philanthropy
An overdue need to address social and health inequities has collided with compounding global crises, forcing businesses to reevaluate their values.