Redefining Community Foundations

By Emmett D. Carson

The CEO of the largest merged community foundation in the world reflects on the changing interests and identity of its donors.

Impact by Design: Making R&D Work for the Social Sector

By Meg Long

Intentional processes that support risk-taking, testing, and fine-tuning of interventions lead to better-designed, more impactful initiatives.

Foundations Must Get Serious About Multi-Year Grantmaking

By Niki Jagpal & Kevin Laskowski

New research on multi-year grants underlines the need for more philanthropic support.

Nonprofit Collaboration and Allowing What Can Be

By Jean Butzen

A look at the new Patterson Foundation.

Real World Impact Measurement

By Kevin Starr & Laura Hattendorf 1

“Good enough” = simple enough to do, but rigorous enough to mean something.

The Eight-Word Mission Statement

By Kevin Starr 40

Don’t settle for more.

Information as a Cash Crop

By Konstantin Zvereff 2

In East Africa, access to accurate, timely information is improving the livelihood of entrepreneurial farmers.

Actionable Measurement at the Gates Foundation

By Matthew Forti

A conversation with Jodi Nelson, head of measurement and evaluation.

Networking a City

By Marianne Hughes & Didi Goldenhar 4

The Barr Fellows Network is changing the way work gets done in Boston’s large and entrenched social sector.

Understanding the Value of Backbone Organizations in Collective Impact: Part 1

By Shiloh Turner, Kathy Merchant, John Kania & Ellen Martin 3

An in-depth review of what it takes to be a backbone organization, and how to evaluate and support its work.