SSIR Online, Spring 2021 Issue
Links to all of SSIR's online-only articles published the past three months, with editors' notes about standout pieces on design thinking, foundation spending, and rebuilding US democracy.
Philanthropy & Funding - Most Popular
New and innovative ideas to help nonprofit leaders raise money, and to help funders and donors give more effectively (more)
How Philanthropy Can Support Equitable Vaccine Distribution
Four ways philanthropy can effectively partner with governments to support equitable vaccination distribution and ensure that more individuals are vaccinated against COVID-19.
Bridging the Divide Between Impact Investing and Native America
Indigenous intermediaries are crucial to overcoming asymmetries between impact investors and Native America through the building of relationships of trust, creation of an ecosystem for impact investing in Indigenous communities, and performance of the due diligence investors need to manage risk.
Building Indigenous Power and Investing in Indigenous Self-Determination
To solve the most pressing issues for Indigenous communities—and for the world at large—power and autonomy must be given to Indigenous people themselves.
Shifting Power to Communities in Grant Funding
To truly advance racial justice, funders must share decision-making power over who receives capital with the communities they hope to serve.
Household Generosity During the Pandemic
Social and behavioral sciences can help us understand why COVID-19 is making giving practices more localized and expansive.
The ‘Thou Shalt Nots’ of Systems Change
Enthusiasm for systems change is not new, and a broader historical perspective will help systems change enthusiasts learn from the past what NOT to do: replicate the ineffective mindsets and engineering approaches that have defined so much of the systems change work in our sectors.
How Can Philanthropy Help Rehabilitate US Democracy?
Those with wealth and privilege are uniquely positioned to support the building and reimagining of our tattered and under-resourced democracy-preserving institutions.
Foundations
Further Reflections and Reactions on Foundation Payout Rates
There will be future crises that are as compelling as the ones we are going through today, and philanthropy must be ready to respond. This essay, by the author of the keystone article in the series on foundations' payouts during crises, is a response to the views of nine other commentators.
Foundations Are Risk Averse When It Comes to Spending
At a time when society is confronted with so many overlapping crises living donors in particular should increase their giving. This essay is a response to the keystone article in the Up for Debate series on foundations' payouts during big crises. Visit the series page for more reaction pieces like this one.