Government
System Error
In Recoding America, Barack Obama’s former deputy chief technology officer argues that the success of government policies requires better implementation of digital services for the public.
Review
Perla Ni
Measurement & Evaluation
Community Voices for Social Good
We need a more systemic and accessible way for underserved individuals to share their beliefs, insights, and experiences directly with policymakers, nonprofits, and their own communities.
Measuring Social Impact
Get Feedback
It is essential to build direct consumer feedback into funding criteria for government and nonprofit programs serving low-income people.
Foundations
“Nothing About Us Without Us” Approach Transforms Foster Care in Florida
By understanding what beneficiaries think works and doesn’t work, foundations and nonprofits can provide better programs.
Corporate Philanthropy
Apple Announces 10K Employee Matching Gift Program
Apple's employee matching gift program is a great first step, but it still has a ways to go.
Foundations
Community Foundation Speaks Out Against Government Funding Cuts to Nonprofits
One foundation leader is demonstrating what a community foundation can do to defend nonprofits in their area from state budget cuts.
Nonprofit Management
Volunteer Bill of Rights
A call for openness and innovation between organizations and volunteers.
Nonprofits
A Toolbox for Change: the Social Capital Markets Conference
Instead of the profit/nonprofit distinction, individuals should ask themselves: Who is the target beneficiary and what are the best products/services that can be provided?
Philanthropy
Can Stakeholder Reviews by Beneficiaries Bring New Perspectives to Philanthropy?
The philanthropic community might access the “constituent’s voice” through user reviews of nonprofit organizations written by clients, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
Philanthropy
Collaborating on a Future Vision of the Philanthropic Ecosystem
Creating greater social impact throughout the philanthropic ecosystem—a report from a recent Markets for Giving workshop.
Foundations
Al Gore Calls on Foundations to Align Mission and Strategy
The current economic crisis is the result of a huge misalignment of short term, personal benefits and long term sustainability.
Foundations
Fairness, Justice, and the Social Sector
A new report suggests that no matter how narrow a foundation’s (or by extension, a nonprofit’s) mission, it should creatively serve a broad base of beneficiaries and not exclude the poor or minorities.
Philanthropy
Don’t Give Money to Haiti Now
Instead of sending the money all at once, donors should create a plan to stagger and guarantee funding for years to come.
Nonprofits
Your Fundraising Needs to Change Now
The author submits that focusing on individual donors may yield the most return
Nonprofits
The Recession’s Effect on How to Appeal to Donors
During these tough economic times, appeals to the heart may replace quantitative metrics in successfully appealing to donors.
Philanthropy
Good News—Nonprofit Gift Cards Expected to Boom This Holiday Season
Charity gift cards are a good way to give meaningful holiday presents.
Philanthropy
Foundations Can Provide a Giving Stimulus
Foundations' plans to match gifts to local nonprofits will stimulate giving.
Philanthropy
Inequality in Giving—Interview with Rob Reich, Author of “A Failure of Philanthropy”
Too little charity actually reaches the needy.
Social Innovations
Fierce Debate on Merits of Strategic Philanthropy
Is strategic philanthropy a wise course?
Philanthropy
Why Vivid Storytelling Inspires Giving
Ditch the statistics -- to fundraise more effectively use story.
Nonprofits
How Can Small Nonprofits Fundraise More Successfully?
Telling their stories is a powerful way for nonprofits to fundraise.
Social Innovations
Community Foundations Called To Fund Local Media
What can foundation funding do to improve local media information?
Nonprofits
Nonprofits Shouldn’t Be Silenced in 2008 Campaign
Nonprofits can help voters make critical decisions.
Philanthropy
America’s Least Philanthropic Companies
Put companies on alert that their refusal to give back to the community is not going unnoticed.
Philanthropy
Does Your Program Officer Actually Read Your Progress Report?
It sometimes seems that the nonprofit sector is being bureaucratized faster than it is becoming professionalized.
Social Innovations
Live from CoF: How to Break Down the Firewall
What sparked life-time trustees, who once saw investments only in terms of financial returns, to embrace program-related investments?
Review
Socially Responsible Business
Value Shift
The author has penned an engaging book that unravels the complicated issues surrounding business ethics.
Social Innovations
Marketing to Donors
Three take-away tips on nonprofit fundraising from maketing guru Seth Godin.
Philanthropy
Our Global Warming Equivalent
As government shrinks funding for the needy, who will pay for social services?
Social Innovations
Startup Funding in One Business Week?
Foundations, listen up: Venture capital firms are making it easier than ever for entrepreneurs to get seed money.
Nonprofits
The Elusive Art of Nonprofit Management
Business execs may have difficulty entering the nonprofit arena.
Nonprofits
Seeking: 640,000 New Nonprofit Executives
What to do about the coming nonprofit leadership deficit?
Foundations
War of Ideas - Why Conservative Foundations Are Winning
To be effective, progressive groups need to take the strategies of the right and apply them to worthy causes.
Nonprofits
Hurricane Relief Not Coming from Large Nonprofits
Where are the Red Cross and Salvation Army?
Intermediaries
Lies, Damned Lies, and the Generosity Index
Does a place on the generosity index really spur giving?
Fundraising
Squeezing the Dollars Until They Holler
All but the largest nonprofits are still struggling to make ends meet.
Fundraising
Are Local Organizations More Deserving of Donations than the Red Cross?
What's holding community foundations back from asking for donations?
Nonprofit Management
Weisbrod Redux
Controversy over the use of commercial enterprise by nonprofits.
Board Governance
Failing to Govern?
Would designated "governors" solve problems with board oversight?
Fundraising
Donor-Advised Funds (DAF)
Why are donor-advised funds being treated differently than other foundation resources?
Nonprofits
Hungry Heart Association
When does a change of organizational strategy become mission creep?
Global Issues
‘The Path of Change’
What is the role of test scores in driving improvement in the education system?
Foundations
Everything’s Up-to-date in Kansas City….
Is the Kaufman Foundation using its resources appropriately?
Foundations
Payout and Perpetuity
Should the current minimum payout requirement of 5 percent for private foundations be increased?
Foundations
Article on the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
Questions about how the Moore Foundation operates.