Philanthropy
An Idea That Spreads: Intercontinental Ballistic Microfinance
It is critical that high-performing organizations learn how to tell authentic stories about their impact.
Sean Stannard-Stockton
Philanthropy
Learning From Paul Brest’s Leadership at Hewlett
Philanthropy needs senior leaders who see themselves as student-leaders striving to help the field grapple with the difficult challenges it faces.
Technology
GOOD Buys Jumo, Seeks Social Connective Tissue
Jumo might just move from being a content platform for people who give a damn to an immersive experience.
Philanthropy
Rigor & Moral Clarity in Philanthropy
The effective philanthropy movement operates on an evidence-based understanding of how the world works.
Government
Large Foundations Dropping the Ball on Government Programs
The Pay For Success program and Social Innovation Fund are examples of the government turning to philanthropy for help selecting the effective programs.
Philanthropy
Changing the Coefficients of Giving
One way to frame efforts to increase charitable giving is to think of it as “changing the coefficients of giving.”
Foundations
Becoming the Best Possible Philanthropist
Figuring out how to leverage your knowledge against the largest pool of capital possible is the path to being the best possible philanthropist or investor.
Philanthropy
The Three Core Approaches to Effective Philanthropy
I believe that there are three core approaches to philanthropy, each of which can be effective.
Philanthropy
Philanthropic Equity Performance Report
Last year, Nonprofit Finance Fund released a report looking at the performance of the philanthropic equity deals they have done over the past four years.
Philanthropy
The Era of Abstract Philanthropy
It would be a great thing for an era of Abstract Philanthropy to open our eyes to understanding the very essence of the philanthropic act.
Foundations
A Different Kind of Philanthropy
The Mulago Foundation is practicing a form of philanthropy that is desperately needed. It is a fundamental departure from the conventional wisdom of what good philanthropy is suppose to be about.
Intermediaries
Philanthropedia Launches Expertise on Demand
Philanthropedia offered low-cost, high-quality information and a way for grantmakers to share what they know.
Foundations
Deviant Philanthropy
It is well worth our time to explore the potential of deviant ideas to positively impact the practices of our field.
Nonprofits
VolunteerMatch Launches Cool Annual Report
Results need the same level of communication attention that fundraising does.
Measuring Social Impact
Getting Results: Outputs, Outcomes and Impact
Nonprofits that want to actually make a difference need to track their activities in some way.
Philanthropy
The Meaning of the Gates-Buffett Giving Pledge
The importance of this news is not the actual money that many billionaires are likely to pledge, but the cultural ramifications of the campaign.
Philanthropy
The Rise of Evidence-Based Grantmaking
We are in the midst of a revolution in philanthropy.
Philanthropy
Kiva.org: Made to Stick
A look at how Kiva created a compelling model that hooked everyday donors into their social impact world.
Foundations
A Revolution in Foundation Transparency
With a mission to “bring transparency to the world of philanthropy” Glass Pockets offers reports on the transparency of large, well known foundations.
Impact Investing
How to Help Haiti
How donors can more effectively provide long-term support in rebuilding Haiti after a devastating earthquake.
Nonprofits
The Social Impact Exchange
The Social Impact Exchange is a new effort designed as a focal point for studying and implementing expansions of social purpose organizations.
Philanthropy
Sharing Knowledge to Inform Giving
Nonprofits
High-Performance vs. High-Impact Nonprofits
Social Innovations
Why the Social Innovation Fund Matters
Philanthropy
Elephants in the Philanthropic Room
Nonprofits
Do Goals Hurt Your Chance of Success?
When we give people incentives to achieve goals, we need to make sure the goals are worthy of being sought after.
Philanthropy
Philanthropy: Science, Art or…Music?
The author draws a comparison between music's ability to combine art and science with philanthropy's ability to do the same.
Philanthropy
‘Blood Money’ that Became a Force for Good
The Peter C. Alderman Foundation uses rigorous analysis to outlast hundreds of failed nonprofits that were launched in response to 9/11.
Philanthropy
T-Shaped People and Philanthropy
For philanthropy to reach its potential, bodies of knowledge need to "jump together."
Social Innovations
Mission-Related Investing for Individuals
Social Innovations
Securitizing Philanthropy
Let's not confuse financial innovation in philanthropy with excessive risk taking.
Philanthropy
Moneyball, Freakonomics, and Philanthropy
Metrics can help philanthropy, but only up to a point.
Philanthropy
The Poster Child for Failure in Philanthropy
Confessing difficulties encourages organizations to take risks.
Social Innovations
Short-term vs. Long-term Focus in Philanthropy
Businesslike metrics and controls should not be used in ways that reinforce short-term thinking and behavior.
Philanthropy
Why Do People Give to Charity?
Giving is motivated by humans’ deeply held need to find meaning in life.
Philanthropy
Everything Important Is Controversial
Why do we so rarely hear grantmakers or nonprofits arguing publicly about the best ways to achieve impact?