Philanthropy & Funding
What’s the Return on Investment on Reviving the American Dream?
Calculating the social return on a big philanthropic investment is a grueling but necessary challenge.
Tag: Grantmaking
Philanthropy & Funding
Beyond the Holy Grail: Private Innovation, Public Funding, and What Comes Next
After a decade of research and evidence gathering, one education nonprofit convinced Congress that its model is worthy of federal dollars—but even the architect of the model wonders how it will fare in the public sector.
Philanthropy & Funding
The Future of Prize Philanthropy
In more and more cases, prize competitions provide recipients with resources to pursue their work even before they complete a proposed project.
Measurement & Evaluation
Closing the Feedback Loop
A new program gives nonprofits the resources to listen more closely to the people they serve.
Philanthropy & Funding
In Case of Emergency
Nonprofits and their funders need to plan for—and budget for—unforeseen events that can disrupt worthy projects.
Foundations
Charity Versus Innovation
The response by US foundations to federal welfare reform in the 1990s illuminates their role in policy development.
Philanthropy & Funding
12 Common Criticisms of Philanthropy—and Some Answers
Critics have argued that charitable giving isn’t focused enough on the poor, isn’t sufficient to make a difference, is undemocratic, and more, but research—and history—show otherwise.
Organizational Development
Three Keys to Unlocking Systems-Level Change
Developing a systems mindset, identifying the right tool for the job, and paying attention to human dynamics can help leaders move from theory to action when facing complex social problems.
Collaboration
Philanthropy as the Backbone for Collective Impact
Funders serving as central node for a cross-sector, collaborative network have unique advantages for success in an advocacy environment.
Education
A Big Problem, a Small Experiment, and a Lot of Noise
Liberia’s leaders are trying to jump-start their schools. Give them a break.