The Emotions of Aid
“One death is a tragedy; 1 million is a statistic,” Joseph Stalin is supposed to have said. The more people we see suffering, the less we care.
Philanthropy Innovative ideas for donors, foundation leaders, and philanthropists
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We Should Expect Good Giving To Be Hard
Great giving opportunities are few and far between; I believe in urging them to give to only the very best charities.
Surdna CEO on Philanthropic Isolation
An interview with Phillip Henderson about the challenges he faces as the president of the Surdna Foundation.
Rigor & Moral Clarity in Philanthropy
The effective philanthropy movement operates on an evidence-based understanding of how the world works.
Funders Aren’t Investors, They’re Purchasers
Is it accurate or even appropriate for funders to think of themselves as—and act like—investors?
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Drowning in Data
Funders are calling for more program evaluation, but nonprofits are often collecting dubious data, at great cost to themselves and ultimately to the people they serve.
Ten Nonprofit Funding Models
With an understanding of these 10 funding models, nonprofit leaders can use the for-profit world's valuable practice of engaging in succinct and clear conversations about long-term financial strategy.
What Is Community Anyway?
Our understanding of community can help funders and evaluators identify, understand, and strengthen the communities they work with.
Ten Reasons Not to Measure Impact—and What to Do Instead
Impact evaluations are an important tool for learning about effective solutions to social problems, but they are a good investment only in the right circumstances.
The Elitist Philanthropy of So-Called Effective Altruism
The superficially enticing “logic” of effective altruism ultimately leads to a moralistic, hyper-rationalistic, top-down approach to philanthropy that can kill the very altruistic spirit it claims to foster.