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.
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Focus on Outcomes, Not on Dollars
The important issue isn’t the preservation of a large endowment, but how to exercise informed, imaginative, and sensitive judgement in pursuit of outcomes for the common good. 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.
Foundation Payout Policy in Economic Crises
There is no one right answer to the question whether to pay out more during a financial crisis, which depends on balancing the needs of present and future beneficiaries and so varies depending on a funders’ goals and objectives. This is the keystone article for the Up for Debate series on foundations' payouts during big crises. Visit the series page for responses to this essay.
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.
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.
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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.
Collective Impact
Large-scale social change requires broad cross-sector coordination, not the isolated intervention of individual organizations.
Plotting Impact Beyond Simple Metrics
For NGOs, impact comes in different forms and to track the cycles of social change work, we must think across the tangibility and the speed of emergence of change.
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.
The Bias of ‘Professionalism’ Standards
Professionalism has become coded language for white favoritism in workplace practices that more often than not leave behind people of color. This is the fourth of 10 articles in a special series about diversity, equity, and inclusion.