Scaling Social Impact

Explore how organisations can amplify social change by integrating intervention design, governance, systems management, collaborations and partnerships, and technology to achieve impactful and scalable outcomes.

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Why the Social Sector Is The Next Place To BeBlog

30 May 2022

Why the Social Sector Is The Next Place To Be

This article outlines the dynamic opportunities emerging in the social sector. It discusses how increasing investments in social innovation and purpose-driven work are transforming career landscapes and creating impactful roles. The post highlights trends that make the sector increasingly attractive for professionals seeking meaningful, transformative work and outlines the benefits of a career dedicated to achieving social change.

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Paper / Report
  • 1 January 1970

Accelerating our Impact: Philanthropy

This paper aims to contribute to the evolving knowledge and reflective practice concerning funders’ roles in supporting innovation and social change. Its goals include encouraging funders of all sizes to enhance their impact, providing practical insights into the opportunities and pitfalls of funding durable social change, and refining the foundation's performance through reader and grantmaker engagement. It emphasizes accelerating change for a more sustainable and equitable society.
Paper / Report
  • 1 January 1970

The Value Proposition of Venture Philanthropy (La proposicion de valor de la filantropia de riesgo)

This paper, presented in Spanish, explores the value proposition of venture philanthropy. It delves into how this approach, inspired by venture capital, offers a different model for philanthropic engagement beyond traditional grant-making. The document likely details the benefits of venture philanthropy, such as providing strategic support, enhancing organizational capacity, and emphasizing measurable social impact. It aims to explain to a Spanish-speaking audience how venture philanthropy can lead to more sustainable and effective social investments by fostering closer collaboration and performance-driven outcomes between donors and non-profit organizations.
Paper / Report
  • 1 January 1970

Marguerite Casey Foundation: Movement Building Helping Low-Income Families Strengthen their Voices and Mobilize their Community

This paper proposes an international integrative framework for classifying philanthropic foundation types, recognizing their growing sociopolitical prominence. It critically examines existing categorizations in academic and practice literature, identifying 13 categories across contextual, organizational, and strategic dimensions. The framework aims to clarify distinctions and commonalities among foundation forms, providing a basis for more reflective and differentiated research and practice knowledge. This enhances understanding of diverse philanthropic approaches and their impact.
Paper / Report
  • 1 January 1970

The Value Proposition of Venture Philanthropy (La value proposition della venture philanthropy)

This paper, presented in Italian, details the value proposition of venture philanthropy. It explains how this approach, drawing parallels with venture capital, provides a distinct framework for philanthropic engagement, moving beyond conventional grant-making. The document likely outlines the specific advantages of venture philanthropy, including its focus on strategic partnerships, capacity building for non-profits, and a strong emphasis on achieving measurable social impact. It aims to inform an Italian-speaking audience about how this model can facilitate more sustainable and impactful social investments through enhanced collaboration and performance-driven strategies.
Academic / Journal Article
  • 1 January 1970

Philanthropy and Activism

Goldman explores the intricate relationship between philanthropy and activism, arguing that funders exert influence beyond mere grant-making. They actively shape agendas, influence public discourse, and engage directly with grassroots movements. The article underscores the critical responsibility of funders to support activist strategies effectively without inadvertently co-opting their core missions or diluting their independent impact.
Academic / Journal Article
  • 1 January 1970

Cynthia Sanborn and Felipe Portocarrero (eds.), Philanthropy and Social Change in Latin America (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University, David Rockefeller Center for …

This article examines four essential tools for cultivating high-performing teams within the philanthropic sector, drawing on the experience of a large U.S.-based foundation. The tools discussed are giving and receiving feedback, the art of appreciations, organizing meetings for accountability, and assessing team communication styles, all applied with a racial equity lens. The authors argue that utilizing these tools leads to more cohesive and effective teams, better equipped to address large-scale social issues, thereby enhancing philanthropy’s overall impact.
Book
  • 1 January 1970

Journeys in venture philanthropy and institution building

This book explores the landscape of venture philanthropy and its role in institution building. It likely examines how venture philanthropy, characterized by its hands-on approach and focus on long-term impact, contributes to the development and strengthening of social organizations and initiatives. The content provides insights into the strategies, challenges, and successes associated with using a venture capital model for philanthropic endeavors, aiming to achieve sustainable social change through robust institutional development.
Book
  • 1 January 1970

Strategic Giving The Art and Science of Philanthropy

Peter Frumkin offers a comprehensive framework for donors to approach giving strategically. He outlines five key dimensions—vehicle, impact, engagement, timeframe, and purpose—and argues that effective philanthropy must balance private beliefs with public needs to maintain legitimacy and drive systemic change. The book provides a practical guide for donors seeking to maximize their philanthropic influence, emphasizing thoughtful planning and execution to achieve meaningful and sustainable social impact, while navigating the complexities of charitable giving.
Academic / Journal Article
  • 1 January 1970

Disruptive innovation for social change

This article details how The Colorado Trust transformed its grantmaking to achieve health equity by shifting from nonprofit-led to community-led processes. Recognizing limited fundamental change from previous approaches, the Trust dissolved its program department and replaced program officers with "community partners." Resident groups now identify local needs and disperse funding, shifting power from funder to community in both grantmaking and evaluation. This disruption led to internal changes and re-evaluated relationships with nonprofits, emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Academic / Journal Article
  • 1 January 1970

Venture philanthropy and social entrepreneurship in community redevelopment

This article presents a case study of Tom Cousins, a social entrepreneur who leveraged venture philanthropic investments and public-private partnerships to redevelop the East Lake area in Atlanta, transforming a community marked by disinvestment and poverty. It analyzes Cousins’ sustained leadership and strategic involvement in creating public-private collaborations focused on comprehensive community revitalization. The study highlights the integration of social entrepreneurship and venture philanthropy, often explored as separate concepts, demonstrating their combined power in driving significant social change. It provides insights into how visionary leadership and leveraged resources can achieve profound community redevelopment outcomes.
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