• Paper / Report

Feminist Philanthropy: a new era for the philanthropy field?

  • Source : ERNOP
  • July 2017
This paper explores the concept of "Feminist Philanthropy" and questions whether it signals a new era for the broader philanthropy field. It examines the principles, practices, and goals of feminist-informed giving, emphasizing its focus on gender equality, women’s rights, and systemic change. The authors discuss how this approach challenges traditional philanthropic models by advocating for more equitable power dynamics, intersectionality, and community-led initiatives. The paper aims to delineate the distinctive features and potential transformative impact of feminist philanthropy.
  • Case Study

The changing landscape of social-impact investing

  • Source : McKinsey & Company
  • July 2017
This report by McKinsey & Company explores the evolving nature of social impact investing. It discusses how this form of investing aims to generate both financial returns and measurable social or environmental benefits. The document highlights key trends, challenges, and opportunities within the social impact investment landscape, particularly focusing on the UK context. It addresses the growing recognition of impact investing as a tool for addressing societal challenges such as inequality and contributing to sustainable development, emphasizing its increasing relevance in global finance.
  • Case Study

India's First Skill Impact Bond with a Gender Lens

  • Source : Invest India
  • June 2017
This case study introduces India’s first Skill Impact Bond (SIB) with a gender lens, highlighting an innovative financing mechanism designed to improve skilling outcomes while specifically empowering women. It details how the impact bond structure incentivizes results-based interventions in skill development, aiming to address both economic and gender disparities. The study explores the mechanics of this unique bond, its objectives, and its potential to drive significant social impact through private investment.
  • Case Study

Can Impact Bonds Deliver Better Results, Faster and Cheaper?

  • Source : World Bank
  • June 2017
This World Bank case study investigates whether impact bonds can deliver better, faster, and cheaper results for development projects. It explores the performance-based contract model of impact bonds, where private finance covers upfront costs and is reimbursed by outcome payers upon achieving pre-specified results. The paper provides an initial framing of the challenges in pricing outcomes to balance appropriate returns with commercial viability, offering guidance for organizations engaging with these instruments.
  • Media Article

IBM turns to artificial intelligence to solve poverty, hunger, and illiteracy

  • Source : Philanthropy New York
  • June 2017
IBM launched "Science for Social Good," a program partnering its researchers with postdoctoral academic fellows and nonprofits. The initiative aims to tackle global societal issues like poverty, hunger, and illiteracy by leveraging data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Through 12 planned projects for 2017, aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, IBM seeks to drive significant positive change in areas such as improving food distribution in crises and assisting illiterate adults. The program emphasizes the role of advanced technology in solving complex social problems.
  • Academic / Journal Article

Old and New Forms of Giving: Understanding Corporate Philanthropy in India

  • Source : Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations
  • April 2017
This article analyzes the evolving landscape of corporate philanthropy in India, demonstrating how ancient giving traditions (including Hindu, Mughal, and Gandhian philosophies) blend with modern corporate social responsibility (CSR) mandates, such as the 2% profits requirement under the 2013 Companies Act. Godfrey, Branigan, and Khan trace both historical continuity and contemporary adaptations, offering profound insights into culturally specific approaches and emerging critiques within Indian corporate giving.
  • Academic / Journal Article

Governance and Accountability in Philanthropic Organizations

  • Source : Springer
  • March 2017
This article investigates the governance structures and accountability mechanisms prevalent within philanthropic organizations. It delves into the challenges faced by these entities in maintaining transparency and ensuring operational effectiveness. The authors propose various solutions aimed at enhancing these aspects, contributing to a broader understanding of best practices in philanthropic governance. The discussion covers critical issues such as board oversight, financial stewardship, ethical considerations, and compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks, offering insights for improving the integrity and impact of philanthropic endeavors.
  • Blog

When data science meets social sciences

  • Source : LSE Blogs
  • March 2017
This blog post from LSE examines the benefits and necessary reflections when data science intersects with social sciences. It notes the immense opportunities offered by increased data accessibility and computational tools for social research. However, it emphasizes the critical need for careful reflection on the contextualization of digital data, acknowledging that all data is social and reflects purposeful human agency. The article advocates for maintaining rigor in social inquiry by understanding data origins and avoiding the fallacy of assumed objectivity.
  • Video

Philanthropy: Friend or Foe of Social Justice

  • Source : WINGS
  • February 2017
A panel featuring Laura Garcia (Semillas), Kumi Naidoo (African Civil Society Initiatives), and Ananth Padmanabhan (Azim Premji Initiatives) tackles the role of philanthropy in social justice. They debate whether philanthropic models empower communities or entrench systems of power. The discussion stresses the importance of decolonization, local leadership, and accountability in philanthropic endeavors to genuinely support social justice movements and community empowerment.
  • Case Study

Social return on investment: Accounting for value in the context of implementing Health 2020 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Developmen

  • Source : World Health Organization
  • February 2017
This discussion paper from the World Health Organization examines Social Return on Investment (SROI) as a concept for accounting for social value in evaluating investments. It highlights SROI’s ability to go beyond traditional economic tools by considering value for multiple stakeholders across economic, social, and environmental dimensions. The paper finds SROI coherent with the Health 2020 policy framework and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, concluding that it offers a valuable opportunity to evaluate cross-sectoral investments promoting health and development.
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