A survey of theories of change within philanthropy

  • May 2026
  • Academic / Journal Article
  • Publisher : Google Scholar
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This paper surveys the concept of "theory of change" within philanthropy, examining its usage and definition among U.S. foundations. Findings reveal considerable confusion, with only 54% familiarity and no clear consensus on its definition. Despite theoretical assertions against simultaneously employing multiple theories, 86% of respondents reported using at least one, and many claimed to use all five typologies by Frumkin (2002). The study highlights a gap between theory and practice, advocating for further research into the effectiveness of concurrent application.

Author(s) :

Morris, Angela Jean

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Key topics

Social Justice, Philanthropy and Human Rights

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