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.

Jonathan Wright Plummer: Quaker Philanthropy

This book delves into the life and philanthropic endeavors of Jonathan Wright Plummer, exploring the principles of Quaker philanthropy. It likely examines how his faith influenced his charitable giving and social work, offering insights into the historical context of Quaker involvement in social change. The work provides a biographical perspective on a significant figure in philanthropy, highlighting the intersection of personal conviction and societal impact within a specific religious tradition.

Interfaith Philanthropy: Giving Across Faith in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism

This study investigates interfaith philanthropy, examining why individuals donate charitably to communities of different faiths. Using the "Seven Faces of Philanthropy" framework, it analyzes motivations of interfaith givers through interviews with faith leaders and surveys of individual donors. The research identifies "Altruists" (motivated by life-changing work) and "Investors" (seeking professional practices and acknowledgement) as prominent giver types. Understanding these motivations can help fundraisers cultivate interfaith donors, fostering unity and social change across religious communities.

Globalization, philanthropy, and civil society: toward a new political culture in the twenty-first century

This volume examines the intricate relationships between globalization, philanthropy, and civil society, offering a perspective beyond traditional economic interpretations. It explores how philanthropic organizations contribute to and are influenced by global processes, and the evolving role of civil society in shaping a new political culture. The book provides empirical and theoretical insights into the scope and degree of these interconnected themes, highlighting the transformative potential of philanthropy in a globalized world.

Giving Circles: Growing Grassroots Philanthropy

Giving circles involve individuals pooling resources and jointly deciding on allocations, while also educating members, fostering volunteering, providing social opportunities, and maintaining independence from specific charities. This exploratory study in the United States examines their nature, impact, and uniqueness within the new philanthropy landscape. It discusses the implications of the giving circle movement for philanthropic and nonprofit professionals, highlighting their role in engaging individuals in community issues and collective giving.

Four traditions of philanthropy

This article outlines three historical traditions of philanthropy in America: Relief (charity and alleviating suffering), Improvement (maximizing human potential, like Carnegie libraries), and Social Reform (proactively identifying and solving public problems). It discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each tradition, illustrating how philanthropic approaches have evolved from direct aid to fostering self-sufficiency and, more recently, acting as catalysts for systemic change. The paper implies a movement towards a fourth, more comprehensive philanthropic response.

Educational radio, childhood, and philanthropy: A new role for the humanities in popular culture, 1924–1941

This book offers an interpretive history of American schooling, focusing on the dynamic relationship between education and social change. It examines the influence of social forces such as industrialization, urbanization, immigration, and cultural conflict on the development of educational institutions. The text also explores how schools have fostered social mobility and success for various groups, providing detailed accounts of the educational experiences and impacts on women and minority groups throughout American history.

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.

Diaspora Philanthropy and Equitable Development in China and India. Edited by Peter F. Geithner, Paula D. Johnson, and Lincoln C. Chen. Cambridge and London …

This piece argues that conventional strategic philanthropy tools often fall short in addressing the complexities of social change. It suggests that funders and grantees struggle to achieve ambitious goals due to a rigid, predictive strategy model. To make greater progress, the article advocates for a shift towards a more nuanced, emergent strategy that aligns with the unpredictable, multifaceted nature of social progress, moving beyond linear causation models and rigid multi-year agendas.

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.
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