• Academic / Journal Article

Looking Back on Philanthropy in a Pandemic Foundation Colleagues Share Common Perspectives from Across the Pond

  • Source : Springer
  • May 2026
This paper investigates the role of philanthropy within local welfare systems, particularly in relation to short-term innovations. It highlights the potential risks associated with temporary philanthropic interventions that may not lead to sustainable or inclusive social change. The author argues for a more strategic and long-term approach to philanthropic engagement, emphasizing the importance of fostering permanent and inclusive social transformation rather than merely addressing immediate needs. The study explores how philanthropy can better contribute to robust and equitable welfare systems.
  • Academic / Journal Article

Islamic philanthropy development model based on management of waqf treasure improvement on the mosques of the Northern Seaboard of Java

  • Source : Atlantis Press
This study proposes an Islamic philanthropy development model focused on improving waqf treasure management in mosques along Java’s Northern Seaboard. It highlights that waqf, despite being a significant economic asset for balanced prosperity distribution, faces many constraints in practice. The research examines the dynamics of waqf institutions in grand mosques, focusing on management forms by nazhirs. It aims to develop a model that addresses these challenges, emphasizing effective management systems and governance to empower waqf assets for productive use and broader community welfare.
  • Book

Internet Philanthropy as China's 'Digital Solution'to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Policies, Practices, Politics and Critique

  • Source : SpringerLink
  • May 2026
This chapter investigates China's rise in digital philanthropy as a strategic tool to support the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. It outlines key policies enabling online giving, highlights corporate-led initiatives such as Tencent's 99 Giving Day, and evaluates case studies like the Free Lunch for Children project. The authors analyze how state support, private sector innovation, and civic participation converge to build digital infrastructure for giving. However, they also critique the limitations of techno-solutionism, lack of transparency, and potential government overreach. The chapter offers a nuanced view of China’s philanthropic model and its implications for governance and global development.
  • Paper / Report

Indian Philanthropy Report 2021

  • Source : Dasra
This report highlights the deep roots and ongoing importance of family philanthropy in India, noting its historical connection to nation-building and economic opportunity. It emphasizes that scaling domestic family philanthropy is crucial for accelerating India’s development sector and achieving Sustainable Development Goals. While acknowledging biases in family giving towards education and health, the report also points out their role in providing risk capital for underrepresented areas and innovative interventions. It discusses challenges such as the concentration of wealth in certain cities and the need for a more sophisticated nonprofit ecosystem to absorb large-scale funding.
  • Paper / Report

In a Crisis, Resilient Nonprofits Tap into Their Superpowers

  • Source : Bridgespan
  • May 2026
This report outlines how resilient nonprofits navigate crises by balancing long-term vision with immediate action. It suggests developing guiding principles rooted in mission and values to map a future path. The piece encourages bold aspirations, such as imagining a world where the organization is no longer needed, and applying the "but for" test to identify their unique role. It advocates for allowing systems change thinking to emerge, even for direct service organizations, and emphasizes that perfection is not required in envisioning an audacious future while working towards tangible short-term impact goals.
  • Blog

Impact Investors and the Coming Energy Sector Transformation

  • Source : Bridgespan
  • May 2026
This article highlights the significant role impact investors play in the energy sector’s transformation towards a net-zero future. It notes that while impact investors have channeled substantial funds into this sector, the required capital for complete transformation is far greater. The authors examine how impact investors catalyze new technologies and further investments, focusing on abating carbon emissions while also considering non-emissions impacts like supply chain ethics. The piece emphasizes the varying risk tolerances among investors and the importance of aligning investments with their values and goals for long-lasting societal impact.
  • Blog

Impact Investing: Sector Themes

  • Source : Bridgespan
  • May 2026
This blog series explores best practices, themes, and trends in impact investing across various sectors, drawing from Bridgespan’s extensive due diligence work. Impact investors seek to achieve significant positive social and environmental impacts, recognizing that investments can have diverse outcomes. The series addresses key questions about evidence-based impact, the logic connecting outputs to outcomes, management commitment to impact, and risk management. It highlights the sector-specific considerations for identifying material impacts, with particular articles focusing on financial services, food and agriculture, energy, education, and health and wellbeing.
  • Academic / Journal Article

Global philanthropy: Does institutional context matter for charitable giving?

  • Source : Sage
  • May 2026
This paper investigates the influence of institutional context on individuals’ charitable giving behaviors globally. It posits that both the propensity to give and the amounts donated are higher in countries with robust institutional frameworks for philanthropy, encompassing regulatory, legislative, professional, and social aspects. While aggregate giving levels are indeed higher in institutionalized countries, multi-level analyses across 19 countries show limited support for direct causal relationships, underscoring the need for improved comparative data to better understand these complex dynamics.
  • Paper / Report

Giving Vehicle Use Among High-Capacity Donors in the Bay Area and Implications for Nonprofits

  • Source : Stanford
  • May 2026
This paper examines how high-capacity donors in the San Francisco Bay Area utilize various giving vehicles, such as donor-advised funds (DAFs), private foundations, and checkbooks, and the implications for local nonprofits. Based on interviews with donors and nonprofit leaders, it analyzes donor preferences, motivations (e.g., tax advantages, ease of use), and how these choices influence philanthropic practices and fundraising. The report highlights the increasing complexity of the giving landscape and its impact on donor-nonprofit relationships.
  • Book

From Philanthropy to Democracy: Rethinking Governance and Funding of High-Quality News in the Digital Age

  • Source : De Gruyter
  • May 2026
This chapter argues that quality news is a public good essential for democratic societies, yet it is currently under-provided and under-consumed. It examines why this issue persists in contemporary democracies and proposes solutions for long-term financing and capitalization of news media while maintaining independence. The chapter introduces a "non-profit media organization" model that uses digital technologies to decouple philanthropic funding from direct control over media content.
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