In No Such Thing as a Free Gift: The Gates Foundation and the Price of Philanthropy, Linsey McGoey, senior lecturer in sociology at the University of Essex, excoriates what she sees as the historical illiteracy of many of today’s philanthropists. Armed withRead more…
Volunteerism Rate Inches Downward to New Low
Adults in the United States volunteered in 2014 at the lowest rate since the federal government began collecting such data 13 years ago. One in four Americans, or 25.3 percent, volunteered with an organization last year, according toRead more…
An intentional generosity plan
When our boys were younger, I wanted them to see how much we were giving to our church. I wanted to model cheerful generosity, and to demonstrate that this was normal and very intentional. If the truth be told, IRead more…
Why This Data Nerd Isn’t Sold On Effective Altruism
The Effective Altruism cadre wants to tell you where to donate your money. They claim these recommendations are based on rationality, effectiveness, and efficiency and that any thinking person would agree with their rankings. It is easy to believe theyRead more…
A Post-#GivingTuesday Reflection
#GivingTuesday, a creation of the 92nd Street Y in New York City, is intended to bring together individuals, communities and organizations to celebrate generosity and giving. Now in its fourth year, #GivingTuesday takes place on the first Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black FridayRead more…
Tending to the Roots: Why the biggest difference you can make may be on your doorstep
Who do we give to and why? In practice, giving is driven by emotions as much as any cost-benefit analysis. Consequently, the groups that usually benefit are those making headlines, those people have personal affiliations to or sadly, those whichRead more…
Philanthropy’s New Frontier—Impact Investing
Impact investing, which promises both financial returns and intentional, measurable social returns, is attracting more and more money—most of it from private investors. Foundations are hard-wired for social purpose and would seem to be natural candidates for impact investing, butRead more…
Giving Back to India
On a September evening in 2014, more than 600 Americans of Indian origin gathered with friends at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City for a gala to raise money for Pratham, one of the largest NGOs in India.Read more…
Impact India
The rise of India’s reputation as a center of technology innovation has in recent years been matched by the country’s growing reputation as a hub of social innovation, and now Indians living abroad are rising as a force for philanthropyRead more…
Major Gift Fundraising – By the Numbers
With a hat tip to Tony Martignetti, this week’s infographic from Bloomerang, the donor management software vendor, is full of interesting stats and advice re that elusive but much-sought-after fundraising prize: the major gift. Based on data from a Bloomerang survey of more thanRead more…