Philanthropy by definition is a noble endeavor. Yet people want to know, “what good does philanthropy do?” The answer is hard to get, partly because philanthropy doesn’t really want to know, and evaluation doesn’t really know how to serve up good answers. This article illuminates the dilemma. […]
What is “advocacy”? The word is from Latin, meaning “to give voice” to a cause that it might progress and succeed. Advocacy has recently become a legitimate strategy to promote social change. What is advocacy, […]
In Effective Philanthropy: Make a Difference we made the point that different programs focus their action differently. Some want to create change at the individual level. Others want to create change at the system level, […]
Are there power dynamics in the philanthropic sector? There has long been perceived a kind of class warfare between foundations who have the money, and nonprofits who beg for the money. This is summed up […]
There are downsides to philanthropy as well as its well-publicized upsides. Philanthropy has a Jekyll and Hyde approach to benefiting communities and society: talking big but releasing only a trickle of cash on terrible terms […]
For years, my blog, “JustPhilanthropy.org” ran with the tagline: “From the confluence of philanthropy, justice, and evaluation.” Where is that place? I imagine like one of those braided Alaska rivers with crisscrossing streams – the […]
There’s a problem with using a single measure of success. It may seem simple, but a single measure of a charitable organization’s productivity, no matter how common-sensible, isn’t nearly enough to convey all that’s important. […]
Pay for performance in the social services may sound good in principle, but there are many reasons to be skeptical. There is a certain allure in the many kinds of legislative proposals that link pay […]
…while attracting the supporters, funders, and partners you’ve always wanted…while being the change you want to see […]
There’s a hopeful mantra going around in evaluation circles that “you get what you measure.” Personally, I don’t believe it. I’ve been trying to measure social justice for years, and I can’t say I’ve seen […]
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