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Image: Pixomar / FreeDigitalPhotos.net | Taking it to Another Level: Catalytic Philanthropy
"Despite spending vast amounts of money and helping to create the world's largest nonprofit sector, philanthropists have fallen far short of solving America's most pressing problems. What the nation needs is 'Catalytic Philanthropy' - a new approach that is already being practiced by some of the most innovative donors."
The excerpt above is from the introduction to Mark Kramer's article, " Catalytic Philanthropy", which appeared in the fall 2009 Stanford Social Innovation Review. In the article, Kramer, the founder and managing director of FSG Social Impact Advisors, uses case studies to explain the concept of funders who go beyond simply giving large sums of money; rather, these funders perform additional tasks in order to affect social change, thereby becoming what Kramer calls catalytic philanthropists. Kramer developed four practices that describe catalytic philanthropists: - They take responsibility for achieving results, focusing on clear, measurable and attainable goals, and taking ownership of issues.
- They mobilize a campaign for change, engaging others in concerted action to assemble the elements of a solution.
- They use all available tools, including commercial enterprises, government advocacy, fundraising, convening, and mission investing.
- They build actionable knowledge to improve their own effectiveness and influence the behavior of others.
Though Kramer points out that catalytic philanthropy may not be appropriate for all donors, it is something that can be utilized by many, regardless of their size or interests.
Additional Catalytic Philanthropy Resources:
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SDG Events
Mark your calendars!
June 22, 2010, 12PM-2PM
5060 Shoreham Place, Ste. 350, San Diego, 92122
As grantmakers, we often discuss "theories of change" and review detailed financial reports. We fund organizations - but at the end of the day, everything we do with our nonprofit partners is of course all about the people they serve. At this program, we will be privileged to hear about the lives of three successful Latinos who grew up in San Diego County's most diverse and poor communities. Their stories will help us understand how some people overcome personal and social challenges and go on to succeed in life and become community leaders.
Joe & Vi Jacobs Center, 404 Euclid Ave., San Diego, CA 92114
Local grantmakers of all sizes, types, and giving areas convene at this event each year to explore new ideas and discuss best practices. The day begins with a morning plenary discussion among distinguished thought leaders in philanthropy, followed by several issues-specific breakout sessions. The closing plenary will feature Dr. Robert K. Ross, CEO of the California Endowment, and James Surowiecki, author of The Wisdom of Crowds. This valuable event only happens once a year, so register today to ensure your spot! Follow the link above for additional details. |
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Other Events of Interest
June 29, 2010, 11AM-12:30PM
Seeking to start or enhance relations with your government partners? Sign up for a lively discussion about "the good, the bad, and the ugly" of working with government agencies. The philanthropic liaisons at the departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development will share their insights on the essential elements of successful public-philanthropic collaborations.
July 8, 2010, 9AM-10:30AM
Participants will learn how to choose and evaluate advisors, maintain good working relationships with them, and know when it's time for a change. The speaker is Patricia Angus, a New York-based philanthropy and family governance consultant and authro of the National Center's Passages paper titled "Family Governance: A Primer for Philanthropic Families," and co-author of "Family Governance Meets Family Dynamics."
Jan. 23-25, 2011
Save the date! Next year's gathering of the nation's leading family philanthropists will be taking place in New York City. |
Worth the Read
Conversations on Family Philanthropy
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Family Philanthropy Resources
The latest version of this popular brief is now available from the Foundation Center. According to the brief, giving by family foundations in 2008 totaled $21.1 billion, reflecting a 14 percent increase in family foundation giving between 2007 and 2008. Family foundation giving accounted for 62 percent of all independent foundation giving in 2008. In three of the four major regions, the greatest percent of charitable dollars went to education. Other graphs in the brief explore giving patterns by foundation size, family foundations by state, family foundations by asset size, and other aspects of family philanthropy.
White Paper 02: "Funding as a Family: Engaging the Next Generation in Family Philanthropy"
In the second section of this White Paper (developed by the Institute for Philanthropy for Credit Suisse), a series of case studies with "family pairs" from the USA, Canada, the UK, India, Brazil and Mexico provide recommendations for philanthropists and their advisors on how to successfully engage the next generation in family philanthropy. The philanthropists in these case studies talk about the benefits that working together has brought to their families and their philanthropy, and how they have overcome the challenges inherent to funding as a family, such as the creation of junior boards, next generation committees, and the provision of discretionary funding. Most importantly, these families demonstrate that the key to the successful engagement of young people in family philanthropy is the building of open, honest and respectful communication between generations. |
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Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net | We'd love to hear from you!
Thank you for being a member of San Diego Grantmakers. We are always trying to improve our services to members, and we welcome your feedback. Please send your thoughts, comments and suggestions to nancy@sdgrantmakers.org. |
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