All for multi-tasking and passing the boredom of standing in the grocery line, this new application from The Extraordinaries has gotten me excited about the new possibilities of volunteering. Smartphone software that allows someone to use micro amounts of spare time for social good. We deliver volunteer tasks on-demand directly to the phone like a […]
Kudos to the Administration for passing a Stimulus bill that, both in voice and in funds, supports volunteerism and community activism. While I’m still not sold or sure of the government’s increasing presence in the sector (i.e. Office of Social Innovation), its not being overdone…yet. The combination between improvements in public diplomacy and philanthropy by the government […]
With both Canada and the U.S. passing new federal stimulus packages, it has been interesting to hear from the respective non-profit sectors on how pleased they are with the outcomes. The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that a congressional compromise will include funding for arts, social service, and volunteerism – including $50 million for capacity building […]
It was only a matter of time before the next Philanthro-jargon was born. Thank you Davos. Ian Wilhelm raises some interesting questions on how significantly Davos influences philanthropic discussions. After all, some of the greatest minds and largest donors are there to convene on the pressing issues of the day. There are some contrasting opinions […]
Following my previous and optimistic post of a new era for community service, I’m now going to flip the argument. While I straddle both U.S. and Canadian philanthropy in this financial downturn and watch as both governments “turn on the taps” and run deficit budgets for this year – I’ve become curious at how long the […]
Move aside depressing economic outlook articles, this is going to be an exciting week. If only I could be in D.C. for a front row view! If you aren't lucky enough to have MLK Jr. Day as a national holiday and a day to volunteer your time, there is room for participation from all corners of […]
Late last year, I helped a Western-based non-profit organization prepare a grant for an international development project in Ethiopia. At that time, there was mention that the Ethiopian government would soon be passing a law that restricts international agencies from working on certain interventions within the country – including human rights, equality, conflict resolution and the rights […]
I’ve enjoyed the philanthropy chatter of the past two weeks, the year-end reviews and the predictions for 2009. While nodding along with the jargon we’d like to see banished, contemplating pitfalls of new philanthropists, and musing on how Madoff worked out his whole scheme – I found myself focusing intently on two topics, scale and support. […]
A few interesting bits from this past week: The Global Perspectives on Major Donor Fundraising conference took place in London in November. The December issue of Alliance includes a thoughtful summary of some of its biggest topics – including whether we should take a more donor-centered view towards fundraising and if the idea of major gifts works […]
For my view on the year and what is to come, have a look at the 2008 Philanthropy in Review page. See if you agree.
Having read Michael Edward's “Just Another Emperor? The Myths and Realities of Philanthrocapitalism” earlier this year, I thought I would balance the perspective with a read of Matthew Bishop/Michael Green's “Philanthrocapitalism: How the Rich Can Save the World”. If you’re looking for a book club discussion, this is definitely a good pair. Two chapters into […]
What form does philanthropy take outside of the U.S.? In upcoming “Country Profile” posts, I seek to illuminate a country's history, current trends, and future questions surrounding international philanthropy. History: Like many countries, philanthropy in China has roots in the values espoused by native and imported religions. From the Confusion and Buddhist traditions, charity in China has emphasized mutual help […]
The Clintons are in the headlines again – and for two of my absolute favorite topics: transparency and public diplomacy. I’m giddy with excitement at all the ways you can slice the conversation – marriage, careers, national security, politics, philanthropy, international development, republicans/democrats, and can she do it? I won't drag you through the internal conversations I’ve been […]
The convergence of business and the non profit sectors in recent years has sparked an interesting conversation around the use of business lingo and methods in the social sector. Regardless of your preferred term – venture philanthropy, philanthrocapitalism, social entrepreneurship – the involvement of business in the social sector has prompted good debate on 1) how to quantify the […]
It's ultimately a chicken vs. egg debate – do you set up democracy first, then build a hospital; or do you build a hospital and hope it helps democracy to grow? U.S. foreign policy loves spreading democracy and freedom. How this is done* varies by current political climate, prevailing economic theories, and a country's friendliness factor. U.S. public opinion […]