Crowdfunding is a rapidly expanding Internet tool designed to allow large numbers of people to invest or contribute money in support of new businesses, people in need, interesting ideas or important causes. Its recent growth is impressive. In 2012, crowdfunding supported more than 1 million global campaigns. The amount raised was $2.7 billion, an increase… Read more »
Category: Foundations
Corporate citizenship efforts pay off for U.S. businesses
When asked “Does business act responsibly?” 70 percent of Americans answered “yes” in 1968. By 2011, the percentage had dropped to 10 percent, according to a Yankelovich and CNN/USA Today Gallup Poll. Given recent revelations about outsourced fire-hazard sweatshops and megabank billion-dollar fraud settlements, it is doubtful that percentage has risen since then. In light… Read more »
Meaningful Philanthropy Can Be the Legacy You Leave
How many people can you name who lived 100 years ago? Including politicians, scientists, artists, inventors, historical figures and our own ancestors, many of us struggle to name even three dozen. How many of the 314 million Americans or 7 billion planetarians will be remembered 100 years from now? Very few of us will be… Read more »
Impact Investing: putting your money where your values are
More than ever, investors are pondering, “Am I destroying with my left hand what my right hand is trying to save?” Trillions of dollars are invested by millions of Americans in stocks and mutual funds, banks, and retirement funds like IRAs and 401(k)s, seeking to generate significant financial returns. Most of these investors are philanthropic,… Read more »
What’s love got to do with effective philanthropy?
The term “philanthropy” is a combination of two ancient Greek words: “philos” meaning “love” in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing and enhancing; and “anthropos” meaning “human being” in the sense of our common humanity. A philanthropist is a person who expresses love of humanity through charitable efforts. Every year, hundreds of articles are… Read more »
Social enterprises use market forces for good
Many nonprofit organizations have made innovative social enterprises part of their daily operations to help them achieve their mission while creating sustainable sources of income to fund programs. Social enterprises don’t eliminate the need for charitable donations but, rather, supplement donations and grants by creating predictable revenue streams while serving the broader mission of the… Read more »
Women Changing the Face of Philanthropy
Women have changed the face of philanthropy. With more money and increased control and influence over how it is spent, more women than ever are making philanthropic investments to help address and solve the problems of our time. Consider these facts: Women represent 51 percent of the nation’s Ph.Ds, 67 percent of college graduates and… Read more »
10 Steps to Becoming a More Effective Philanthropist
Many donors look at their charitable efforts and wonder: Does the nonprofit I’m supporting really have an impact? What can I do to make my philanthropy more effective? Being an effective philanthropist doesn’t depend on the amount of time or money you give but rather upon how you approach your giving. Here are 10 steps… Read more »
Corporate Philanthropy Helps Turn Companies Into Good Citizens
The business case supporting corporate philanthropy is well documented. Enhanced employee recruitment, lower turnover, higher job satisfaction, customer preference and loyalty for companies that invest in communities, and higher profits have been demonstrated by studies. Although these might be interesting and important points that enhance stakeholders’ comfort with an expanded view of corporate citizenship, for… Read more »
Venture Philanthropy – Risky But Rewarding
Venture capital takes financial capital and expertise and provides them to high-potential, high-risk, startup businesses. Venture philanthropy uses the same approach and applies it to philanthropic donations in the nonprofit or social enterprise sector. Both VC and VP involve a commitment of time and resources, carry a high degree of risk and can produce outsized… Read more »