Gifts of money, time and knowledge help shape the future of us all. But there have been very few explorations of the future of philanthropy itself. Our project was launched in 2000, as a new century began, to fill this gap.
What we found is that U.S. philanthropy is being quietly transformed by long-term trends both inside and outside philanthropy.
This project was dedicated to understanding the whole spectrum of philanthropic giving, rejecting the once-neat distinction between foundations and other giving that is not “organized." Many individual donors are just as strategic—as thoughtful, intentional, and creative—as many small foundations. And there are many new forms of community philanthropy where individuals come together to organize their giving. Though the project was focused on the U.S., some of its findings will be useful and interesting to practitioners in other parts of the world.
This section of the website provides you with background about the project, and also with key materials and advice about how to use them:
- Our Final Report, Looking Out for the Future, is available in printed form, as a PDF, and in shorter segments downloadable throughout this website.
- Project History outlines how this initiative evolved in partnership with our funders.
- How to Use This Website contains specific suggestions for how the content of this website might be useful in different situations.
- Share Your Feedback is a plea to help us shape the future of this project.
- Spread the Word is our request to help us do just that.
- About Us details the organizations and people who created this work.
- Acknowledgements gives credit where it is due—to many of the hundreds of people who have helped us along the way.
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