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One of the big shifts in the past generation is both the amount and the availability of information about the practice of philanthropy. You won’t have to look far to find a publication or email list to subscribe to, or an association or network to join. The most visible resources are The Chronicle of Philanthropy and Foundation News & Commentary and the associations Independent Sector and Council on Foundations—all of which have taught us a great deal. Among the many resources now available, we have selected a few we found especially helpful and that speak to different issues for a range of givers.
The Clock of the Long Now: Time and Responsibility, by Stewart Brand, Basic Books, 1999. “Nobody can save the world, but any of us can help set in motion a self-saving world," argues Brand, an eclectic thinker and GBN cofounder who offers here a series of short essays designed to help you reflect on long-term responsibility, which is, after all, one of the most compelling motivations for philanthropy.
“The Evolving Role of American Foundations," by James Allen Smith, in Philanthropy and the Nonprofit Sector in a Changing America, Charles T. Clotfelter and Thomas Ehrlich, eds., Indiana University Press, 1999. If you only read one short essay about the history of U.S. philanthropy, make it this one. Smith manages both to capture a century of history as well as one’s imagination about the history now being made.
The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook: Strategies and Tools for Building a Learning Organization, by Peter Senge, Charlotte Roberts, Richard B. Ross, Bryan J. Smith, and Art Kleiner, Doubleday, 1994. This is the best and most accessible introduction to many of the systems-thinking tools we have been discussing. A delight to browse and to read, it will change how you approach change, whether in your own life, in your organization, or in the world you’re trying to influence.
Foundation in a Box. The Association of Small Foundations has drawn from the archives of many authoritative sources, including the Council on Foundations, to save you the work of finding the basic resources on starting and running a foundation. They’ve put them all—literally—in a box that serves as a small resource library.
A Gift Observed: Reflections on Philanthropy and Civilization, by Michael Lerner, Commonweal Working Paper. Call (415) 868-0970 or commonweal@commonweal.org. A profound and provocative reflection on philanthropy as seen through many disciplinary lenses, from one of today’s most remarkable nonprofit leaders. We follow along as a brilliant man teaches himself about philanthropy, creating a guide that will prompt reflection by serious beginners and experienced hands alike.
Global Giving Matters. This quarterly electronic newsletter, which covers individual and family philanthropy and social investment around the world, is a model of how to share best practices and innovations. It’s produced by a partnership of Synergos and the World Economic Forum.
Grantcraft. This relatively new project of the Ford Foundation, which began as an effort to orient Ford staff, has branched out in numerous directions, including beyond Ford’s own best practice, to embrace that of many wise and experienced practitioners. Featuring guides, cases, and videos, this website is quickly becoming an essential source of practical help for anyone doing professional grantmaking.
Grantmakers for Effective Organizations. GEO’s speciality is effectiveness—for both donors and grantees. Both institutions and individual givers can join. Among its many helpful resources is a new database tracking funder networks.
Grantmaking Basics: A Field Guide for Funders, by Barbara D. Kibbe, Fred Setterberg, and Colburn S. Wilbur, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Council on Foundations, 1999. This is the best basic primer for foundation program officers.
Inside American Philanthropy: The Dramas of Donorship, by Waldemar A. Nielsen, University of Oklahoma Press, 1996. Nielsen was one of the great observers—and critics—of twentieth-century American philanthropy. This little book would be worth consulting if it were simply the culmination of a lifetime of his reflections, which it is. But it is especially valuable for its concise, well-written stories of individual philanthropists—both those who succeeded and those who failed.
Inspired Philanthropy: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Giving Plan, by Tracy Gary and Melissa Kohner, Jossey-Bass, 2002. The most helpful guidebook we know for individuals who are interested in giving seriously. In particular, see the chart on commonly used Strategies for Change (pages 84-85 of the paperback edition).
Karoff Corner. Consult this website to download the wisdom of Peter Karoff, founder of The Philanthropic Initiative, Inc. You’ll find an expanding collection of essays and poetry on the theme of generosity—and plenty of inspiration.
“Leading Boldly," by Ronald A. Heifetz, John V. Kania, and Mark R. Kramer, in Stanford Social Innovation Review, Winter 2004. A subtle and important look at dilemmas of power, authority, and leadership faced by anyone who attempts to use giving to promote change. The adaptive leadership described in this article challenges many assumptions of standard philanthropic practice—and is at the heart of many of the questions we have raised here.
Organizing Foundations for Maximum Impact: A Guide to Effective Philanthropy, by Denis J. Prager, The Aspen Institute, 2003. A terrific short synthesis of thinking about giving effectively from an institutional base.
“Places to Intervene in a System," by Donella Meadows, Whole Earth Review, Winter 1997. A seminal piece on systems thinking and creating lasting change that provokes better strategic thinking by anyone who reads it.
Stanford Social Innovation Review. Published by the Graduate School of Business at Stanford, this quarterly review that began in 2003 is making a bid to become for social problem-solving what Harvard Business Review is for business management. We like its holistic approach, drawing insights from the nonprofit, public, and private sectors and encouraging us all to think in new ways.
The State of Nonprofit America, Lester M. Salamon, ed., Brookings Institution Press, published in collaboration with the Aspen Institute, 2002. The lead essay by Salamon, “The Resilient Sector," is the single best short overview of the nonprofit sector we know; other essays detail trends in subsectors.
State of Philanthropy 2004, National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. This biennial collection never fails to include many provocative and wide-ranging essays analyzing the current status of philanthropy and many of the pressing issues now facing the field.
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