Collections

Camelback Ventures’ Giving Compass collection, Racial Equity in Philanthropy, will explore just that. We’ll explore similar themes from varied perspectives - our team, Fellows, coaches, advisors, and facilitators - to take a holistic look at how we might move to racial equity in philanthropy by exploring privilege (especially white privilege), personal practices, and organizational processes. Most importantly, we welcome your feedback and ideas along the way - after all, we are moving towards collective liberation. Camelback Ventures (CBV) is a national accelerator that identifies, develops, and promotes early-stage underrepresented entrepreneurs with the aim to increase individual and community education, and generational wealth. CBV aims to create a more diverse social innovation ecosystem that leverages the genius of all people. We identify local leaders with promising ideas, and empower them to enact change within their communities through our initiatives where we provide an intentional blend of coaching, capital, connections, community, and curriculum.

The American Journalism Project is a new venture philanthropy organization dedicated to local news. By providing course-altering investments and venture support to civic news organizations, we are building a new public service media that is governed by, sustained by and looks like the public it serves. The economics that supported the news industry for most of the twentieth century are no longer viable. As a result, the civic function news provides is under threat. We founded the American Journalism Project to help combat this threat. In other sectors, venture philanthropy has created sustainable new ecosystems that fill gaps left by the market. We are doing the same for local news.

Tides is a philanthropic partner and nonprofit accelerator dedicated to building a world of shared prosperity and social justice. Tides works at the nexus of funders and changemakers, developing innovative solutions that amplify the impact of philanthropic giving and grantmaking, impact investing, fiscal sponsorship, and policy initiatives. Applying an equity-centered lens to everything we do, we work closely with our partners to shift power to BIPOC leaders, their organizations, and those who face systemic barriers to power.

Reimagined Philanthropy is a two-volume publication that goes beyond conventional wisdom in the world of giving to empower emerging and seasoned philanthropists with comprehensive guidance for creating a more just world. This blueprint for philanthropic transformation emphasizes intentionality, structure, and focus, effectively balancing the urgency of today's challenges with a patient, well-considered approach.

Collaborative philanthropy is a growing model upending traditional philanthropic practice, and is part of the broader umbrella of collective giving practices around the world rooted in practices of communal caretaking. Collaborative funds are making waves in philanthropy today, changing how donors address large-scale systemic challenges. As a global field catalyst committed to democratizing and diversifying philanthropy through the power of collective giving, Philanthropy Together is proud to share stories of collaborative funds and broader insights on collaborative giving through this collection.

Through The Commons, a new project from the Chronicle of Philanthropy, we’re helping nonprofits and foundations figure out how they can best bring a divided country together. We highlight solutions, show where the social sector can make a difference – and point out where it’s getting in the way. Through reporting, opinion, and conversations, you’ll learn the multitude of ways people and organizations are bringing communities together and getting things done. And you’ll find tools that will help you in your own work.

More than 700 million people live in extreme poverty: Nearly 1 in 10 people globally. The challenge is massive, and the world's biggest problems deserve the world's best solutions. As the world’s largest nonprofit founded in the Global South and reaching over 100 million people, BRAC is leading a movement to unmake poverty and power possibility. Join us as we explore the new innovations and proven poverty solutions that enable people to lift themselves out of poverty and reach their potential.

The Time to Act 2020 working group emerged from the Impact Driven Philanthropy Collaborative, founded by the Raikes Foundation in 2014. The Collaborative is a group of donor educators and donor advisors spanning multiple organizations and networks, and working towards more meaningful, equity-centered, impactful philanthropy. The Time to Act 2020 Giving Compass collection aims to highlight philanthropists who are leading boldly and courageously to center equity with their philanthropic efforts. With this collection, we are seeking to document and uplift the stories of donors who have stepped up to meet the moment by centering equity and serving as an inspiration to other donors looking to do the same. The Time to Act 2020 working group includes Nadia Roumani (Time to Act), Ayushi Vig (Time to Act), Stephanie Gillis (Raikes Foundation), Chris Cardona (Ford Foundation), Jennifer Davis (The Philanthropy Workshop), Jason Franklin (Ktisis Capital), Julita Eleveld (Gates Foundation), Katarina Czarniak (Synergos Global Philanthropists Circle), Dien Yuen (American College of Financial Services), Berit Ashla (Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors), Nick Tedesco (National Center for Family Philanthropy), Stephanie Ellis Smith (Phila Engaged Giving), Greg Ratliff (Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors), Jessica Walker Beaumont (Rooted Strategies), and Jen Jope (Giving Compass).

The Donors of Color Network is the first ever cross-racial community of donors of color and movement leaders committed to building the collective power of people of color to achieve racial equity. The Donors of Color Network officially launched with our Inaugural Convening in March of 2019, building on three years of in-depth research, writing, and interviews. Learn how to become a member.

What happens when people get together and dive into intimate conversation about our community’s grittiest, most vexing problems? Find out on our podcast, Conversations with Chanda. Hosted by Chanda Smith Baker, Conversations with Chanda unpacks complex topics — the power structures that surround wealth, navigating the world of philanthropy as a person of color, why criminal justice reform is something everyone should care about, and turning unthinkable grief into good.

Our mission is simple: To empower yours. JustFund is upending philanthropy by connecting funders with the frontlines. We make moving money to the movement simple and fast, freeing you up to focus on what you do best.

It’s time to stop asking and to start doing. That’s why the Latino Community Foundation launched the first-ever Latino Nonprofit Accelerator, an incubator that gives grassroots nonprofits the boost they need to grow into strong anchor institutions. Our unique recipe is a focus on branding, fundraising, and opening doors of opportunity for visionary Latino nonprofit leaders.  We’ve already learned that when we truly invest in our gamechangers – we can change the game.

Giving circles have exploded in popularity in recent years and are a powerful way to democratize and diversify philanthropy. Philanthropy Together is a global initiative to connect, grow and strengthen collective giving around the world through the power of giving circles.  Philanthropy Together's collection will share stories of giving circles and networks, tips on how to best start, run, host, and lead a giving circle, and broader research insights on collective giving.

Mission Investors Exchange is the leading impact investing network for foundations dedicated to deploying capital for social and environmental change. With 250 members, we provide resources, inspiration, and connections to help our members increase the scale and impact of their impact investing practice. The blogs and investment galleries on this page provide a snapshot of some of the innovative and high-impact projects in the MIE community. Stay tuned as we add more in the coming weeks!

The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy - NCRP,  promotes philanthropy that serves the public good, is responsive to people and communities with the least wealth and opportunity, and is held accountable to the highest standards of integrity and openness.

For over 15 years, the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) has led the movement to make philanthropy more effective. Foundation leaders, trustees, and staff, as well as major donors and philanthropic advisors, rely on our evidence-based research for insights on a wide range of topics, from assessing performance to developing strategy to building strong relationships. More than 300 foundations and philanthropic entities have used CEP’s assessments to gather honest feedback from their stakeholders. Our highly regarded programs including our biennial conference — gives philanthropic leaders an exclusive and unprecedented opportunity to learn and connect with their peers. CEP is funded through a mix of earned revenue, foundation grants, and gifts from individuals and families. We have offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and San Francisco, California. Please visit us at www.cep.org to learn more about our work.

Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy advances the strategic deployment of philanthropic capital to create a better, more equitable world.

The National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) is the only national nonprofit dedicated exclusively to families who give and those who work with them. We provide the resources, expertise and support families need to transform their values into effective giving that makes a lasting impact on the communities they serve. Together, we make great things happen.

Anchored by the Women's Philanthropy Institute, the Gender and Giving collection will feature content from a variety of voices in the field. From women's philanthropy to giving with a gender lens, find research, thought pieces and profiles to help guide your impact giving journey.

The Bridgespan Group is a global nonprofit organization that collaborates with mission-driven leaders, organizations, and philanthropists to break cycles of poverty and to dramatically improve the quality of life for those in need. We are passionate about helping to find solutions to ensure equal opportunity and core human and civil rights. To achieve these objectives, we concentrate our efforts on four broad fields: education; children, youth, and families; public health; and global development. Our services include consulting to nonprofits and philanthropists, leadership development support, and developing and sharing insights—all with the goal of scaling social impact. What we learn from collaborating closely with social sector leaders, complemented by rigorous research, we share broadly to advance social change.

The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI) is a strategic philanthropy advising practice that helps individuals, families, foundations, and companies increase the impact of their giving locally, nationally, and globally. We believe philanthropy has the power to transform. Working around the globe, we partner with clients to create, implement, and evaluate customized philanthropic strategies. As a thought partner, subject matter expert, or operating staff, we work across the continuum – from visioning and strategy through implementation and evolution – to help ambitious donors and foundations embrace innovative thinking in their efforts to find levers of change and sustained social impact. Our work always begins with the values and interests of our clients – wherever they exist on the philanthropic curve and with whatever passions drive them. For more than 30 years we have fueled the growth of high-impact philanthropy around the world through philanthropic consulting work as well as cutting-edge research, philanthropic education programs, and initiatives with key allies.

Earlier this year, the national venture philanthropy organization New Profit brought together pairs of donors and social entrepreneurs from their community for candid conversations on the future of social problem-solving. These "unlikely duos" were given thought-provoking questions to respond to and discuss on the spot, and we were able to see where a conversation can go when it’s centered on getting to know another person and his or her perspective, rather than the technical aspects of change-making. Relationships are fundamental to problem-solving, and these duos show us the power of two people from different backgrounds sharing insights and ideas on forward-leaning solutions.  

Black women have a deep history of using philanthropy as a lever to create social change. From tithing in our churches to sharing our time, talent, and treasure with family members, to donating to causes and campaigns, to leading some of the biggest institutional philanthropies in the U.S., we understand the power of the purse to address immediate needs and create structural change. Unfortunately, many folks don’t know about our role as givers and philanthropists. This is driven, in part, because of the confusion around what philanthropy is and how it shows up differently in communities. Giving Compass and BlackHer are partnering to tell the story of the continuum of Black women’s philanthropy and showcase Black women who are leveraging their love of humanity to create progressive change! The featured profiles appear in BlackHer's "Black Woman's Guide to Philanthropy."

Donor journeys are not just tales of historical interest. Journeys matter. A donor’s journey deeply influences their giving, values, strategies, knowledge, skills, and ultimately, impact. This collection will explore the journeys taken by diverse donors, raise questions about how donors learn and what they want and need to take their next steps, and present analysis of how we can improve donor journeys in ways that lead to more and better giving. The collection is curated by the Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, a leading university center on philanthropy with a distinctive focus on bridging the gap between the latest research and the everyday practice of philanthropy in communities across the country.

Animal Grantmakers is a group of funders who share your concern for animals, and are working together to create real and lasting change. We envision a world in which animals thrive, and are treated with care and respect. A diverse group of foundations, public charities, corporate giving programs, individuals and other philanthropists, our members work on local, regional, national and global issues involving animals of all stripes. Our mission is to support effective grantmaking, advance collaborative efforts, and expand the sphere of animal protection philanthropy to cast a wider and stronger safety net for animals in the communities we serve, improving outcomes and elevating the field. The Animal Philanthropy collection from Animal Grantmakers strives to inform donors about the many issues affecting animals, make them more understandable, and illustrate that the problems of animals are not mutually exclusive from the problems of humans and, actually, are inherently intertwined with many human problems (e.g., COVID-19). Featuring news, animal funder profiles, research, insights, commentary representing a plethora of perspectives and more, we hope this publication inspires greater curiosity about the other sentient beings who share our planet, and increased investment in their protection and welfare.

Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy (CLIP) is a mindset and practice that empowers lean, place-based foundations to unleash their full potential to spark transformative change on issues prioritized by local communities.By embracing their unique abilities to act quickly, focus persistently, and nurture deep relationships, individuals who embrace CLIP go beyond typical grantmaking and become dynamic agents of progress. These funders weave networks, break through barriers, and invite new voices to the decision table, all in pursuit of reshaping systems, addressing inequities, and fostering vibrant collaborations that create lasting impact.

Climate change can seem like a massive and overwhelming issue - one that intersects with countless other global problems. This collection, which features insights from GlobalGiving, provides an overview of the range of issues that climate change impacts and the ways that donors can directly tackle climate change and help communities prepare for the consequences.

As America's democracy faces challenges -- mistrust in the media, weakening faith in democratic processes, and citizens' reluctance to share information to the government -- donors have an opportunity to address these barriers, among others. Through collaboration with a range of sectors, we can strengthen our democratic institutions. Resources for donors include a range of perspectives on advocacy, policy, voting rights, elections, civic education, and more.  Explore these pages and guide your giving toward creating a better, more robust democracy. Featuring content from PACE Foundation, United Philanthropy Forum, National Center for Family Philanthropy, and others.

As the world faces earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires and other disasters, it's never been more clear that donor engagement is an essential part of disaster relief and long-term recovery. Giving Compass' Disaster Relief and Recovery collection examines the importance of strategic giving and preparedness plans, while also sharing success stories and tips on how to give with impact instead of impulsiveness.

More than half a million people in the U.S. experience homelessness on any given night. But while many nonprofits, foundations and policymakers are working hard to address the issue, sustainable solutions have been a challenge to develop. In this collection, you will find a selection of resources to help guide your giving to address the issue of homelessness. We recommend that you explore each of these articles in order to form a thorough understanding of the issue and how you can best address it. Each of these articles will be updated with new information as it becomes available. Bookmark this page and check back periodically to get the latest news and information and brush up on the basics.

The Raikes Foundation’s aspires to a just and inclusive society where all young people have the support they need to reach their full potential. We focus on the most marginalized young people in our society and invest in making youth-serving systems work better. This collection features research, news, and commentary about youth-issues, including youth development, public education, and youth-serving systems such as child welfare and juvenile justice. We hope it informs and inspires donors who seek to learn and invest more to improve outcomes for young people.

The mission of Science Philanthropy Alliance is to increase philanthropic support for basic scientific research. We accomplish this by understanding the opportunities and complexities philanthropists face in funding basic science, and providing advice and learning opportunities for individual philanthropists and foundation staffs on how to support basic research most effectively. We believe philanthropy plays a critical role in advancing basic scientific knowledge—knowledge that is essential to the improvement of human health and welfare.

Global Washington supports the global development community in Washington state that is working to create a healthier and more equitable world. We promote and support members, who are working to reduce poverty and disease, increase access to health care and education, protect the environment and strengthen economies and self-sufficiency in communities. With over 160 members, including some of world’s most respected companies, NGOs, academic institutions and foundations, Global Washington draws the community together, raising the impact of Washington state as a powerful contributor to global development.

High performance must be the norm if we are to make meaningful progress in addressing society’s most challenging problems. The Leap of Reason Ambassadors Community's Building the Case for Funders campaign promotes and encourages funders willing to support their grantees’ learning and improvement—and open to learning and improving themselves. We seek to influence funders of all types—from CEOs of multibillion-dollar private foundations to program officers at community foundations to donor families addressing a cause of personal significance. The Leap of Reason Ambassadors Community believes that mission and performance are inextricably linked. Ambassadors advance this “performance matters” message individually in their own work, and the community uses a number of distribution channels to spread the word within the field. The Leap Ambassadors Community—practitioners, funders, policy makers, and instigators—evolved from market response to Leap of Reason, a book that inspired leaders in the social and public sectors to take bold action to create more meaningful, measurable good for those they serve. Since May 2011, “Leap Update,” a monthly newsletter published by Morino Institute, has provided insights, tools, and learning opportunities for those on the journey to high performance. The community allows ambassadors to engage with each other, benefit from collective knowledge, share perspectives, seek assistance to continuously improve, and hear diverse views in a trusted space. The Leap Ambassadors Community collaboratively develops materials to benefit the field, including the Performance Imperative (PI), the Performance Imperative Organizational Self-Assessment (PIOSA), and a series of Ambassador Insights. Stories shared here include those from the Leap Ambassadors Community and Morino Institute’s Leap of Reason initiative.

BoardSource supports, trains, and educates nonprofit leaders from across the country and throughout the world. With almost three decades of experience, BoardSource provides leaders with tools, resources, and research data to increase board effectiveness and strengthen organizational impact. The support that BoardSource provides to individual nonprofit leaders and organizations is strengthened by its broader work on critical sector issues and focuses on opportunities and challenges where board leaders are positioned to make a difference.

Seattle Foundation ignites powerful, rewarding philanthropy to make Greater Seattle a stronger, more vibrant community for all. Focused on creating equity and opportunity, our goal as a community foundation is to simplify giving and strengthen the impact of philanthropy for the more than 1,200 individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits we serve. We provide deep community insights, powerful civic leadership, effective philanthropic advising and judicious stewardship of assets in support of our mission.

The Center for High Impact Philanthropy (CHIP) is the only university-based center with a singular focus on philanthropy for social impact. Founded as a collaboration between the School of Social Policy & Practice and alumni of the Wharton School, it is a trusted source of knowledge and education to help donors around the world do more good.

This collection is a selection curated by the team at Stanford University's Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (Stanford PACS). Stanford PACS develops and shares knowledge to improve philanthropy, strengthen civil society and effect social change. It connects students, scholars, and practitioners, and publishes the preeminent journal Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR).

Chandler Foundation’s Giving Compass collection, Philanthropy Forward, includes articles, profiles, and thought leadership content, including from Chandler Foundation’s annual signature magazine, Social Investor. Equal parts Vanity Fair and Foreign Affairs, Social Investor features insights and trends related to making social investing and philanthropy more impactful. It shares stories and lessons, challenges conventional wisdom, and imagines the possibilities unleashed by collaboration. The Chandler Foundation works to catalyse prosperity and build economic opportunity using governments and markets as key levers for social progress. Our twenty-plus year journey in philanthropy has given us first-hand experience of the sector’s strengths and limitations. We’ve seen that governments and markets—not philanthropy—play the most important roles in determining a country’s prosperity. That’s why the Chandler Foundation invests to make governments and markets work better— in areas such as good governance, social mobility, and equality. We believe how philanthropists operate matters as much as where they invest. We strive for systems level change, and work in multi-sector partnerships to shift the conditions that hold a problem in place.

Blue Meridian Partners is a pioneering philanthropic model for finding and funding scalable solutions to the problems that limit economic and social mobility for America’s young people and families in poverty. We know solutions exist, but even the most promising strategies cannot reach far enough, fast enough without significant resources. Hence, we bring philanthropists together to pool capital and scale solutions that target drivers of poverty from cradle to career. We operate with an investor mindset but measure success in terms of social impact. Viewing our grants as “investments,” we provide the flexible, transformative capital that visionary social sector leaders need to dream bigger and pursue long-term change. Beyond dollars, we provide critical capacity- and evidence-building support as well as strategic advice. Understanding economic mobility and racial equity are inextricably linked, we invest in strategies that work to dismantle structural inequities that have long excluded Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other people of color from power and opportunity. We remain responsive to evolving challenges, while constantly exploring new collaborations. Ultimately, we want to transform the philanthropic marketplace and improve the life trajectories of millions of young people and families across America.  

Mutual Accountability for Social Change is a monthly series that ran from November 2018 to April 2021. In the series, David Bonbright shares stories from his 40 years as a grant maker and social justice entrepreneur that explore mutuality as a breakthrough approach to philanthropy and social change. David shows how the quality of our relationships shape our giving, and makes the case for Mutuality as our North Star when we give.

Systematically engaging customers or beneficiaries is the quickest, cheapest way to identify areas for improvement and gives dignity to those you seek to help. Nonprofits and funders—even those hooked on measurement—can do more, and social sector voices are calling for it. This series, produced for Stanford Social Innovation Review by Milway Media with support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, will explore the power of feedback—including how it can inform strategy and empower others. Starting late September, through February 2019, the series will present commentary from leaders who are improving strategies and services through customer insight in fields as diverse as philanthropy, criminal justice, public health, and technology. It will also feature video and podcast testimony of those listened to, and expert slideshows on how to integrate feedback into measurement systems. As in the practice of feedback, the series’ richness will come from readers, listeners, and viewers sharing their own stories about customer insight and influence, and their reactions to others’ commentary. We encourage everyone to share at #feedbackempowers.

Dasra has been catalyzing India’s strategic philanthropy movement for two decades and has formed valuable partnerships with nonprofits, foundations and philanthropists to ensure that a billion live with dignity and equity. Prioritizing Lives In Philanthropy is the essence of Dasra’s vision to be ImpactFirst or impact-led, and pushes us to engage philanthropy towards transforming actual lives on the ground. This collection brings you insights from Dasra’s own experience with strategic philanthropy as well as diverse perspectives from philanthropists, non-profits and other stakeholders who are working tirelessly to enable India to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

With 3,400+ engaged partners and 40 affiliate organizations, Social Venture Partners International is the largest network of donors in the world. Their goal is to have their principles and practices be globally recognized to emulate transformational change in philanthropists. Their strategies focus on investing in their local community, but is connected to the global movement woven together by SVPI. Since establishing in 1996, SVPI cultivates effective philanthropists, strengthens nonprofits, and invests in collaborative solutions building powerful relationships to tackle communities social challenges. Collectively, partners at SVPI have supported more than 900 nonprofits and provided more than 70 million dollars in grants and volunteer hours.