Philanthropy

Five lessons from a survey of more than 600 companies.

Research shows that the charitable benefits of such “giving-by-proxy” programs can extend beyond their direct impact.

A framework to help funders understand who they are and what kind of impact they aspire to have.

A program paid workers $10,000 to relocate to Tulsa. And two recent studies suggest the investment was worth it.

“New power” is about circulating new ideas for anyone and everyone to interpret and build on – rather than being controlled by a centralized organization.

It’s about creating a balance of grant types, categorized by operations, growth, and risk.

Three research-backed strategies.

You simply can’t ignore the implications of race.

Lessons from 15 world-changing initiatives

A study of theaters and their artistic reputations.

They’re taking multiple routes to social good.

Academics, government, and civic groups can all benefit from greater access.

In developing economies, local philanthropists are acting more like investors.

Information is a public good.

It’s time.

Leverage is the mantra of the times in philanthropy, and rightly so. People want to know that the charities they support are using donations as effectively as possible. Donors and institutional funders are more demanding, more discerning, and less detached. They’re no longer content with writing a check and securing their place in heaven. They […]

Seven years ago, Bank of America launched Neighborhood Builders®, a program that provides grants and, more importantly, leadership training to managers of “high-potential” non-profit organizations in the communities where the bank does business. The rationale was straight-forward: thriving neighborhood groups create more vibrant places to live and work, which translates into a better environment for […]

The collapse of Madonna’s high-profile effort to build a school for impoverished girls in Malawi has made headlines around the world. The singer’s celebrity and the $3.8 million lost in the effort guaranteed that. But in philanthropy, failure is an almost everyday occurrence. Giving money away smartly, so that it not only gets results but […]

This season of giving often brings a focus on corporate philanthropy — on giving. But it’s hard to do well. If you wanted to design a corporate philanthropy program to have minimum impact, what would you do? Give out lots of grants in amounts too small to make a real difference. Back pet charities, not […]

(Editor's note: This post is part of the HBR Debate "What Does Business Owe the World?") Does business "owe" the world anything? It's an important question,...