Stanford Social Innovation Review : Informing and inspiring leaders of social change

Social Innovations

Markets for Giving:  Collaborating on a Future Vision of the Philanthropic Ecosystem

Over the course of two and a half days last month, leaders from 36 organizations playing a role in the global philanthropic ecosystem—including GuideStar, CharityNavigator, GlobalGiving, and Network for Good, as well as GreatNonprofits—met at the New York City offices of the financial technology firm Liquidnet.

This diverse group came together to focus on how we might join forces to create greater social impact throughout the philanthropic ecosystem.

Over the course of this “Markets For Giving” workshop... (continue reading this blog post)

Social Innovations

Catalytic Philanthropy Forces Collaboration in Leadership

The SSIR’s webinar, ‘Catalytic Philanthropy: 
A New Approach in Uncertain Times’ really got me thinking a lot about leadership in the social sector.

A catalytic philanthropist, as described by Mark Kramer in his article Catalytic Philanthropy is an individual who takes responsible for achieving actionable results, mobilizing a campaign for change, uses all available tools and creates actionable knowledge. Kramer argued that there was a need for philanthropists... (continue reading this blog post)

Philanthropy

Al Gore Calls on Foundations to Align Mission and Strategy

Al Gore at the Council on Foundations meeting today spoke passionately about the need for foundations to align their mission with their investing strategies.

The current economic crisis is the result of a huge misalignment of short term, personal benefits and long term sustainability, he said... (continue reading this blog post)

Nonprofits

Playing Baseball with Tennis Rackets: What’s Not Being Included in Our Collaborative Meetings

The word "collaboration" is often used as a way to outline how resources can be used more effectively. Recently the word has been used to outline how organizations can work to fight against the challenging economy. Giving a presentation yesterday, I discussed the word “collaboration” and asked participants what it meant to them... (continue reading this blog post)

Nonprofits

Less What, More How: A Review of Nilofer Merchant’s The New How

One of the best things that can happen to a social entrepreneur is to have the right book fall in your lap at the right time.

Recently, I was fortunate to have The New How: Creating Business Solutions through Collaborative Strategy placed in my hands by the author herself. On a chance visit to Montreal in the depths of winter, Nilofer Merchant lit up a small group of tech entrepreneurs... (continue reading this blog post)

Nonprofits

Hitting Reset on ‘Outcomes’

Back in January, I wrote about my deep, nagging fear that many efforts to assess outcomes are woefully off track.

Not everyone agreed with my analysis. In fact, I got hard pushback on some points, and a few commentators wondered why it had taken me so long to own up to my own limitations in my approach over the years to the topic of outcomes… (continue reading this blog post)

Nonprofit Management

A Handbook for Change

Measuring Social Impact

The Power of Theories of Change

Social Innovations

Patient Optimists

I’m not an “impatient optimist” like Bill and Melinda Gates. When it comes to making the world a better place, I think impatient optimists are quite possibly a part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Led by some terrific organizations, the nonprofit and social entrepreneurship sector is generating solid evidence on the effectiveness of programs aimed at alleviating poverty, combating homelessness, preserving natural resources, and the like… (continue reading this blog post)

Nonprofits

Correlations Between Being a Great Teacher and Being a Great Nonprofit

Teach for America compiled a list of the central characteristics of a good teacher, many of which are similar to those found in great nonprofits.