The word deviant is such a strong cultural label that many people interpret it to mean something similar to evil. Calling someone “deviant” calls up images of illicit or extreme criminal behavior. But that’s not what deviance really means. Within sociology, the phrase deviance describes actions or behaviors that violate cultural norms. Since cultural norms [...]
Category Archives: New Philanthropy
Exploring the Edge: Social Sector Ideas That Matter
September 13, 2010 – 9:12 am
“I have always felt that the action most worth watching is not at the center of things but where edges meet. I like shorelines, weather fronts, international borders. There are interesting frictions and incongruities in those places.” Anne Fadiman The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Today I’m happy to announce the re-launch [...]
When to Invest & When to Give
August 19, 2010 – 8:52 am
This is part two of a six part series exploring the sessions in the Tactical Philanthropy track at the Social Capital Markets conference. Session Description: When to Invest & When to Give For all the talk of producing a blend of social and financial value through giving and investing, little is known about when a [...]
Warren Buffett Discusses Goals for Giving Pledge
August 9, 2010 – 9:07 am
I had the opportunity last week to listen to the Giving Pledge conference call in which Warren Buffett fielded questions from the press and offered color on the purpose of the Giving Pledge. The big take away for me was that Buffett’s hope is that the Giving Pledge will lead to an increase in the [...]
10% of Billionaires Commit to Give Half Their Wealth
August 4, 2010 – 8:00 am
Simply remarkable. Just 6 weeks ago, Warren Buffett and Bill & Melinda Gates launched The Giving Pledge, an effort to encourage all of the nation’s billionaires to give away at least 50% of their wealth. Today, it was announced that 10% of all billionaires have already publicly made the pledge. The Giving Pledge will be [...]
Builders, Buyers & the Social Innovation Fund
July 26, 2010 – 8:16 am
On Friday afternoon, Nathaniel Whittemore of the Social Entrepreneurship blog sent me an email questioning the enthusiasm in my recent post about the Social Innovation Fund (SIF). Nathaniel is someone whose opinion I greatly respect and his points of contention were very valid. So I sent him back a detailed response, which (with his permission) [...]
Social Innovation Fund Announces Grantees
July 23, 2010 – 9:50 am
I’m thrilled with the Social Innovation Fund’s newly announced list of grantees. In many ways, the results read like my personal wish list for how I thought they should approach their decision. The Fund has announced 11 intermediary grantees, who will select subgrantees to receive the final funding. The full list is here. In the [...]
“New” Philanthropy & The Charleston
July 9, 2010 – 9:11 am
The idea that “new” philanthropy exists is controversial. While many people claim that venture philanthropy or focusing on impact are characteristics of a “new” approach to philanthropy, many “new” practices were in fact pioneered by the Rockefellers, Carnegies and Fords of the world. However, I believe that something new really is happening in philanthropy. But [...]
New Smart Money Award Winner
July 8, 2010 – 8:57 am
Back in April, I wrote about the Smart Money Award concept that an ad hoc team I was part of had thrown together during a Monitor Institute meeting. The concept won first prize at the informal idea contest and so our team decided to make the Smart Money Award real. I described the award in [...]
Chasing Philanthropic Opportunities
June 18, 2010 – 8:36 am
The general framework of how money flows in the nonprofit sector is focused on the assumption that nonprofits need to chase donations. This is also how the business sector works; companies chase revenue. But investing is different. Investors often are the ones chasing the best investment opportunities. It is simply an issue of supply and [...]
