I happen to think that the grants philanthropists make are only one tool they can use to create social impact. An important and often under used tool is influence. Philanthropists that are doing good work and are willing to share what they know can’t help but build a “brand” that will allow them to directly or indirectly influence other financial flows.
Sharing doesn’t always have to be about sharing “knowledge,” sometimes it can just be about communicating an attitude. The Peery Foundation is a family foundation that has recently been aggressively exploring the use of social media tools to share their process as well as learn from the online community. Below you’ll find a video they recently produced (using iPhones and desktop editing software) that profiles their efforts to include their family’s “3rd Generation” in the foundation’s work.