This article is the fifth in a series on social innovation. Social innovation has become a popular policy buzzword globally, prompting strategies across all levels of government, as well as in business and philanthropy. Unfortunately, as many of us interested in philanthropy have noted (Lorinc 2017; McGoey 2015; Pue et al. 2015; Policy Research Initiative 2010), it…
Strategy: Social Finance
Philanthropy in Democratic Societies: History, Institutions, Values, Edited by Rob Reich, Chiara Cordelli and Lucy Bernholz, Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2016, ISBN: 978-0-226-33550-6 Philanthropy is a “hybrid and ever-changing form of public and private power” (p.7). This is the central image of philanthropy – in flux, contested, and always in relationship to market and…
A UK-based non-profit pioneered the social impact bond (SIB), a tool used by some governments to fund preventive social programs, in 2010. Like other forms of social finance, SIBs have proliferated rapidly in recent years, reflecting significant enthusiasm amongst governments and the voluntary sector. While many introduced SIBs with fanfare, they have also drawn intense…
SUMMARY : Aggressive spending-reduction policies at the federal level beg for new types of financing such as social finance and social impact bonds to fund socially beneficial projects. But the implementation of social finance tools, in particular social impact bonds, could significantly change or even increase accountability requirements by, for example, bringing third-party private sector…
Introduction Whether the economy is expanding or declining, the prospects of employment for unskilled, marginal or disadvantaged people are likely to remain poor. The general hardships of unemployment are multiplied for young people who have no experience and limited education and for minorities who face discrimination. Without work and the status and feeling of purpose…
Viewpoint expresses the particular view of contributors and does not necessarily reflect the views ofThe Philanthropist Readers are invited to respond to articles in this section. If appropriate, their views will be published. At a time when most consumers of financial services are becoming more sophisticated, most voluntary organizations remain woefully uninformed and inefficient in…
Address to Conference, The Sheraton Centre, Toronto, Ontario May 26, 1980 Establishing the right asset mix, changing the asset mix and good security selection are the key determinants of successful investing. To be frank with you, I have never been particularly successful in making big asset mix changes. If I could do this consistently and successfully,…
Introduction A recent article carried the alarming headline “Ford Foundation may be forced to cut grants by 50 per cent”. The Ford Foundation, squeezed like most private philanthropies by falling stock and bond markets, has seen its assets plummet from $3 billion to $2 billion in market value over the past year. Mounting inflation has…