You are the change philanthropy needs.
Have you ever wished that you had the means and opportunity to tell foundations what you really think about what they’re doing well and what they can do more effectively? Do you envision a way that grantmakers can do better at addressing the needs of communities?
I am excited to announce a groundbreaking initiative that we hope will turn this dream into a reality.
Today, NCRP is launching Philamplify, a new project designed to burst through the “isolation bubble” in philanthropy by providing an outlet for unvarnished feedback.
Philamplify combines comprehensive, nuanced assessments of leading foundations with an interactive website where anyone who cares about the aims and impacts of philanthropy can be part of the discussion about what’s working well and how foundations can do better.
“All of us in the field of philanthropy benefit from thoughtful analysis of divergent strategies and styles and an effort to measure results.”
– P. Russell Hardin, President, Woodruff Foundation
Philamplify.org
I urge you to go to philamplify.org and check out this revolutionary project. On the website, you can:
- View the full reports of each assessment for free – no subscription required.
- Comment on and agree/disagree with our recommendations to each foundation we assessed.
- Send a message directly to key executives from the foundations we examined.
- Share images, videos or stories of how philanthropy has touched your life and your community.
- Tell us what you think of key issues in philanthropy.
Submit feedback anonymously, if desired.
Watch the Philamplify video now:
The Foundation Assessments
To start out, we have released individual assessments by top-notch researchers about three foundations: Lumina Foundation for Education in Indianapolis, Robert W. Woodruff Foundation in Atlanta and William Penn Foundation in Philadelphia.
Each of these major foundations is doing important work on critical issues from education to the environment. We’re pleased to highlight their effective approaches and to offer them recommendations for how they can make an even bigger difference.
Our findings and recommendations are rooted in the high-impact practices of strategic, social justice philanthropy, and they are informed by extensive input from knowledgeable stakeholders of each foundation, including grantees and other nonprofits, peer funders, leading issue experts, and representatives from government and the media.
Additional assessments covering other leading foundations will roll out in the coming months. Our goal is to assess many of the 100 largest grantmakers in the country over time.
“Thank you for this important feedback, which has been helpful in gaining additional insights into where we are succeeding, and, more importantly, where and how we can do better.”
– Peter J. Degnan, Managing Director, William Penn Foundation
Let’s Break the Isolation Bubble
As I wrote in the Huffington Post last December, philanthropy lacks inherent feedback loops and accountability mechanisms, leaving foundation leaders in an “isolation bubble” that makes it hard for them to get the constructive criticism needed to be most effective. This dynamic does not serve philanthropy or society well.
Imagine the impact on our communities when foundations get the kind of feedback they need.
Help us change the status quo. Visit Philamplify.org to join the conversation – and better yet, start your own.
Aaron Dorfman is executive director of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP). Follow NCRP on Twitter (@ncrp).
