Economic Downturn Overview

In our sector-specific work, we develop practical guidance and tools to support impact-driven philanthropists. Our economic downturn focus is currently in housing, health, and hunger among disadvantaged populations in the U.S. In these areas, we analyze available evidence to identify critical needs to target and the practices with the greatest potential to improve the lives of others. To help philanthropists understand how much change costs, we integrate considerations of both cost and impact. (See also: "Linking Considerations of Cost and Social Impact" on the page describing What We Do.)

Give a High Impact Holiday Gift. Read our best opportunities for making a meaningful difference in people's lives in the United States.

You can download all of our products for free by visiting our Investment Analysis page. See below for an overview of our work to-date on the economic downturn.

High Impact Philanthropy in the Downturn: Focus on Housing, Health, and Hunger (A Guide for Donors)

View the full investment guide. Given the breadth and severity of the current economic downturn, our team at the Center for High Impact Philanthropy has been working to answer the question: Where can individual donors make a significant difference in addressing the suffering caused by the economic crisis?

We have identified three areas where philanthropic capital can have significant impact in addressing immediate needs and preventing future suffering:

  1. Preventing Foreclosures
  2. Sustaining Primary and Preventive Health Programs
  3. Ensuring Access to Food

We sifted through available evidence from field analysis, emerging research, and expert knowledge to present concrete and cost-effective ways for philanthropic capital to help. Each section of the guide provides a brief analysis of the need, a description of high-impact models to improve the situation, examples of the models in practice, contact information for nonprofits delivering these models, and tips for finding a local nonprofit implementing the models in your community. Our hope is that by doing much of this legwork for you, we provide the kind of independent, practical advice that will move you to translate concern and good intentions into impact.