“Although we have developed metrics and evidence to use in developing social policy and practice, we have not applied the same framework to philanthropy—but we should. Good intentions and generosity are not sufficient in practice and they ought not to be in philanthropy.”

Richard Gelles, Ph.D.
Dean of the School of Social Policy & Practice at the University of Pennsylvania, Joanne and Raymond Welsh Chair of Child Welfare & Family Violence

Defining the efficient frontier of philanthropy

Our goal is to increase the effectiveness of the philanthropic marketplace so that capital flows to where it can achieve the greatest social impact. We approach this mission in two ways: sector-specific analysis & tools and field-building resources.

sector-specific Analysis & tools

In our sector-specific work, we develop practical guidance and tools to support impact-driven philanthropists in three areas: global health, U.S. education, and international economic development. In each area, 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 in all of our work.

NOW AVAILABLe!high IMPACT PHILANTHROPY in the DOWNTURN

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

Table of Contents Complete Guide

Global Health

Table of Contents Executive Summary Complete Guide

U.S. Education (both in and out-of-school efforts to improve student learning)

Table of Contents Executive Summary Complete Guide

International Economic Development

field-building resources

We also participate in broader efforts to advance the effectiveness of philanthropy. These efforts help define a fragmented and ill-understood market, develop the field’s requisite social impact metrics, and educate philanthropists on the basics of impact-driven giving. Specific projects include:

• (Audio) Teleconference: Turning Crisis Into Opportunity: Listen to Kat Rosqueta, our executive director, moderating a discussion between Brad Smith, president of the Foundation Center, and Bob Ottenhoff, president and CEO of GuideStar (July 2009) - Note: Also searchable on iTunes.

• Philanthropic Triage: Commentary on linking financing with impact during the economic downturn (Oct 2008)

• I'm Not Rockefeller: 33 High Net Worth Philanthropists Discuss Their Approach to Giving: Center for High Impact Philanthropy Study (Sep 2008)
• What is High Impact Philanthropy?: Center for High Impact Philanthropy Initial Concept Paper (Apr 2007)
• Wharton Sports Business Initiative (WSBI): The Wharton School (To Be Piloted in Mar 2009)
• Measuring and/or Estimating Social Value Creation: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Jan 2009)
• The Nonprofit Marketplace, Bridging the Information Gap in Philanthropy: William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and McKinsey & Company (Jan 2009)

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