Community foundations as ‘amoebae’
Today’s image of philanthropy could be applied to different foundation sectors across the globe. However, it is taken from the European Community Foundation Initiative’s Guide to Community Foundations in Europe;…
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Philanthropy as ‘a pebble in a pond’
Today’s image of philanthropy focuses on philanthropy’s potential to act as a catalyst and create far reaching ‘ripples’. This is nicely illustrated by the idea that philanthropy is like ‘a…
Foundation executives as ‘artful jugglers’
Managing a foundation is a complex task. This is highlighted in today’s image of philanthropy. Examining foundation CEOs’ tasks, activities and requirements, Fay Twersky, Director of the Effective Philanthropy Group…
Philanthropy as ‘war’
Today’s image of philanthropy provides another critical voice levelled at prominent ideas around philanthropic effectiveness and impact. It comes from a chapter by Peter Frumkin entitled Central Problems in…
Philanthropy is like ‘farming’
The idea that philanthropy should be more like business is prominent and problematic. Today’s image of philanthropy highlights one of the inherent tension between the two areas. As Güler Sabanci,…
Philanthropy as ‘tug boat’
Today’s image of philanthropy looks at the role of philanthropy and its relationship to the public and private sector. Reporting insights and reflections from Stephen Heintz’s, President of the Rockefeller…
Criticising old philanthropy as akin to criticising the post office
Today’s image of philanthropy is taken from the blog of Occam Advisors and geared towards critics of ‘old’ philanthropy: “Criticizing old-line philanthropy is like criticizing the post office, or Amtrak…
Philanthropy as ’empire’
Today’s image of philanthropy goes back to the late Georgian period. It focuses on Britannia herself: philanthropy as an empire. The idea comes from William Seward Hall’s Dramatic Poem ‘The Empire…
Foundations as ‘giraffes’
Foundations as ‘giraffes’? Originally, this image comes from what is probably the most well-known opening paragraph of any book on foundations, Nielsen’s The Big Foundations: ‘In the great jungle of…
Philanthropy as being like ‘the sea’
Highlighting the diversity of philanthropy, today’s image was put forward by UK philanthropy consultant Juliet Valdinger. She writes: ‘Philanthropy is like the sea – a big space with lots of…