Collaborative Philanthropy & Social Change

Erin McGrathAnalytical Paper

Spring 2009

Topic Overview

An examination of the ways in which foundations participate in collaborative arrangements with one another in order to bring about social change.

Collaborative Philanthropies for Social Change

Literature Review

1. Philanthropy

2. Social Change Philanthropy•Social Justice Philanthropy•Conservative Philanthropy

3. Philanthropic Collaboration

FoundationsWhy Foundations Matter:

• Role in advancing: social causes, policy initiatives, social programs, & political movements

• Capacity to Mobilize & Allocate Resources

★ 2008: $45.6 Billion

Literature Review: Philanthropy FOUNDATION TYPES

Type Definition Example

Independent Grantmaking bodies to provide support for organizations

The Ford Foundation

Operating Conduct own programs rather than provide support J. Paul Getty Trust

Community Pooled funds The Cleveland Foundation

Conversion Hybrid of operating & community

California Wellness Foundation

Adapted from Leslie Lenkowsky, 2002

Literature Review: Social Change Philanthropy

Author Definition

Roelofs (2003)

Long term change in structures of political decision making or the allocation of power & wealth

Ostrander (1995)

Advancing progressive social change: the redistribution of power and resources in a more egalitarian directions

Hunter(1990)

Changing of societal institutions so they don’t produce the very problems that ‘charity’ is trying to alleviate

Literature Review: Social Change Philanthropy

How do foundations support social change? •Creating New Knowledge

•Applying Knowledge

•Policy Analysis

•Policy Advocacy

•Social Movements & Empowerment

•Social Service Delivery

Engaged in by both Conservative & Progressive Foundations!

Prewitt, 2006

Literature Review: Social Justice Philanthropy

Social Justice Philanthropy: Grantmaking that attempts to create a more equitable distribution of social, economic, and political power to

truly reform a society’s institutions so that they are better able to meet existing needs and eliminate or at least reduce reliance on short-term & emergency service

provisioning (NCRP, 2005).

Literature Review: Social Justice Philanthropy

The National Network of Grantmakers’ Core Essentials:

•Focus on Root Causes

•Structural or Systemic Change

•Collective Action

•Self-Determination

•Commitment to Leadership Development

•Inclusiveness

Literature Review: Conservative Philanthropy

Operating Definition:Grants made to organizations & programs that promote

some type of free market, small government, and/or conservative religious ideology, with a focus on policy

research or advocacy

Grantmaking 1999 - 2001: $183.2 millionGeneral Operating: $94.3 millionProgram Support: $77.5 million

Combination: $10.4 millionKrehely et al, 2004

Literature Review: Conservative Philanthropy

Strategic Elements of Conservative Philanthropy

•Funding an Ideological Agenda

•Building Strong Institutions

•Resource Concentration & National Focus

•Media, Marketing & Communications

•Creation & Cultivation of Public Intellectuals

•Cross-Sectoral Funding & Support of Multiple Strategies

•Long-Term FundingCovington, 2005

Literature Review Philanthropic Collaboration

Funder Networks 1980 (N=24)

Source: Grantmakers for Effective OrganizationsGEP 2004 Presentation: Philanthropy’s New Forum-The Emerging Influence of Funder Networks (COF)

Funder Networks 2004 (N=110)

Source: Grantmakers for Effective OrganizationsGEP 2004 Presentation: Philanthropy’s New Forum-The Emerging Influence of Funder Networks (COF)

Literature Review: Philanthropic Collaborations

•Conference•Email/Mail List•Advocacy•Research & Evaluation•Communications•Coordinated Needs Assessment•Pooled Grantmaking

•Publications•Knowledge Management•Shared Space/Equipment/Staff•Site Visits•Earned Income Venture

Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, 2004

Literature Review: Philanthropic Collaborations

Sharing Information

Shared Decision Making

Collaboration Issue Areas, Ideology & Affinity

Groups

Geographic Proximity

Issue Areas, Ideology, & Affinity Groups

•Share Model Practices

•Share Information

Issue Areas, Ideology, & Affinity Groups

•Do they have the capacity to develop a larger strategy?

•Is there a tendency for these groups to become insular?

Perceived Constraints

Collaboration & Conservative Social Change

•Conservative foundations have built strong relationships based on shared history & ideology

•Advancing political theory in order to bring about change

Conservative Collaboration

Case Study: Philanthropy Roundtable

•Founded: 1991•500 Members

•Communications•Annual Meetings•Guidebooks•Working Groups•Alliance for Charitable Action (PAC)

Functions:

Geographic Proximity•Place-Based Examination of Interconnected Issues

Regional Network Data•Most: 25 or fewer members•40% have paid staff•75% meet quarterly

Case Study: Living Cities

•Formalized Relationships in 23 cities

•Membership: Foundations, Financial Institutions & Federal Agencies

•$543 million in targeted cities

•Structure determined locally

•Convene, Broker, Build, & Advocate

Comprehensive Community Initiatives (CCIs)

•Integrated & Comprehensive

•Collaboration among sponsors & grantees

Challenges to CCIs and Other Collaborations

1. Difficultly in Building Genuine Partnerships

2. Differing Expectations for Time Line

3. Foundation Culture to Look for the Next Thing

4. The Collaboration Becoming an Entity to Itself

Lessons

•New Roles

•New Structures & Practices

•Shared Goals & Strategies

•Giving Up Control

•Staying in Background

•Risk Taking

What does this mean for foundations?

Recommendations for Research

•More on Conservative Philanthropy

•Collaboration: Principles, Practice & Outcomes

Principles & Practices: Suggested Questions

•Why do some funders join while others do not?

•How do ideological frameworks influence the collaborative work of foundations?

•Do new funders seek to collaborate with existing associations or seek to develop new partnerships?

•What is the life-cycle of the different types of collaborations?

•To what extent are foundations allocating resources (human & financial) to collaborative initiatives?

•How do the collaborative arrangements interact with other stake-holders?

Questions?