Strategic Giving
The Art and Science of Philanthropy
The philanthropic landscape is changing dramatically as a new generation of wealthy donors seeks to leave its mark on the public sphere. Peter Frumkin reveals in Strategic Giving why these donors could benefit from having a comprehensive plan to guide their giving. And with this thoughtful and timely book, he provides the much-needed framework to understand and develop this kind of philanthropic strategy.
After listening for years to scores of individual and institutional funders discuss the challenges of giving wisely, Frumkin argues here that contemporary philanthropy requires a thorough rethinking of its underlying logic. Philanthropy should be seen, he contends, as both a powerful way to meet public needs and a meaningful way to express private beliefs and commitments. He demonstrates that finding a way to simultaneously fulfill both of these functions is crucial to the survival of philanthropy and its potential to support pluralism in society. And he goes on to identify the five essential elements donors must consider when developing a philanthropic strategy—the vehicle through which giving will flow, the way impact will be achieved, the level of engagement and profile sought, the time frame for giving, and the underlying purpose of the gift. Frumkin’s point is that donors must understand strategic giving as the integration of these five critical dimensions to giving.
Essential reading for donors, researchers, and anyone involved with the world of philanthropy, Strategic Giving provides a new basis for understanding philanthropic effectiveness and a promising new way for philanthropy to achieve the legitimacy that has at times eluded it.
Assn Res Nonprofit Orgs/Voluntary Act: ARNOVA Outstanding Book in Nonprofit & Voluntary Action Research
Honorable Mention
Public/Nonprofit Division of the Academy of Management: Best Public/Nonprofit Book Award
Short Listed
CASE: Grenzebach Award
Won
“Strategic Giving will become the benchmark text for the field. It is the most comprehensive and analytical examination of the donor world that has ever been published. It should set the content and tone of the debate in the philanthropic, nonprofit, and academic communities for many years to come.”<R. Craig Kennedy, president, German Marshall Fund of the United States>
“Philanthropic practices, principles, and institutions constitute a body of knowledge long in need of systematic inquiry and analysis. Peter Frumkin has performed this feat by giving us Strategic Giving. Frumkin’s excellent book builds the theoretical framework long needed to understand this amorphous and complex field. It does so with rigor and clarity, delving deep into the issues and challenges that bedevil so many of us who have made the study and practice of philanthropy a serious undertaking.”<Donald M. Stewart, Harris School of Public Policy Studies, University of Chicago>
“Peter Frumkin offers a thought-provoking analysis of the values that shape and are shaped by philanthropy. In doing so, he provides a useful framework for the increasing number of individuals who are considering how to use their private wealth for the public good.”—Paul Brest, president, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
“The most penetrating, thorough, and thoughtful exploration of contemporary philanthropy’s social benefits—and costs—now available. Of both philosophical interest to theorists and practical interest to present and would-be donors, Frumkin’s Strategic Giving is indispensable reading for today’s scholars and practitioners of philanthropy.”<Joel Fleishman, Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Duke University>
“Peter Frumkin has written an important and provocative book that will be read and debated for years to come. Strategic Giving is both a comprehensive, critical analysis of modern philanthropy and a useful guide for wealthy donors who want to distribute their money to meet public needs as effectively as possible.”—Pablo Eisenberg, Stanford Social Innovation Review
Introduction
2. Central Problems in Philanthropy: Effectiveness, Accountability, and Legitimacy
3. Donors and Professionals
5. Dimensions of Philanthropic Value
9. Time Frames for Giving
10. Measuring, Knowing, and Acting
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Sociology: Social Institutions
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