Notices

Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits
Leslie Crutchfield and Heather McLeod Grant
New York: Jossey-Bass, October 2007. 336pp.Hardback. ISBN 978-0-7879-8612-4  www.josseybass.com
An innovative guide to how great non-profits achieve extraordinary social impact, based on case studies of twelve high-performing charities. The authors’ central question - what makes great non-profits great? – is answered by describing six counterintuitive practices that these organisations have used to achieve extraordinary levels of impact. For example, great non-profits spend as much time working outside their four walls as they do managing their internal operations, and they use the power of leverage to become greater forces for good. This book has lessons for all readers interested in creating significant social change, including non-profit managers, donors and volunteers.

Green philanthropy: funding charity solutions to environmental problems
Bernard Mercer and Jonathan Finighan 
London: New Philanthropy Capital, October 2007. 167pp, report, ISBN 978-09553148-7-2 (also available as a free downloadable PDF) http://www.philanthropycapital.org/research/research_reports/environment/environment2.aspx
Less than 2% of UK charitable grants and less than 5% of private donations are currently allocated to environmental charities. This report suggests that the barriers to ‘green philanthropy’ include donors feeling overwhelmed by the scale of environmental problems, resistance to accepting scientific projections about future environmental disasters and a lack of guidance for those who wish to fund this area. Noting that climate change tends to be the focus for the environmentally concerned, the report also highlights five further areas where action is required: decimation of natural resources, the particular vulnerability of the poor to environmental problems, the need to protect ecosystems and biodiversity, insatiable demands for energy and concomitant problems of pollution and waste, and finally, human well being and sustainable development in the UK. As with all NPC reports, it concludes with suggestions of charities doing effective work in these areas and offers ideas for making funding have the biggest impact.

Integrating Environmental, Social and Governance Issues into Institutional Investment: a Handbook for Colleges and Universities
New York: Amnesty International USA, October 2007. 52pp, freely available online at http://www.amnestyusa.org/business/sharepower/university/UniversityHandbook.pdf
The purpose of this handbook is to assist colleges and universities in implementing investment policies that consider environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues.  It discusses the four principal ESG strategies: shareholder advocacy, community investing, positive and negative social screening, and divestment but focuses primarily on the important role that colleges and universities can play in promoting corporate social responsibility through shareholder advocacy.  Each section of the handbook supports the development and implementation of such policies by providing important background information regarding the reasons for adopting ESG investment policies; the legal issues involved; the actual process of engaging in shareholder advocacy; and nuts-and-bolts operational considerations.

A life less ordinary: People with autism, a guide for donors & funders
Adrian Fradd and Iona Joy
London: New Philanthropy Capital, September 2007. 96pp, paperback, (also available as a free downloadable PDF), ISBN 978-0-9553148-8-9. £22.50 www.philanthropycapital.org
New Philanthropy Capital’s recently published report A life less ordinary explores the issues surrounding autism and the lives of the people it affects. The report suggests practical ways donors can help, from funding innovative research to helping children learn skills to cope with the difficult transition to adulthood. We highlight charities changing the lives of people with autism, including:

• Research Autism, which funds research into improving the quality of life for people with autism. Recently, the charity developed a screening instrument for use in prisons to identify inmates who may have autism and need specialist support.
• Prior’s Court, which runs a residential school for children with autism. Each child has a personalised time-table of activities, which is adapted as they grow older to increase their independence and vocational skills.

European Venture Philanthropy Directory 2007/08
London: EVPA, October 2007. 118pp, ISBN 0-9553659-2-9. PDF, freely available online at http://www.evpa.eu.com/directory.html
This 3rd edition of the EVPA directory is over twice the size of earlier editions, reflecting the growth in models of philanthropy that combine finance and business consulting.  The purpose of this publication is to give an overview of the field of venture philanthropy and identify European practitioners to give visibility to the industry and provide a platform for future industry growth. The introductory section provides background on the venture philanthropy approach to grant-making followed by profiles of all EVPA members, including case studies of investments made by member venture philanthropy funds.  The Directory is intended to be a useful reference for grant-makers, grant-seekers and private banks, as well as any others interested in the area.

• Read EVPA’s profile in The Philanthropy Directory. 

International Taxation of Philanthropy
Dr. Ineke A. Koele
IBFD: Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 2007, 414pp, ISBN 978-90-8722-021-1, €105 / $135
This book, based on Dr. Koele's PhD dissertation, addresses the complex international tax barriers facing philanthropic organisations. The book begins by defining the scope of the study including the concept of "landlock", political philosophies behind tax relief for philanthropic organisations and an analysis of bilateral treaties. A comprehensive and comparative overview of the approach taken in three legal and tax systems regarding international philanthropy is included. The publication also examines whether EU law allows states (within and without the European Union) to maintain "landlocked" tax positions and, if so, under what type of conditions this may be permitted. The conclusion proposes a new paradigm of non-discriminating treatment of philanthropy by examining ways to abolish landlocks.

Handbook on Responsible Investment across Asset Classes
Boston College, Carroll School of Management, Institute for
Responsible Investment
Funded by the F.B. Heron Foundation, 104pp (PDF) email: ccc@bc.edu  website: www.bc.edu
This handbook seeks to catalyse growth in responsible investment across asset classes. It is meant to help investors incorporate responsible methods into their investment mandate; identify and evaluate opportunities for responsible investment, and coordinate the vocabulary and metrics used to measure ESG impacts.  Each chapter focuses on a single asset class and includes information on how to design a responsible investment strategy; identify opportunities for market-rate responsible investments and incorporate engagement strategies into the asset class investment strategy.

Inspired Philanthropy: Your step-by-step guide to creating a giving plan and leaving a legacy
Tracy Gary
New York: Jossey-Bass, November 2007. 336pp. Hardback. ISBN 978-0-7879-9652-9, £15.99
www.josseybass.com
The third edition of Gary’s classic book aims to show readers how to align and integrate their values, passions, and dreams for their communities and families into their giving plans. Inspired Philanthropy explains how to make a difference by creating giving and legacy plans, suggests questions to ask charities before making a donation, and spells out how to work with advisors and charity leaders for better outcomes. In addition to updating statistics contained in earlier incarnations of this book, the new edition includes a discussion on the implications of Warren Buffett’s historically large philanthropic act; new legacy planning tools; expanded resources on youth, giving circles, and communities of colour; key questions for advisors and donors; and worksheets and resources available on the CD which comes with the book. Whilst much of this material is clearly designed for the US market, there is much in Gary’s message and approach to recommend it the British reader.

Beyond Success: Building a personal, financial and philanthropic legacy
Randy Ottinger
New York: McGraw-Hill Professional, September 2007. 320pp. Hardback. ISBN 978-0-0714-9676-6, £15.99  www.mhprofessional.com
Beyond Success is a guide that aims to assist individuals with the achievement of a meaningful and lasting financial, philanthropic, and generational family legacy. The author combines his personal experiences in both the financial and philanthropic fields with extensive research that draws on insights from hundreds of well-known philanthropists, thought leaders and advisors in the philanthropy and family wealth professions. Ottinger develops a legacy planning framework to help translate goals into measurable action for achieving high levels of personal fulfilment and social impact. He also provides insights into the latest trends in philanthropy, and examines the likely impact on the civil sector of the $100 trillion of wealth that is transferring from today's baby boomers to future generations.