Notices

Give and Let Give: Building a culture of philanthropy in the financial services industry
Rob John, Rhodri Davies and Louisa Mitchell
London: Policy Exchange, December 2007. 130pp. Paperback. ISBN 978-1-906097-13-4  £10 www.policyexchange.org.uk 

This report assesses current attitudes to philanthropy amongst high-net-worth individuals in the financial sector and argues that financial services professionals have the wealth and skills to make them leaders in the development of a national culture of philanthropy. The authors have conducted 55 interviews as well as an extensive literature review, and carried out a multi-country analysis to produce this report which contains profiles of some individual philanthropists who have not previously ‘gone public’. Recommendations include ‘opt-out’ charitable accounts as part of a standard employee package, simplification of personal Gift Aid reclaim into those charitable accounts, the establishment of a new body to provide online information about philanthropy to highly financially literate people and a new ‘gold standard’ for financial advisers that provide philanthropy advice.

Good Foundations: Trusts & Foundations and the Arts in the United Kingdom
Paul Glinkowski
London: Laurence King, February 2008. 180pp. Hardback. ISBN 1 85669 559 X  £17.95 (for both volumes)
www.laurenceking.co.uk

This two-volume book, funded by the Rootstein Hopkins Foundation, is an exciting addition to the current literature on both arts philanthropy and more generally the philanthropic landscape in the UK. Volume 1 contains an extensive case study of the history and evolution of the grant-making foundation established by the creators of the famous Rootstein fashion mannequins. Interviews with c.60 funded individuals and organisations are used to assess the impact of the foundation’s work. Between 1995-2008 the foundation has distributed its whole capital of £8m to artists and arts organisations, and this publication marks the conclusion of a ‘spending out’ policy. Volume 2 includes contributions from leading experts in the field of arts funding and philanthropy. It provides a preface on ‘the gift’, reflections on 21st century philanthropy and an overview of the current map of arts funding in the UK, analysing in unprecedented detail the specific contribution made within that by independent grant-making trusts. The resulting publication is a very readable and groundbreaking contribution to scholarship in the fields of arts funding and philanthropy.

Grassroots Philanthropy: Fieldnotes of a maverick grantmaker
Bill Somerville with Fred Setterberg
Berkeley, CA: Heyday Books, Feb 2008. 144pp. Hard & paperback. ISBN 978-1597140843. $15 www.heydaybooks.com

Based on more three decades of experience as a foundation official, this book encourages grant-makers to leave their desks and go into the community to find people, instead of projects, to back. Through anecdotes, analysis, and personal stories, Somerville shows how a new generation of committed givers can make grants within 48 hours through ‘paperless giving’, collaborate with outstanding people in poor communities who are usually overlooked by foundations, and move past the fear of failure to productively embrace controversy and challenge the status quo. The author is a nationally recognised expert on creative grant-making. He has consulted with over 350 community foundations in the United States, Canada, and the UK, helping them get the important work of our society done quickly and well.   
 

From Insight to Action: New Directions in Foundation Evaluation
Mark Kramer with Rebeccca Graves, Jason Hirschhorn and Leigh Fiske
Boston: FSG Social Impact Advisers, June 2007. 56pp. Free download available online at www.fsg-impact.org/app/content/actions/item/177
This report distills the learning and experience of foundations that have used evaluation effectively in order to provide clear guidance to those that are still searching for useful practices. The authors note that, increasingly, foundations are moving beyond traditional third-party outcome studies toward more performance-centered approaches that provide foundations and their grantees with current information and actionable insights. On the basis of 100 interviews and over 20 case studies, five broad principles for effective evaluation practices are described. Firstly, create the organisational culture and processes necessary to translate information into action, including resourcing the evaluation process. Secondly, directly engage key decision-makers, as engaged participants are more likely to act on the results. Thirdly, let grantees take the lead, because they are best placed to develop accurate and efficient metrics. Fourthly, choose the fewest and simplest measures in order to provide workable solutions. Finally, use targeted, compelling methods of communication so that evaluation results can be heard within this ‘information-saturated’ age.

Women, Philanthropy and Social Change: visions for a just society
Elayne Clift (editor)
Medford, MA: University Press of New England, 2005 (paperback edition July 2007). 293pp. Paperback. ISBN 978-1584655237
This collection of essays is designed to show the ‘hidden history’ of women's involvement in the charitable sector and discusses how women are using philanthropy to achieve social change. Contributions from thirty female leaders and thinkers give the book an enormous scope and appear to support the publisher’s description of this publication as ‘the definitive book on women and philanthropy’. Topics range from the history of the women’s funding movement to women as donors and volunteers to role models for female philanthropy. Two separate chapters consider the different factors involved for women who inherit wealth and for women who earn their wealth. Whilst many disparate perspectives are covered, a uniting factor is the contributors’ belief in the passion and potential of women’s giving. This book is a celebration of women’s power to influence social constructs and political policies that can ultimately change the very foundations of society.