Foundation 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. www.heydaybooks.com $15

Grassroots Philanthropy argues that the luxurious position of foundations in the US, with phenomenal wealth of assets in the billions, is wasted.  Somerville says foundations have the ability to take risks and innovate where others cannot intervene and this book is littered with useful examples from his 40-year career. It is a quick and easy read that contains much to challenge, inspire and energise even the most jaded grant-maker. Read the review in the June 2008 Newsletter

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)
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
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.  

The Grasshopper or the Ant: A Review of Endowment Giving Policy Options for the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Arts Programme
Russell Willis Taylor, 2006
Written at the request of programme staff at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, this paper is intended to provoke discussion about the tradition, necessity, and benefits of endowment funds in the arts. It provides a point of view about alternatives to endowment funding which are available to arts organisations, and poses questions about how endowments help achieve mission. The paper reflects research and analysis of a broad sampling of the literature on this subject and also reflects the operational experience of the author in the performing and visual arts.

The Foundation: A Great American Secret
Joel Fleishman. New York: Public Affairs, 2007
Foundations are said to be a peculiarly American institution that provide a vital spur to the global economy yet are cloaked in secrecy, with decision-making and operations that are inscrutable to the point of obscurity. Fleishman argues that the forthcoming inter-generational transfer of wealth means foundations will become more powerful than ever and therefore must be properly established and run.

Just Money: A Critique of Contemporary American Philanthropy
Peter H. Karoff (ed.). Boston: TPI Editions, 2004
This is a collection of essays by ‘retiring philanthropy professionals’ in the world of US foundations. The British philanthropy sector has much to gain by learning more about the challenges described by contributors, as many of these issues have either already crossed the Atlantic, or are in mid-passage.
• Read the review in the June 2005 Newsletter

Creative Philanthropy: Towards a New Philanthropy for theTwenty-First Century
Diana Leat & Helmut Anheier. London: Routledge, 2006
Critical of the great majority of foundations who are said to fall short of fulfilling their potential, the authors seek to encourage foundations to change and improve. Beginning with a discussion of the historical development of foundation philanthropy, the second half offers inspiration in the form of lengthy case studies of foundations which are said to operate in a creative way.
• Read the review in the September 2006 Newsletter

The Magic Roundabout - an introductory guide to Programme-Related Investment
G Peacock, K Hickey, P Voller, K Sayer and N Wilkie. London: Bircham Dyson Bell, Sayer Vincent and NCVO, 2003
This short booklet explains how charities can make their money go further. It is called the Magic Roundabout because it explores how charitable funds can be creatively recycled and it specifically sets out how charitable investments and grants budgets can be made to work harder, and smarter, using a technique called Programme Related Investment - or PRI.
• Download the Magic Roundabout PDF.

The Legitimacy of Philanthropic Foundations: United States and European Perspectives
Kenneth Prewitt, Mattei Dogan, Steven Heydemann & Stefan Toepler. New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 2006
This collection of essays examines why foundations exist and the varied purposes they serve in contemporary democratic societies. With contributions from Italy, Denmark, the UK and Germany, this book offers an unusually extensive review of foundation philanthropy outside the USA.

Beyond the Money: Reflections on philanthropy, the nonprofit sector and civic life 1999-2006
Edward Skloot
New York: The Surdna Foundation, 2007. Freely available online at www.surdna.org/usr_doc/Beyond_the_Money.pdf
After nearly two decades as president of the Surdna foundation, Edward Skloot looks back on a period of rapid change in American philanthropy, social policy, politics and civic ideals. Building on his experience as both grantseeker and foundation chief executive, Skloot asks how we can reach beyond the simple economics of donations and volunteerism to implement a more effective approach to organizational leadership, philanthropy and fundamental social change.

Foundations: Creating impact in a globalised world
Luc Tayart de Borms. Chichester and Hoboken NJ: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2005
This is essentially a polemic from the director of the Belgian-based King Baudoin Foundation arguing that European foundations must step forward as leaders to do battle with the big issues of our day, such as poverty, conflict and disease. The author applauds US philanthropic vigour, noting that American foundations have provided significant financial support for much of the infrastructure of philanthropy in this continent, and argues that a lack of strategic vision has held back European philanthropy.
• Read the review in the September 2005 Newsletter

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