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Mar 2009: Social Investment

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  • Mar2009Issue36
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Ted Turner at his Montana ranch in 1991, the year he was named TIME magazine’s Person of the Year. © Ted Thai/Time Life Pictures

Welcome to the March 2009 issue of the Philanthropy UK Newsletter. In December we reported on the impact of the economic crisis on philanthropy. As the recession continues to weigh on both funders and charities, we look at a new model that is becoming increasingly attractive to funders who want to have even more impact with their giving: social investment.

Social investment bridges the not-for-profit and for-profit worlds by generating both financial and ‘extra-financial’ returns, through social or environmental benefits. It is a nascent but rapidly growing market, and we think a promising model at a time when public trust and confidence in institutions is declining precipitously.

In addition, we are especially pleased to feature a profile of Ted Turner, who spoke to Philanthropy UK about the work of the United Nations Foundation which he founded with a $1 bn gift 10 years ago.  

Wherever you are on your own philanthropic journey, we want Philanthropy UK to continue to be a useful guide and valuable source of support and encouragement for you. This Newsletter could not exist without the willingness of all our guest contributors to share their ideas and knowledge, and we are very grateful to them for their help and support.

We always welcome feedback and ideas from our readers, so if you would like to comment on this issue, or contribute an original article, please email us at editor@philanthropyuk.org.

Best wishes,

Susan Mackenzie
Managing editor

Social investment: a new paradigm for philanthropy?

Where to start?: a quick guide for social investors

The number and diversity of investment opportunities for UK social investors continue to improve.
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The government as social investor

In its report, Social Investment Pilots: Action Research Final Report, published in November last year, the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) looked to catalyse wider development in social...
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Risky business?

A donation is a financial risk. How do you know that you are trading your money for social impact?  Will donated funds be used effectively, and efficiently?
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Risk and return: the advisors' view of social investment

As more individuals begin to embrace social investment as part of their philanthropy, they increasingly are turning to their professional advisors for advice and guidance.
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In recession, investors seek a different sort of return

News headlines abound on the dire state of our high-street banks, billions of pounds of wealth has been wiped out, businesses are being pushed to the wall and consumers are being hit on multiple...
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Letter From America

The trust deficit

The key components of the current crisis – worthless assets, the credit freeze, the fear of counterparty risk, the Madoff fraud, the collapse of seemingly stable companies and even entire...
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Personal stories in philanthropy

Ted Turner: noble knight

Global poverty. Climate change. Child mortality. Malaria. The United Nations Foundation is tackling some of the world’s greatest challenges.
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Events and programmes

Reports from Alliance magazine

The Philanthropy UK Newsletter is grateful to Alliance magazine for its permission to reproduce the following summaries of its event reports.
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Influential Reader

Influential Reading

Stephen Bubb
Our ‘influential reader’ in this edition is Stephen Bubb, Chief Executive of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations. He can be contacted at stephen.bubb@acevo....
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My philanthropic journey

Catalyst for change: the view of a social investor

Rodney Schwartz
I began writing this piece by reading previous ‘journeys’, and became intimidated by the list: Dame Vivien Duffield, Sir Trevor Chinn and Tony Blair!
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Notices

Granting Success: Lessons from funders and charities

NPC's latest research report provides guidance on how to structure grants so that they have the most impact.
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Mary Elizabeth Garrett: Society and Philanthropy in the Gilded Age

Mary Elizabeth Garrett lived from 1854-1915 and was one of the most influential philanthropists of America’s ‘gilded age’, though until now her story has received little attention
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Viewpoints 2009: Balancing Creativity and Control

Now in their sixth year of providing philanthropy advisory services, UBS’s annual report on the philanthropic field has become required reading for anyone attempting to keep up with the pleth
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The Woman who Saved the Children: A Biography of Eglantyne Jebb

This biography of Eglantyne Jebb (1876-1928), co-founder of Save the Children, is published to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the charity Save the Children in 2009 and the 20th anniversary o
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The Nonprofit Marketplace: Bridging the Information Gap in Philanthropy

This short publication aims to help create a stronger non-profit marketplace by answering two related questions: how can donors be helped to make smart philanthropic decisions?
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Creative Capitalism

In January 2008, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Bill Gates delivered a speech in which he argued that many of the world's problems are too big for philanthropy – even on the scale
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The Influential Fundraiser: Using the psychology of persuasion to achieve outstanding results

Written by leading UK major donor fundraisers, this book draws on the latest psychological and neurological research to explore how asking for money can be better tailored to the individual needs o
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Book Reviews

Money Well Spent: A Strategic Guide to Smart Philanthropy

Money Well Spent is a handbook on strategic philanthropy, aimed at practitioners eager to create impact, rather than those interested in academic debates about the history, philosophy or practice o
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Philanthropy Reconsidered

There is a certain type of book on philanthropy, written by North American authors, that ought to carry a sticker on the cover for UK readers ‘Warning: the assumptions in this book could seri
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In this issue:

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  • Social investment: a new paradigm for philanthropy?
  • Letter From America
  • Personal stories in philanthropy
  • Events and programmes
  • Influential Reader
  • My philanthropic journey
  • Publication Reviews and Notices
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The purpose of the Newsletter is to disseminate information about innovations and new developments in philanthropy. To submit an article for consideration, please contact the Editor at editor@philanthropyuk.org. The secretariat for the Newsletter is being provided by ACF. To subscribe free of charge, please complete our subscription form.

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