The Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal edition “Innovations in Education” featuring over 50 local, regional, and national authors/experts, will be released on April 7 after their public launch in partnership with Young Involved Philadelphia at WHYY at 5:30. RSVP now! Invitation Link.
If you want to receive the Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal Editions please subscribe by going to this link.
This edition of the Journal also features a new columnist...ME! There is much happening in the world of philanthropy. There is a wider emphasis on strategy and a greater focus on impact. The notion of using today’s money to solve today’s problems is becoming more accepted. And the infrastructure to support the transfer of capital to social and environmental causes is changing dramatically. I will explore these topics and more in a regular column for the Journal focusing on philanthropy.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Japan and Catastrophic Gifting
We've all been captivated and struck by the devastation in Japan. Glued to our televisions and computers we can't help but watch and read the many stories of destruction, humanity, science, and faith. There are so many calls for donations to nonprofit organizations to provide humanitarian and infrastructure support. I thought it would be good to remind everyone of some best practices as it relates to catastrophic gifting.
The Council on Foundations, in collaboration with the European Foundation Centre, published a post-9/11 guide called "Disaster Grantmaking: A Practical Guide for Foundations and Corporations." The guide is a helpful resource in determining how to respond to disasters, whether they be natural or man made. Here is a summary of the guide's "Eight Principles of Disaster Management".
1. Do no harm. Make sure that the response isn't going to create more problems. Aid groups, more than anything, request cash rather than goods and services.
2. Stop, look & listen before taking action. Make sure that you understand the specifics of the disaster. While the immediate response to the disaster is gratifying, one lesson learned from 9/11 was that many aid decisions were made in haste and failed to take into account long-term needs.
3. Don't act in isolation. Coordinate efforts with other groups.
4. Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long-term. What will be needed in six months? A year?
5. Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations. Some of the most effective global aid organizations have longstanding relationships with local leaders and NGOs in the affected countries that have enabled them to respond quickly and effectively to the crisis.
6. Find out how prospective grantees operate. Know what approach you are supporting before you make a grant.
7. Be accountable to those you are trying to help. In addition to internal accountability- determining if the grant was spent as it was supposed to be by the recipient organization- funders need to also engage their grantees in a process that assesses social impact.
8. Communicate your work widely, and use it as an educational tool. Share your experience with boards, other grantmakers, the media, community groups, public officials and international organizations.
I also just read a great summary from Guidestar as it relates to catastrophic gifting and have included a link here. They call it their "Tips to Giving to Disaster Relief and Recovery."
The best piece of advice when gifting during a catastrophy is to research the organization and make sure the gift is restricted to the disaster for which you are supporting.
The Council on Foundations, in collaboration with the European Foundation Centre, published a post-9/11 guide called "Disaster Grantmaking: A Practical Guide for Foundations and Corporations." The guide is a helpful resource in determining how to respond to disasters, whether they be natural or man made. Here is a summary of the guide's "Eight Principles of Disaster Management".
1. Do no harm. Make sure that the response isn't going to create more problems. Aid groups, more than anything, request cash rather than goods and services.
2. Stop, look & listen before taking action. Make sure that you understand the specifics of the disaster. While the immediate response to the disaster is gratifying, one lesson learned from 9/11 was that many aid decisions were made in haste and failed to take into account long-term needs.
3. Don't act in isolation. Coordinate efforts with other groups.
4. Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long-term. What will be needed in six months? A year?
5. Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations. Some of the most effective global aid organizations have longstanding relationships with local leaders and NGOs in the affected countries that have enabled them to respond quickly and effectively to the crisis.
6. Find out how prospective grantees operate. Know what approach you are supporting before you make a grant.
7. Be accountable to those you are trying to help. In addition to internal accountability- determining if the grant was spent as it was supposed to be by the recipient organization- funders need to also engage their grantees in a process that assesses social impact.
8. Communicate your work widely, and use it as an educational tool. Share your experience with boards, other grantmakers, the media, community groups, public officials and international organizations.
I also just read a great summary from Guidestar as it relates to catastrophic gifting and have included a link here. They call it their "Tips to Giving to Disaster Relief and Recovery."
The best piece of advice when gifting during a catastrophy is to research the organization and make sure the gift is restricted to the disaster for which you are supporting.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Some nice press
harp-weaver LLC was just featured in Chestnut Hill magazine, Life on the Hill. It provides a good overview of services provided and bit about the path that got me here. The article starts on page 39. I would welcome feedback and comments! Here is the link.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
ImpactBase
ImpactBase is a new online search tool, created to bring greater information and efficiency to the marketplace for impact investing funds.
The database provides investors, funds, foundations, family offices and other wealth amangers an efficient and organized mechanism for finding the information needed for the impact investing. Users can search for funds that may fit with their impact investment interests and objectives. It is a global platform which allows users to search across asset classes, impact themes, geographic targets, fundraising status, assets under management, and other parameters. Fund managers are able to upload information about their fund(s) and gain some exposure to a community of interested investors and the advisors who serve them.
This is a much needed component to building out the infrastructure to support iimpact investing as an asset class. Check out ImpactBase.
The database provides investors, funds, foundations, family offices and other wealth amangers an efficient and organized mechanism for finding the information needed for the impact investing. Users can search for funds that may fit with their impact investment interests and objectives. It is a global platform which allows users to search across asset classes, impact themes, geographic targets, fundraising status, assets under management, and other parameters. Fund managers are able to upload information about their fund(s) and gain some exposure to a community of interested investors and the advisors who serve them.
This is a much needed component to building out the infrastructure to support iimpact investing as an asset class. Check out ImpactBase.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Valentine's Day...Love Shared
Today is Valentine's Day. It is a day meant to celebrate love shared. On this Valentine's Day I write about loved shared between two sisters - Abigail and Aimee Sandler.
The Philadelphia Inquirer ran a story today on the front page of the Health section. Written by Stacey Burling, the story is about Aimee's Bulletin, which is inspired by the life of Aimee Sandler. This law took effect because of the love and dedication of her sister, Abigail.
Aimee was mentally disabled living in group-home. She got very sick in 2006 and that set off a conflict between Aimee's family and the home's administrators. It was then that Abigail raised the question as to who has legal say if families disagree with care providers.
Aimee's Bulletin clarifies how Pennsylvania laws affect decision-making for group-home residents near death who can't make choices. Abigail fought tirelessly for this and since Aimee's Bulletin has been signed she is dedicated to spreading the word to families that the Bulletin exists and that they have the ability to make decisions for their loved ones.
The Philadelphia Inquirer story can be read here.
The Philadelphia Inquirer ran a story today on the front page of the Health section. Written by Stacey Burling, the story is about Aimee's Bulletin, which is inspired by the life of Aimee Sandler. This law took effect because of the love and dedication of her sister, Abigail.
Aimee was mentally disabled living in group-home. She got very sick in 2006 and that set off a conflict between Aimee's family and the home's administrators. It was then that Abigail raised the question as to who has legal say if families disagree with care providers.
Aimee's Bulletin clarifies how Pennsylvania laws affect decision-making for group-home residents near death who can't make choices. Abigail fought tirelessly for this and since Aimee's Bulletin has been signed she is dedicated to spreading the word to families that the Bulletin exists and that they have the ability to make decisions for their loved ones.
The Philadelphia Inquirer story can be read here.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Night Out With Meaning: Building a Family
Last night I hosted Night Out With Meaning; a series of evenings for women to be inspired by the stories of women like Sue Badeau.
Surrounded by 35 women, Sue told her family's story through pictures and metaphors. She shared her experiences of adoption, foster care, and the unlikely, but powerful decision to welcome 3 terminally ill children into her family. It was an emotional and inspirational evening. Night Out With Meaning is about learning, connecting and reflecting.
Sue gave each of us a shell and talked about its imperfections and beauty a wonderful metaphor for her 22 children as she told a story about each of them. I have been thinking about her family's journey and their unexpected destination. I have been thinking about choices and fate. I have been thinking about permanence and what a lovely concept it is. I have taken that concept of a permanent family for granted. I have been thinking about unconditional love. One of the biggest takeaways for me hearing Sue's story is that when she encountered something she didn't think was right, she listened to her call to action. Thank you, Sue and thank you to Chelsea, Joelle, SueAnn, Florinda, and Renee. More information on the Badeau family can be found at www.badeaufamily.com.
Consider this an early invitation to you and a friend for the next Night Out With Meaning held on May 12, 2011. The topic of interest is "Empowering Women". I have lined up a truly interesting woman to talk about her journey which started with being the first single, American woman to adopt internationally. Marjorie Margolies joins as our storyteller. She is founder of Women's Campaign International (WCI). Marjorie started WCI in 1998 to help increase the participation of women in political and democratic processes around the world "to make sure there were more women at the table." Marjorie is an Emmy winning journalist, a former Congresswoman, an advocate for women, and a teacher.
Surrounded by 35 women, Sue told her family's story through pictures and metaphors. She shared her experiences of adoption, foster care, and the unlikely, but powerful decision to welcome 3 terminally ill children into her family. It was an emotional and inspirational evening. Night Out With Meaning is about learning, connecting and reflecting.
Sue gave each of us a shell and talked about its imperfections and beauty a wonderful metaphor for her 22 children as she told a story about each of them. I have been thinking about her family's journey and their unexpected destination. I have been thinking about choices and fate. I have been thinking about permanence and what a lovely concept it is. I have taken that concept of a permanent family for granted. I have been thinking about unconditional love. One of the biggest takeaways for me hearing Sue's story is that when she encountered something she didn't think was right, she listened to her call to action. Thank you, Sue and thank you to Chelsea, Joelle, SueAnn, Florinda, and Renee. More information on the Badeau family can be found at www.badeaufamily.com.
Consider this an early invitation to you and a friend for the next Night Out With Meaning held on May 12, 2011. The topic of interest is "Empowering Women". I have lined up a truly interesting woman to talk about her journey which started with being the first single, American woman to adopt internationally. Marjorie Margolies joins as our storyteller. She is founder of Women's Campaign International (WCI). Marjorie started WCI in 1998 to help increase the participation of women in political and democratic processes around the world "to make sure there were more women at the table." Marjorie is an Emmy winning journalist, a former Congresswoman, an advocate for women, and a teacher.
Monday, January 31, 2011
"Productizing" Social Impact Investing
I have been researching and meeting with people involved in social impact investing and I am convinced that this emerging asset class is about to take-off. Social impact investing aims to solve social or environmental problems while generating financial profit. These investments in social enterprises come in many forms – but what has been typical is a private equity structure. The investments range from producing a return of principal capital to offering market-rate or even market-beating financial returns.
A growing number of individuals, families, foundations and pensions believe that the assets set aside for investment should be invested in such a way that supports and complements their philanthropic work and values.
There are organizations and companies in the field who are taking steps to add some infrastructure so that this investment opportunity can be more readily consumed.
Investors Circle is a network of social impact investors who collaborate on deals. They are making strides in adding some infrastructure to this growing segment of the market.
Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) is in the process of creating a data engine that contrasts - and quantifies - the tangible social benefits of these investing opportunities in addition to a more traditional benchmark to gauge financial return. The data engine is set to launch in February.
There is also BLab, which is a Philadelphia-based organization supporting the emergence of the B Corp - B stands for Benefit - this is a formal structure for a social enterprise.
In November of last year, JP Morgan, Rockefeller Foundation and GIIN produced a report called: Impact Investments: An emerging asset class. The report estimates significant market opportunity for impact investment over the next ten years. After analyzing selected segments of five sectors - urban affordable housing, rural access to clean water, maternal health, primary education, and microfinance - serving the population at the "base of the economic pyramid," the authors identify a potential profit opportunity between $183 and $667 billion and a potential investment opportunity between $400 billion and $1 trillion in the next decade for just these segments of the impact investing market.
This is real innovation in philanthropy and something to keep an eye on as the infrastructure continues to grow.
A growing number of individuals, families, foundations and pensions believe that the assets set aside for investment should be invested in such a way that supports and complements their philanthropic work and values.
There are organizations and companies in the field who are taking steps to add some infrastructure so that this investment opportunity can be more readily consumed.
Investors Circle is a network of social impact investors who collaborate on deals. They are making strides in adding some infrastructure to this growing segment of the market.
Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) is in the process of creating a data engine that contrasts - and quantifies - the tangible social benefits of these investing opportunities in addition to a more traditional benchmark to gauge financial return. The data engine is set to launch in February.
There is also BLab, which is a Philadelphia-based organization supporting the emergence of the B Corp - B stands for Benefit - this is a formal structure for a social enterprise.
In November of last year, JP Morgan, Rockefeller Foundation and GIIN produced a report called: Impact Investments: An emerging asset class. The report estimates significant market opportunity for impact investment over the next ten years. After analyzing selected segments of five sectors - urban affordable housing, rural access to clean water, maternal health, primary education, and microfinance - serving the population at the "base of the economic pyramid," the authors identify a potential profit opportunity between $183 and $667 billion and a potential investment opportunity between $400 billion and $1 trillion in the next decade for just these segments of the impact investing market.
This is real innovation in philanthropy and something to keep an eye on as the infrastructure continues to grow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)