Last week, financial writer Felix Salmon published a blog post entitled "Philanthropy: You're doing it wrong." His post particularly takes to task the practices and behaviors he sees in wealthier donors. Though Salmon doesn't use the term, much of his column pushes back against donor "hyperagency." In The Modern Medici, Boston College professor Paul Schervish described hyperagency as "the [...]
Category: philanthropy
Who Will Stand for All of Philanthropy?
What comes to mind when you hear the word philanthropy? Most of us know the Greek origin of the word suggests an altruistic love for mankind. Many of us were taught Robert Payton’s elegant definition: voluntary action for the public good. For philanthropoids, philanthropy consultants, and donors who want to keep up with the cool [...]
Right Money, Right Time, Right Purpose
or...All You Need is Cash Ages ago, I took economic development finance and nonprofit finance classes. I now can’t run a detailed pro forma if you stuck a loaded spreadsheet to my head. But the basic concepts have been tugging at my brain as I’ve followed news about three issues. First, the United Way of [...]
A new jargon for philanthropy? Or even a new culture?
Hacked solution. Maker culture. Artisan. DIY. Dorkbot. Citizen-powered. Decentralized. Open brand. Flamethrowers vs. Orphans Paradox*. Are these terms in the vocabulary of your giving or of the foundations you know? They weren’t for me until I attended the first Awesome Summit in Boston this month. The three-day event was the first gathering of the rapidly-expanding [...]
Tony Macklin 