Foundations – get the widget

Last week I pointed out that the entire ecosystem of information on nonprofits in the USA is changing. Just as the 1990s was a decade of innovation in philanthropic financial products, the 00s have been, so far, a decade of innovation around information. You can read the full post either here or on SSIR. Here’s [...]

Great Depression Giving – Data Sources part two

Thanks to Jeff Stern who posted this very informative comment on my post about the oft-asserted, but rarely citation-supported, claim that giving rose during the Great Depression: “From what I could find with a quick online search, those who cited a source for this assertion are referring to a National Bureau of Economic Research working [...]

Great Depression Giving – Data Sources part two

Thanks to Jeff Stern who posted this very informative comment on my post about the oft-asserted, but rarely citation-supported, claim that giving rose during the Great Depression: “From what I could find with a quick online search, those who cited a source for this assertion are referring to a National Bureau of Economic Research working [...]

Great Depression Giving – Where’s the data?

The Economist is just the latest source to run a line about giving that goes something like this: “During the Great Depression, giving rose. Over the past 40 years there have been several recessions, but just one year in which total giving has fallen in America: 1987, the year of the “Black Monday” stockmarket crash.” [...]

Prediction review

Alliance Magazine’s December issue has several articles worth reading. The issue of the issue is “how far will they go” and it includes discussions and examples of foundations going “all out” to achieve their goals. Some of you will, no doubt, say “not far enough.” Since it is December and time to check in on [...]

Community Foundations – lend us your data!

I’ve been talking to lots of people, reading lots of reports, and debating trend data and anecdotes with reporters, researchers, statisticians, historians, foundation executives and board members – everyone wants to know what the future holds for philanthropy. The truth is, we don’t know (though I’ve posted my opinions). We have trend data that shows [...]

Tech Roundup 2008.2

I’m on day 2 of a 14 day East Coast/European business trip so my posting schedule may be a bit jet lagged. That said, I just found this post over at SocialActions and realized I could skip ahead on an entire tech roundup simply by linking to Peter’s notes on platforms. The SocialActions post notes [...]

A more meaningful prediction

I posted some short term prognostications early this morning. I then talked with someone who immediately confirmed my sense that my call about celebrity giving as this Giving Season’s big buzz was correct. I also got a comment from Beth Kanter alerting me to her social media predictions, and I know Beth’s work well enough [...]

Philanthropy Hot or Not?

It is September – time to make some predictions for Giving Season – otherwise known as November and December. In the style of fashion (T), pop culture (Entertainment Weekly), movie ratings (thumbs up/down), and tech magazines (Wired) here is my list of what will be in and out for Giving Season 2008. I am calling [...]

Philanthropy Hot or Not?

It is September – time to make some predictions for Giving Season – otherwise known as November and December. In the style of fashion (T), pop culture (Entertainment Weekly), movie ratings (thumbs up/down), and tech magazines (Wired) here is my list of what will be in and out for Giving Season 2008. I am calling [...]